I think Fernandinho's struggles were more to do with playing in a 4-4-2 with Yaya, rather than him struggling as a player.Here is a sentence - Fernandinho was dropped for Javi Garcia in the title run-in in 2013/14 as he was playing better.
The same with Ilky being average for his first 4 years at City and then having a good last 3, people forget the average seasons in the beginning.
But he had an awful injury record before we signed him, so even that wasn't a surprise.I think there was player in Rodwell somewhere. Shown lots of promise at Everton and broken into the England team. Even showed a couple of glimpses at City. But ultimately injures stopped us ever finding out his potential.
According to city's website he's 'MD of global football operations'Cook’s mate Marwood was woefully out of his depth. Ruined that season yet he’s still on the payroll?
Here is a sentence - Fernandinho was dropped for Javi Garcia in the title run-in in 2013/14 as he was playing better.
The same with Ilky being average for his first 4 years at City and then having a good last 3, people forget the average seasons in the beginning.
Marwood nearly ruined the Dzeko transfer too. To be in for Van Persie and Hazard yet bring in desperate crap last minute is truly awful for defending champions.
Here is a sentence - Fernandinho was dropped for Javi Garcia in the title run-in in 2013/14 as he was playing better.
The same with Ilky being average for his first 4 years at City and then having a good last 3, people forget the average seasons in the beginning.
Gundo was incredible in that 18/19 season covering for Dinho, big game player who scored big goals and was amazing for City who was also moved out of position a lot early on in his City career to accommodate others, he really was a unsung hero for us and unfortunately only began getting credit he deserved after that Villa gameI think the ACL hampered Ilkay for a lot longer than people think. When he arrived he was fast, agile and a dribbler. After the ACL the pace was gone.
Still did a wonderful job at the 6 when Fernandinho went down in the 18-19 run in, but it wasn't till later.. he was like, I'll just bulk up, use my body to shield the ball and concentrate on stealth runs that led to his massive goal output in january 21.
If you remember people were screaming on forums in the 19-20 season that Gundo was useless and should never have been given a new contract.
Gundogan was by no means average in his first four seasons at City. He was injured for the majority of the first, for one. But as others have mentioned, he was a fine squad player in the 17/18 season - his first proper season - and then covered for the #6 and #8 positions when De Bruyne and Fernandinho were injured for the run-in during the 18/19 season. He had a bit of a below-par season in 19/20 but, honestly, aside from Sterling and De Bruyne, so did everyone. From 20/21 he's been exceptional, but calling him average beforehand is a bit much imo.Here is a sentence - Fernandinho was dropped for Javi Garcia in the title run-in in 2013/14 as he was playing better.
The same with Ilky being average for his first 4 years at City and then having a good last 3, people forget the average seasons in the beginning.
Yep, I was one of many on here who thought Pep had lost his mind starting Rodri and Gundogan together so often in the 19/20 season.The same with Ilky being average for his first 4 years at City and then having a good last 3, people forget the average seasons in the beginning.
No a horrible season was when we got relegated to the old third division not after being runners up in the league and FA cup.It was so underwhelming, and Marwood bottled it massively. I remember the 2-3 home defeat to the Rags in December (you know, when Nasri shit his pants at a piss poor Van Persie free kick) and thinking, we're going backwards rapidly. Horrible season.
Context...it's everything here!No a horrible season was when we got relegated to the old third division not after being runners up in the league and FA cup.
It is. Sometimes we all forget how poor we were in the dark days.Context...it's everything here!
Could have been handled betterMancini was told we only had a £50m transfer budget because of FFP. He was gutted, but accepted it & said he'd settle for RVP & Hazard for a combined £55m including some sales, & IIRC, wasn't De Rossi available on a free, but ended up signing an extension with Roma?
Soriano arrived & Txiki soon followed & the rumours were Pep was also supposed to follow too, but City didn't want to be seen to be sacking Mancini after the Aguerooooo moment.
Soriano later admitted that City were in talks with Pep, but it was difficult to do the deal at the time, & the following January Baldy agreed a three year deal to manage Bayern.
It seems it was always about Pep, hence City not wanting Mancini to build a legacy which would make it harder to justify his sacking.
Football's a brutal business. ¯\_(⊙_ʖ⊙)_/¯
Ha, it's all still too real in my mind for me to forget that 96-98 period, watching from the Kippax as we capitulated to Bury, or crumble at Edgeley Park. Dark days indeed.It is. Sometimes we all forget how poor we were in the dark days.
I think we’re on the same page tactically with Fernando doing 2 peoples’ jobs.View attachment 103726
Pellegrini favoured a 4-2-2-2, which was essentially a 4-4-2. Yaya didn't have the physicality to recover after his barnstorming forays forward, which left Fernandinho exposed, as he couldn’t do it all.
I remember several fans calling Fernandinho shit, until most of us woke up to the fact it was Pellegrini's tactics which were at fault for hanging Fern out to dry.
I asked above, would Garcia & Fernando's City careers have panned out differently with a proper manager like Pep in charge?
My recollection of Hazard was he was pissing both us & the Chavs around as he waited to see if they won the CL. He signed for them as soon as they did.
Rumours were RVP agreed a deal with City & I recall someone on here saying they were the estate agent accompanying RVP's Mrs & City's concierge service around properties in Prestbury.
HOWEVER, Marwood was put in charge of transfers to Mancini's anger & dismay, & promptly tried to renegotiate RVP's deal at the 11th hour which enraged him, so he reopened talks with ManUre, signed & shot them to the PL title the following season.
Word was DDR was interested in the move after Mancini spent a couple of seasons selling City to him, but when Marwood stepped in, he ended our interest in DDR & signed Garcia instead. ¯\_(⊙_ʖ⊙)_/¯
As we've seen with Pep, a proper manager makes all the difference. We all lamented at the 4-4-2 Pellegrini played, with the treacle slow full backs in Kolarov & Zabaleta.I think we’re on the same page tactically with Fernando doing 2 peoples’ jobs.
I’m not sure why the deals fell through, but not getting RVP shouldn’t have been the end of the world as we had Dzeko and Aguero as first choice.
I think we’re on the same page tactically with Fernando doing 2 peoples’ jobs.
I’m not sure why the deals fell through, but not getting RVP shouldn’t have been the end of the world as we had Dzeko and Aguero as first choice.