January window

billblu said:
Think we'll sign the left back barco might go straight out on loan or pep might take a look at him for the rest of the season .If Phillips goes what about federico redondo as cover for rodri
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Good player but young and physically developing as well, so unlikely to offer much in the way of immediate cover for Rodri. He’s also been linked with both Madrid clubs in recent weeks.
 
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Reports are circulating that we could be in for Douglas Luiz, allowing Kalvin Philips to leave permanently with Newcastle, Spuds, WHU & Juvé all rumoured to be in the hunt for his signature.

Other rumours are suggesting City may take a punt on Paqueta, irrespective of the result of the betting investigation.

Personally I was happy for Kalvin to be given another year to establish himself, but all that changed with Rodri's interview, where it was obvious his remarks were aimed at Philips.

Several posters (including me) were shot down in flames for making this connection, but Pep has now publicly stated three times that he can't see where Kalvin fits into his plans, & that he was offered the opportunity to leave permanently or on loan during the summer but refused. After saying he was staying to fight for his place, Philips is reported to be keen on moving in January to resurrect his career.

Personally I can't see Paqueta or Luis moving in January, but I think it's evident that the quality of our midfield without Gundog, KDB & Mahrez is nowhere as strong, & neither Kovacic nor Nunes seem to be the answer, Nunes in particular.

If Nunes plays, he needs to partner Rodri as a double pivot. He's got a decent level of skill, a good engine & can tackle. However in no way is he up to the standards of Rodri, Mahrez, Gundog or KDB.

We've essentially traded down in the summer. Albeit we strengthened our defence with Gvardiol, our normally rock solid back line has become as porous as a sieve. In my mind our weakened midfield & our leaky defence are linked.

We need changes before our season comes down to just securing Champions League qualification.
 
I don’t think we’ll sign anyone, and Phillips will leave. Hope I’m wrong however, a right winger or a Rodri backup would suffice.
 
Dribble said:
View attachment 101146

Reports are circulating that we could be in for Douglas Luiz, allowing Kalvin Philips to leave permanently with Newcastle, Spuds, WHU & Juvé all rumoured to be in the hunt for his signature.

Other rumours are suggesting City may take a punt on Paqueta, irrespective of the result of the betting investigation.

Personally I was happy for Kalvin to be given another year to establish himself, but all that changed with Rodri's interview, where it was obvious his remarks were aimed at Philips.

Several posters (including me) were shot down in flames for making this connection, but Pep has now publicly stated three times that he can't see where Kalvin fits into his plans, & that he was offered the opportunity to leave permanently or on loan during the summer but refused. After saying he was staying to fight for his place, Philips is reported to be keen on moving in January to resurrect his career.

Personally I can't see Paqueta or Luis moving in January, but I think it's evident that the quality of our midfield without Gundog, KDB & Mahrez is nowhere as strong, & neither Kovacic nor Nunes seem to be the answer, Nunes in particular.

If Nunes plays, he needs to partner Rodri as a double pivot. He's got a decent level of skill, a good engine & can tackle. However in no way is he up to the standards of Rodri, Mahrez, Gundog or KDB.

We've essentially traded down in the summer. Albeit we strengthened our defence with Gvardiol, our normally rock solid back line has become as porous as a sieve. In my mind our weakened midfield & our leaky defence are linked.

We need changes before our season comes down to just securing Champions League qualification.
Click to expand...

Dropped a bollock with Douglas Luiz, didn’t we have a buy back option on him a couple of seasons back for £10 million? He’s doing well at Villa, would he want to come here and be Rodri’s understudy where you don’t get much game time and only play in the cup games?

Are there potential bargains to be picked up at Chelsea Caicedo realising he made a mistake and Gallacher being sold to get near complying for FFP.
 
feedmpenzaandhewillscore said:
Dropped a bollock with Douglas Luiz, didn’t we have a buy back option on him a couple of seasons back for £10 million? He’s doing well at Villa, would he want to come here and be Rodri’s understudy where you don’t get much game time and only play in the cup games?

