The Squad planning thread

[Ajm1985]

I think we are doing OK here...

KDB Gundo contracts expire this summer
Walker Bernie contracts expire next summer...

Plus we have one player who has to prove his worth in Matheus and academy graduate Macatee.


So I guess this summer we will concentrate on KDB & Gundo replacements, which means that we will buy defensive midfielder who covers for Rodri and either Matheus proves his worth as an attacking midfielder or we will sell him, add extra money and buy player like Wirtz or Musiala or whoever they are talking about.

Then we will have to replace Walker & Bernardo. By that time hopefully Rico will be fully ready for the first squad and we will buy his cover or competition, like Frimpong for example. As for the Bernardo, we will have 2 full seasons of Macatee by then and if he proves worth, we will use him as Bernardo's successor, otherwise same will happen to him like it happens to Matheus.

Therefore next two summers: 1 CDM and 1 RB. Plus 2 CAMs depending on Macatee / Matheus situations, which means that at least we will generate 50% of those transfers by selling Macatee and Matheus.

After two years, we will have to look at CB replacements, but till that happens, we will have a lot of time..

In other words - well done Txiki.

Doesn't Gundo have an automatic extension based on appearances? Considering Rodri's absence, It's likely to be triggered.

Not entirely sure you can say it's been well done Txiki - aside from the misses with midfield transfers, and inability to get targets over the line, we wouldn't even have Gundo if he didn't make himself available. It was widely reported we wouldn't have gone into the market for a midfielder at that stage - and we welcomed back a midfielder we didn't want to offer a longer contract to the previous summer.

Phillips was a bust and as much as I think Nunes has talent, he was a trolley dash addition after our other choices failed & he isn't a Pep player. It's not been great planning in midfield.

 

[Gaz (FMwkdsoul)]

Doesn't Gundo have an automatic extension based on appearances? Considering Rodri's absence, It's likely to be triggered.

Not entirely sure you can say it's been well done Txiki - aside from the misses with midfield transfers, and inability to get targets over the line, we wouldn't even have Gundo if he didn't make himself available. It was widely reported we wouldn't have gone into the market for a midfielder at that stage - and we welcomed back a midfielder we didn't want to offer a longer contract to the previous summer.

Phillips was a bust and as much as I think Nunes has talent, he was a trolley dash addition after our other choices failed & he isn't a Pep player. It's not been great planning in midfield.

Think its just an option looking at reports.

 

[DATOIA]

Doesn't Gundo have an automatic extension based on appearances? Considering Rodri's absence, It's likely to be triggered.

Not entirely sure you can say it's been well done Txiki - aside from the misses with midfield transfers, and inability to get targets over the line, we wouldn't even have Gundo if he didn't make himself available. It was widely reported we wouldn't have gone into the market for a midfielder at that stage - and we welcomed back a midfielder we didn't want to offer a longer contract to the previous summer.

Phillips was a bust and as much as I think Nunes has talent, he was a trolley dash addition after our other choices failed & he isn't a Pep player. It's not been great planning in midfield.

Well.. when we sold Gundo, we had Alvarez who wanted more game time and Foden, plus as I understand club was working on Bellinghem transfer, as well as Kovacic. So it was correct decision to let Gundo go..

This summer Alvarez wanted to go and was sold. If he hadn't gone, maybe we wouldn't have signed Gundo.

But I am not talking about "what would have happened", I am looking at the squad and it is well-planned.
We have a lot of young players.

Plus we won't need major overhaul as squad replacement can be done step-by-step, like I said - this summer find replacements for KDB & Gundo and next summer, find replacements for Bernie & Walker.

And players like Macatee and Bobb give us ability to spend less, as this players are developed year-by-year and eventually are getting to the level City needs them to be. So when someone retires or is sold, we don't have to spend big to find their replacements.

That's why our net spend for the last 5 years is less than 11 teams in PL, including Big8 and other ones.
But the results are N1

Yep, transfers like Mendy or Phillips happen once in a while, but I think we have the best ratio in terms of successful transfers vs flops, during the last 10 years.

 

[Ajm1985]

Well.. when we sold Gundo, we had Alvarez who wanted more game time and Foden, plus as I understand club was working on Bellinghem transfer, as well as Kovacic. So it was correct decision to let Gundo go..

This summer Alvarez wanted to go and was sold. If he hadn't gone, maybe we wouldn't have signed Gundo.

But I am not talking about "what would have happened", I am looking at the squad and it is well-planned.
We have a lot of young players.

Plus we won't need major overhaul as squad replacement can be done step-by-step, like I said - this summer find replacements for KDB & Gundo and next summer, find replacements for Bernie & Walker.

