Topic: General Manchester City thread

[newrosswaterford]

Nothing snide about it, it's the truth

Pep creates teams with verve and courage to play football. He is far from a Maureen who spends money but refuses to play good football.

I don't care what money he spends as long as his teams play excellent attacking football. It's just a silly thing to complain about.

[Caston]

Pep creates teams with verve and courage to play football. He is far from a Maureen who spends money but refuses to play good football.

I don't care what money he spends as long as his teams play excellent attacking football. It's just a silly thing to complain about.

Not complaining about it, just stating that he needs loads of money at every club.

[Yiannis]

Very good player and almost identical to Silva.

[clinical]

Got to laugh at the Manchester clubs, if they don't challenge/win the league next year pep and jose should be sacked immediately.

Do they need Silva with all their options?
Hope he likes playing in front of empty seats.

[clinical]

Here come the , 'oh he's an open chequebook manager' snideys.

He spends because he can. Every win he achieves in future will be for the same reason.

Also £60m is about right for him, considering Monaco rejected £100mn for Mbappe.

Right okay, lets see how he or Jose would do here. I bet you we'd be nowhere near the top 4 with those muppets in charge.

They only go to rich clubs where they can sign the best players.

[newrosswaterford]

Not complaining about it, just stating that he needs loads of money at every club.

All top clubs spend lots of money. However look at his first year at Braca when he won the treble. His best additions were from the youth system. He sold Deco and Ronaldino.
Ins
N
P
Nat.
Name
Age
EU
Moving from
Type
Transfer
window   Ends
Transfer
fee   Source
15   MF   Mali   Keita   28   EU   Sevilla   Transfer Green tick   Summer   2012   €14M   Barcelona.cat
3   DF   Spain   Piqué   21   EU   Manchester UnitedEngland   Transfer Green tick   Summer   2012   €5M   Barcelona.cat
13   GK   Spain   Pinto   32   EU   Celta de Vigo   Transfer Green tick   Summer   2010   €0.5M   Barcelona.cat
2   DF   Uruguay   Cáceres   21   Non-EU   Villarreal   Transfer Green tick   Summer   2012   €16.5M   Barcelona.cat
20   DF   Brazil   Alves   25   EU   Sevilla   Transfer Green tick   Summer   2012   €29M
+ €6M in variables   Barcelona.cat
21   MF   Belarus   Hleb   27   Non-EU   ArsenalEngland   Transfer Green tick   Summer   2012   €11.8M   Barcelona.cat
12   DF   Brazil   Henrique   21   Non-EU   Palmeiras Brazil   Transfer Green tick   Summer   2013   €8M
+ €2M in variables   Barcelona.cat
28   MF   Spain   Busquets   20   EU   Barcelona B   Promote   Summer   2013   Free   
38m net.

Won a treble.

Hardly spending off the wall money.
Madrid

N
P
Nat.
Name
Age
EU
Moving from
Type
Transfer
window   Ends
Transfer
fee   Source
19   DF   Argentina   Ezequiel Garay   21   EU   Racing Santander   Loan Return   Summer   2013   Free   Realmadrid, realracingclub
2   DF   Spain   Álvaro Arbeloa   26   EU   LiverpoolEngland   Transfer   Summer   2014   € 4.5M   Realmadrid, liverpoolfc
8   MF   Brazil   Kaká   27   EU   MilanItaly   Transfer   Summer   2015   € 65M   Realmadrid, AC Milan
9   FW   Portugal   Cristiano Ronaldo   24   EU   Manchester UnitedEngland   Transfer   Summer   2015   € 94M   Realmadrid, manutd
22   MF   Spain   Xabi Alonso   27   EU   LiverpoolEngland   Transfer   Summer   2014   € 35M + € 5M in variables   Realmadrid, liverpoolfc, TheGuardian
17   FW   Spain   Álvaro Negredo   23   EU   Almería   Transfer   Summer   2013   € 5M   Realmadrid
18   DF   Spain   Raúl Albiol   23   EU   Valencia   Transfer   Summer   2014   € 15M   Realmadrid, valenciacf
11   FW   France   Karim Benzema   21   EU   LyonFrance   Transfer   Summer   2015   € 35M   Realmadrid, olweb.fr
24   MF   Spain   Esteban Granero   21   EU   Getafe   Transfer   Summer   2013   € 4.5M   Realmadrid, LFP
26   GK   Spain   Antonio Adán   22   EU   Youth system   Promoted   Summer   2012   Youth system   Realmadrid
net 170m.

