I agree time could be against in getting a deal for Rodrygo over the line and whilst I'm not a big Savinho fan, I don't want us to lose a winger without replacing him.
It's Quiet the £250m return
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I imagine that you are comparing peak Sane and Mahrez to where Doku and Sav are right now - it isn't like for like. Sane peaked with us and has never been as good since. Mahrez was playing lower league at the age Sav is. We have to allow players to develop.
Mancini’s Pastilles
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Were left for dust
Maybe even spurs now
NQCitizen
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Did you think that when Mahrez was in Le Havre's reserves at 21?
And yeah no one is at Sane's level at 21 and no one has been since.
Doc_Testosterone
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Baleba would be an ideal signing but the problem remains we have too many midfielders, annoyingly of which only one can play CDM/anchor who is Rodri.
citizen_maine
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thought Ake had another year after this one?
I really think savinho could kick on this year in the PL and in our team if he stays. Looks like he is going. I think he needs replaced, and if he was available to start, would have played in both our games.
I thought he had the one, I could well be wrong. Take your word for it.
Doc_Testosterone
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You are right they are not, but it is hard to tell whether they could develop or not. Doku currently is going into his 3rd season with us and has not even hit the levels he showed when he joined.
The real problem is have we got the ability to be patient with them? Personally the answer is no. That is on the basis that we need players that chip in and hoping your youth develops relegates us to a midtable position if our only output is Haaland.
Thing is how worthwhile is keeping a savinho who clearly wants out. Obviously has a poor mentality which will hardly result in performances will rave about.
Best get the money and move him on regardless of replacenent
Marvin.
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6 goals and 5 assists in 30 La Liga games (2024-25). Not appalling but this is a player at the peak of his powers at a club that is very dominant it its league. Unimpressive.
Dribble
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It's not my imagination mate. Pep made a huge error of judgement regarding the commencement of our squad rebuild & it cost us dearly.
Pep's preference of a small elite squad rinsed out our players, & we had little to fall back on. Even Rodri, Foden & Bernardo have publicly said they were being rinsed & were physically, emotionally & mentally fucked. I doubt they've said this in public without being aware our manager has also publicly stated the opposite.
The only times I've seen the wholesale sacking of a backroom team with the manager remaining, is when a manager is being given a final chance to change things & improve the teams fortunes.
Reports that several of our former backroom staff had mentally checked out last season is a concerning sign if true. It shows a coaching team at odds with their manager.
Several reports have stated the blocking of Savinho to Spuds is coming from those above Guardiola. Even if similar has happened before, it's strange that it's now it's been leaked.
It's obvious that Pep's revolutionary inverted FB has been sussed by every team we face, but it seems Pep is determined to stick with his system. Do you think the elite management team at Manchester City have failed to notice what so many are openly discussing?
We brought in a new coaching team, & the first three games of the CWC showed huge promise with a new formation & a return to our famed swagger.
Since Al Hilal, we've returned to Pep's inverted FB system, with similar performances & results to last season. Do you really think those above Pep have failed to notice? Based on our performances against Wolves & Spuds, can you honestly say there are solid signs of a marked improvement for the season ahead?
I'm no ITK, but at what point do several coincidences become a pattern that needs to be stopped before it sets like concrete?
A school of thought is emerging on BM that our period of dominance is over. I mostly disagree, as player for player, I think we can compete with anyone. With a few ruthless sales & a couple more elite incomings, I think we can again have a squad advantage.
However, if we continue to persevere with Pep's intervted FB tactic, I'm sorry but I'm forced to agree with those who say our period of dominance is over. It's all down to how Pep plays it this season, & I honestly doubt a global organisation like Manchester City Football Group have failed to notice all the above, & will wait until we implode before they act, regardless of Pep's historic, record-breaking successes.
It's not my imagination mate. It's just my honest observations & my humble opinion. I honestly hope I'm wrong & respect your right to disagree, but something hasn't been right with Guardiola for the last 12 months.
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I am excited to witness the development of the crop of players that we have now. I think we have bought serious talent, for now and for the future, and we will have the privilege of watching some of the best young prospects in the game blossom for us.
I recognise that we are in transition though. There will be frustrations along the way because Cherki, at 22, is not peak David Silva, and Trafford, at 22, is not peak Eddie. We also have a new DOF who does not have the longstanding relationship with Pep that Txiki had. He will be his own man, as is Pep. Pep has always said that he has nothing to do with the recruitment of players but he was thankful to the club for providing him with such quality. This is a different time, and we have PSR compliancy, FFP compliancy, 115 charges, and the APT ruling to contend with. We do not operate in a vacuum. The league is strong, and in the process of our rebuild other clubs might steal a march. We have to accept that, frustrating though it is to lose the unbroken success we have had. We must be patient as a fanbase and know that our owners want success to continue. They have made mistakes, as every single one of us has over a 12 year period, but we have got the vast majority of things right and have smashed records along the way.
