The Squad planning thread

[pbueno16]

If you include Phillips and walker I think 6 will be gone 100%. Smaller chance 7 or 8 will be gone. Gundogan, KDB, Ederson and one of the CBs will be gone imo. With bernardo, kovacic, mcatee, nunes, grealish going if suitable offers come in.

If the interest from Leverkusen into McAtee is legit and they would take him plus cash for Wirtz, that's a great deal for both clubs since we get a player we admire and Leverkusen get a promising replacement for their star. Question is whether Wirtz has been dissuaded from us given our form this season or if Bayern/the German FA get up to their tapping up nonsense for young German players again.

I'd add Kova to that 100% list, but I'm biased since I'd rather not see him wear the shirt again this season.

 

[Gabriel]

We also have Callum Doyle and Maximo Perrone who we need to make decisions on.. i.e. are they good enough or not for the vital positions.

Perrone has apparently intimated his willingness to remain in Como, can’t blame him, and Doyle, for me, first needs to be loaned to someone in the top flight, ideally one of the promoted sides, to see how he copes with the increased pace and intensity.

 

[Xhavenjoe]

Perrone has apparently intimated his willingness to remain in Como, can’t blame him, and Doyle, for me, first needs to be loaned to someone in the top flight, ideally one of the promoted sides, to see how he copes with the increased pace and intensity.

I think Perrone would like to play for us but if he's looking at Peps reluctance to " blood" players, he'll probably end up elsewhere.
He is supposedly meant to have one more year on loan at Como so that extra year may influence his decision.

 

[Semper aggressus]

Who!? Swear theres a new player i’ve never heard of everytime i come on the transfer forum

Seems like it sometimes, and whilst our scouts may find the odd unknown gem, really our safest bet is to buy proven stars. We can’t afford for new signings to turn out disappointing or shit.

Get Cambiasso, Wirtz, Guehi and Livramento. Job done.

 

[Gabriel]

Can we stop linking to aggregators who just regurgitate the same nonsense for clicks and engagement? This is nothing new.

It reminds me of the playground rumourmongers of old, only now digitised and monetised. The twit citing they’ve all been asked to find new homes was telling anyone who would listen late last night that Rangers were backing Issam Charai after Clemente had been sacked. Rangers duly appointed Barry Ferguson this morning. You could not make it up! Well, actually…

 

[Gabriel]

I think Perrone would like to play for us but if he's looking at Peps reluctance to " blood" players, he'll probably end up elsewhere.
He is supposedly meant to have one more year on loan at Como so that extra year may influence his decision.

Get your point, but I’m not sure the reluctance to ‘blood’ players criticism will hold water, as it looks like the club and Guardiola are going to be doing just that. However, the signing of Gonzalez effectively blocks Perrone’s pathway here, unless Rodri is injured again. If we need money for the rebuild, which is likely, I imagine we’ll sell him this summer.

 

[pbueno16]

Seems like it sometimes, and whilst our scouts may find the odd unknown gem, really our safest bet is to buy proven stars. We can’t afford for new signings to turn out disappointing or shit.

Get Cambiasso, Wirtz, Guehi and Livramento. Job done.

Love that list, but we need an 8 or two and a keeper for me to feel comfortable going into next season assuming who is supposedly leaving actually does.

 

[YatesA]

If the interest from Leverkusen into McAtee is legit and they would take him plus cash for Wirtz, that's a great deal for both clubs since we get a player we admire and Leverkusen get a promising replacement for their star. Question is whether Wirtz has been dissuaded from us given our form this season or if Bayern/the German FA get up to their tapping up nonsense for young German players again.

I'd add Kova to that 100% list, but I'm biased since I'd rather not see him wear the shirt again this season.

The way we need to look at it is can any of these guys offer value in a better structure and used as role players going forward at least for 1 more season and I can see grealish bernardo nunes and kova in those roles relative to age/ability/wages/homegrown status with jack. There's a lot of moving parts and rules etc that it's gonna be hard to really assess who leaves and when. KDB on massive wages and taking a foreign spot when he can't run anymore is sadly the biggest issue and then gundogan surely calls it a day at this level. By the following season all those players should be moved on.

 

[Xhavenjoe]

Get your point, but I’m not sure the reluctance to ‘blood’ players criticism will hold water, as it looks like the club and Guardiola are going to be doing just that

I hope you are right
Pep seems to have no problem playing younger players that we have bought but any if them out on loan or coming therough our youth ranks seem to have a more difficult path.
Hopefully, as you pointed out, he may have had a " Road to Damascus" change of heart after this season.

 

[pbueno16]

The way we need to look at it is can any of these guys offer value in a better structure and used as role players going forward at least for 1 more season and I can see grealish bernardo nunes and kova in those roles relative to age/ability/wages/homegrown status with jack. There's a lot of moving parts and rules etc that it's gonna be hard to really assess who leaves and when. KDB on massive wages and taking a foreign spot when he can't run anymore is sadly the biggest issue and then gundogan surely calls it a day at this level. By the following season all those players should be moved on.

Totally agree with that, I just don't think Kovacic is worth that opportunity next season.

 

[christened at st marks]

That's the key this summer, quality over quantity. The players to be replaced are iconic legends that have been key to many trophy wins, the players we bring in to replace them have to be of a similarly high standard already and that's unlikely to be cheap.


So you're getting rid of 11 of the current first team plus a few others and want them replacing with barely half that number? One of the primary reasons we're so shit this season is too small of a squad and you're proposing we make it considerably smaller?

