I'd agree with most, if not all of this except I'd be selling Doku.
Do not understand the fascination with him, it's his third season and he has 7 total league goals. Folk laugh at Saka but wank Doku off
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The Squad planning thread
- Thread starter HaalandEffect
- Start date
Do not understand the fascination with him, it's his third season and he has 7 total league goals. Folk laugh at Saka but wank Doku off
simon23
Well-Known Member
I sort of agree with you and dont at the same timeI'd agree with most, if not all of this except I'd be selling Doku.
Do not understand the fascination with him, it's his third season and he has 7 total league goals. Folk laugh at Saka but wank Doku off
Doku needs to work on one facet of his game and that is the final action....its the most important bit I agree and what will make or break him BUT h has everything else you want...not just in techincal ability but in attitude and personality as well (which is important we know within the club)
People suppoted Grealish and he was even worse. And DOku does everything that Grealish did (retains possession) and still beats his man
But I do get where you are coming from....
Bernardo, Stones, Ake, Akanji, Grealish, Trafford that 6 surely leaves. Phillips too if we find takers which is hard. I still struggle to see who will pay us a decent fee for Grealish (at least 25m) and absorb his salary. especially with him being out for all season now. worst case scenario we loan him even for his last year of contract or accept a brutal low fee like 10m.
for a 100m transfer to end like this, so poor.
for a 100m transfer to end like this, so poor.
Agree he’s got to go, same issues from day one when he joined sick of watching the demented cat style play.I'd agree with most, if not all of this except I'd be selling Doku.
Do not understand the fascination with him, it's his third season and he has 7 total league goals. Folk laugh at Saka but wank Doku off
Agree with this except Doku, he needs to go had three seasons and sick of his demented cat style play. Bring in Anderson and Morgan Rodger’s for starters and some decent wingersSaw a post from TH earlier today that said as many as 10 players could leave in the summer
Id be happy if that was true
This is our current squad list:
Goalkeepers
- James Trafford - Keep
- Gianluigi Donnarumma - Keep - but his place as automatic number one shold be reviewed
- Marcus Bettinelli - ?????
Defenders
- Rúben Dias - Squad player
- John Stones - SELL/let go
- Nathan Aké - SELL/let
- Josko Gvardiol - Keep
- Marc Guéhi - Keep
- Rayan Aït‑Nouri - Keep
- Rico Lewis - SELL
- Abdukodir Khusanov - Keep
- Max Alleyne- SELL
- Nico O’Reilly - needs time to develop
Midfielders / Wide players
Rodri - Keep
- Bernardo Silva - Leaving
- Phil Foden - Keep
- Matheus Nunes - Squad player at best
- Tijjani Reijnders - SELL
- Nico González - Keep
- Jérémy Doku - Squad player at best
- Savinho - SELL
- Rayan Cherki - keep
Forwards
- Erling Haaland - Keep
- Omar Marmoush - doesnt fit- SELL
- Antoine Semenyo - squad player at best - certainly not a number 10
There are so many of this squad that either just arent good enough and never will be or no more than squad players.
simon23
Well-Known Member
Anderson. - yes - he is worth the gambleAgree with this except Doku, he needs to go had three seasons and sick of his demented cat style play. Bring in Anderson and Morgan Rodger’s for starters and some decent wingers
Morgan Rogers - no....another lower quality player who has his level and wont go beyond it.
Fuck me - Morgan Rogers from Mahrez, Alvarez and others - this is the down turn in expectation that I have been talking about.....
We will end up midtable if this is the club and fans expectations of what is needed.
Cheadle_hulmeBlue
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- 27 Oct 2012
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- 20,257
If ten players leave and we bring in loads as well, I’m expecting another transition season. That amount of changes, loss of experience and time it would take for new players to settle, it would be another rebuild jobSaw a post from TH earlier today that said as many as 10 players could leave in the summer
Id be happy if that was true
This is our current squad list:
Goalkeepers
- James Trafford - Keep
- Gianluigi Donnarumma - Keep - but his place as automatic number one shold be reviewed
- Marcus Bettinelli - ?????
