Massive Rebuild Next Summer - Rate Our Side

[BlueMoonAcrossThePond]

I’m hoping it’s just fatigue from previous campaigns. He’s still very young and it’s quite normal for young players to have a blip at some point. Palmer’s experiencing one at the moment. The Euro’s were a disaster from a confidence and self-esteem perspective and he’s been ill and had some niggles as well. He was a key player last season that delivered us the league title. I retain hope with him, and a number of our current squad, that they’ll be back to their best next season. They’ve not all suddenly turned to shit.

I hope so too.

But in reality - we're too old in numerous positions. And in other positions, we're full of injuries year after year. And yet in other positions - form has dipped to the point where players aren't up level.

So 8 or so players out - is I think needed. Not all of our new signings will work out - so we likely won't win the league next season and likely the season after.

Nonetheless - it's clear to me that a massive overhaul is needed in the summer window. If we want to realistically challenge for the P/L, C/L and FA cup, our current squad is nowhere near good enough.

 

[SamBlue]

F: everything must go

 

[goater1985]

I do think anyone expecting mass amounts of players to leave are going to be very, very shocked.

Pep has already said he accepts we need a bigger squad. And with that in mind, plus the fact we don't have many who will bring in massive money - we need to bring in more than we sell if he wants a bigger squad.

We are unlikely to be bringing in many 'cheap' first team players, so therefore players brought in are likely to cost a fair whack. We can't/won't be signing 8,9 players in one go (which would be needed if all these players being branded about are going to leave).

A lot of the below is dependent on things I'd like to happen (Grealish played centrally and regularly, Stones/Ake being fit). But let's have a go.

S: (Keep no matter what): Haaland, Dias, Gvardiol, Foden, Rodri, Marmoush, Doku, Nico O, Nico G
A: (World class, extremely reluctant to sell): (not saying the above are all WC but see above for must keeps)
B: (P/L Class great player - prefer very much not to sell): Savinho, Grealish, Bobb, Stones, Ake, Ortega, Ederson, Akanji
C: (P/L Good, but consider offers): McAtee, Kovacic
D: (P/L Average or maybe a bit worse, hoping to sell): Lewis, Nunes,
E: (Sub-adequate, past their prime or otherwise a detriment, sell or offer on loan): Kev, Gundo, Bernardo
F: (Sell, sell, sell):
X: (Unknown - new/fringe players whom you've not watched enough to form an opinion): Reis, Echeverri

 

[Marvin.]

I hope so too.

But in reality - we're too old in numerous positions. And in other positions, we're full of injuries year after year. And yet in other positions - form has dipped to the point where players aren't up level.

So 8 or so players out - is I think needed. Not all of our new signings will work out - so we likely won't win the league next season and likely the season after.

Nonetheless - it's clear to me that a massive overhaul is needed in the summer window. If we want to realistically challenge for the P/L, C/L and FA cup, our current squad is nowhere near good enough.

No one knows how Stones, Rodri and Foden will recover nor how Marmoush, Gonzalez, Khusanov, Reis, Savinho, Echeverri, Bobb, O'Reilly will develop. A component of the problems City faced this season has been chronic injuries to defenders. Some fans are writing Stones, Akanji, Ake etc off but perhaps that is premature.

You conclude that a massive overhaul is required but I would say wait and see because you are making premature judgements. What you might be able to say is that City need to sort out Ederson's future, and that we might need fullbacks because we don't appear to have players in that position in our squad

 

[waspish]

Not Guimaraes, too difficult to make room in the squad, we don’t need 3 midfielders, and most important Newcastle won’t sell and he doesn’t want to leave.

We need a squad of quality players all this we don't need 3 midfielders!
We do!

 

[mattcity5]

I’m hoping it’s just fatigue from previous campaigns. He’s still very young and it’s quite normal for young players to have a blip at some point. Palmer’s experiencing one at the moment. The Euro’s were a disaster from a confidence and self-esteem perspective and he’s been ill and had some niggles as well. He was a key player last season that delivered us the league title. I retain hope with him, and a number of our current squad, that they’ll be back to their best next season. They’ve not all suddenly turned to shit.

Phil keeps on having kids. Father of 3 at the age of 24 and won everything at club level.

