Manchester City 17/18 discussion | "If you're here for the Champions clap your hands" (#6505)

[RoyH1]

https://www.theguardian.com/news/2017/dec/15/manchester-city-football-group-ferran-soriano

Just read that piece. Eerie.

Sorry I know it’s a long article, but basically goes onto outline what City’s Owen era view as the future for football clubs and what needs to be done to thrive in a world filled with growing “super” clubs

Its possible success could lead many clubs to try and form their own “multi-national” corporate structures.

Good piece. I'm disgusted by Soriano's vision of the football future. This franchise system takes away all the feeling of community away from football.

And while it might be true that in the not so distant future, CFG will be making big money, right now that project is still being bankrolled by oil money. FIFA's reluctance to crak down on this is hypocrisy at it's best.

 

[DanClancy]

That's seriously impressive and I think City will do well to match that after 22 games. We've 5 games to go up until that point so we can only drop a maximum of 3 points just in order to match that 22 game total and with Spurs up next followed by the busy Christmas period I think we'll drop some points before the year is out.

Possibly but I won't be surprised if you don't.

Bloody hell, did they? I don't remember them as being that good.

Exceptional team and easily the best Chelsea team I've seen, beaten by the winners of the CL in both 05 & 06. They had Cech, Terry, Carvalho, Cole, Makelele, Lampard, Robben & Drogba. Thats 8 players we could argue were all world class.

They were 16 points clear too at that point too. Only picked up 30 points from their last 16 games mind you.

Think their season fizzled out, Barca knocked them out in R2 in the CL but can't recall at what stage they were knocked out in the domestic cups. They were some side.

 

[rotherham_red]

https://www.theguardian.com/news/2017/dec/15/manchester-city-football-group-ferran-soriano

Just read that piece. Eerie.

Sorry I know it’s a long article, but basically goes onto outline what City’s Owen era view as the future for football clubs and what needs to be done to thrive in a world filled with growing “super” clubs

Its possible success could lead many clubs to try and form their own “multi-national” corporate structures.

It's nothing new. Utd tried something similar with its feeder club arrangements in the early-00s. We quietly shelved it because it didn't really bear any fruit in the sporting sense.

While City is taking that idea to its nth degree, I don't see how it will lead to dominance for them in any meaningful sense.

 

[DanClancy]

Whats the likelihood of Pep staying on after 3 years blues?

 

[RobinHood]

It's nothing new. Utd tried something similar with its feeder club arrangements in the early-00s. We quietly shelved it because it didn't really bear any fruit in the sporting sense.

While City is taking that idea to its nth degree, I don't see how it will lead to dominance for them in any meaningful sense.

May not pay dividends in the short-term but if they corner the market for all up and coming talent on all continents they’ll have first dibs. Also if the talent ends up not being of the quality City needs they can continue playing in their subsidiary clubs (e.g. Girona or New York City) or be sold for profit making City more self-sustaining.

I don’t know if we have a director of football in place (or a similar structure) but I think in the long run that could help with succession planning.

Like according to the article, City are attempting to play the same sort of football across the board. Structures seem to have been put in place to ensure this continues long after the Peplution (trademark pending).

Just my thoughts on this though. And I definitely think City have been assisted by having Abu-Dhabi money, since without any of that initial capital investment all of this would have been a pipe dream.

 

[RobinHood]

May not pay dividends in the short-term but if they corner the market for all up and coming talent on all continents they’ll have first dibs. Also if the talent ends up not being of the quality City needs they can continue playing in their subsidiary clubs (e.g. Girona or New York City) or be sold for profit making City more self-sustaining.

I don’t know if we have a director of football in place (or a similar structure) but I think in the long run that could help with succession planning.

Like according to the article, City are attempting to play the same sort of football across the board. Structures seem to have been put in place to ensure this continues long after the Peplution (trademark pending).