I want our success to continue. I feel annoyed whenever we drop points. I feel irked by smiling on the bench. BUT...I am a fan.
This club means the world to me so I am behind every player on the team. I believe in their talent but in every job I have had, the first month has felt like I knew nothing. It took support, and someone to understand what I could do to bring out the best in me. By the time I was fully delivering as a result of nurtured talent, I felt brilliant. The only times it didn't happen for me were when I felt unsupported, and when what I could do was recognised far less than what I could not.
We are two games in. We have new players, a new DOF, a new coaching team, and a new start after a troubled season. Make no mistake, most rival fans know that we are here to stay despite the media noise that celebrates every fall from grace. We don't need to throw away anything we have done in terms of positional play, nor possession play, we just tweak and go, becoming faster in transitions. It will take time to bed that in.
COME ON CITY!
I recognise that we are in transition though. There will be frustrations along the way because Cherki, at 22, is not peak David Silva, and Trafford, at 22, is not peak Eddie. We also have a new DOF who does not have the longstanding relationship with Pep that Txiki had. He will be his own man, as is Pep. Pep has always said that he has nothing to do with the recruitment of players but he was thankful to the club for providing him with such quality. This is a different time, and we have PSR compliancy, FFP compliancy, 115 charges, and the APT ruling to contend with. We do not operate in a vacuum. The league is strong, and in the process of our rebuild other clubs might steal a march. We have to accept that, frustrating though it is to lose the unbroken success we have had. We must be patient as a fanbase and know that our owners want success to continue. They have made mistakes, as every single one of us has over a 12 year period, but we have got the vast majority of things right and have smashed records along the way.
I want our success to continue. I feel annoyed whenever we drop points. I feel irked by smiling on the bench. BUT...I am a fan.
This club means the world to me so I am behind every player on the team. I believe in their talent but in every job I have had, the first month has felt like I knew nothing. It took support, and someone to understand what I could do to bring out the best in me. By the time I was fully delivering as a result of nurtured talent, I felt brilliant. The only times it didn't happen for me were when I felt unsupported, and when what I could do was recognised far less than what I could not.
We are two games in. We have new players, a new DOF, a new coaching team, and a new start after a troubled season. Make no mistake, most rival fans know that we are here to stay despite the media noise that celebrates every fall from grace. We don't need to throw away anything we have done in terms of positional play, nor possession play, we just tweak and go, becoming faster in transitions. It will take time to bed that in.
COME ON CITY!
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I think he was about 20 when he joined us and was a special talent then. It’s was obvious from the get go, well it was to me. Neither Sav and Doku exhibit sub peak Sane. Doku should be moved on this window he’s going backwards. Mark my words he will be sold next summer…. Nailed on. Oh and will have wasted 3 years on this project which is more flustrating
Thanks for explaining your point, but your argument relies on various guesses as to the reasons behind certain events. If you think people at the club are threatening Pep, giving him last chance to show he can turn things around, you are imagining things. Pep would go instantly if he felt lack of support or creeping doubts. Rest assured there are no such problems.
This doesn't mean the bosses are certain Pep will succeed again. Nobody knows, but everyone is hopeful.
johnny crossan
Well-Known Member
I think you are wrong.
Players develop at different rates, as human beings do. Sané was exceptional when he arrived, and we witnessed it, but he has never got beyond that. Conversely, Mahrez at 21 was playing reserve team football but became a great.
All we can ever say is that a player has the potential to be great. It is partly upto them, and partly up to the environment to ensure they meet expectations. I think Doku and Sav have serious talent, as do Cherki, and Bobb, just to name a few. Hard work, humility, luck, as well as the best coaching will all have a role to play. BUT...we CANNOT expect them to be all they will ever be right at this moment. Player development is not like that.
Dribble
Well-Known Member
No worries mate, but can I ask if you know the above for sure, or like me, are your comments your personal opinion?
Can I also ask, if this season continues much the same as last season, whilst teams behind & in front of us improve & progress, at what point dya think our board will act decisively to stop the rot?
Also, what action will the board take to stop the rot?
Fair enough let’s see next summer on Doku then. Looks like Sav wants out so no point discussing that