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

Every news is that laporte will be on 175k. Where is now total wage cost? Total transfer cost? I even found some comments how it is bargain wage. "Only 175k".
Pathetic
 
Wow. Over £100m for another defender. £60m transfer fee, £36m wages over 4 years and £5m agent fee. That’s how we talk about transfers now, yeah?
 
Wow. Over £100m for another defender. £60m transfer fee, £36m wages over 4 years and £5m agent fee. That’s how we talk about transfers now, yeah?
Much to learn you still have my young padawan.
You forgot his loyalty bonus. Image rights. Bonuses. Plus you must add something like earning per second, etc...
 
City are just relentless in their spending. Especially since Pep came in, it's gone into overdrive.

Going to be difficult for the competition to keep up.

Pep needs to deliver a CL
 


Proof that Pep inherited a fairly good squad compared to us is the fact that spend on forwards is a pittance while midfield spend is within reasonable limits. He's gone bonkers perfectionist in shoring up the backline, which he wouldn't be allowed to do at any other club.
 
Other than PSG, what other teams have spend 300M on 2 players?



Is he for real?

The only club that has spent that much on 2 players is psg. And I guess Barcelona now (though not 300 million) which was precipitated by psgs move.
 
Are we going to get Gooner badges for hoping that they stick it to these feckers in the EFL Cup final?? :nervous:
 
The worst thing about City and Pep's spending isn't that Pep is taking the piss by trying to justify it. It's the media making out that they're the under dogs and doing excellent business to reach the top. We spend £125m less than them since the summer and we're considered the big bad men ruining the game with money? What the feck is going on.

I'm starting to believe the press is paid to favor City by their slave driving owners but explain the fans who are lapping it up and all of a sudden every club supporter is pro-City. It's completely baffling that people are ignoring the complete obvious. :wenger:
 
The worst thing about City and Pep's spending isn't that Pep is taking the piss by trying to justify it. It's the media making out that they're the under dogs and doing excellent business to reach the top. We spend £125m less than them since the summer and we're considered the big bad men ruining the game with money? What the feck is going on.

I'm starting to believe the press is paid to favor City by their slave driving owners but explain the fans who are lapping it up and all of a sudden every club supporter is pro-City. It's completely baffling that people are ignoring the complete obvious. :wenger:

I can answer the bold part 4 you, its ABU media at it again.
 
Is he for real?

The only club that has spent that much on 2 players is psg. And I guess Barcelona now (though not 300 million) which was precipitated by psgs move.

Barca! Forgot about them, even then if all the add ons are achieved, it’s about 270M on Coutinho and Dembele.
 
Now they want Mahrez because Sane got injured. Wtf, he’s only out for 6 weeks, not 6-9 months.

A slight injury and they go straight into the market. Mental.

 
The worst thing about City and Pep's spending isn't that Pep is taking the piss by trying to justify it. It's the media making out that they're the under dogs and doing excellent business to reach the top. We spend £125m less than them since the summer and we're considered the big bad men ruining the game with money? What the feck is going on.

I'm starting to believe the press is paid to favor City by their slave driving owners but explain the fans who are lapping it up and all of a sudden every club supporter is pro-City. It's completely baffling that people are ignoring the complete obvious. :wenger:

It may not be through direct payment per se, but their favourable coverage over the past two years or so has been absolutely influenced by their treatment of journalists behind the scenes, be it through lavish media spreads pre- and post-games, luxurious facilities at interviews etc. Remember the laughable press they received when they had an open day for the journalists before officially opening their Etihad Training Campus? The journalists haven't removed themselves from the Sheikh's arsehole ever since.
 
World's best manager, ladies and gentlemen.
 
You could just play Bernardo, Pep?

Or promote a player from the £200m academy as cover in Sane's absence?
 
He actually should, because he will never get a chance. Rashford is getting games. This kid is wasted there.

Phil is being used as a totem for City's academy. A Stockport lad. The reality is that there is no pathway for him.

He is only 17, so if City's spending slows down in the next few seasons, that might present a glimmer of a chance for him.
 
Phil is being used as a totem for City's academy. A Stockport lad. The reality is that there is no pathway for him.

He is only 17, so if City's spending slows down in the next few seasons, that might present a glimmer of a chance for him.
Problem is it could be easy for him to stagnate if he is just sat waiting or being passed from pillar to post. He is such a talent and could just end up on the long list of unfulfilled talents. Shame.
 
Problem is it could be easy for him to stagnate if he is just sat waiting or being passed from pillar to post. He is such a talent and could just end up on the long list of unfulfilled talents. Shame.

That's something City will have to wrestle with over the coming years.

They've invested heavily in an academy on the basis that a wannabe European super club should have a world-class academy. But at some point they'll have to pick a direction; commit to creating first-team pathways and reign in the spending or follow Chelsea's lead and make a small fortune from turning over academy players and very, very occasionally keep one for themselves.
 
I know City fans rarely concede ground on this forum but surely to God even they can't defend this level of spending?
I suspect it'll bleed into "If you have it, spend it" territory despite months of intricate breakdowns of net spend, sponsorship deals and simply being victims of inflation.
 
I know City fans rarely concede ground on this forum but surely to God even they can't defend this level of spending?
I suspect it'll bleed into "If you have it, spend it" territory despite months of intricate breakdowns of net spend, sponsorship deals and simply being victims of inflation.

They are skint mate. Poor Pep has nothing to work with. Jose is ruining the game.
 
They've spent basically £650mil over past 3 seasons (we've spent around 450m for comparison). They're at like £280m for this season alone. That's insane.
 
He buys the right players at the right age. Even after he leaves, the next manager will have a world class team.
 
Losing Sane makes things interesting for City on the tactical front.

Until Jesus comes back, their only fit forwards are Aguero and Sterling. I wouldn't necessarily classify B Silva as a forward, but I think with some adjustment he can play on the left. The problem is that they lose all semblance of width on that side. Sane was crucial for keeping the right opposition fullback occupied, creating space for Silva and co to operate in. Mendy is out until the end of the season, and Delph doesn't do much attacking anyways.

Which is why I think Pep has decided to go for Laporte. It allows them to play 3 at the back (most likely Laporte, Stones and Otamendi) and utilize Walker and the left full back as wing-backs. Plus I see Zinchenko doing better with less defensive responsibility. He links up well and does a good bit of overlapping. Depending on Pep's mood, he can have Silva, De Bruyne and Fernandinho in the middle, and start up front with Sterling and Aguero. Once Jesus comes back, depending on the opponent and result, he can switch to a 3-4-3.

I'm not sure they need Mahrez. Yet. They have enough playmakers who can stretch the field and make the final pass... they need someone who can unlock tightly packed defenses. They lost that in Sane for a few weeks. Don't think Mahrez brings that.