Just my thoughts on this though. And I definitely think City have been assisted by having Abu-Dhabi money, since without any of that initial capital investment all of this would have been a pipe dream.

I realize as I said that that they are marching away with the title...

 

[Thunderhead]

Whats the likelihood of Pep staying on after 3 years blues?

I think quite a bit depends on this season and how we do in the CL, I certainly think he'll stay for another year after the 3 but can't see him staying 6+ years

 

[Treble]

Exceptional team and easily the best Chelsea team I've seen, beaten by the winners of the CL in both 05 & 06. They had Cech, Terry, Carvalho, Cole, Makelele, Lampard, Robben & Drogba. Thats 8 players we could argue were all world class.

Think their season fizzled out, Barca knocked them out in R2 in the CL but can't recall at what stage they were knocked out in the domestic cups. They were some side.

Yup. Chelsea won about 100-103 pts in the calendar 2005. Incredible really. But they started to lose form as it happened to Madrid after their record-braking season in 11-12.

For a reason that is not quite clear to me, Jose's teams peak within 12-18 months and then fade. Guardiola's approach seems more sustainable as his teams are at their best in his 3rd year and are generally more consistent in their performances whereas Jose teams have a clear peak during which they are winning machines and then something goes wrong.

 

[rotherham_red]

May not pay dividends in the short-term but if they corner the market for all up and coming talent on all continents they’ll have first dibs. Also if the talent ends up not being of the quality City needs they can continue playing in their subsidiary clubs (e.g. Girona or New York City) or be sold for profit making City more self-sustaining.

I don’t know if we have a director of football in place (or a similar structure) but I think in the long run that could help with succession planning.

Like according to the article, City are attempting to play the same sort of football across the board. Structures seem to have been put in place to ensure this continues long after the Peplution (trademark pending).

Just my thoughts on this though. And I definitely think City have been assisted by having Abu-Dhabi money, since without any of that initial capital investment all of this would have been a pipe dream.

We had a similar thought process, but then realised, there's a reason why there haven't been amazing footballers being produced by the likes of China and Australia, and it isn't because of a lack of enthusiasm. Football is the number one sport in the vast majority of the world, and in the few exceptions where it isn't, it's at least number 2 or 3, so it's not as if City are trying to tap into an unknown market here. The returns on this sort of strategy just aren't big enough, IMO.

 

[FCBarca]

I think quite a bit depends on this season and how we do in the CL, I certainly think he'll stay for another year after the 3 but can't see him staying 6+ years

4, 5 tops. He still wants to coach a NT before he goes back to perhaps coaching at the youth level or hopefully leading La Masia

 

[jontheblue]

I whole heartedly agree. Honestly I think people who subscribe to the former line of thinking use it as a stick to discredit the achievements and success of city, as if a team like city winning titles suddenly turns the trophies into play-doh or make believe. It's just such a pretentious point of view. Now if someone where to say that a team like city winning isn't as "romantic" as a historically great side winning then I guess thats a fair point but then that becomes a subjective romanticizing of football as a whole.

I think that's exactly the point. Added to of course, because whilst the owners may not have 'paid their dues', the fans certainly have. As you say, it's not as romantic when City win this way, but frankly, other than Leicester's achievements, which PL trophy winning story from recent years is ? Football has lost much of it's romance full stop.

I went with my lifelong United supporting brother to the derby last week, but he'd not been to OT for a few years having lived overseas recently - he almost threw up with disgust at all the half & half scarves, the number of people 'watching' the game through their smartphones, the number of people leaving the game early, the number of corporates still inside when the second half kicked off, etc. I'm not suggesting that's different to any other British club of course. the point being that football has changed in every respect

United out muscling every other club with the money they get from their fanbase is not going to look much different to city's approach if you are a fan of any other club and the biggest protesters about 'the way city have used/not earned' their money appears to be from United fans. I'm afraid it's difficult not to see that as somewhat hypocritical and clutching at straws, especially given how much so many united fans would historically hold up their long term managerial appointment as being a better way to do things than every other club (which it is of course), now there is the recent merrygoround managerial history at United.