Clearly needs money eh?

[Djimi Smicer34]

Very good player but not one that I think they really need to sign this summer.

Don't suppose that matters for a club with the money that City has though.

[Adam_LFC]

Very good player but not one that I think they really need to sign this summer.

Don't suppose that matters for a club with the money that City has though.

It's clear they will be improving their needed positions too with Sagna, Clichy, and Zabaleta leaving.

[HeartAndSoul]

Sane, De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva in behind Aguero or Jesus. Fucking hell that's frightening. They'll probably add another centre mid to that, couple of full backs, centre back and GK. Can easily see them spending £250 million + this summer.

[NaivetyinBlack]

Man City also optimistic of signing Monaco left back Benjamin Mendy - Torygraph

Damnit ! 

[Suedehead]

Very good player but all their attacking players can't play at the same time. It's defence/goalkeeper where they look shaky.

[LallanaInPyjamas]

Silva and Mendy transforms them pretty quickly.

[Ray K]

Nick Harris:-
Sale price now being reported in France for Bernardo Silva to Man City: €82m*
*£71.5m today

Jeez. They're spending around £250m this summer. That might be just on Monaco players.

[Johnny B. Goode]

Not that we could have signed him at this point, but it's a bit infuriating seeing Silva going to City for such a fortune because he was an OBVIOUS talent from the beginning of his career. It was plain for all to see, and everyone let Monaco get him. I wonder if we ever showed any interest? Because it's the exact type of player we should be pursuing, only at least one year earlier.

Even today I wouldn't bat an eye lid at 72m, he's just that good. Ironically he'll be City's new Silva, a mainstay in their team for the next decade.

[LallanaInPyjamas]

Not that we could have signed him at this point, but it's a bit infuriating seeing Silva going to City for such a fortune because he was an OBVIOUS talent from the beginning of his career. It was plain for all to see, and everyone let Monaco get him. I wonder if we ever showed any interest? Because it's the exact type of player we should be pursuing, only at least one year earlier.

Even today I wouldn't bat an eye lid at 72m, he's just that good. Ironically he'll be City's new Silva, a mainstay in their team for the next decade.

Yup. Magnificent footballer.

Just a reminder that you can still get City to win the league at 13/5. I suspect that'll be much lower in a few weeks.

[pyroparty]

Not that we could have signed him at this point, but it's a bit infuriating seeing Silva going to City for such a fortune because he was an OBVIOUS talent from the beginning of his career. It was plain for all to see, and everyone let Monaco get him. I wonder if we ever showed any interest? Because it's the exact type of player we should be pursuing, only at least one year earlier.

Even today I wouldn't bat an eye lid at 72m, he's just that good. Ironically he'll be City's new Silva, a mainstay in their team for the next decade.

Yep. We should sign every good player in the world.

[Johnny B. Goode]

Yep. We should sign every good player in the world.

Hahah you sad bastard, do you just go around my posts trying to be a dick? Is it my Portuguese-speaking bias again?

Fuck off 

[pyroparty]

Hahah you sad bastard, do you just go around my posts trying to be a dick? Is it my Portuguese-speaking bias again?

Fuck off 

  Yikes, calm yourself down and get a Benfica B game on.

[Greatness]

Man City also optimistic of signing Monaco left back Benjamin Mendy - Torygraph

Damnit ! 

Aren't they in for Fabinho as well, those three are the best players in that Monaco side outside of Mbappe.

If City sign Mendy and Fabinho along with Sliva, that would be some statement

[PeterTheRed ...]

Very good player but not one that I think they really need to sign this summer.

Don't suppose that matters for a club with the money that City has though.

Well, David Silva is 31 already, and he's been struggling with injuries in recent seasons. Bernardo Silva will be his long term replacement.

[Crosby Nick]

Do they need Silva with all their options?
Hope he likes playing in front of empty seats.

He's coming from Monaco, doubt that'll be a problem.

[PeterTheRed ...]

Aren't they in for Fabinho as well, those three are the best players in that Monaco side outside of Mbappe.

