I think he left because of money. They offered him €400k a week. Could be wrong though. Our execs fucked up in the initial offers when Bayern was nowhere to be seen. Had we offered slightly over £200k a week then, I think he would have stayed. Our offers were something like 120k, 150k and then 190k as our final offer.Another thing, he's gone and we have to accept that, but did Sane only want Bayern or did we just not give him the wages he deserved? If we said 'Here's 250k a week, take it or leave it.', I wonder if he'd of stayed.
We don't mind throwing 50mil at players who don't work out, but we want to save a few million quid on our genuinely world class players.
Anyone else feel like our recruitment strategy is starting to hold us back?
We’re now losing players like Silva and Kompany, while the likes of Fernandinho and Aguero aren’t getting any younger. The thing is, the players we’re bringing in aren’t at the same level and often it feels like a case of ‘we don’t really know how they’ll turn out, but let’s hope they’re good’. Players like Aguero, Silva and Yaya were top class when we bought them and even Kompany was really highly regarded but held back due to his injury record.
Buying proven big players often DOES work. I’d argue our two biggest names purchased since Garry Cook left were De Bruyne and Sterling but based on the last few years you just know that Aguero’s successor is going to be some mid-range player who ends up struggling to get 15 goals a season.
This will upset some but we SHOULD be in for players like Sancho. His record at Dortmund is phenomenal. I don’t care about the past - let bygones be bygones. He’ll be a star in the top flight for the next 10 years when he comes back.
Don’t get me wrong I do think there are good deals to be had with lesser known talent, I just think you need a strong core of top class players and then you build around them.
Exactly mate, there are not many players around for £50m-£60m in today's market or 3 years ago who would accept a squad role he plays and be happy. Not who are experienced and know the league anyway. Mahrez serves a purpose in squad depth and he does so while bringing a certain level of quality while accepting a rotating role. I know he doesn't set the world alight but he serves a purpose. That imo is a decent signing.
No he didn't he's on 260k a Week. He left because he and his family were HomesickI think he left because of money. They offered him €400k a week. Could be wrong though. Our execs fucked up in the initial offers when Bayern was nowhere to be seen. Had we offered slightly over £200k a week then, I think he would have stayed. Our offers were something like 120k, 150k and then 190k as our final offer.
He plays a role in the squad that nobody with his experience of the league and his qualities would. He is not a crucial team player and is not first choice and he is happy with that. Not many players of his quality and experience for £50m-£60m In the league that would.If you're not happy with his overall game, and you also think is a "£40m player max" then how is he a good signing when we paid £60m? Genuinely asking.
Since Pep came there have been a lot more misses than hits
Successes:
Ederson
Laporte
Sane
Bernardo
Walker
Inconsistent or not good enough
Gundogan
Mahrez
Jesus
Stones
Danilo
Jesus
Cancelo
Outright terrible
Nolito
Bravo
Mendy
Zinchenko
The world class players who are coming to the end of their time here (VK, Silva, Ferna, Sane & Aguero) are being replaced by players who just aren’t at that level
peps tactics have got worse too, think it all stems from changing from Sane and Sterling outwide with Ferna sweeping up to seeminly Mahrez and Sterling cutting in and Rodri or Gungogan in front of the back 4 to try and get more control
it’s made us so much more blunt up front and exposed at the back