Good piece. I'm disgusted by Soriano's vision of the football future. This franchise system takes away all the feeling of community away from football.

And while it might be true that in the not so distant future, CFG will be making big money, right now that project is still being bankrolled by oil money. FIFA's reluctance to crak down on this is hypocrisy at it's best.

It's the last line I genuinely don't get. What exactly should FIFA be cracking down upon and why ? I really don't understand. If FFP was about clubs being financially stable and not placing themselves in financial risk, that doesn't apply to city, pretty much more than any other club on the planet. If FFP is about stopping any club outside the establishment getting their way into the establishment, I have no sympathy with that. If it's about stopping any way of an owner investing money into a club, again I have no sympathy with that approach. So what exactly is it that FIFA should be clamping down on ? Other than a threat to United's dominance

And please don't tell me it's because of the unethical nature of our owners. Not because they aren't, but because football in general is way, way past the point of being able to pretend it sets some kind of moral benchmark in any respect whatsoever.

 

[DanClancy]

Yup. Chelsea won about 100-103 pts in the calendar 2005. Incredible really. But they started to lose form as it happened to Madrid after their record-braking season in 11-12.

For a reason that is not quite clear to me, Jose's teams peak within 12-18 months and then fade. Guardiola's approach seems more sustainable as his teams are at their best in his 3rd year and are generally more consistent in their performances whereas Jose teams have a clear peak during which they are winning machines and then something goes wrong.

In his 3rd season at Chelsea they were in the title race until the last few games, they had 78 points from 33 games and were up against a great United side. They won the League Cup & FA Cup and were knocked out in the CL semi final on pens. They were still one of Europe's top side. He only lasted 2 years in Milan and he wasn't that far away from a CL final in his 3rd year in Madrid.

We'll see what happens here as the circumstances are different, he's inherited an average side but I've seen worse teams win the CL.

 

[DanClancy]

4, 5 tops. He still wants to coach a NT before he goes back to perhaps coaching at the youth level or hopefully leading La Masia

Has he ever expressed a desire in coaching in Italy or is their any chance he'd want to be the main man at Barca?

 

[Treble]

In his 3rd season at Chelsea they were in the title race until the last few games, they had 78 points from 33 games and were up against a great United side. They won the League Cup & FA Cup and were knocked out in the CL semi final on pens. They were still one of Europe's top side. He only lasted 2 years in Milan and he wasn't that far away from a CL final in his 3rd year in Madrid.

We'll see what happens here as the circumstances are different, he's inherited an average side but I've seen worse teams win the CL.

They were still a top side but not as strong anymore. They were sensational in 2005 and then they were just a top side. From 95 pts in 04/05 and 91 pts in 05/06 (they lost the last 2 games because they had already won the title) to 83 pts in 06/07. Then the start of the 07/08 season wasn't great and Jose left. Same story at Madrid: sensational second season (100 pts) but faded next season - 85 pts.

 

[Needham]

In his 3rd season at Chelsea they were in the title race until the last few games, they had 78 points from 33 games and were up against a great United side. They won the League Cup & FA Cup and were knocked out in the CL semi final on pens. They were still one of Europe's top side. He only lasted 2 years in Milan and he wasn't that far away from a CL final in his 3rd year in Madrid.

We'll see what happens here as the circumstances are different, he's inherited an average side but I've seen worse teams win the CL.

I thought he was in Milan 3 years. Can you check on Google and let me know, thanks.

 

[FCBarca]

Has he ever expressed a desire in coaching in Italy or is their any chance he'd want to be the main man at Barca?