Are there potential bargains to be picked up at Chelsea Caicedo realising he made a mistake and Gallacher being sold to get near complying for FFP.
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We had little choice with Luiz as we couldn't register him, so selling him to Villa with a buy back clause was best all round.

However, Villa were struggling & we had Fernandinho & an emerging Rodri at the time, so didn't exercise the option in 2021.

When Fern retired, we opted for Philips, & it hasn't worked out, so it's back to the drawing board for a CDM.

I doubt Luiz would look at himself as understudy to Rodders. As I mentioned earlier, Rodri's interview complaining that he's playing too much football & needs to rest for the good of his health & career, suggests that we need someone to rotate & challenge Rodri, not just to play the last 15 minutes at the end of games we're winning comforably.

Pep doesn't even trust Philips in those situations, & it was painful looking at his face on the bench against Luton. He looked pitiful & lost.

However, he had his chance to move permanently or on loan in the summer, but decided to stay & fight for his place. Pep's made it perfectly clear that Kalvin has no future here. I hope he secures the move he needs & deserves.
 
I cant help but think that maybe the Phillips situation may deter a few players who we might have looked at. Pep has publicly outed him several times, a few times for basically not being Rodri and lets be honest, anyone we sign at best is second choice. Sure, they may just fancy a pay bump and hopefully pick up some medals but the sales pitch from Txiki perhaps may not be as appealing to the likes of Palinha who can walk into the Bayern midfield.
 
decmancity said:
I cant help but think that maybe the Phillips situation may deter a few players who we might have looked at. Pep has publicly outed him several times, a few times for basically not being Rodri and lets be honest, anyone we sign at best is second choice. Sure, they may just fancy a pay bump and hopefully pick up some medals but the sales pitch from Txiki perhaps may not be as appealing to the likes of Palinha who can walk into the Bayern midfield.
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It comes down to a player's belief in himself. Philips is a midfield battler, with a decent level of skill. However, that level evidently isn't good enough for Guardiola.

Nothing's guaranteed in football & all players will be aware of that. Given the choice of testing myself at City or at a mid-table team where I'd be well within my comfort zone, I'd choose to test myself at the highest level.

Many fans called Rodri a clogger & a donkey when he first arrived. Rodri was certainly no Fernandinho. However, Rodri is now Rodri. The premium player in his position in world football.

During season two, Rodders could have thought "Fuck this! I want out for more first team football". Luckily our defensive crisis meant Fernandinho had to play as a CB for a season, giving Rodders the opportunities to play, I doubt he'd have readily got.
 
Dribble said:
View attachment 101146

Reports are circulating that we could be in for Douglas Luiz, allowing Kalvin Philips to leave permanently with Newcastle, Spuds, WHU & Juvé all rumoured to be in the hunt for his signature.

Other rumours are suggesting City may take a punt on Paqueta, irrespective of the result of the betting investigation.

Personally I was happy for Kalvin to be given another year to establish himself, but all that changed with Rodri's interview, where it was obvious his remarks were aimed at Philips.

Several posters (including me) were shot down in flames for making this connection, but Pep has now publicly stated three times that he can't see where Kalvin fits into his plans, & that he was offered the opportunity to leave permanently or on loan during the summer but refused. After saying he was staying to fight for his place, Philips is reported to be keen on moving in January to resurrect his career.

Personally I can't see Paqueta or Luis moving in January, but I think it's evident that the quality of our midfield without Gundog, KDB & Mahrez is nowhere as strong, & neither Kovacic nor Nunes seem to be the answer, Nunes in particular.

If Nunes plays, he needs to partner Rodri as a double pivot. He's got a decent level of skill, a good engine & can tackle. However in no way is he up to the standards of Rodri, Mahrez, Gundog or KDB.

We've essentially traded down in the summer. Albeit we strengthened our defence with Gvardiol, our normally rock solid back line has become as porous as a sieve. In my mind our weakened midfield & our leaky defence are linked.

We need changes before our season comes down to just securing Champions League qualification.
Click to expand...
Douglas Luiz would be an excellent signing but there's absolutely no chance Villa would part with him in Jan.
 
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