Txiki Begiristain to leave role at end of season

[robbieh]

It’s since before the treble.

We won the treble because we had almost no injuries at all. We kicked Cancelo out of the squad and Foden had an injury in the January (caused by Cancelo in training) and Foden had his appendix out in the February. We suffered no more injuries that season. It was incredible how we managed to have an injury record like that, never seen anything like it.

But, even then we had a really small squad and we would have looked short if there were a few injuries in a few positions. After Cancelo left, the only full back we had was Walker, we managed to overcome that with the form of Akanji and Aké (two centre halves) playing exceptionally well at full back.

Like previous seasons, when Agüero got injured in 2020-21 and we sold our other striker halfway through the season (Torres) and played with no real striker - Jesus had decided he didn’t want to be a striker anymore despite the fact he could have been the main man for us there with Kun out. He did mainly play as the 9 but when he mustn’t have fancied it, we played either Foden or Sterling proper 9 or false 9 (neither suited the proper 9 really).

At the end of the season we got rid of Agüero and didn’t sign anyone. We played a full season with the fill-in 9 or false 9s with Foden, Jesus and Sterling… Grealish even played there once. All because of our total lack of squad depth in the striker department.

We managed to win the league in all of those seasons but it wasn’t because we had a well rounded squad with strength in depth in every position. We bought two strikers the next Summer and won the treble! How much did having no proper depth up front hold us back from winning the CL in those previous seasons?

We now have no decent right backs, no defensive midfielders at all with Rodri out and we’re back to having one striker in the squad.

I actually think Pep made Txiki look better than he was.

 

[brian the blue]

Right time for him to go. His record buying from South America and Europe is good. His problems came with his dealings when signing players playing in this country. Started strong with Sterling, Stones, Walker and Mahrez.. but what on earth convinced him to sign Grealish, Ake, Phillips and Nunes for almost £250mil is beyond me.

 

[awest]

Is Pep unhappy with him?

 

[houraisen]

This is unexpected.

 

[Shazza458]

This is unexpected.

Retirement gift, Kroos won the men’s award

 

[kaz7]

Biggest thing we did wrong was not build the squad from a position of strength post treble.

And yet we won the 4th title

Not buying in the window just gone is up for debate , we might not be spending for good reason , with all the legal stuff for example

Honestly txiki has built us into the worlds best team but lets slag him off

 

[kaz7]

This is unexpected.

Not by me

 

[HelloCity]

Biggest thing we did wrong was not build the squad from a position of strength post treble.

Although I agree this is an issue, part of me thinks the charges made it harder to bring in top quality players who may have been concerned about the outcome.

 

[BLUEisville]

Although I agree this is an issue, part of my thinks the charges made it harder to bring in top quality players who may have been concerned about the outcome.

Players and the club as well, I would believe.

Even if all involved believe the evidence is ironclad, they still have to plan for the risk of an adverse finding. It would be irresponsible for City to not set financial targets that would keep the club on sound financial footing if sanctions were given.

 

[M23 Citizen]

Players and the club as well, I would believe.

Even if all involved believe the evidence is ironclad, they still have to plan for the risk of an adverse finding. It would be irresponsible for City to not set financial targets that would keep the club on sound financial footing if sanctions were given.

True, but what then if our sanction isn’t a fine but is a transfer ban?

Imagine if we have a two year transfer ban with the squad we’ve got now.