Think we need to start looking at Liverpool's 22/23 season as a potential reference point for City's 24/25 season, just in case things don't turn around.
They finished the 21/22 season having won the League Cup and FA Cup double. They played every game it was possible for them to play, losing the Premier League title on the last day and losing the Champions League final to Real Madrid.
They then suffered severe burnout. Won the Community Shield but never got their form together in the league, finished 5th on 67 points, and were knocked out of both cups in the fourth round. Lost out to Real Madrid again, this time in the last 16 of the Champions League.
Mane and Origi had been sold in the summer, and they replaced them with largely unpolished youngsters like Darwin Nunez, Fabio Carvalho, and Cody Gakpo. But it was in midfield where they really suffered and couldn't get the season going as a result.
Fabinho's legs went overnight. As did Keita's. Their other options in the middle were Thiago, Henderson, and Milner, who were all over 30. This resulted in them hurriedly signing Arthur (who played one game all season), and trying kids like Stefan Bajcetic (18 at the time), Harvey Elliott (19 y/o), and Curtis Jones (21 y/o).
Their season never really got going. They were 9th at Christmas and were never in the top four at any point during the season, eventually missing out on Champions League football for the 23-24 season. But that was exacerbated by a lack of transfer activity in January, which saw them sign zero midfielders despite desperately needing them.
To me, it seems obvious. A couple of big signings in January should secure us a top four finish. But even if we do have a year outside the top four because of how bad our injury situation is, look where Liverpool are now just 18 months down the line. Rebuilds don't take long so long as you've got a good foundation to build from, and we know we do.
So remember...
They finished the 21/22 season having won the League Cup and FA Cup double. They played every game it was possible for them to play, losing the Premier League title on the last day and losing the Champions League final to Real Madrid.
They then suffered severe burnout. Won the Community Shield but never got their form together in the league, finished 5th on 67 points, and were knocked out of both cups in the fourth round. Lost out to Real Madrid again, this time in the last 16 of the Champions League.
Mane and Origi had been sold in the summer, and they replaced them with largely unpolished youngsters like Darwin Nunez, Fabio Carvalho, and Cody Gakpo. But it was in midfield where they really suffered and couldn't get the season going as a result.
Fabinho's legs went overnight. As did Keita's. Their other options in the middle were Thiago, Henderson, and Milner, who were all over 30. This resulted in them hurriedly signing Arthur (who played one game all season), and trying kids like Stefan Bajcetic (18 at the time), Harvey Elliott (19 y/o), and Curtis Jones (21 y/o).
Their season never really got going. They were 9th at Christmas and were never in the top four at any point during the season, eventually missing out on Champions League football for the 23-24 season. But that was exacerbated by a lack of transfer activity in January, which saw them sign zero midfielders despite desperately needing them.
To me, it seems obvious. A couple of big signings in January should secure us a top four finish. But even if we do have a year outside the top four because of how bad our injury situation is, look where Liverpool are now just 18 months down the line. Rebuilds don't take long so long as you've got a good foundation to build from, and we know we do.
So remember...