Who’s gone in the summer?

[blueparrot]

That seems likely to be Douglas Luiz.

Seems to be, which means we did well identifying him when we did. Explains why Pep seemed disappointed at the time with the work permit problem too. Though a couple of years with Villa has probably worked out well for him and us.

 

[Dicko69]

Seems to be, which means we did well identifying him when we did. Explains why Pep seemed disappointed at the time with the work permit problem too. Though a couple of years with Villa has probably worked out well for him and us.

How does that work? Can't get a work permit to play for us, but can get one to play for villa?

 

[blueparrot]

How does that work? Can't get a work permit to play for us, but can get one to play for villa?

He was a high earner at Villa, and wouldn’t have been be for us. As far as I know it was as simple as that.

 

[Manchester_lalala]

Out

Mahrez (thank fuck)
Mendy (thank fuck)
Zinchenko (think we’d be light at left back if we let both him and Mendy go but it’s time to let go players that aren’t good enough
Garcia
Fernandinho
Bernardo (possibly)
Rodri (don’t think this will happen, but I don’t rate him)
Sergio

In

Haaland
Messi
Zakaria/Aouar
Left back

Haaland is a must. I would like to see more balance within the squad. To many attacking midfielders that haven’t cemented a position of their own and get shoe horned in due to rotation. Bernardo is a good player, but he hasn’t matched his form from two seasons ago. Selling him and brining in a proper CM like Aouar would be beneficial.

Ederson
Steffen

Cancelo
Walker
LB
Ake (left back cover)
Laporte
Stones
Dias
THB

Zakaria/Aouar
Rodri?
Gundo
Doyle
KDB
Foden

Palmer
Sterling
Messi
Haaland
Torres
Jesus
Delap

Even looking at that list, I still don’t think it’s perfect. Defence is pretty much sorted, just need to sign a reliable LB. Midfield still has a few problems. I don’t think Rodri is up to it but I haven’t got a clue who we’d sign to put in that position. Up top, Haaland would bang in the goals, but I still think we’d be unbalanced without a proper left winger. Sterling and Jesus would be the choices for that position, but I like players that beat a man on the outside.

 

[Xhavenjoe]

He was a high earner at Villa, and wouldn’t have been be for us. As far as I know it was as simple as that.

I think it was something like that.
If you're in the top % earner with a club a certain work permit requirement is filled.
The ridiculous thing is that he would be earning more with City but would not have been one of our top earners.
The idea is to spread out the top players among the clubs.
Not sure how fair it is. Can never understand why a Bosman 2 has never been instigated for something like this.

 

[WallyA]

For attacking players we could raid Barcelona.
This summer all 3 of Ansu Fati, Dembele and Pedri will have only 1 year left on their contracts.

If that's true then I'd love to get any of them, anytime they are on the pitch they seem like Barca's 2nd best player.

Dembele is injury prone of course, but his talent is so ridiculously high that I'd risk it if he's only on 1 year.

Haaland, Dembele/Fati and Pedro Neto, that's our attack sorted for the next decade. Sell Mahrez. Midfield and Defense is good right now imo, people making it seem worse than it actually is.

Edit: In terms of our 3151 attack (343 diamond) that I've liked:

Back 3 Options: Walker, Stones, Dias, Laporte, Ake

Middle DM Options: Rodri, Gundogan, Luiz (could buy to replace Gundogan in future and replace Dinho)

Wide Winger Options: Sterling, Dembele/Fati, Neto-------------------------------Jesus, Cancelo, Ferran
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------(these 3 could play either imo)
Attacking Middle 3 Options: Foden, KdB, Bernardo, Gundogan ---but also---> Jesus, Cancelo, Ferran

Striker Option: Haaland, Jesus

 

[Dicko69]

I think it was something like that.
If you're in the top % earner with a club a certain work permit requirement is filled.
The ridiculous thing is that he would be earning more with City but would not have been one of our top earners.
The idea is to spread out the top players among the clubs.
Not sure how fair it is. Can never understand why a Bosman 2 has never been instigated for something like this.

I googled it, villa appealed it and won on the grounds that for them he would be regarded as a very important player getting plenty of game time. Where as for us he was to be a back up player to fernandinho getting limited game time. So hopefully if we choose to activate the buy back clause we will be more likely to get the work permit as he will be regarded as a more important player if re-signed. Not sure what his status is for Brazil, if he has played in 30% of internationals a work permit would be a given

 

[Dicko69]

Also on this subject, we/English teams might struggle snapping up talent from Europe after brexit, as work permit issues may well be similar

 

[Zenmanc]

I actually can’t believe we didn’t move for Thiago. He’s unbelievable

He is but for every 3 games he plays he'll be out 3 more.

 

[nmc]

Also on this subject, we/English teams might struggle snapping up talent from Europe after brexit, as work permit issues may well be similar

I‘d hope we wouldn’t be chasing players earning less than 25k a year!