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.

 

[FantasyIreland]

Grealish is a no brainer,it's clear as day why Pep and the club would want his services.With him and Foden we have the two brightest stars in English football,its a mouth watering prospect.
He will fit into our team seemlessly IMO,and will also hopefully give one or two a kick up the arse while keeping others on their toes.

 

[domalino]

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?

Remember when they thought we didn't need to replace Kompany, and it wouldn't be a problem going into the season with Otamendi, Stones and Laporte as CBs with Fernandinho covering?

I have a lot of faith in the upper management but deciding which players they need and when might be their biggest flaw.

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

Foden had 7 players ahead of him. And he played so little that a lot of players would have left.

Palmer, McAtee etc. would have 10 players ahead of them...there's no pathway there.

It is a crossroads moment for the club. If they are serious about wanting more academy representation they aren't going to look at Gundogan, KDB and Mahrez nearing 30 and think "We need to spend £80m on Grealish so we have someone to replace them in 3 years time". Palmer and McAtee are supposed to be near Foden level quality players, and if you want players in the side you have to do the work to make them come through, it won't just happen on its own.

It might well be that they've got their token local player in Foden and like Chelsea with Terry that's enough for them. I suspect that's the case and we'll buy Grealish and lose the kids.

 

[tolmie's hairdoo]

Grealish is a no brainer,it's clear as day why Pep and the club would want his services.With him and Foden we have the two brightest stars in English football,its a mouth watering prospect.
He will fit into our team seemlessly IMO,and will also hopefully give one or two a kick up the arse while keeping others on their toes.

That's the thing. I've seen people on here dismiss Messi, saying he is over the hill, where would he fit in, etc?

You always find room for top players - admittedly, he is in a class of one.

All the same, we had Aguero, Dzeko, Tevez and Mario, and Mancini still felt it was right to push forward again with Van Persie.

We rightly become loyal to the players who are with us here and now, but Grealish really does improve our options, and you can never turn your nose up at that.

I do think someone like Sterling needs more than just Foden breathing down his neck, simply because Phil can play anywhere!

 

[FantasyIreland]

With our academy kids,we need to be clever with loans.While we have some amazing talent,i don't see any quite having Foden levels of magic,and that is what it would take in most cases.

The one exemption/exception could be Lavia,he is the right time/right place to maybe make that breakthrough.

 

[FantasyIreland]

That's the thing. I've seen people on here dismiss Messi, saying he is over the hill, where would he fit in, etc?

You always find room for top players - admittedly, he is in a class of one.

All the same, we had Aguero, Dzeko, Tevez and Mario, and Mancini still felt it was right to push forward again with Van Persie.

We rightly become loyal to the players who are with us here and now, but Grealish really does improve our options, and you can never turn your nose up at that.

I do think someone like Sterling needs more than just Foden breathing down his neck, simply because Phil can play anywhere!

Spot on,the minute you stand still or get complacent is the time you begin to get caught.

Those asking where would top players fit in are missing the point by a country mile.

 

[tolmie's hairdoo]

Remember when they thought we didn't need to replace Kompany, and it wouldn't be a problem going into the season with Otamendi, Stones and Laporte as CBs with Fernandinho covering?

I have a lot of faith in the upper management but deciding which players they need and when might be their biggest flaw.



Foden had 7 players ahead of him. And he played so little that a lot of players would have left.

Palmer, McAtee etc. would have 10 players ahead of them...there's no pathway there.

It is a crossroads moment for the club. If they are serious about wanting more academy representation they aren't going to look at Gundogan, KDB and Mahrez nearing 30 and think "We need to spend £80m on Grealish so we have someone in 3 years time". Palmer and McAtee are supposed to be near Foden level quality players, and if you want players in the side you have to do the work to make them come through, it won't just happen on its own.

It might well be that they've got their token local player in Foden and like Chelsea with Terry that's enough for them.

City were gilding the lily a little on the Kompany narrative, as they simply couldn't afford to pay the money for Maguire.

Which is a bigger concern that they actually thought Maguire was a right option in the first place!!

The landscape obviously changes all the time, I don't see two or three established names still being around in the next couple of years, which will still give pathways to the youngsters.

There is a lot of talk at City about the fear for Brexit and what rules might be passed in the near future.

Academies are having to revise their plans because they are budgeting for a vacuum of not being able to bring in foreign talent until at least the ages of 18, although I am not up to speed on that.

 

[Saddleworth2]

With our academy kids,we need to be clever with loans.While we have some amazing talent,i don't see any quite having Foden levels of magic,and that is what it would take in most cases.

The one exemption/exception could be Lavia,he is the right time/right place to maybe make that breakthrough.

As soon as you saw Foden play, you just knew he was the real deal. His balance and running with the ball is god given as is his control and overall mastery of the football. I have seldom seen his like. Palmer et al are very promising players but none that I have seen have Fodens all round gifts. If we are talking Grealish then are they at his standard just now. The answer to that is no and they may never be. I think if we can buy both Grealish and Haaland we should do so. If these kids are good enough to play a part in an elite squad a path will be found for one or more

 

[PannickAtTheDisco]

Spot on,the minute you stand still or get complacent is the time you begin to get caught.

Those asking where would top players fit in are missing the point by a country mile.

which is how clubs, notably us, lose the title. Not following up properly in the summer after being champions. Summers of 2012 and 2014 reflect that, as do most of Chelsea's titles, the Rags in 2013 and Dippers last summer. Buying squad depth the summer after a title win is a recipe for handing the title to someone else. We need someone to come in and put Raz on the bench to the point where he either buggers off or steps up. Challenge him. Our attacking play has been lacklustre all season and just because a tight defence and a unique season hasn't shown it up doesn't mean we'll get away with it again. We're 20/25 goals down on where we would normally be.

 

[Centurions]

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?

I've had that in the back of my mind for awhile, not sure who but Sterling especially after this season must be considered.

 

[LongsightM13]

Spot on,the minute you stand still or get complacent is the time you begin to get caught.

Those asking where would top players fit in are missing the point by a country mile.

Absolutely this. We have failed to strengthen from a position of power on more than one occasion in the past. Time to be ruthless even if it means a surprise departure. I could see us maybe letting Jesus go or flipping Torres for a quick profit to someone like the Madrid clubs if the right bids came in and if we landed Grealish and Haaland.