Pep's contract situation | 2 year extension confirmed! (pg1817)

[Gone for a Burton]

But you could go through those 5 and say:

KDB - has hardly featured since 22/23 and has already been replaced by Foden (current form notwithstanding)

Gundo - well past his best but we didn't have him last year and won the league.

Walker - Rico is 19 and already better. He's already been replaced.

Stones and Kova - can be great squad players for the next few years.

I honestly think if we add a top class CM in Janaury we'll be laughing. After that it's a case of identifying the next generation and phasing out the likes of KDB, Bernardo and Stones who'll mostly be rotation options from next year.

Who is the CM ?

 

[Keeper!]

I had no issue with Alvarez been sold at 80m and a player who suddenly wanted out, but should we have not replaced him?

Going into a very long season with one striker is pushing it to the extreme and even more so when that striker has an injury record like the viking.

 

[Keeper!]

You can buy gold too dear.

Arsenal would've outbid us, he was their only choice and he made it clear that he preferred to stay in London.

Guimares was not for sale.

Lavia should have been retained but wanted first team football which he's had for the last 18 months and probably wouldn't have got at City until recently.

18 months is a long time for a young player to wait.

"Guimares was not for sale."

Every player is available, we simply would not pay the price.

 

[Bluewonder]

Who is the CM ?

I'm not a scout, but the best options feel like Zubimendi and Guimareas.

One being a Rodri-lite and one being a quality, PL-proven midfielder capable of deputising for Rodri and playing alongside him.

 

[Semper aggressus]

I absolutely agree that they deserve criticism just unfair to blame Txiki.
Made a massive mistake in persuading Walker, to stay I said 3 seasons ago he was on the wain, a replacement should have been purchased and Walker allowed to leave with some transfer fee recouped now we are stuck with him on a 3 year contract. Rico is not a fullback, he can be a stand in but we need a specialist preferably with pace

Livramento

 

[trublue55]

You can buy gold too dear.

Arsenal would've outbid us, he was their only choice and he made it clear that he preferred to stay in London.

Guimares was not for sale.

Lavia should have been retained but wanted first team football which he's had for the last 18 months and probably wouldn't have got at City until recently.

18 months is a long time for a young player to wait.

Early in the window, until the end of June, Guimaraes was available with a release clause of £100 million. Eddie Howe confirmed this, we simply refused to pay it!

 

[Semper aggressus]

Early in the window, until the end of June, Guimaraes was available with a release clause of £100 million. Eddie Howe confirmed this, we simply refused to pay it!

That’s looking like a mistake now, but back then we didn’t know we’d lose Rodri for the season. It’s that injury which has fucked us over.

 

[bobbyowenquiff]

Sadly I think the decision to bring him back will be shown to be a mistake, he looks a very old, leggy player, still willing and still classy but simply unable to compete physically, the game is passing him by.

Perhaps but I wouldn’t be surprised if he came off the bench and banged in a trophy-winning goal. A lot of players are struggling for fitness. Ake and Foden miles off it for example. I remain an optimist.

 

[Tricky_Trev]

You can buy gold too dear.

Arsenal would've outbid us, he was their only choice and he made it clear that he preferred to stay in London.

Guimares was not for sale.

Lavia should have been retained but wanted first team football which he's had for the last 18 months and probably wouldn't have got at City until recently.

18 months is a long time for a young player to wait.

He had a release clause

 

[Tricky_Trev]

That’s looking like a mistake now, but back then we didn’t know we’d lose Rodri for the season. It’s that injury which has fucked us over.

But that was the beauty of Guimaraes - he can play as an 8 too. We still needed him even if it could have been guaranteed that Rodri stayed fit all season.

 

[trublue55]

But that was the beauty of Guimaraes - he can play as an 8 too. We still needed him even if it could have been guaranteed that Rodri stayed fit all season.

If you believe rumours at the time, terms were agreed with the player, and he was keen to come, just think City tried to knock down the price, and Newcastle refused to budge. Seemed a suspect strategy at the time, and with hindsight definite error

 

[.db.]