Defenders
- Rúben Dias - Squad player
- John Stones - SELL/let go
- Nathan Aké - SELL/let
- Josko Gvardiol - Keep
- Marc Guéhi - Keep
- Rayan Aït‑Nouri - Keep
- Rico Lewis - SELL
- Abdukodir Khusanov - Keep
- Max Alleyne- SELL
- Nico O’Reilly - needs time to develop
Midfielders / Wide players
Rodri - Keep
- Bernardo Silva - Leaving
- Phil Foden - Keep
- Matheus Nunes - Squad player at best
- Tijjani Reijnders - SELL
- Nico González - Keep
- Jérémy Doku - Squad player at best
- Savinho - SELL
- Rayan Cherki - keep
Forwards
- Erling Haaland - Keep
- Omar Marmoush - doesnt fit- SELL
- Antoine Semenyo - squad player at best - certainly not a number 10
There are so many of this squad that either just arent good enough and never will be or no more than squad players.
simon23
Well-Known Member
I think again its the newer players getting used to Pep and his demands?
I think that is an absolute cop-out that is reused over and over again
Semenyo has prem experience....it has nothing to do with getting used to demands the fact that he cant control a ball or when he does have control of it to have the pre-requisit skill/intelligence or ability to play a forward pass - that is basic football at the highest level.
Reijnders is soft as shit - he does nothing all game....the basic demands on any player at any level is that you run and tackle...he does niether going backtowards his own goal.
The fact that Marmoush cant play as a number 10 is nothing to do with Pep...its about the identification of this player in the first place and looking how he would fit with this team - the answer is he doesnt (and worringly neither does Semenyo unless you play him wide right)
Fuck - I said all summer Donnarumma was suspect under a high ball....that isnt the demands of Pep...thats fucking basic for a goalkeeper who is 6 foot fucking 5! World class shot stopper no doubt....Sunday league level under a high ball - that is basics....
Its not on Pep that we still dont have a proper right back either
Yes Peps made mistake and he has high demands but NOTHING that any top manager woudlnt have..
The clear point is that people wont accept (and why excuses are consistently made) is that the players we are bringing in ARE NOT GOOD ENOUGH...the rot started with Grealish and Phillips and has continued baring one or two (I LOL still at the thought of various people on here telling me that Grealish was the next KDB before we bought him.....people fall for the hype all the time with these players!)...they guy wasnt fit to lace KDB's boots yet some people thought he was world class - it showed me at the time how low some peoples standards are
simon23
Well-Known Member
it has to be a rebuild.....but that is down to us not getting it right the last few transfer windows...thats on the clubs hierachy. As supporters we have tried to support sub standard players as its not ok to criticise them (according to some) - we have dug our own hole...only we can climb out of it.If ten players leave and we bring in loads as well, I’m expecting another transition season. That amount of changes, loss of experience and time it would take for new players to settle, it would be another rebuild job
The further we slip (and we are slipping bad) the greater the distance back to the top....
We are lucky to be in top 4 at present with this team/squad...we need to stay there at the very least and Im unsure the quality of player we have at present can maintain that position for too long....so if we dont rebuild big then next season could be worse
That is why we have to get rid of the obvious players;
Rico Lewis - Im going to say I told you so!
Reijnders - couldnt care less that he has been here only one season - he is shit!
Marmoush - doesnt fit
Stones and Ake - said it last year - they are done....we should have been clinical with those 2 - we werent.
Kovacic - he aint coming back to anywhere near the level required...even before the injury he was barely there...
Sav - never ever going to have the mindset to make it
Bernardo will go and that is worrying as he has been our most consistent player this season and one that still oozs class and effort regardless
Then there are others that have one season:
Semenyo - he doesnt improve his all around game next season then he should be gone.