If City sign Mendy and Fabinho along with Sliva, that would be some statement

All of them very talented players, but still very young and nowhere near ready to dominate the Premier League. It is actually good for us in the short term that Guardiola is continuing with the long term rebuilding project at Man City, instead of adopting the "Galacticos" transfer policy.

[Dim Glas]

Got to laugh at the Manchester clubs, if they don't challenge/win the league next year pep and jose should be sacked immediately.

Do they need Silva with all their options?
Hope he likes playing in front of empty seats.

Guardiola has to win the league next season or he'll be in serious trouble. 60 mill on Silva is just the start, they will spend an absolute fortune again this summer.   

Mourinho has bought himself time due to winning the Europa league. Although of course the pressure will be on as well. But Guardiola is the man who simply has no other option but to win the league (or Champions league).

[PeterTheRed ...]

Guardiola has to win the league next season or he'll be in serious trouble. 60 mill on Silva is just the start, they will spend an absolute fortune again this summer.   

Mourinho has bought himself time due to winning the Europa league. Although of course the pressure will be on as well. But Guardiola is the man who simply has no other option but to win the league (or Champions league).

Nah, Guardiola is not in the same position as Maureen. Just look at the age of his most expensive signings so far: Sane (20), Stones (22), Gabriel Jesus (19), Bernardo Silva (22). He is being allowed to actually build a team, and that is a very smart move from Man City's owners.

On the other hand, Maureen is in a deep shit. He will be allowed to spend a fortune on whatever Jorge Mendes and Mino Raiola tell him this summer, and he will be gone next summer if he repeats this season again.

[martinsquirtle]

Ha Raheem, going to struggle to get a game

[PeterTheRed ...]

Ha Raheem, going to struggle to get a game

To be honest, he was already struggling to get a game this season, once Gabriel Jesus was fit.

[Clayton Bigsby]

What price Mbappe if this guy is £60m?

[keano7]

Yup. Magnificent footballer.

Just a reminder that you can still get City to win the league at 13/5. I suspect that'll be much lower in a few weeks.

Depends if they sort the defence and keeper out. Easily the best midfield and attack in the league going forward.

[puroresu_kid]

Nah, Guardiola is not in the same position as Maureen. Just look at the age of his most expensive signings so far: Sane (20), Stones (22), Gabriel Jesus (19), Bernardo Silva (22). He is being allowed to actually build a team, and that is a very smart move from Man City's owners.

On the other hand, Maureen is in a deep shit. He will be allowed to spend a fortune on whatever Jorge Mendes and Mino Raiola tell him this summer, and he will be gone next summer if he repeats this season again.

Exactly.  They are building something for more than just next season.

I'm sad Monaco are getting broken up.

[Dim Glas]

Nah, Guardiola is not in the same position as Maureen. Just look at the age of his most expensive signings so far: Sane (20), Stones (22), Gabriel Jesus (19), Bernardo Silva (22). He is being allowed to actually build a team, and that is a very smart move from Man City's owners.

On the other hand, Maureen is in a deep shit. He will be allowed to spend a fortune on whatever Jorge Mendes and Mino Raiola tell him this summer, and he will be gone next summer if he repeats this season again.

Nope. Guardiola has to deliver next season. Yes they have young players, but they aren't just building for the future, he's buying for now too. And he's not being given what could be at least 400 million over two summers to take his sweet time to win what City's owners desperately want to win.

A CL or a league will need to be delivered next year, what City owners want is their team to be amongst the giants of Europe, and winning one of the 2 major prizes is just the start.  They want that team in CL semi finals and finals year in year out and collecting leagues as a matter of course in the way Real, Barca, Juventus and Bayern Munich do.

[Linudden]

They want that team in CL semi finals and finals year in year out and collecting leagues as a matter of course in the way Real, Barca, Juventus and Bayern Munich do.

Of course it doesn't really work like that in England now that everyone has a chequebook. Had they done so in the 90's it would've been easy pickings.

As for Silva he's untested in a better league than France, a league where the defences have more holes in them than Swiss cheese. In addition there was the classic underestimation thing from City on them in Europe, along with Dortmund being not in a mood to play after the attack. If Pep falls into the beartrap and buys their entire team pretty much he'll only have himself to blame if it goes into deep sh*t.