Very harsh on Nunes, currently our best player and showing plenty of improvement in an under performing side.

He's not shit.

He’s not been our best player, but he has improved while the general performances of the attacking players has dropped down more to his level.

 

[Roy paul brother]

All good things come to a end sooner or later, Pep and City know this and will have a plan moving forward now if this means Pep signing up for 2 more years great, if not the club already know who’s taking over and will back him in the market. City are no longer a Micky mouse outfit and I have complete faith in the owners unless they are planning on selling, which deserves a thread on its own.

Totally agree and one thing to remember as regards the circus around Pep about whether he stays or goes, the most important people to give us long term success at the club are the owners.We won two Premiers with pretty second rate managers and will again or the owners will change it.

 

[Shazza458]

My analogy is that we’ve need that Gvardiol level signing for the midfield for at least 3 years now

 

[Coatigan]

The following need replacing / phasing out due to age and/or being injury prone

Kev
Gundog
Walker
Stones
Kovacic

Nunes needs flirting off due to being shite.

Rodders will take half a season to get back to his best once he returns.

That’s 6/7 players mate. That’s a pretty big job.

For me, he either stays and commits to overseeing the next 3 years whilst we sort the above or he finishes this summer and a new kid gets the reigns and budget.

Not debating key players need replaced.

But I do stand by that this 'he either fucks off now or he stays one more year' is knee-jerk wiping, and that it is not relevant to the the revamp and will make no real difference.

All that it might actually affect, is that we end up winning less, while we replace players.

But with or without Pep, with one year or two, the players will be replaced when the right ones are available.

 

[Coatigan]

I disagree in terms of the squad that needs a major refresh.

Walker, Gundo, Bernardo, KDB all gone, Rodri is not going to be anywhere near his best for 18 months.

You have ageing , injury prone players in Stones and Ake and I fear Ederson could leave.

That's a huge overhaul and needs Pep's commitment for at least a couple more seasons in my opinion.

See reply above

 

[Phil1]

Not debating key players need replaced.

But I do stand by that this 'he either fucks off now or he stays one more year' is knee-jerk wiping, and that it is not relevant to the the revamp and will make no real difference.

All that it might actually affect, is that we end up winning less, while we replace players.

But with or without Pep, with one year or two, the players will be replaced when the right ones are available.

Honestly, reading a few comments along those lines “needs to sign for two years or go now” is enough to make you weep isn’t it?
Fucking wrong’uns.

 

[Coatigan]

Do people actually think, that if Pep had left at the end of last year, any new manager coming in would have got rid of KDB, still under contract, and brougth in lets say Wirtz or whoever the shiny toy is this year, who didn't want to move or even if he could be concinced would cost so much? Would he really have gone, I know you have the best midfielder in the world at the club, but I want another Rodri, and that the club would have just found one, never mind actually bringing him in. Or bought another top right-back with walker still here. Do you think Pep is the one holding up our recruitment? Please!

We are coming to a natural end of a cycle, Pep could leave now, in a year, in 5 years, the same process will still need to happen. And WILL happen, only either with the best manager in the world or without him.

 

[Coatigan]

Honestly, reading a few comments along those lines “needs to sign for two years or go now” is enough to make you weep isn’t it?
Fucking wrong’uns.

I don't get why people think that if Pep extends just one more year, zero players can be brought in till ge leaves. Wtaf.

 

[Phil1]

Do people actually think, that if Pep had left at the end of last year, any new manager coming in would have got rid of KDB, still under contract, and brougth in lets say Wirtz or whoever the shiny toy is this year, who didn't want to move or even if he could be concinced would cost so much? Would he really have gone, I know you have the best midfielder in the world at the club, but I want another Rodri, and that the club would have just found one, never mind actually bringing him in. Or bought another top right-back with walker still here. Do you think Pep is the one holding up our recruitment? Please!

We are coming to a natural end of a cycle, Pep could leave now, in a year, in 5 years, the same process will still need to happen. And WILL happen, only either with the best manager in the world or without him.

I believe there are posters on here who think it’s as simple as a push of a button in regards to buying and selling players.
I believe those posters to be idiots.