The entire squad has been on a magnificent 2.5 year run, and to pull this out from here would be the best of all of them, but I just don’t see it. Some players are getting King in the tooth, injuries are catching up with others, and for others the game has simply become to fast and powerful for them to compete at the top, top level.
The squad needs a significant refresh from front to back. If Pep and Txiki and Khaldoon are as ruthless as they should be, there are at least 5 players in the first team squad who will not be in it next season. They are going to be pensive to replace, but replaced they must be, we are far too small, nowhere near powerful enough, and too stale in our game against the 5-4-1 (and make no mistake, that’s how Liverpool finished the game!) for there not to be SIGNIFICANT money spent between now and next season IF City want to continue on their constant battle for all trophies.
What concerns me most is that we appear fragile at times, frustrated at others, and sometimes even overpowered by lesser opposition. This cannot be allowed to continue.
Having spent a small fortune on defenders, it is clear that there is still significant weakness there, especially with Laporte out. In midfield, Fernandinho, Gundogan and Silva are all past their prime and on the way out...although we may get another year of service from Fernandinho. Out wide, Bernardo and Mahrez aren’t doing the business and the goalscoring has become a two man show. Throw in there that KDB, one of the world’s best players, is being flogged like a donkey in midfield to try to fill the gaps, and it is no wonder we are floundering at present...and will in the future without significant replacements. Rodri has been sensational, and Angeliño has filled in well as a stop gap, but clearly we are looking tired.
Now, I will hold my app hand up and say even with all that, we STILL could and should have won at Anfield, but we are just not getting those breaks, those slutchy goals, and those decisions going our way, and Liverpool are. That’s what makes me believe it is their year, ours is going to be determined by our CL run, and next season may be very interesting depending upon what happens in January and the summer.
Onwards dm upwards, take it on the chin, stiff upper lip and all that. I’d still rather be a Blue than anything in the world, and I still pinch myself after watching this team play for the last 7-8 years, and especially the last 2 1/3 seasons.
This is how it feels to be City....now the question is whether Pep likes it enough to do the work necessary, or has he groomed Arteta to do the next rebuild?