He's never mentioned it and as the major leagues go, I think he has only ever really thought highly of the 3 he has coached in now. I really only see the NT next on his coaching bucket list

The return to Barcelona would be about player development rather than coaching the 1st team since that time has passed. He has often talked about finishing his coaching career with young kids rather than senior level and for that, he'd be ideal for La Masia. Of course, at Barcelona everything depends on the political climate of the board.

 

[Treble]

I thought he was in Milan 3 years. Can you check on Google and let me know, thanks.

You are wrong.

 

[Needham]

You are wrong.

Well done, you.

 

[Robochop]

As far as lack of flexibility goes, Pep only has one way of playing. We saw this when they took on Monaco in the CL last year. They just needed not to be hammered and they would go through but Pep was incapable of closing the game out. Will this cost them against a PSG or a Real Madrid later on in this seasons CL? It’s fair to say that Pep is great at making great players better, which makes the argument about “could he manage Stoke” a bit moot, but still for the sake of an experiment I would love to see whether he can coach his method into average sides or whether it’s for a very niche market

He has learned from last season.

He would have been expecting an onslaught from us in the last 30 - 20 Min of the Derby if leading. As they were leading, he closed the game down by putting on extra defenders & time wasting. If it had been last season he would likely have gone the other way of trying to score more goals while leaving them open at the back.

I thought his comments post game were quite conceited though with his declaration that ''I knew possession football could work in the PL''. It can work if you have a multi-million pound squad to begin with & then spend nearly £400 Million on top of that.

He will never manage an average side so it's hard to judge his true level. How do you judge comparisons? Could he have won the PL with some of the squads SAF did? you'd have to say it's a resounding no. SAF is probably the greatest manager there has been in world football though. Would he have done what Jose did at Porto & Inter, again, highly unlikely. As a chequebook manager he's probably the best. Would you have him managing a club on a limited budget, probably not.

 

[Lentwood]

How do you know that Jose or any other coach only have a budget of £150m per year ?

No Pep doesn't only have one way of playing, i think people say this because his main idea is to have more possession than the opponent. Other than that, you only had to take a deeper look at his Bayern team and compare to his Barca team to see that there were differences in the way they played. His city team is a mix of both, a mix of possession football and a very direct attacking football.

Against Monaco, the player on the pitch were responsible for not closing out the game when they could have. Monaco's 3rd goal came in a 2nd half where City was completely dominating the match and Monaco players could barely come out of their own half. This season though, they seem to be way more clinical in their finishing.

I don't know but that's an estimate based on what the likes of Jose and Conte have spent since Pep arrived. I do know United are well aware that we need full-backs, CMs, wingers and a #10 so if more funds where available, I am sure we would have made further additions.

How come when United don't get the job done, it's Jose's fault, even when it's individual mistakes - however when City fail it's the players fault not Pep's? How does that work?

 

[NoLogo]

Well good thing I never said that. Its obvious that Pep does something unique when he has the best players; his strong point is the ability to work with top players. He is like a Ferrari in that sense.

Totally agree with you it's just weird to follow this whole discussion on here. People who hate him trying to discredit everything he does and then of course you have the other extreme trying to make it look like he is making world class players out of pub players.

 

[NoLogo]

Whats the likelihood of Pep staying on after 3 years blues?

I doubt he will stay much longer. He seems to get bored with his projects pretty fast. Although it probably depends how much he clashes with the owners, director of football or just the English press. If they let him do whatever he wants at City though, which would be the smart move from them, he might actually stay longer than he did on any other job.

 

[SER19]

So, it is crazy to spend 265m on 2 gk and 5 defenders but it is acceptable to spend 180m on 1 striker and 1 midfielder(Pogba and Lukaku)?
Then why did United paid 30M for Rio Ferdinand 15 years ago?

Can somebody on this forum make a comment about Man City without it being fired back as some comparison to united? This was generated by a poster a few pages back asking how much City spent on defence, I answered, then got a trump like message saying he never bought a centre half, to which i replied with a correction. So I've made two innocuous posts that have been jumped on....by city fans.

