Will City be queuing overnight

[Blue2202]

There have been a few recent scrapes where we thought a couple of signing would have helped us get over the line. If if Txki Bergistain didn't retire then I might be more convinced we might have dipped our toe in January but still can't see any availble players who can really help

So it’s clearly not a habit of a lifetime then?

There is clear precedent of us moving in the jan window when we’ve deemed it necessary. Anything other than that in this upcoming window would be another example of negligence by Txiki. I’d be amazed if we didn’t at least try for a couple even if they only end up being on loan.

 

[RayCTID]

So it’s clearly not a habit of a lifetime then?

There is clear precedent of us moving in the jan window when we’ve deemed it necessary. Anything other than that in this upcoming window would be another example of negligence by Txiki. I’d be amazed if we didn’t at least try for a couple even if they only end up being on loan.

We very rarely make mid-season transfers of real note. Laporte was an good opportunity although he was meant to arrive in that summer and if Athletic Bilbao were involved in qualifying for the Champions League or La Liga in that season we would have had to wait. We missed out on Sanchez and made a low bid for Mahrez (who did want to join mid-season). And besides that we were in a much better shape to accomodate him back then. There is not much quality currently available to really help us. Even loan signings.

 

[ninjamonkey]

There have been a few recent scrapes where we thought a couple of signing would have helped us get over the line. If if Txki Bergistain didn't retire then I might be more convinced we might have dipped our toe in January but still can't see any availble players who can really help

Nothing remotely like the need for new blood this season though. In the past it was looking for opportunistic buys to enhance a strong squad, this season it's looking for plugs to fill holes to stop us from drowning. Very, very different needs.

Txiki leaving won't have any impact on whether we spend or not, he'll continue doing his job until his last day, there's no reason to suggest otherwise. Pep will be in discussion with him and will have his input on what he needs, we're not going to be drastically changing anything when Viana comes in and whatever we might spend in January isn't going to have a significant impact on budgets going forward either, it's a non-factor.

As for who is available, that's Txiki's job, there's not a chance there isn't plenty of players that would improve us with the shitshow we are producing. we might have to pay a premium or make less than ideal deals but needs must.

That's the price we pay for a catastrophic summer window. Continued champions league football is at huge risk as is, the loss of earnings from that far exceeds whatever premium we might have to pay for doing business in January. It's something we just have to take on the chin and fix before it's a bigger problem.

 

[RayCTID]

Nothing remotely like the need for new blood this season though. In the past it was looking for opportunistic buys to enhance a strong squad, this season it's looking for plugs to fill holes to stop us from drowning. Very, very different needs.

Txiki leaving won't have any impact on whether we spend or not, he'll continue doing his job until his last day, there's no reason to suggest otherwise. Pep will be in discussion with him and will have his input on what he needs, we're not going to be drastically changing anything when Viana comes in and whatever we might spend in January isn't going to have a significant impact on budgets going forward either, it's a non-factor.

As for who is available, that's Txiki's job, there's not a chance there isn't plenty of players that would improve us with the shitshow we are producing. we might have to pay a premium or make less than ideal deals but needs must.

That's the price we pay for a catastrophic summer window. Continued champions league football is at huge risk as is, the loss of earnings from that far exceeds whatever premium we might have to pay for doing business in January. It's something we just have to take on the chin and fix before it's a bigger problem.

We won't chase our tails after failing to add in the summer and would give Hugo Viana more of a chance by giving him all of the budget to really fix the issues. A couple of signings now won't add much and would still need the time and would still make the same mistakes as our current squad is doing on a regular basis.

 

[Blue2202]

We very rarely make mid-season transfers of real note.

Yes because as @ninjamonkey explained they haven’t deemed it necessary in previous years. Failure to act in this window could mean we miss out on top 4 and even European football full stop.

Did we not break our transfer record in signing Laporte in Jan 2018? A while ago yes but the precedent is still there that when we need to move in jan they will.

 

[RayCTID]

Yes because as @ninjamonkey explained they haven’t deemed it necessary in previous years. Failure to act in this window could mean we miss out on top 4 and even European football full stop.

Did we not break our transfer record in signing Laporte in Jan 2018? A while ago yes but the precedent is still there that when we need to move in jan they will.

There were still a few necessary circumstances in recent memor that could have done with a couple of new signings. One was Cancelo issue. Rodri's cover too but the club decided to gamble. Kev's injury issues, Laporte's, Vinny's and us having to move Fernandinho as an emergency CB.

