Why did we let Zinchenko go?

[Pedestrian]

He’s stepped down a level and is shining. I would expect that. What’s the fuss. Grealish would be their best player if he went there. Zinchenko seems a great character. I think some folk are mixing that up with being a top player.

 

[BlueMoonAcrossThePond]

None of that addresses my two points:

1) We now have even less options in a position we were already struggling with.

2) We directly improved a team who are now outperforming us.

He didn't need to be in anyone's favourite starting eleven. He didn't need to be the most talented player in the squad. He didn't need to leave to fund the Haaland move.

Agree with 1 and 2. But whom would have sold to get Haaland? And given Arsenal's position in the table last season, and our presumably good relationship with Arteta - hard to fault the sale at the time.

And even now - with the benefit of hindsight - I wouldn't take back the sale.

 

[chaddblue]

Some City fans think Zinny has become prime Maldini since he left. He's a good player, started only 15 games last season and Pep hardly bust a gut trying to keep him. He wanted to leave so move on and wait for us to replace him with a far better player

 

[tolmie's hairdoo]

It seems to have slipped under the radar, but Arsenal offered Zin three times his money.

He's now on £140k a week and just fancied the change.

Gabby is now the highest paid player at Arsenal on £200k a week - doubled his dough.

The latte mob pay very well.

 

[Tugay One Cup]

But whom would have sold to get Haaland?

We already sorted the Haaland deal. Even without the Zinchenko sale, our net spend would have been spot on because we had a pretty major clear out.

Some of us saw this coming in the summer. Okay, so maybe not for them to become quite as good as they are or for us to drop off like we have but many of us said this was a bad move. It's somewhat confusing to read and hear various City fans labelling us as engaging in revisionism when the reality is that the basis of what we were saying months ago is presently being shown to be correct.

I understand the argument that it wouldn't have been as big an error if we (finally) brought in a legitimately top quality left back but the fact is that we didn't.

So now we're sat here in second with one less full back and the right back who was our first choice left back can't get into the team because, for whatever reason, his form has dropped off a cliff.

Meanwhile, our former backup left back is having a big impact on a team who are currently better than us.

We didn't need to sell him, he agreed to leave because we were going for another left back and we didn't sign one.

I can totally accept that and move on if we address it in the summer but I can't pretend this wasn't a fuck up.

 

[The Light Was Yellow Sir]

There's a huge amount of divergence from reality evident when discussing Zinchenko and what he actually brought to Manchester City. Undoubtedly a very likeable chap and he had a couple of excellent minutes. Without him we might well have not beaten Villa, which is more than equalled out by without him we might well have not needed to beat Villa.
He was absolutely culpable in the CL final against Chelsea and he was often found wanting when isolated at the back post. Laporte bailed him out often when he was having a ‘normal’ game at left back.
People should stop confusing ‘we need a left back’ with ‘we’ve let a really nice bloke who was a very average left back, leave’.

 

[bluemoon32]

Loved him but he was a bit part player & can't fault him for moving on & wanting to play every week

 

[bluedan]

Moved to a club that will play him and pay him vastly more.

I see they are spending nearly £100m this January.

Biggest question I have is, how are they complying with FFP when they have posted losses for the last couple of years.

Looking at their net spend since Arteta took over, they are close to £500m. They are buying the league, no?

 

[stonerblue]

We weakened ourselves in a position we were already weak in and we directly strengthened an already improving team who are now where we want to be.

That's the bottom line.

How anyone can spin it as anything other than a fuck up is beyond me.

Bang on.
I think Peps comments on Arteta tell us why we let zinchenko go.

 

[Loverdoodle]

Moved to a club that will play him and pay him vastly more.

I see they are spending nearly £100m this January.

Biggest question I have is, how are they complying with FFP when they have posted losses for the last couple of years.

Looking at their net spend since Arteta took over, they are close to £500m. They are buying the league, no?

Winning the league the old fashioned way buying it. Ffp is a glass tiger a fig leaf. Been the same since Blackburn Rovers of 19th century. You don’t want to spend a ton you can’t expect to consistently challenge in Pl. No one ever wins tons of trophies without buying them