The Squad planning thread

All hypothetical of course but seeing how Harwood-Bellis has now been called into the England squad, Adarabioyo and Lavia and of course Palmer doing well at Chelsea, I can’t help wondering whether we are too quick to let these academy players leave.
think about how long it would take them to get that many minutes they have here. One full season elsewhere is about 3 seasons here at best under pep. most have to move/play at some point.
 
All hypothetical of course but seeing how Harwood-Bellis has now been called into the England squad, Adarabioyo and Lavia and of course Palmer doing well at Chelsea, I can’t help wondering whether we are too quick to let these academy players leave.
I’ve been feeling this for a while, generally get a ‘ how could we have known’ response but like I think city have essentially sold a possible golden generation without giving the vast majority a chance to win net spend trophies

Lavia and palmer look particularly bad I. Hindsight, there was enough of a hint they were quality and we binned one off for Kalvin Phillips and the other for doku. Not convinced either are better than the academy option
 
All hypothetical of course but seeing how Harwood-Bellis has now been called into the England squad, Adarabioyo and Lavia and of course Palmer doing well at Chelsea, I can’t help wondering whether we are too quick to let these academy players leave.
The issue with having a top quality academy producing lots of quality players is that they can't all make it into the first team squad. We are bound to let some players go who go on to be top players. It's the nature of a top academy
 
All hypothetical of course but seeing how Harwood-Bellis has now been called into the England squad, Adarabioyo and Lavia and of course Palmer doing well at Chelsea, I can’t help wondering whether we are too quick to let these academy players leave.
We have allowed more to leave than have come good, of course, but one can also add Rogers to that list. It's a painful lesson, however, and it may mean a change in perspective. After all, we cannot be sitting as a club claiming that players are being asked to play too much and have the ballon dÓr winner warning us of his personal fears and not take heed. There should have been better integration of youth into the first team in the last three seasons, but thankfully we are starting to see that take shape.
 
Reijnders has 3 years left on his contract at the end of the season, with no release clause. Milan has made it clear they don’t want to sell, but if we can get him out, that would be great—especially since he's a year younger than Barella. Dias isn’t great on the ball either, yet we still bought him. That said, we need a fast CB and FB, and VDV can cover those positions. The main point is that we should prioritize signing a fast CB and FB, or ideally, a player who can cover both.

Hakimi hasn’t signed the contract extension and the current contract runs out in 2026. Maybe it's the political tension between them, I doubt there’s a "no-poach" clause and with just 1 year remaining at the end of the season, we might get him for a good price. I’m sure PSG doesn’t want more players leaving on a free transfer—it would make them look incompetent. Livramento is a good shout, but good luck dealing with the Saudis and negotiating him out of a contract with 3 years left at the end of the season when they are trying to build a team that can compete in the EPL and UCL.

Lewis, on the other hand, gets exposed against strong wingers. He’s still young and will learn, but I agree that we need someone who can handle world-class wingers.
Good dialogue...
 
All hypothetical of course but seeing how Harwood-Bellis has now been called into the England squad, Adarabioyo and Lavia and of course Palmer doing well at Chelsea, I can’t help wondering whether we are too quick to let these academy players leave.
We could have got Adarabioyo for free in summer. Didn’t even sniff. He would have qualified for club trained place in squad so would have been a free slot in squad.
 
Some fair points re the young players being sold without getting much a chance or a bit early. It’s frustrating. Often felt we could have given them more time in the last 30 mins of games we had wrapped up or in the CL groups and early knock outs. But Pep has his way and this doesn’t fit but he delivers and cannot be knocked. Maybe as/when we have a new boss there may be more scope to ask them to give kids more time.
 
we sticking a LW on this list yet or Nah?
We should:
Kvara wants out of Napoli, lets unsettle him more.
Rodrygo is said to be unhappy at Madrid, lets unsettle him as well.
Marmoush would be the cheapest option, lets get into his ear!
 
We should:
Kvara wants out of Napoli, lets unsettle him more.
Rodrygo is said to be unhappy at Madrid, lets unsettle him as well.
Marmoush would be the cheapest option, lets get into his ear!
thought the last one was a striker?
 
thought the last one was a striker?
LW/RW, CAM, STRIKER, 2nd STRIKER. He is so versatile. He is a complete attacker. You can play him in any attacking capacity and position. I personally would like him in this team, because, he is the most versatile out of the other 2 and he can help us in many positions.
 
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We have opportunity to improve starting 11 in CB, RB, LB, CM, AM, LW, RW and have no backup cover at DM or ST
 
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We have opportunity to improve starting 11 in CB, RB, LB, CM, AM, LW, RW and have no backup cover at DM or ST
1-Reijnders can cover two positions, playing as a CM and DM. Price: £30M-£40M max.
2-Van De Ven can play as a CB and RB, replacing Walker's pace. Price: £70M, given that Levy is hard to negotiate with.
3-Marmoush is a complete forward—he can play as an LW, False 9, second striker, backup striker, and RW if needed. He adds goals and assists, which we desperately need. Price: £42M-£51M.

Looking at high-profile players:
  • Wirtz: CAM, RW, LW
  • Musiala: CAM, LW
  • Rodrygo: CF, LW
  • Kvara: CAM, LW
Getting the first three and one from the high-profile list would make us incredibly strong and cover all key positions. Ake, Gvardiol, and Akanji can hold down that LB spot.

£250M would indeed be a solid budget to secure these signings, especially if negotiations go smoothly and we avoid premium markups. With strategic negotiation, this budget could cover Reijnders, Van De Ven, Marmoush, and one high-profile addition. It would provide depth, versatility, and strong options across the pitch.
 
As much as I’d love a Wirtz or Musiala, we need a massive refresh, and just one will be half our budget.

Walker, Gundog, Bernie, Kev, Stones all coming to the end of their time here, either through age or not being able to keep fit. Grealish just doesn’t put up the numbers to justify £300k a week. Nunes just isn’t good enough for City, full stop.

We need to stop buying average players from the PL just because they’re ’prem-proven’. Looking like an alright player for Wolves or Leeds is completely different than being a starting player for a CL team, and at least twice as expensive.

Also, goals. We need goals. Yes we moneyball stats like dribbles, pressures etc, but we’ve got 3 wingers who’ve never hit double figures in the league. For all the shit he got, Sterling would be putting up those numbers on his own.
 
Calafiori and Merino would have been two great squad additions, £75mil for the pair. Even if 115 was the worry, that’s still way below market value and could be sold on for a profit if push came to shove. With Alvarez and Couto sold, we’d still have turned a profit. We’ve seriously taken our eye off the ball the past few years.
 
We allowed too many goal scoring players to leave and they haven’t be replaced.
Gvardiol and Kovacic being joint 2nd highest scorers for us in the league says it all. Stones is next on the list as well.

We'd be up shit creek without those goals from defenders and someone who's playing as a defensive midfielder.
 

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