 

[Blue2202]

We won't chase our tails after failing to add in the summer and would give Hugo Viana more of a chance by giving him all of the budget to really fix the issues. A couple of signings now won't add much and would still need the time and would still make the same mistakes as our current squad is doing on a regular basis.

So because they didn’t sign anyone in summer they’ll compound their errors and not back the manager who has committed himself for two more years?

 

[RayCTID]

So because they didn’t sign anyone in summer they’ll compound their errors and not back the manager who has committed himself for two more years?

They will let the new DoF do his bit and will work alongside the manager and not by any stop gaps. If the quality isn't availble mid-season then no point in wasting money regardless of lack of cover.

 

[BlueMonkey79]

Once the window opens get on the blower and start negotiations with the following.

Tijjani Reijnders
Kolo Muani
Kimmich
Zubamemdi
Robinson

 

[RayCTID]

Zubimendi has injury issues, Kimmich is staying in Munich,Reijnders is still in his stable in Milan and they aren't going to move him on just yet, Muani is at PSG and we can forget it mid-season and Robinson is more use to Fulham than he is to us. Summer is the one where we start to get serious in the Transfer market (provided we have been acquitted of the rest of our Premier League charges)

 

[ninjamonkey]

We won't chase our tails after failing to add in the summer and would give Hugo Viana more of a chance by giving him all of the budget to really fix the issues. A couple of signings now won't add much and would still need the time and would still make the same mistakes as our current squad is doing on a regular basis.

If we've recognised the catastrophic error we made in the summer, and you'd hope the 1 win in 11 run we are currently on would ensure they have, Why wouldn't we be willing to try and rectify it in January?

Viana isnt going to be working on a shoestring budget when he comes in, they'll be more money available than he'll spend.

Txiki has been here over a decade, why dont you think he can fix some of the issues before he leaves leaving less for Viana to do? The idea we'll just down tools, wait until the summer and jeopordise our future simply because we have a change at the top is just a bizarre train of thought i cannot fathom. Would you not agree, viana would prefer to come in as DoF of a team in the champions league next season over a team that finds themselves in the lesser European compeitions and not in the champions league for the first time in 15 years? It's also likely most of our summer business will be done by txiki before he goes anyway.

Not sure how you could have seen us play this season and can still say new signings wouldn't add much. A couple of signings will add a hell of a lot. we have 6 defenders on the books, at least 2 have recurring injury problems, the others are being pushed to breaking point themselves because they have to play every minute of every game that they're able to.

we're playing Nunes at fullback, Kyle walker is a massive liability yet has to play every week because there is nobody else. Rico Lewis hasn't got a defensive bone in his tiny body yet he's part of the backline every week despite spending most of of his time in striking positions. All these things are happening because there is nobody else. Signing somebody else will make a massive difference.

 

[RayCTID]

If we've recognised the catastrophic error we made in the summer, and you'd hope the 1 win in 11 run we are currently on would ensure they have, Why wouldn't we be willing to try and rectify it in January?

Viana isnt going to be working on a shoestring budget when he comes in, they'll be more money available than he'll spend.

Txiki has been here over a decade, why dont you think he can fix some of the issues before he leaves leaving less for Viana to do? The idea we'll just down tools, wait until the summer and jeopordise our future simply because we have a change at the top is just a bizarre train of thought i cannot fathom. Would you not agree, viana would prefer to come in as DoF of a team in the champions league next season over a team that finds themselves in the lesser European compeitions and not in the champions league for the first time in 15 years? It's also likely most of our summer business will be done by txiki before he goes anyway.

Not sure how you could have seen us play this season and can still say new signings wouldn't add much. A couple of signings will add a hell of a lot. we have 6 defenders on the books, at least 2 have recurring injury problems, the others are being pushed to breaking point themselves because they have to play every minute of every game that they're able to.

we're playing Nunes at fullback, Kyle walker is a massive liability yet has to play every week because there is nobody else. Rico Lewis hasn't got a defensive bone in his tiny body yet he's part of the backline every week despite spending most of of his time in striking positions. All these things are happening because there is nobody else. Signing somebody else will make a massive difference.

They will give the players who had got them the 4 league titles in a row and a Champions League all the time to get some form back. They aren't going to suddenly replicate Chelsea's transfer policy either.

 

[jimharri]

... Viana isnt going to be working on a shoestring budget when he comes in, they'll be more money available than he'll spend.

Will there, though? We're the, what, second or third richest club in the world. Yet we're 11th in the fabled PL net spend table in the last five seasons...