Wouldn't be surprised if he's questioning his priorities a little, being away with the club so much. Also seems to just get past the point where a kid would be up all night and then he has another and it starts all over again. I've got no idea if his family and how it's all going, but it can be hard going. He just seems jaded whenever he plays now.

 

[Columbia]

We need to clear out the cheeses. Gundo, Bernardo, KDB and both keepers.

 

[r.soleofsalford]

Firstly we need Pep to take the handbrake off and create a different style of play. We’ve been found out big time.Our forwards are getting the ball that slowly the opponents defense are all back and in position to smoother our attack.

New players may help but a new system is needed that doesn’t give opponent time to organise their defence.

 

[supercity88]

I hope so too.

But in reality - we're too old in numerous positions. And in other positions, we're full of injuries year after year. And yet in other positions - form has dipped to the point where players aren't up level.

So 8 or so players out - is I think needed. Not all of our new signings will work out - so we likely won't win the league next season and likely the season after.

Nonetheless - it's clear to me that a massive overhaul is needed in the summer window. If we want to realistically challenge for the P/L, C/L and FA cup, our current squad is nowhere near good enough.

The list of players we need to shift on is probably about 8. It's whether we need to replace them all. I can only see 5 coming in, but I would say 2-3 of those have to be proven at the top level. We can't afford to give time to too many more players, we need them to deliver instantly.

Rodri fit and firing makes a monumental difference to the balance of our side and he will drive standards. If fit, Ake and Stones are superb. Dias and Akanji similarly. They'll help Reis and Khusanov bed in. But we need attacking players who can deliver consistently or a system that looks to find Marmoush/Haaland more aggressively and earlier (unlikely under Pep).

The jury is out on a number of players, and the best way to get them performing is to put them under pressure. It's shit or get off the pot for plenty. Foden and Bernardo have credit in the bank. Gvardiol needs to switch on more defensively or have someone putting him on the bench. Same for Doku and Savinho - deliver attacking returns regularly or it's the bench or off to another club.

 

[Ste68]

No one knows how Stones, Rodri and Foden will recover nor how Marmoush, Gonzalez, Khusanov, Reis, Savinho, Echeverri, Bobb, O'Reilly will develop. A component of the problems City faced this season has been chronic injuries to defenders. Some fans are writing Stones, Akanji, Ake etc off but perhaps that is premature.

From a defensive perspective I think Stones is obviously the big risk as he has not played anywhere near 50% of the games in a season for a number of seasons. Ake, Akanji and Dias all played over 40 games each season up to this. Having invested in Khusanov, Reiss and Bah I would expect we are thinking of shifting one on but agree not all need to be replaced. Midfield is the big worry , lack of legs and creativity along with little end product out wide.

 

[supercity88]

Phil keeps on having kids. Father of 3 at the age of 24 and won everything at club level.

Wouldn't be surprised if he's questioning his priorities a little, being away with the club so much. Also seems to just get past the point where a kid would be up all night and then he has another and it starts all over again. I've got no idea if his family and how it's all going, but it can be hard going. He just seems jaded whenever he plays now.

If he's like other minted parents he'll be chucking money at help and his Mrs will be doing most of the work! But you never know, it's a lot for someone that young to cope with. He's won the lot, been thrown under the bus with England and there aren't many players out there that haven't had a poor season at one point. He largely carried the attacking burden last season and just hasn't been able to this time around. But you have to give the players who have delivered for us before some leeway. It's the likes of Doku, Savinho, Gvardiol for me who should be under the most pressure to perform. The rest might be jaded, but have proven their quality in winning so much for us. Those three don't have that excuse and should be showing us they're going to be driving the standards moving forwards. In the attacking third Gvardiol's been excellent but his defensive performances and lack of concentration have been very concerning.

 

[Keeper!]

I’m hoping it’s just fatigue from previous campaigns. He’s still very young and it’s quite normal for young players to have a blip at some point. Palmer’s experiencing one at the moment. The Euro’s were a disaster from a confidence and self-esteem perspective and he’s been ill and had some niggles as well. He was a key player last season that delivered us the league title. I retain hope with him, and a number of our current squad, that they’ll be back to their best next season. They’ve not all suddenly turned to shit.