Doku - love him but last chance saloon to learn to pick a cross
Nunes- while we are looking for a starting right back
Dias - Fading badly - we need to be on the look out for the replacement or assess VERY quickly whether the likes of Bah, Reis or any other younger player can step up
And this will sting a lot but..... where does NOR fit in?- what is his position....he aint a left back...he can play there but not in the top games.....iIs he going to get ahead of the likes of Cherki in the number 10....he cant play wide attacking....so where does he fit...We have had enough utility players in the past and while you can ave one or two that is it..maybe its him, I dont know
richards30
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- 20 May 2009
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- 34,130
Anderson. - yes - he is worth the gamble
Morgan Rogers - no....another lower quality player who has his level and wont go beyond it.
Fuck me - Morgan Rogers from Mahrez, Alvarez and others - this is the down turn in expectation that I have been talking about.....
We will end up midtable if this is the club and fans expectations of what is needed.
If Athletico wants Doku then maybe we can get Alvarez back?
haugemcfc
Well-Known Member
Out:
Phillips
Greahlish
Stones
Ake
Kovacic
Bernardo:-(
Savinho
Lewis
Marmoush (we have Semenyo)
Akanji
Bah (loan)
Reijnders
In:
Anderson
Reis
Tonali / Wharton
Livramento / or another right back
Diomande
Phillips
Greahlish
Stones
Ake
Kovacic
Bernardo:-(
Savinho
Lewis
Marmoush (we have Semenyo)
Akanji
Bah (loan)
Reijnders
In:
Anderson
Reis
Tonali / Wharton
Livramento / or another right back
Diomande
simon23
Well-Known Member
Hahaha...no fucking way they are that stupidIf Athletico wants Doku then maybe we can get Alvarez back?
The issue also is that while we have Haaland playing upfront, you need an incredibly gifted but also hard working number 10...now we have Cherki how is increadibly gifted and foden...BUT neither of them are at present good enough off the ball...and the only way you can play both and not sacrifice the midfield is by playing one of them wide....Cherki can do this you again his work rate up until yesterday has been the problem (Foden is wasted outwide also a bit like Cherki)
This is why KDB was unique...he worked hard up and down and was techincally brilliant...Tevez if you go a lot further back as well..david Silva as well - this is the xample Cherki and Foden need to aspire to ...technical ability but killers defensively as well....battlers and neither of them are - can they be?
then this affects how you set up the rest of your team
----Haaland-----
----No.10-------
-----Rodri-------
----Back 4--------
--Goal Keeper---
It leaves only 3 places left....
Now if you play with wingers they ahve to be able to create and defend -our wingers dont do either....Doku does a bit of both but he is the only one
If you play without wingers and more narrow forwards....Semeyo and Marmoush for instance they have t have great ball retention abilities...neither do...both good goal scoreres no doubt but neither are techincally proficient in playing in small spaces.
it also means defensively you have to play a double pivot as we saw what happens with Rodri plays on his own....at present the other midfielder has been Bernardo
SO we have had
Doku----Haaland-----Sav
----No.10-------
-----Rodri--Bernardo-----
----Back 4--------
--Goal Keeper---
Or
----Haaland-----
Marmsoush Semenyo
-----Rodri bernardo
----Back 4--------
--Goal Keeper---
IN the second example our fullbacks are supposed to create width....which both do but the quality in final ball has been poor from both for vast majority of time
But both systems fall apart becuase of the quality of players in the attacking roles around Haaland (Semenyo and Marmoush as inside forwards dont work...they all get in each others way and the centre of the pitch get conjested) or our wide players are not good enough....and Cherki again at the start of the season was leaving the bac 4 very exposed
I think the club and us as fans got fooled a little by the narrative on relying on Haaland at the start of the season....but so what...the argument was always what do we do if he is injured...to me the answer that never got talked about was to go back to a false 9...we have two players in Cherki and Foden who have been (foden) and would probably be (Cherki) very very good at it.