Calm the f**k down

 

[Raebareliwale]

Can somebody on this forum make a comment about Man City without it being fired back as some comparison to united? This was generated by a poster a few pages back asking how much City spent on defence, I answered, then got a trump like message saying he never bought a centre half, to which i replied with a correction. So I've made two innocuous posts that have been jumped on....by city fans.

Calm the f**k down

We are not really cornering you as such. The point that i was trying to make is that all the big clubs spend alot of money these days but still there are no guarantees for success.
If PEP wants a new CB after spending whatever we did on defence, its because there really is a need of a CB at City and not because we have the money so we buy.
Similarly, if Jose buys a midfielder in JAN because there is a need, its justified.
Just because Jose has spent huge money in the past window doesnt means that he is a chequebook manager if he wants to buy a player in January that his team definetly needs.

 

[padr81]

We are not really cornering you as such. The point that i was trying to make is that all the big clubs spend alot of money these days but still there are no guarantees for success.
If PEP wants a new CB after spending whatever we did on defence, its because there really is a need of a CB at City and not because we have the money so we buy.
Similarly, if Jose buys a midfielder in JAN because there is a need, its justified.
Just because Jose has spent huge money in the past window doesnt means that he is a chequebook manager if he wants to buy a player in January that his team definetly needs.

Every manager is a cheque book managers. Generally the ones with the biggest cheque books are the ones who battle at the top.
People act like being such a thing is bad but its not all the greats were cheque book managers. Fergie, Pep, Jose, Capello and so on.

 

[footballistic orgasm]

I don't know but that's an estimate based on what the likes of Jose and Conte have spent since Pep arrived. I do know United are well aware that we need full-backs, CMs, wingers and a #10 so if more funds where available, I am sure we would have made further additions.

How come when United don't get the job done, it's Jose's fault, even when it's individual mistakes - however when City fail it's the players fault not Pep's? How does that work?

Jose has spent way more than that, Pogba alone cost about £120m... Jose got all the players he wanted except for maybe Perisic.

Where in my post did i insinuate that no defeat can be Pep's fault? I was talking about that return leg against Monaco specifically. They were actually playing well and were in the process of qualifying until that freekick that led to Monaco's 3rd goal.

 

[footballistic orgasm]

He has learned from last season.

He would have been expecting an onslaught from us in the last 30 - 20 Min of the Derby if leading. As they were leading, he closed the game down by putting on extra defenders & time wasting. If it had been last season he would likely have gone the other way of trying to score more goals while leaving them open at the back.

I thought his comments post game were quite conceited though with his declaration that ''I knew possession football could work in the PL''. It can work if you have a multi-million pound squad to begin with & then spend nearly £400 Million on top of that.

He will never manage an average side so it's hard to judge his true level. How do you judge comparisons? Could he have won the PL with some of the squads SAF did? you'd have to say it's a resounding no. SAF is probably the greatest manager there has been in world football though. Would he have done what Jose did at Porto & Inter, again, highly unlikely. As a chequebook manager he's probably the best. Would you have him managing a club on a limited budget, probably not.

Inter had an excellent team, that team on paper was superior to this current City team. Some people always bring up that Inter team as if it was an average team, which it wasn't.

Porto was also a very good team with players who went on to have great careers

 

[SER19]

We are not really cornering you as such. The point that i was trying to make is that all the big clubs spend alot of money these days but still there are no guarantees for success.
If PEP wants a new CB after spending whatever we did on defence, its because there really is a need of a CB at City and not because we have the money so we buy.
Similarly, if Jose buys a midfielder in JAN because there is a need, its justified.
Just because Jose has spent huge money in the past window doesnt means that he is a chequebook manager if he wants to buy a player in January that his team definetly needs.

Your response to me stating a fact - without judgement - was defensive and incorrect (while telling me I was wrong).