Good points but go and look back on the previous Foden and you will see a very different character, a player than ran his heart out, a player that played with a smile on his face, a player that played for the club he loves and a player that never hid, I would say the polar opposite of this seasons Foden.

He seems to have lost the love of the game, I am actually surprised he got the England call up if he does have issues(off field/illness), or is this a player that no longer respects his manager, that's just an open question because sadly something is very wrong with Phil.

 

[Keeper!]

IMO Echeverri and Bobb have incredible potential but could also amount to very little but the season is not over yet. There are too many unknowns e.g., Rodri, Marmoush, Khusanov, Nico. And players like Doku and Savinho are developing. There are many injured players too. How will they recover.

We could be close to a title-winning squad. We don't know.

Agreed, Marmoush, Khusanov, Reis, Bobb, Doku, Savinho huge potential but a way to go.

We need to go back to the days when we used to make statements in the transfer market, buy the best available, Haaland apart that's not happened for a long time and hence why we look so weak and so quickly.

 

[Keeper!]

We need to clear out the cheeses. Gundo, Bernardo, KDB and both keepers.

I would add Dias to that list, he needs to get his sh1t together or be moved on whilst he has still transfer value.

 

[I'msingingingtheblues]

Definitely a rb,probably a keeper,creative midfielder,most of all bar Dias we don’t have any leaders on the pitch

Anything less than world class and we're only a top 4 club - we need a fist class RB & LB (Nunes makes too many mistakes and Lewis is too light weight - and on the left, even though Gvardiol is world class, especially going forward, he get's caught out - he and Khush as a future first class centre back pairing + Did & Reiss - Ake & Akanji squad / cup players. Decision needs to be made on Stones - can we keep him off the treatment table.
Assuming Rodri hasn't lost anything through the injury then we have him and Nico as DMs - need at least one new creative midfielder + play Foden between the lines - keep Bernardo - then with Oscar, Echevri and current forwards I think we've got enough. I haven't seen enough from McAtee - but probably give him one more season
Give Grealish an ultimatum - he either commits himself 100% to the club - gives up the partying - is serious about recovering form or he's sold.
Sell Nunes, Kov, Walker, Phillips and probably Lewis
Gundo moved to coaching role - KDB deserves to do what he wants - I certainly wouldn't be pushing him out the door - but he knows his legs have now gone
Ederson's head's been turned and Ortega, despite his moments isn't good enough.

 

[blueparrot]

We need a squad of quality players all this we don't need 3 midfielders!
We do!

We really don’t , we need a full back probably a keeper, 2 midfielders if possible.Only way we bring 3 in is if at lest 9 players leave, not happening. We already have Rodri, Nico, Foden, Echeverri, plus 2 so that’s 6, and highly unlikely all of Bernardo, Gundogan, Kovacic, KDB leave which is what would need to happen to even think about a 3 rd midfielder.

 

[Roachy]

Agreed, Marmoush, Khusanov, Reis, Bobb, Doku, Savinho huge potential but a way to go.

We need to go back to the days when we used to make statements in the transfer market, buy the best available, Haaland apart that's not happened for a long time and hence why we look so weak and so quickly.

We're down a couple of levels from where we were. It will take some harsh decisions in relation to overhauling the squad to the necessary standard in relation to letting players go. It must be done though. Quality reinforcements in several positions are much needed.

 

[RayCTID]

It won't be done all in one transfer window.

 

[flook]

Agreed, Marmoush, Khusanov, Reis, Bobb, Doku, Savinho huge potential but a way to go.

We need to go back to the days when we used to make statements in the transfer market, buy the best available, Haaland apart that's not happened for a long time and hence why we look so weak and so quickly.

we've never, with the exception of the Viking, bought the perceived best available, rather we've bought the very best of potential. Aguero, Silva, KDB, Fernandinho, Rodri, Bernado, Vinny, Yaya the list goes on. Good players without a doubt, but none were at the very top level when we bought them. Buying that sort of player allows you to build a team without the superstar ego that the likes of Bellingham, Mbappe, Vinicius Jr bring with them. Thats what we were superb at for a decade and thats what we haven't done for a couple of years now.

 

[bondsman]

I’d love to see us try a combo of Nico G, Oreilly, Grealish, gvardiol in the cm positions. Any combo of those 3 I think gives us power and physicality where we need it most.