Philips, Perrone Doyle haven't even been at the club this season, down to 8, Stones has been fantastic for us but his body is broken, sad, Bernie again has been great but is reaching the end of his career with us due to age, Nunes as you well know, was a poor buy, McAtee a guy I've loved in the academy, but not getting the playing time he want's and seems to be, being used as a bargaining chip for Wirtz, Ederson seem's to be his choice and would be great if he stays, Grealish we all know doesn't seem to fit anymore with Pep, Kova could stay but will he, but yes 11 could go, Lewis if we get another RB, so Ederson please stay, Kova might stay, added 5 top 1st team players to the squad, plus Rodri and Bobb thats 7 1st team, for 8 squad, or players that don't get the play time.
All pie in the sky, these are my thoughts and you are welcome to yours.
Could be complete bullshit
The entourage of seven #ManCity players have already been informed by the club to find an exit in the first days of the summer transfer market: Jack Grealish, Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, John Stones, Mateo Kovacic, Ilkay Gundogan, Ederson.

 

[YatesA]

Totally agree with that, I just don't think Kovacic is worth that opportunity next season.

Gotta keep bernardo then if kovacic goes. I like the idea of kovacic being a pure 8 where he can carry the ball without worrying too much defensively. He'd be 5th option for midfield though in my eyes. Nico, rodri, foden, new CM then kova. Then following season replace kova. Nico o reilly if progressing would push kova to 6th in an ideal world.

 

[pbueno16]

Gotta keep bernardo then if kovacic goes. I like the idea of kovacic being a pure 8 where he can carry the ball without worrying too much defensively. He'd be 5th option for midfield though in my eyes. Nico, rodri, foden, new CM then kova. Then following season replace kova. Nico o reilly if progressing would push kova to 6th in an ideal world.

I'd much rather keep Bernardo. Think he'd do better in a squad that has actual depth and isn't forced to play as frequently as he has this season. Kovacic just makes too many errors that lead to goals or big chances and blocks the path for O'Reilly to get enough minutes that he doesn't deserve a squad place for me. If we only get 1 new 8, then perhaps there's a place for him.

If we can go into next season with two 6s (Rodri, Gonzalez), four 8s (2 new signings, Bernardo, O'Reilly) and two 10s (Foden, Wirtz), then we're in a good place in the midfield.

 

[YatesA]

I'd much rather keep Bernardo. Think he'd do better in a squad that has actual depth and isn't forced to play as frequently as he has this season. Kovacic just makes too many errors that lead to goals or big chances and blocks the path for O'Reilly to get enough minutes that he doesn't deserve a squad place for me. If we only get 1 new 8, then perhaps there's a place for him.

If we can go into next season with two 6s (Rodri, Gonzalez), four 8s (2 new signings, Bernardo, O'Reilly) and two 10s (Foden, Wirtz), then we're in a good place in the midfield.

Tbh I agree, bernardo I'd keep and sign a szobosalai type midfielder to replace kovacic

 

[Stoned Rose]

Imo these need moving on:

Kev, Gundogan, Bernardo, Walker, Kovacic (too old and only going to deteriorate further)

Ederson (disinterested and has left the building mentally).

Stones (superb but never fit and therefore unreliable).

Grealish (I’d keep him but it’s clear Pep isn’t having him anymore).

Nunes and Phillips (shite).

That’s 10.

Already brought in:

Khusanov
Gonzalez
Reis
Marmoush
Echeverri

Need:

3 CMs
1 GK
1 RB

Going to be busy as fuck.

 

[Goater101]

KDB, Gundo,Walker and Stones will leave this summer I’m sure. Then next year Ederson,Ake, Kovacic,Grealish

 

[robbieh]

The entourage of seven #ManCity players have already been informed by the club to find an exit in the first days of the summer transfer market: Jack Grealish, Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, John Stones, Mateo Kovacic, Ilkay Gundogan, Ederson.

If that's true then no wonder we're playing badly. The dressing room would be a bad place if all these players had been told to leave.
However it's probably bollocks.

 

[KingGeorge]

Imo these need moving on:

Kev, Gundogan, Bernardo, Walker, Kovacic (too old and only going to deteriorate further)

Ederson (disinterested and has left the building mentally).

Stones (superb but never fit and therefore unreliable).

Grealish (I’d keep him but it’s clear Pep isn’t having him anymore).

Nunes and Phillips (shite).

That’s 10.

Already brought in:

Khusanov
Gonzalez
Reis
Marmoush
Echeverri

Need:

3 CMs
1 GK
1 RB

Going to busy as fuck.

I just can't see us doing 10 in one window. I also think Kovacic can still offer us omething as a squad player. He was slotted into too large of a role this year.

 

[Ajm1985]

Tbh I agree, bernardo I'd keep and sign a szobosalai type midfielder to replace kovacic

We really should have gone for him while getting Gvardiol, rather than fannying about with Bellingham & Rice

 

[pbueno16]

Imo these need moving on:

Kev, Gundogan, Bernardo, Walker, Kovacic (too old and only going to deteriorate further)

Ederson (disinterested and has left the building mentally).

Stones (superb but never fit and therefore unreliable).

Grealish (I’d keep him but it’s clear Pep isn’t having him anymore).

Nunes and Phillips (shite).

That’s 10.

Already brought in:

Khusanov
Gonzalez
Reis
Marmoush
Echeverri

Need:

3 CMs
1 GK
1 RB

Going to busy as fuck.

I'd add Kovacic to the outs, but doubt we move that many in one summer. Certainly realistic if you stretch it to the January and Summer 2026 windows. 5 or 6 at least would be a good start to give us places in the squad for the incomings this summer.

I'd add a CB to the needs because we may still have one or both of Stones and Ake come the close of the window and Dias is looking like he's becoming injury prone himself and half the player he was during the treble season.