The Little Horse

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Marvin.

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Manchester City
At the end of last season, Khaldoon assured City fans "that the club will do everything possible to come back to the standards that we know we all can achieve..."

At this moment these are some relevant club net transfer spends (£m) from Guardian Transfer Interactive:

Manchester City-66
Liverpool-110
Arsenal-254
Man Utd-210.5

The window is not over. Liverpool may spend £120m on Isak and might buy Guehi. Man Utd look like they will buy a keeper and sell Garnacho (£40m).

The money invested likely loosely correlates to real improvement in the playing squad. Given that Walker and KDB recently left City, I don't think that Khaldoon has fulfilled his promise. We may still be competitive because we have players like Stones, Rodri and Bobb who are returning to the squad and who featured very little last season. Last season, Pep had a huge challenge in dealing with the injuries. This season, Pep is the little horse. Perhaps we should save commentaries about the transfer window until it actually closes but it seems to me that relatively speaking City's squad is now weaker than our rivals. Our major asset is Pep, and players like Stones, Rodri and Haaland. Those players will need to get fit and stay fit if City are to challenge for honours this season.
 
Marvin. said:
At the end of last season, Khaldoon assured City fans "that the club will do everything possible to come back to the standards that we know we all can achieve..."

At this moment these are some relevant club net transfer spends (£m) from Guardian Transfer Interactive:

Manchester City-66
Liverpool-110
Arsenal-254
Man Utd-210.5

The window is not over. Liverpool may spend £120m on Isak and might buy Guehi. Man Utd look like they will buy a keeper and sell Garnacho (£40m).

The money invested likely loosely correlates to real improvement in the playing squad. Given that Walker and KDB recently left City, I don't think that Khaldoon has fulfilled his promise. We may still be competitive because we have players like Stones, Rodri and Bobb who are returning to the squad and who featured very little last season. Last season, Pep had a huge challenge in dealing with the injuries. This season, Pep is the little horse. Perhaps we should save commentaries about the transfer window until it actually closes but it seems to me that relatively speaking City's squad is now weaker than our rivals. Our major asset is Pep, and players like Stones, Rodri and Haaland. Those players will need to get fit and stay fit if City are to challenge for honours this season.
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You say weaker than our rivals and have the rags in your list lol.

Injuries are injuries. Can say the same for Liverpool if they don't keep the aging Salah & VVD fit or Arsenal Rice and Saka.

Our squad is also not weaker, the 11 might be but squad definitely not. Compare the 25 man squads of Liverpool and Arsenal to ours and we have more depth apart from at RB lol
 
citytill1die84 said:
You say weaker than our rivals and have the rags in your list lol.

Injuries are injuries. Can say the same for Liverpool if they don't keep the aging Salah & VVD fit or Arsenal Rice and Saka.

Our squad is also not weaker, the 11 might be but squad definitely not. Compare the 25 man squads of Liverpool and Arsenal to ours and we have more depth apart from at RB lol
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The table illustrates transfer spends; it does not rank squads.

The issue I wanted to highlight was that Liverpool and Arsenal are both investing huge amounts in the transfer window and these clubs finished last season ahead of us. I feel that rather than close the gap, we are falling behind but the window is still open. If Donnarumma comes in for example, then that is going to change how I feel, likewise if the Isak deal falls through.

We have not yet see Arsenal, Liverpool and City's squads as they are not registered until after the window.
 
Marvin. said:
The table illustrates transfer spends; it does not rank squads.

The issue I wanted to highlight was that Liverpool and Arsenal are both investing huge amounts in the transfer window and these clubs finished last season ahead of us. I feel that rather than close the gap, we are moving away but as I say, the window is still open. If Donnarumma comes in for example, then that is going to change how I feel, likewise if the Isak deal falls through.
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I think Isak will happen unfortunately but imo they don't need him and he doesn't suit their system or at least I hope not :-)
 
Marvin. said:
At the end of last season, Khaldoon assured City fans "that the club will do everything possible to come back to the standards that we know we all can achieve..."

At this moment these are some relevant club net transfer spends (£m) from Guardian Transfer Interactive:

Manchester City-66
Liverpool-110
Arsenal-254
Man Utd-210.5

The window is not over. Liverpool may spend £120m on Isak and might buy Guehi. Man Utd look like they will buy a keeper and sell Garnacho (£40m).

The money invested likely loosely correlates to real improvement in the playing squad. Given that Walker and KDB recently left City, I don't think that Khaldoon has fulfilled his promise. We may still be competitive because we have players like Stones, Rodri and Bobb who are returning to the squad and who featured very little last season. Last season, Pep had a huge challenge in dealing with the injuries. This season, Pep is the little horse. Perhaps we should save commentaries about the transfer window until it actually closes but it seems to me that relatively speaking City's squad is now weaker than our rivals. Our major asset is Pep, and players like Stones, Rodri and Haaland. Those players will need to get fit and stay fit if City are to challenge for honours this season.
Click to expand...

Add in January....