We need both quality wide players and more defensively solidity in the team
We could play:
Doku------Haaland----cherki
------------Foden------------
--------_Rodri----NIco G
------Back 4--------------
----------Goal Keeper---------
for me that is our most balanced line up at present - Both Nico G and Rodri are underestimated still as attacking threats or passes forward of the ball
The only reason I play foden central is that out the two Cherki and him, cherkis the more efective wide but they could easily both interchange as the game plays out....Doku and foden can do the same. (Doku acutally looks pretty useful when in central positions
simon23
Well-Known Member
Livramento is a sick note...stay well awayOut:
Phillips
Greahlish
Stones
Ake
Kovacic
Bernardo:-(
Savinho
Lewis
Marmoush (we have Semenyo)
Akanji
Bah (loan)
Reijnders
In:
Anderson
Reis
Tonali / Wharton
Livramento / or another right back
Diomande
Semper aggressus
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- 8,994
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- Manchester City
You can accuse me of being reactionary and perhaps there’s not much point in crying over it anymore but I still think Txiki’s last few years at the club massively damaged this project.
We were way too reactive with this 1 in 1 out stuff. Summer 2023 and summer 2024 are the root of the issues. We failed to rebuild at the the appropriate time, we ended up having issues in every position and Viana had to fix it. It’s not optimal bringing in like 12 new players in 18 months, we could’ve spaced it out if we’d nailed the previous windows
We missed out on far too many top players in that time too, I think Begiristain has a lot to answer for. I think Pep has taken some of that slack but I don’t believe him entirely when he says it’s on him
You can recognise what Txiki did for the club whilst also acknowledging that he was pretty poor from 2021 onwards imo
If we’d paid whatever it took to persuade Declan Rice to sign we’d be ten points clear now and have at least another FA Cup in the cabinet, possibly last season’s title too.
Our reluctance back then to splash out, whoever was to blame, or whatever the reason, is costing us a lot more now than if we’d bid £120m for Rice and offered him about £30m a year wages.
BlueMoonz1977
Well-Known Member
Was thinking the same regarding doku.I'd agree with most, if not all of this except I'd be selling Doku.
Do not understand the fascination with him, it's his third season and he has 7 total league goals. Folk laugh at Saka but wank Doku off
Seems this rebuild tho is bigger than we first expected and the pep viana partnership isnt looking great as we seem to be getting players in who dont fit the system (shows how instrumental txiki was to it all)
SaintColin
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- 17 Sep 2025
- Messages
- 308
- Team supported
- MCFC
So another year of watching awful wingers…Out:
Phillips
Greahlish
Stones
Ake
Kovacic
Bernardo:-(
Savinho
Lewis
Marmoush (we have Semenyo)
Akanji
Bah (loan)
Reijnders
In:
Anderson
Reis
Tonali / Wharton
Livramento / or another right back
Diomande
richards30
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- 20 May 2009
- Messages
- 34,130
Heard Porro mentioned again
Dizbuster
Well-Known Member
I do not understand the fascination with this guy. I don't believe we are in for him at all.Livramento is a sick note...stay well away
Dizbuster
Well-Known Member
Pep is the problem, not Viana. He checked out of City months ago and I believe that by mutual agreement, he will depart at season's end. I will always be grateful to him for the incredible things he managed us to achieve.Was thinking the same regarding doku.
Seems this rebuild tho is bigger than we first expected and the pep viana partnership isnt looking great as we seem to be getting players in who dont fit the system (shows how instrumental txiki was to it all)
Colin Bells Boots
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If we’d paid whatever it took to persuade Declan Rice to sign we’d be ten points clear now and have at least another FA Cup in the cabinet, possibly last season’s title too.
Our reluctance back then to splash out, whoever was to blame, or whatever the reason, is costing us a lot more now than if we’d bid £120m for Rice and offered him about £30m a year wages.
Pure speculation !