If you think Gareth Barry was quicker than any other player in history then you weren't watching him. Probably my favourite player from that period and I still think we got rid at least 1 season early, but my gran is faster now than he was in his pomp and she's been dead 40 years. Awesome DM and a brilliant footballing brain made up for a total lack of pace.They were quicker I think Karen and more aggressive defensively. He doesn’t win enough and isn’t shielding our porous backline anywhere near well enough
Trust me I watched him and agree that a. He was brilliant and b. He wasn’t quick. He was quicker than Rodri imho and that may well be due to his reading of game. But Rodri turns like a cross channel ferry. When I say quick I mean in every sense, reaction, passing etc not just running. In this sense of quick Barry was defo quicker than Rodri.If you think Gareth Barry was quicker than any other player in history then you weren't watching him. Probably my favourite player from that period and I still think we got rid at least 1 season early, but my gran is faster now than he was in his pomp and she's been dead 40 years. Awesome DM and a brilliant footballing brain made up for a total lack of pace.
I’m not disagreeing with the premise of the post but to some extent hands are tied by squad quotas Clearly the club wanted Maguire due to his English / home grown qualification Danilo left and Cancleo arrived these deals were linked. Otamendi couldn’t find a club to take him so we got stuck with him Kompany squad place was taken by Rodri So no room for another CH unless he was EnglishBecause thats what the best and top clubs do. That's why City got10 years, otherwise we'd still be shi*
Spending money and buying the right players has got City to where they are now. Without that money and the right players City would still be languishing in the PL or in the Championship.
Whether it's FFP or Sheikh Mansour via Khaldoon, those transfer purse strings have been tightened over the last couple of seasons. https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/manchester-city/alletransfers/verein/281 - While TV money, prize money, sponsorship money, and match day revenues has been increasing.
Spending aside. Everyone knew we had to replace Kompany, and we had to buy a World class centre half to play alongside La Porte, regardless of his season ruining injury. Otamendi was going to be shown the door before Kompany left. Then we decided to keep him. Stones has had issues on and off the pitch constantly. So what do we do? We go and spend 60mill Euros on Cancelo. Regardless of who wanted him and why, Cancelo wasn't the priority, a centre half was.
What are our Scouts doing around the World? Apparently we have a huge network of Scouts spanning most leagues and most continents, yet we're unable to find these hidden and affordable gems that other PL and European clubs are able to find. Why?
As for the CFA. It's no La Masia. All the fanfare after it opened! And when Pep arrived. In truth, bar being having one of the best training facilities in the World for the 1st team, it's producing hardly any young players who are breaking into the 1st team. And if they do, their 1st team appearances are limited.
As others have posted. Just like before when we've dominated a season, rather than spending big and right to continue that dominance, we've pulled the purse strings and what we've bought have been poor and unnecessary players
That is down to Khaldoon, Soriano, (Pep), Txiki and our Scouting setup and network.
I loved Barry too, I've never seen a player shuffle 5 yards before a ball is even kicked by the opposition and always be there in the right place where it landed. Great passer too.If you think Gareth Barry was quicker than any other player in history then you weren't watching him. Probably my favourite player from that period and I still think we got rid at least 1 season early, but my gran is faster now than he was in his pomp and she's been dead 40 years. Awesome DM and a brilliant footballing brain made up for a total lack of pace.
The most underrated player since the great Sheikh took us over, a class act, who left at least one season too soon.I loved Barry too, I've never seen a player shuffle 5 yards before a ball is even kicked by the opposition and always be there in the right place where it landed. Great passer too.
He did all the shit jobs like mopping up loose balls.The guy was a wonderful servant for our club and what a pro.Few mates of mine who are Evertonians couldn`t believe how good he was,till he signed for them.As they said,a very under-rated player.The most underrated player since the great Sheikh took us over, a class act, who left at least one season too soon.
Good points,well made.I’m not disagreeing with the premise of the post but to some extent hands are tied by squad quotas Clearly the club wanted Maguire due to his English / home grown qualification Danilo left and Cancleo arrived these deals were linked. Otamendi couldn’t find a club to take him so we got stuck with him Kompany squad place was taken by Rodri So no room for another CH unless he was English