Arsenal above Chelsea in five-year Premier League net spend table

Forget the league table, it's all about the Premier League net spend table. And Chelsea have been unseated at last...

www.football365.com

Are we actually allowed to spend money, or are our hands tied behind our backs with FFP & PSR? It seems odd that we're supposedly minted, yet our transfer budget pales into insignificance compared to certain other clubs. Make it make sense.

 

[RayCTID]

Will there, though? We're the, what, second or third richest club in the world. Yet we're 11th in the fabled PL net spend table in the last five seasons...

Arsenal above Chelsea in five-year Premier League net spend table

Forget the league table, it's all about the Premier League net spend table. And Chelsea have been unseated at last...

www.football365.com

Are we actually allowed to spend money, or are our hands tied behind our backs with FFP & PSR? It seems odd that we're supposedly minted, yet our transfer budget pales into insignificance compared to certain other clubs. Make it make sense.

Get ourselves clear and remove any lingering doubt.

 

[TonyColemansbagofapples]

We won't chase our tails after failing to add in the summer and would give Hugo Viana more of a chance by giving him all of the budget to really fix the issues. A couple of signings now won't add much and would still need the time and would still make the same mistakes as our current squad is doing on a regular basis.

So you're basically saying that Txiki is being paid to do nothing until Viana arrives?

 

[jimharri]

Get ourselves clear and remove any lingering doubt.

You reckon that's what it is, do you? Get the 115 nonsense out of the way, then go out and buy everybody? I hope you're right.

 

[ninjamonkey]

They will give the players who had got them the 4 league titles in a row and a Champions League all the time to get some form back. They aren't going to suddenly replicate Chelsea's transfer policy either.

The ones that are injured you mean? It's not about form, it's simple maths, we have 6 defenders, 2 are constantly injured, 1 is 34 and unable to perform anymore, the remaining are being pushed to breaking point and we're playing midfielders in defence or kids who are nowhere near ready. we simply do not have enough numbers. they won't be replacing anybody, we'll be bolstering the squad.

We have the smallest squad in the league, potentially signing 2 players to fill up the allotted squad places isn't suddenly replicating Chelsea's transfer policy. It's fixing the glaring mistakes made in the summer as early as possible to minimise the cost of those errors.

You seem to be suggesting firefighter txiki doesn't tackle the blaze that is our season, doesn't attempt to put the fire out before it spreads and salvage what they can from it but instead allow the entire house to burn to the ground destroying everything in its path and rebuild afterwards.

 

[RayCTID]

You reckon that's what it is, do you? Get the 115 nonsense out of the way, then go out and buy everybody? I hope you're right.

Partially yes. We have nothing hanging over our heads. Plenty of wiggle room to do our business in the transfer window with no threats of relegation or 40 point deductions.

 

[RayCTID]

So you're basically saying that Txiki is being paid to do nothing until Viana arrives?

Contract renewals? Any Champions League or Premier League obligations. Any outgoings on loan? Speak with Hugo Viana to help him settle. Nothing major transfer wise. Same could be said of Viana's business at Sporting Lisbon. We didn't give Berrarda anything major when it was announced around this time last year he was defecting to united.

 

[ninjamonkey]

Will there, though? We're the, what, second or third richest club in the world. Yet we're 11th in the fabled PL net spend table in the last five seasons...

Arsenal above Chelsea in five-year Premier League net spend table

Forget the league table, it's all about the Premier League net spend table. And Chelsea have been unseated at last...

www.football365.com

Are we actually allowed to spend money, or are our hands tied behind our backs with FFP & PSR? It seems odd that we're supposedly minted, yet our transfer budget pales into insignificance compared to certain other clubs. Make it make sense.

The accounts say we can spend money, lots of it. There's not much to it, we were top of the mountain for the last 4 years, those around us. Have spent massive amounts to try and catch us or in yhe case of others try and catch up to the chasing pack after disastrous seasons. we haven't had to spend big or at least that's been the opinion of txiki and Pep, doesnt mean we can't. Imo they've committed the cardinal sin of standing still whilst you're on top that nearly every club falls into the trap of and now it's biting us firmly on the arse.

We bring in more money than Chelsea, more than Arsenal, more than virtually everybody. If you look at what they've spent in recent years, we could spend that and more on top if we want to and feel the need to. Taking our finger off the pulse the last 2 seasons and not getting ahead of the curve was a big mistake in my eyes. I said so all summer and is now going to mean we have to spend big in the coming years, we've got a lot of replacing to do all at once. We'll see seriously big money spent, we have no choice.