Rebuild

I am no expert on Pep but watching his previous teams several things strike me. One is the energy, even when wining easily in the last few minutes. When a ball goes out of play they run to return it into play as quickly as possible. This requires a big lift in our fitness and stamina and attitude.
Secondly, flexibility in playing styles and formation. Rarely rigid and predictable (as we have become). This requires adaptable and intelligent players.
Given these criteria it will be hard to say who will fit in the new look side until we have seen how well individuals respond. I can only guess which ones will pull through. We are a stifled side at the moment, most of the players have the skill levels required, they need to show what else they can bring (would not be surprised to see some lesser lights shine - Delph for example)
 
cibaman said:
I agree that Guardiola would like 4 or 5 world class additions and that the club would like to give him that new spine. I just question whether its practical for the club to do that in the coming window. And how that would impact on our preparations for the new season.

I just don't see us repeating the 13/14 trick of signing half a dozen players in May/June. Not if we're chasing world class players (which the 13/14 intake weren't). We might get one or two, but most of the deals will follow a similar timeline to the De Bruyne signing. To some extent we've made a rod for our own back with recent signings. No club with any sense will accept a first or second offer from City, no matter how generous. They know that if they wait a few weeks they'll get every penny they want. Until City walk away from deals where clubs hold us to ransom, we're going to find it difficult to do quick deals. Not unless there are special circumstances, like Sterling threatening to go on strike, or Delph having a cheap release clause. That's unlikely to be the case for the world class players Guardiola will want.

Even if we do manage to pull off a few quick signings of world class players, its very likely that those players will be involved in the Euros or Copa America. Late arrivals sitting out most of pre season.

I don't see it as a problem if one or two world class players come in during August, after the season starts, as De Bruyne did. But not 4 or 5 players who are meant to form the spine of the team. It would totally disrupt Guardiola's preparations. Even more so if we have to play two CL qualifiers.

I expect we will chase 5 or 6 world class players but probably only sign a couple. I expect that Guardiola will have been asked to draw up two lists. A list of world class players and a list of players that he really likes but who might not be considered world class and therefore a bit easier to sign. There's going to have to be a compromise between giving Guardiola the very best players and making sure that he has a decent squad to work with in August.
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Although I do take your point, I hope the club's priority is the next five years, and not just the first two months of next season. Because for me it's not important whether a player comes on the 31st August or the 1st June - they just need to be the right player. I agree that bringing in five or six at the end of August if they are all meant to play regularly could be disruptive in the short term, but again if they're the right players in the long term then it's not really important.
 
cibaman said:
£35-£50m might just buy a regular starter this summer.
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I agree the market has gone absolutely nuts. It seems any decent player is quoted as 50 or 60 million.
I have a feeling Pep will say I want this, this and this and Sheik Mansour will say Ok, here you are.
Ffp is finished. I also think City are due to announce a mind boggling sponsorship agreement similar to the rags 750 million Adidas deal.
 
Intriguing summer ahead because we do have some very good players, even those who we consider not good enough/ on their way out:

Sagna: arsenals best player when signed
Navas: most assists in la liga when signed
Mangala: the next big thing
Fernando: like de Jong but on steroids they told us
Otamdendi: best defender in la liga
Bony: 2 years ago he was seen as this years lukaku
Fernandinho: a phenomenal box to box midfielder who excelled in Europe
Kolorov: the Serbian Roberto Carlos

Surely pep/ the new coaching team can get the best of most of these
 
Out- Fernando, Kolorav, Bony, Demichelis, Toure
In- Pogba, Alaba or Willems (PSV), Aubameyang, Laporte, Gundogan

Boom
 
as it was at the end of last season

we need strength in depth in defence and attack first and foremost
 
the biggest question is do we get in who we want/need in one window (summer) or not, if the answer is no don't expect major miracles next season because the 1st team wont be in Pep's full image

FFP still plays it part in all this and will imo take more than the summer to fully transform the squad
 
Pell not Pep ;-) said:
I agree the market has gone absolutely nuts. It seems any decent player is quoted as 50 or 60 million.
I have a feeling Pep will say I want this, this and this and Sheik Mansour will say Ok, here you are.
Ffp is finished. I also think City are due to announce a mind boggling sponsorship agreement similar to the rags 750 million Adidas deal.
Click to expand...
Why do you think this?
 
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