It's Quiet Thread 15 - Txiki Blinders

[tolmie's hairdoo]

I guess this means the Messi move is definitely dead in the water.

I'm of a similar take, unless City are just covering all their bases, if Messi is indeed still keeping everyone in the dark.

 

[domalino]

I would guess it is all succession planning for the next cycle?

Gundogan is 31 in October.

Mahrez is 30.

KDB is 30 in June.

Grealish is 26 in September, which means his peak years will coincide with at least two players in the above list either degrading or possibly not being at the club in the next two years?

For the interim, Grealish is another quality addition and would legislate for Mahrez at AFCON in January, injuries and other factors.

Those problems are around the corner, sure, but I don't see how Foden, Gundogan, KDB, Grealish, Haaland, Jesus, Torres, Sterling, Bernardo and Mahrez are supposed to fit into one squad for 2 or 3 years until the older 3 move on.

 

[David Silva]

Not sure we need another attacking midfielder when we've already got Gundo, KDB, Silva, Mahrez & Foden who all overlap what Grealish would bring.

I was just in the PSG prematch thread and everyone seems to think the team will be Ederson, Walker, Dias, Stones, Zinch, Rodri, Gundo, KDB, Silva, Mahrez, Foden.

Who gets dropped if Grealish arrived today? And then factor in a striker coming in on top of that. Sterling, Jesus, Torres already on the bench for more traditional front 3 options.

Only way I can rationalise it is Fernandinho’s departure & maybe a bit of forward planning with Gundo/Mahrez hitting 30 this past year.

We aren’t crying out for him tbh but he’ll go elsewhere if we don’t get him, and I think we could regret that in 12 months time.

It is also going to be really difficult to buy in a player to fill Ferna’s current squad role. We’d spend £30m+ just to do so and Rodri is still going to play 90% of the time. It’s possibly easier to use Gundo as back up to Rodri and add an extra attacking mid like Grealish to rotate across our front 5. Torres just doesn’t look ready either in fairness.

 

[Gabriel]

Not sure we need another attacking midfielder when we've already got Gundo, KDB, Silva, Mahrez & Foden who all overlap what Grealish would bring.

I was just in the PSG prematch thread and everyone seems to think the team will be Ederson, Walker, Dias, Stones, Zinch, Rodri, Gundo, KDB, Silva, Mahrez, Foden.

Who gets dropped if Grealish arrived today? And then factor in a striker coming in on top of that. Sterling, Jesus, Torres already on the bench for more traditional front 3 options.

Despite what’s been said, I suspect we won’t buy another striker this summer. If we took Grealish, we’d instead use Jesus/Sterling/Torres/Delap through the middle and rotate the attacking midfielders as necessary. Guardiola would just have to decide which horse for which course.

 

[blueparrot]

Those problems are around the corner, sure, but I don't see how Foden, Gundogan, KDB, Grealish, Haaland, Jesus, Torres, Sterling, Bernardo and Mahrez are supposed to fit into one squad for 2 or 3 years until the older 3 move on.

Agree, and even if they did that leaves no parthway for those that are apparently our best academy prospects, Palmer, Mcatee, Doyle etc.

 

[domalino]

Agree, and even if they did that leaves no parthway for those that are apparently our best academy prospects, Palmer, Mcatee, Doyle etc.

And Delap. We all know if Pep will play 4-6-0 with attacking midfielders over Aguero or Jesus he's doing it for Delap too.

This transfer feels very Fabregas to Barcelona to me. That was also supposed to be because Xavi and Iniesta were ageing but in the end the both outlasted him, he threw off the whole system, and lead to Sanchez and Thiago leaving for very little.

 

[tolmie's hairdoo]

Those problems are around the corner, sure, but I don't see how Foden, Gundogan, KDB, Grealish, Haaland, Jesus, Torres, Sterling, Bernardo and Mahrez are supposed to fit into one squad for 2 or 3 years until the older 3 move on.

We'd like to assume City already has an idea? There has been talk Kev could move further back as he gets older, but there must be a shock departure somewhere outside of Fernandinho.

Signing Grealish would give a degree of leverage if Sterling or Mahrez did drag out renewal talks?

 

[David Silva]

Agree, and even if they did that leaves no parthway for those that are apparently our best academy prospects, Palmer, Mcatee, Doyle etc.

Even if all of the younger lads (Palmer, Mcatee, Delap) are Foden-level talent they’re probably a couple of seasons away from regular first team games under Pep.

 

[tolmie's hairdoo]

Despite what’s been said, I suspect we won’t buy another striker this summer. If we took Grealish, we’d instead use Jesus/Sterling/Torres/Delap through the middle and rotate the attacking midfielders as necessary. Guardiola would just have to decide which horse for which course.

There would be no reason to tell Sergio he wasn't being retained when we did? It would be adding insult to injury by not buying his replacement.

 

[tolmie's hairdoo]

Agree, and even if they did that leaves no parthway for those that are apparently our best academy prospects, Palmer, Mcatee, Doyle etc.

There's always a pathway if they are patient and good enough. Look at the competition Foden has had ahead of him.