For the record if that's what you're discussing I think city's squad as it was with the amount spent on defence is substantial. If he still feels short and his solution is to go and spend more that's his prerogative. But it means he's relying on what he can spend. Yes same applies to another manager- but for the love of Christ can somebody state something about Guardiola without it being compared to another manager.

As a statement of fact - city have spent 265m in three seasons on defence. That included Guardiola buying at the time the worlds second most expensive defender ever. They now have some injuries (like all clubs) and he is anticipating spending another whack in January. Just read it as it is I'm not saying anything other than fact.

As a statement of opinion, my simple non offensive opinion, it must irk other managers in the league particularly those who might be fighting for their job, to see the top team reaching for the chequebook to add to a defence that cost more than their squad.

Can I have that opinion without it being seen as some anti Guardiola agenda. He likes to spend. A lot lot lot and chooses to over looking to youth sides. If that bothers you or another city fan don't attack me

 

[Rhyme Animal]

Whats the likelihood of Pep staying on after 3 years blues?

As soon as gets figured/starts getting figured out he'll bugger off.

That's his whole show.

 

[The United]

This game should be interesting to watch. Both teams like to attack the way I like.

Hopefully, City drops some points.

 

[The United]

Inter had an excellent team, that team on paper was superior to this current City team. Some people always bring up that Inter team as if it was an average team, which it wasn't.

Porto was also a very good team with players who went on to have great careers

I think it goes both ways.

If you win big titles/cups, your squad will get rated very highly. But if the same squad does not win shit, people rate them very low and say they need to be upgraded. Which is something that is happening with our squad atm. I rate our squad decent enough. And the results and amount of points show that.

Since city is having a crazy season and people like to think our squad needs a lot of upgrades to catch up.

P.S I agree with that both porto and inter had very good squads under Jose.

 

[notcool]

As far as lack of flexibility goes, Pep only has one way of playing. We saw this when they took on Monaco in the CL last year. They just needed not to be hammered and they would go through but Pep was incapable of closing the game out. Will this cost them against a PSG or a Real Madrid later on in this seasons CL?

Pep's way of not being hammered is different from some other managers. He doesn't sit back, instead he keeps the ball more. City kept 64 per cent possession last season, now it's up to 71 or 72. What you're talking about has been fixed, or is on its way to being fixed. Pep has seen the problem and changed. Look at the difference between the games against Chelsea this season and the ones last season. City had so much more control of the ball and no way were they getting sucked-punched like happened in the 1-3 last season.

I whole heartedly agree. Honestly I think people who subscribe to the former line of thinking use it as a stick to discredit the achievements and success of city, as if a team like city winning titles suddenly turns the trophies into play-doh or make believe.

It doesn't help us to diminish what Pep/City have done. We need to accept what a threat they are; how else can we go about overcoming said threat?

 

[Emptihead]

Your response to me stating a fact - without judgement - was defensive and incorrect (while telling me I was wrong).

For the record if that's what you're discussing I think city's squad as it was with the amount spent on defence is substantial. If he still feels short and his solution is to go and spend more that's his prerogative. But it means he's relying on what he can spend. Yes same applies to another manager- but for the love of Christ can somebody state something about Guardiola without it being compared to another manager.

As a statement of fact - city have spent 265m in three seasons on defence. That included Guardiola buying at the time the worlds second most expensive defender ever. They now have some injuries (like all clubs) and he is anticipating spending another whack in January. Just read it as it is I'm not saying anything other than fact.

As a statement of opinion, my simple non offensive opinion, it must irk other managers in the league particularly those who might be fighting for their job, to see the top team reaching for the chequebook to add to a defence that cost more than their squad.

Can I have that opinion without it being seen as some anti Guardiola agenda. He likes to spend. A lot lot lot and chooses to over looking to youth sides. If that bothers you or another city fan don't attack me

When discussing most things comparisons must be made. You cannot view things in a vacuum because things like what is considered a good season or what costs a lot are deemed what they are in comparison to others. Yes, City have spent 265 million and I agree with you it's a lot , but saying that is substantial is a comparison.