[Bend It Like Aurelio]

I wouldn't rate CIty's chances yet. They still need quite a bit of overhaul in the midfield and the back end in order to stand a chance. But slowly and surely, the pieces are fitting into place.

Though I'd give them one more summer, as their younger players gain more experience, then I can see them becoming a dominant team for the next decade. It's not only their signings, but their academy is just too strong compared with the rest of the league.

I think they're going about this build in the right way. I've always said that expecting Guardiola to deliver this year was way too soon, with all the dross in their team weighing them down. But he's very methodical with the way he's improving the team, unlike the other team in Manchester...

[cdav]

So unsurprisingly these are going to spend a massive amount- £60-70m on Silva, probably sign Walker and Mendy for a combined £80m, and will still be after a center back, maybe a keeper and a center mid. That is probably going to be totaling over £250m.

They have reduced their wage bill by letting some players go on frees, but they won't be selling many for decent fees so how will they be able to afford to spend that net again? Their revenue is about £90m more than ours (before we got into the champions league), there must be some accounting tricks going on to enable them to spend this much?

[Dull Tools]

What is the price? Says £43m on BBC and £60m on the Guardian.

[PeterTheRed ...]

Nope. Guardiola has to deliver next season. Yes they have young players, but they aren't just building for the future, he's buying for now too. And he's not being given what could be at least 400 million over two summers to take his sweet time to win what City's owners desperately want to win.

A CL or a league will need to be delivered next year, what City owners want is their team to be amongst the giants of Europe, and winning one of the 2 major prizes is just the start.  They want that team in CL semi finals and finals year in year out and collecting leagues as a matter of course in the way Real, Barca, Juventus and Bayern Munich do.

No mate, they are letting go far too many experienced players this summer (Hart, Caballero, Zabaleta, Sagna, Clichy, Mangala, Fernando, Nasri, Navas, Nolito, Bony, with Toure also out of contract) for them to be pursuing short term success next season. They are obviously building a team for the long term, and that is why their most expensive signings are at the age of 19-22.

[Xxavi]

Sagna, Navas, Clichy and Caballero released today. How much is that off the wage bill already?

Pep should have released them last summer. I understand that he already got rid of Mangala, Nasri and Hart back then, and perhaps didn't want to make such wholesale changes, but he should have. These guys fooled people into thinking that they can mount a title challenge.

[Linudden]

Would Clichy still be good enough to be cover for Milner? Home-grown in England and everything.

(not watching other teams pretty much)

Cashing in some on Moreno who really can't play effectively in that position wouldn't be wrong IMO.

[OsirisMVZ]

Benfica with all their financial woes look pretty stupid selling him to Monaco for 12 million pounds.

I can see him at one of the Real/Barca in 3-4 years.

Surely they have a sell-on fee for Bernardo, and they will probably take United to the cleaners for Lindelof too.

What is the price? Says £43m on BBC and £60m on the Guardian.

Probably a Martial-type deal where its already a big initial fee that will rise and rise with add-ons.

[Xxavi]

Guardiola has to win the league next season or he'll be in serious trouble. 60 mill on Silva is just the start, they will spend an absolute fortune again this summer.   

Mourinho has bought himself time due to winning the Europa league. Although of course the pressure will be on as well. But Guardiola is the man who simply has no other option but to win the league (or Champions league).

Very strange comment and judgment.

Guardiola will not be in trouble at City even if he doesn't win either of those. His Barca buddies are there, and when he was hired, there was a clear understanding that some team building is necessary.

Also, surprised you think Mourinho has bought himself time. They have been garbage for a good chunk of the season, forget about point difference, if you cannot see the difference in ManCity and ManU's football, then you must be blind. Go and look at redcafe and see what ManU fans think of Mourinho and his football. They just about tolerated Mourinho this season, he will not have any more time than Guardiola at all. A good chunk of ManU fans are ready to consider options, 1 more season of crap football and league/FA cup won't save Mourinho there.

I don't know in what world are you if you think Mourinho has done better (either results or football wise) than Guardiola this season. If you are to judge who is more likely to get the boot, Mourinho has a huge lead at this point.

[OsirisMVZ]

Btw I think the Monaco owner is going to make all his lost divorce money back this summer