And players like Macatee and Bobb give us ability to spend less, as this players are developed year-by-year and eventually are getting to the level City needs them to be. So when someone retires or is sold, we don't have to spend big to find their replacements.

That's why our net spend for the last 5 years is less than 11 teams in PL, including Big8 and other ones.
But the results are N1

Yep, transfers like Mendy or Phillips happen once in a while, but I think we have the best ratio in terms of successful transfers vs flops, during the last 10 years.

We wouldn't have signed Gundo or another midfielder if Gundo hadn't been made available at the end of the window. That's not planning, it's pragmatic & opportunistic. We didn't initially offer a longer contract (1 year extension was our initial offer) due to Gundo's age - which was correct. The failure is not landing midfield targets and reducing the age profile of the position - there have been 2 summer windows to address it and it hasn't been.

The replacements for KDB, Bernardo etc aren't going to be cheap - we've spent £100m on 2 midfielders to ostensibly support/deputise Rodri and they aren't close to the first team. 1 is on loan at Ipswich and the other was widely criticised as not being City standard last night.

Overall the squad is obviously of a high standard and is elevated by the absolute freak in charge, but it's fine to point out that there have been misses.

 

[Ajm1985]

Think its just an option looking at reports.

That's what I read about it

 

[69FACUPfinal]

Doesn't Gundo have an automatic extension based on appearances? Considering Rodri's absence, It's likely to be triggered.

Not entirely sure you can say it's been well done Txiki - aside from the misses with midfield transfers, and inability to get targets over the line, we wouldn't even have Gundo if he didn't make himself available. It was widely reported we wouldn't have gone into the market for a midfielder at that stage - and we welcomed back a midfielder we didn't want to offer a longer contract to the previous summer.

Phillips was a bust and as much as I think Nunes has talent, he was a trolley dash addition after our other choices failed & he isn't a Pep player. It's not been great planning in midfield.

I personally think Tkiki is living on past glories. Last two seasons xfers = very underwhelming ( apart from Josko).

Other contenders have has much better windows and are reaping rewards.

 

[Ajm1985]

I personally think Tkiki is living on past glories. Last two seasons xfers = very underwhelming ( apart from Josko).

Other contenders have has much better windows and are reaping rewards.

In fairness, in midfield it feels like there's been a mixture of not getting people onboard (Bellingham), moving onto other targets too late (Rice) and being steadfast with our valuation due to apprehension of how it appears (Guimaraes). Not having back ups or landing targets is a black mark, especially as it was clear how Rodri was running on fumes/likely to get injured due to overlaying.

Savio & Doku are really good signings for me - both completely change the dimensions of our attack and will come good. Just need them to start scoring!

 

[CC1]

I personally think Tkiki is living on past glories. Last two seasons xfers = very underwhelming ( apart from Josko).

Other contenders have has much better windows and are reaping rewards.

You mean like Dipperpool? Or the rags or ….

Also, I mean, he should have anticipated Rodri’s injury & signed a top class midfielder who wouldn’t have to keep the bench warm….

 

[Gaz (FMwkdsoul)]

Well.. when we sold Gundo, we had Alvarez who wanted more game time and Foden, plus as I understand club was working on Bellinghem transfer, as well as Kovacic. So it was correct decision to let Gundo go..

This summer Alvarez wanted to go and was sold. If he hadn't gone, maybe we wouldn't have signed Gundo.

But I am not talking about "what would have happened", I am looking at the squad and it is well-planned.
We have a lot of young players.

Plus we won't need major overhaul as squad replacement can be done step-by-step, like I said - this summer find replacements for KDB & Gundo and next summer, find replacements for Bernie & Walker.

And players like Macatee and Bobb give us ability to spend less, as this players are developed year-by-year and eventually are getting to the level City needs them to be. So when someone retires or is sold, we don't have to spend big to find their replacements.

That's why our net spend for the last 5 years is less than 11 teams in PL, including Big8 and other ones.
But the results are N1

Yep, transfers like Mendy or Phillips happen once in a while, but I think we have the best ratio in terms of successful transfers vs flops, during the last 10 years.

tend to agree the way the ages are staggered to leave 2-3 in/out at a time, and never within the same job role/profile must be tricky to balance everything, regardless if we want 2 internationals and a EDS player for every position. I get why pep likes his flexibility and small squad though. Kova, Josko, Savio, Doku, Gundo, Bobb, McAtee added in 2 seasons is all smart work. (Baffled at Nunes but what you gonna do)

We're rarely in a position of panic over needing 5 in, 5 out

 

[69FACUPfinal]

You mean like Dipperpool? Or the rags or ….

Also, I mean, he should have anticipated Rodri’s injury & signed a top class midfielder who wouldn’t have to keep the bench warm….

Re your last para. Yes they seriously haven't planned for any kind of Rodri or even Erling back up.