I also don't think it is that insane. Basically in the last three seasons when transfer fees have gone crazy City have replaced their whole defense besides the ever injured Kompany. Mostly this replacement process was due to age and players had lost their legs. I don't think it is normal to replace basically your whole defense in a couple years, but this is what happened think it is partly that during the initial takeover the squad was overhauled and many players were similar in age. And while the fees we have payed for defenders has been high don't think they have been that absurd. I mean Lindelof and Sanchez of spurs had transfer fees of 33 million and 42 million and while Sanchez has been having a good season could be argued they were both prospects. Not to mention that Van Dijk is rumored to have a transfer fee of 70 million. So yes while the costs have been substantial think it is just part of the times.

Also, think City getting a new center back is perfectly normal. Currently we have 4 senior center backs and a youth player Tosin (20 years old) who gets the occasional game. Honestly Tosin still needs to develop a little more to make the jump up. Of those four senior players Pep has completely lost faith in being able to rely on Kompany because of his injury records and has even basically said so in an interview and Mangala is not good enough with his feet to play in Pep's system. Think he is adequate as a fourth choice centerback, but certainly not third choice while competing on multiple fronts and Pep doesn't really rate him. Very good chance of him being sold in the summer which would leave City with two senior center backs so even if Tosin does make the jump strengthening is required at this position and do not see much of a difference doing it in January versus the summer. In comparison United have fiver senior center backs (Sorry I couldn't resist).

 

[SER19]

When discussing most things comparisons must be made. You cannot view things in a vacuum because things like what is considered a good season or what costs a lot are deemed what they are in comparison to others. Yes, City have spent 265 million and I agree with you it's a lot , but saying that is substantial is a comparison.

I also don't think it is that insane. Basically in the last three seasons when transfer fees have gone crazy City have replaced their whole defense besides the ever injured Kompany. Mostly this replacement process was due to age and players had lost their legs. I don't think it is normal to replace basically your whole defense in a couple years, but this is what happened think it is partly that during the initial takeover the squad was overhauled and many players were similar in age. And while the fees we have payed for defenders has been high don't think they have been that absurd. I mean Lindelof and Sanchez of spurs had transfer fees of 33 million and 42 million and while Sanchez has been having a good season could be argued they were both prospects. Not to mention that Van Dijk is rumored to have a transfer fee of 70 million. So yes while the costs have been substantial think it is just part of the times.

Also, think City getting a new center back is perfectly normal. Currently we have 4 senior center backs and a youth player Tosin (20 years old) who gets the occasional game. Honestly Tosin still needs to develop a little more to make the jump up. Of those four senior players Pep has completely lost faith in being able to rely on Kompany because of his injury records and has even basically said so in an interview and Mangala is not good enough with his feet to play in Pep's system. Think he is adequate as a fourth choice centerback, but certainly not third choice while competing on multiple fronts and Pep doesn't really rate him. Very good chance of him being sold in the summer which would leave City with two senior center backs so even if Tosin does make the jump strengthening is required at this position and do not see much of a difference doing it in January versus the summer. In comparison United have fiver senior center backs (Sorry I couldn't resist).

For the last time, when I responded to the original poster I answered a question. That was all, a statement of fact. Straight away two city fans jump On it to talk about mourinho. Yes that comparison can be made but it neednt be every bloody time what sir pep spends is mentioned.