We've signed 7 players for the first team squad in the last few months, and got Bobb and Rodri back from a year out - how much turnover do people think we can do without destroying all cohesion in the team?

The only issue is RB and there's no good RB's on the market.
 
Marvin. said:
The table illustrates transfer spends; it does not rank squads.

The issue I wanted to highlight was that Liverpool and Arsenal are both investing huge amounts in the transfer window and these clubs finished last season ahead of us. I feel that rather than close the gap, we are falling behind but the window is still open. If Donnarumma comes in for example, then that is going to change how I feel, likewise if the Isak deal falls through.

We have not yet see Arsenal, Liverpool and City's squads as they are not registered until after the window.
Click to expand...
The January splurge needs to be added to the spend.

However, we’re not Chelsea and we won’t leave a plethora of players unregistered for competitions and maybe we’ve been hamstrung by players not moving on.
 
citytill1die84 said:
I think Isak will happen unfortunately but imo they don't need him and he doesn't suit their system or at least I hope not :-)
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It might possibly rebound a little if he gets a lot of hostility from away grounds. I think it will suit them as Ekitike and Salah look like wide forwards and should on paper complement Isak. In the past a strong Liverpool side raised our own level. I don't think many City fans think we have done enough although that might be the Spurs game speaking. That was the first chance we had to see the new City.
 
Marvin. said:
It might possibly rebound a little if he gets a lot of hostility from away grounds. I think it will suit them as Ekitike and Salah look like wide forwards and should on paper complement Isak. In the past a strong Liverpool side raised our own level. I don't think many City fans think we have done enough although that might be the Spurs game speaking. That was the first chance we had to see the new City.
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Spurs game has a lot to do with it mate 100% after the Wolves performance I was tipping us to win the lot haha. Honestly I think we'll be absolutely fine although I'd absolutely love a RB but doesn't seem to be many decent ones around atm :-(
 
Alan Harper's Tash said:
The January splurge needs to be added to the spend.

However, we’re not Chelsea and we won’t leave a plethora of players unregistered for competitions and maybe we’ve been hamstrung by players not moving on.
Click to expand...
Khaldoon's comments were made after the season and before the CWC. With 4 days left in the window, City do not appear to me to have closed the gap on Arsenal and Liverpool.

I appreciate that Total, £ spend is not necessarily a good guide. Cherki for example, may become a star player. On the other hand he may not. A large proportion of City's recent buys have been speculative.'clever' buys rather than guarantees.
 
citytill1die84 said:
Spurs game has a lot to do with it mate 100% after the Wolves performance I was tipping us to win the lot haha. Honestly I think we'll be absolutely fine although I'd absolutely love a RB but doesn't seem to be many decent ones around atm :-(
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I agree. My views on City swing wildly according to results. That might be reasonable though. In the Summer we could dream. Now the dreams are tested for real.
 
Marvin. said:
Khaldoon's comments were made after the season and before the CWC. With 4 days left in the window, City do not appear to me to have closed the gap on Arsenal and Liverpool.

I appreciate that Total, £ spend is not necessarily a good guide. Cherki for example, may become a star player. On the other hand he may not. A large proportion of City's recent buys have been speculative.'clever' buys rather than guarantees.
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Agreed.

Missed out on Rice, missed out on Bellingham, missed out on Wirtz.

Show me the money Khaldoon or stop talking big, your smooth talking schtick is wearing thin
 
Marvin. said:
Khaldoon's comments were made after the season and before the CWC. With 4 days left in the window, City do not appear to me to have closed the gap on Arsenal and Liverpool.

I appreciate that Total, £ spend is not necessarily a good guide. Cherki for example, may become a star player. On the other hand he may not. A large proportion of City's recent buys have been speculative.'clever' buys rather than guarantees.
Click to expand...
But probably lumping in the January buys and let’s face it if we bought Marmoush now he’d be >£100m LFC paying what they did for Wirtz has inflated the market substantially I also don’t believe they have bought as well as some are saying they need to spend even more Arsenal on the face of it have had a good window but again a lot to prove just like us especially Zumamendi Saka is injured again and looks like he suffering from being overplayed Gyokeres I believe is a gamble could certainly go either way Eze is a good addition but is he a regular starter? I’m happy with our 2025 business, if we can get a good RB then it would be>10
 
Axel Freed said:
Agreed.

Missed out on Rice, missed out on Bellingham, missed out on Wirtz.

Show me the money Khaldoon or stop talking big, your smooth talking schtick is wearing thin
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Yes we should’ve signed them even if they didn’t want to join us. Simply offering them more money would’ve done the trick.
 
Speaks pure shit in those interviews just like any politician coming up to a general election. Says what everyone wants to hear
 
Axel Freed said:
Agreed.

Missed out on Rice, missed out on Bellingham, missed out on Wirtz.

Show me the money Khaldoon or stop talking big, your smooth talking schtick is wearing thin
Click to expand...
What a load of bollocks naming those three players who decided they wanted to play for other clubs and NOT City.
We are not in control of those measures FFS.
 
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