As I've said above in the post you quoted, of guardiola wants to do it that way then go for it, and who am I to argue it's bought him a lot of success in his career. But , and I don't mean you, there are so so many precious city fans on here that a mere statement of fact opens an endless circular debate about spend and united spend and if you're going to say that city rebuilt a defence so so all fair game, united have basically rebuilt an entire squad and two very successful managers reigns where money was literally wasted. But that's not a discussion I see loads of sense in having, my overall point is that any time a poster mentions what lord guardiola spends it seems to really irritate some city fans, and from a non biased point of view I feel some managers and most fans of lesser teams will find it irritating to see a manger moan about depth when he has a defence worth over 300m.

let's not forget he decided to spend 30m on a sub full back and spent the money in the way he did, could he have got a defence including two new centre halves and full backs for the huge amount he spent? Probably, but being City with an unlimited budget he was able to go and spend 135m on full backs alone rather than shop in the same market as, for example, Arsenal , Liverpool, Tottenham. He could maybe have made that money go further (you say united have five centre backs, yep with a total cost of 105m- good business even the three bought at silly season price wise), but luckily for him,he doesn't have to care about that.

 

[2plus2is4]

Whats the likelihood of Pep staying on after 3 years blues?

Let us ask another question first. What are his possible options?

He could go to PSG and help them win the CL (likely) or he could try to make a sleeping italian giant a european powerhouse again (unlikely).
After that I can imagine he would go back to Barca and bring them to the very top again.
So if PSG can't win the CL during his City tenure he will possibly join them.

 

[Treble]

I've taken a look at the table of the top PL transfers adjusted for inflation within football - https://www.reddit.com/r/soccer/comments/6ph090/the_top_100_pl_transfers_adjusted_for_inflation/

In the top 20 most expensive transfers adjusted for inflation, 10 were done by Chelsea, 7 by United (4 after Fergie) and 1 by Leeds, Newcastle and City.

In the current market, Rooney would have cost 136m, same with Ferdinand. That is, Rooney and Ferdinand would have fetched 272m combined fee the last transfer summer.

04-06, Jose signed players for 700m in today's prices after inheriting a squad that reached the CL semis and finished second in the PL.

None of the top 100 transfers listed in the table is done by Guardiola. But the table was done before Mendy and Walker. Both would be between 75th and 100th.

The current City stars:

Aguero - 8th (most expensive in adjusted prices)
KDB - 26th
Sterling - 32th
D. Silva - 63th
Fernandinho - 67th

In short, explaining City's form only with their new expensive signings doesn't quite hold water. The combined fee for Sane and Jesus is 65m. That's what Chelsea payed for Ferreira ( a Portuguese full-back) in adjusted prices. And what City themselves payed for Lescott.

 

[Ronetta]

Good piece. I'm disgusted by Soriano's vision of the football future. This franchise system takes away all the feeling of community away from football.

And while it might be true that in the not so distant future, CFG will be making big money, right now that project is still being bankrolled by oil money. FIFA's reluctance to crak down on this is hypocrisy at it's best.

There's this thing called FFP mate, where you can't spend more than you earn. And you can't include bungs from your owners as earnings. Perhaps you've not heard of it?

 

[VorZakone]

There's this thing called FFP mate, where you can't spend more than you earn. And you can't include bungs from your owners as earnings. Perhaps you've not heard of it?

Big clubs already know how to avoid problems with FFP anyway.

 

[Ronetta]

Whats the likelihood of Pep staying on after 3 years blues?

Not sure how this will pan out (obviously, since I am not Pep!)

On the one hand, if City were to win the league and the CL in the next couple of seasons, he could think "my work here is done" and leave for a new challenge.

On the other hand, we might not win either and he might want to stick around until we do. Or we might win them and he might think he wants to stick around to win some more. The squad he's putting together has lots of young talent and more coming through from the academy. It would seem madness to get players like Sane and Jesus and even perhaps Foden and Diaz, champions league winners medals and then quit and hand over the team to someone else to reap further reward.

So who knows what will happen. I would imagine his kids are pretty settled in at St. Bedes so that might be a factor as well.

 

[Ronetta]

Big clubs already know how to avoid problems with FFP anyway.

Really? How would they do that then? Lob the accountants backhanders to sign off illegal accounts?

You've been drinking in too much anti-City nonsense mate.