Man City 2020/21 - General discussion

El Zoido

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We hear this every time City hit a run of good form and it never lasts. We're dominant now because Pep is a once-in-a-generation manager. Our chances of replacing him with someone who can accomplish what he has seem slim to none. Once he leaves (which won't be too far away), things will look very different. Remember that City have only won the Premier League with a game to spare once. Only that one time you could fairly accuse us of 'walking it'- a far cry from what we see in Germany, Italy and France.

And no, we're not winning the quadruple and we're not signing Haaland or Messi. It's not as bad as it looks, and I doubt we'll win the league next year.
I genuinely think you’ll win every game between now and the end of the season. And of course you’ll win it next year too. Nobody will be able to close the gap in the summer to your current team, much less if you actually acquire either of those players.
 

MongeySpangle

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Absolutely baffling that people still believe there's any chance of this ever happening.
Of course it will happen at some point, but it probably won’t be for a good 10-15 years yet.

That being said, with City being the size they are now, someone else will undoubtedly come in. So when it eventually does happen, it shouldn’t affect us too much.
 

Deery

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They’ve got a £50-70m player for every position and on the bench is it really any wonder they’re walking the league.

They’re good but with Pep you always see an opportunity for them to crack in the cups when things don’t go their way. The league is a bit more cut and dry.
 

Nou_Camp99

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I think it's pretty obvious Pep is one of the best managers of all time. It's no wonder they are so good with that wealth behind them coupled with Pep at the helm.

But let's not forget they won the the title with both Mancini n Pelligrini too who let's be honest are both distinctly average managers.
 

NicolaSacco

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They’ve got a £50-70m player for every position and on the bench is it really any wonder they’re walking the league.

They’re good but with Pep you always see an opportunity for them to crack in the cups when things don’t go their way. The league is a bit more cut and dry.
When you say 50-70 million player do you mean a player bought for that much or a player who is now worth that? Because in both of those cases that’s simply untrue
 

MongeySpangle

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They’ve got a £50-70m player for every position and on the bench is it really any wonder they’re walking the league.
Bought for that much.
The only player on our bench last night who cost 50 million was Stones, the average cost of the rest of them was 18 million.

United’s bench against Chelsea cost 25 million more than ours against Wolves.

So don’t give me that.
 

Deery

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The only player on our bench last night who cost 50 million was Stones, the average cost of the rest of them was 18 million.

United’s bench against Chelsea cost 25 million more than ours against Wolves.

So don’t give me that.
I was being a bit flippant but point still stands for the starting 11 and where was Axe that’s a £50m player doesn’t even make the bench and Mendy.
 
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Mark Wuhlberg

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Bought for that much.
This was United bench vs City bench from the game in December (and how much they each cost to their clubs):

Manchester United: E Bailly (£32.2m), J Mata (£37.1m), A Martial (£44m), D Henderson (0), Alex Telles ( £15m), N Matic ( £40m ), van de Beek ( £40m) Total= £208.3
Manchester City: I Gündogan (£20m), Z Steffen( £6m), A Laporte ( £57m), B Silva ( £43.5m), F Torres ( £20.8m), B Mendy (£52m), P Foden (0) Total= £199.3m

https://www.skysports.com/football/man-utd-vs-man-city/teams/428953
 

MongeySpangle

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I was being a bit flippant but point still stands for the starting 11 and where was Axe that’s a £50m player doesn’t even make the bench.
He’s been injured for the last two months. If you’re going to make claims like that then at least do the research to back them up. Your starting XI cost a lot as well, not to mention that your most expensive player is injured at the moment too. You’re nitpicking and your claims are disingenuous.
 

Gentleman Jim

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If he can find anyone that want's to give him a tickle on his investment he should have their hands off (not literally of course)

You do realize the Mansour's have put £5 Billion into an airline that hasn't made a profit in it's entire existence. Wouldn't inspire me with confidence that they know how business works at all.

They've made their money from selling oil. This is a commodity the whole world needs & would be regarded as an easy sell. They've not been selling £10 notes for £20.
Marks and Spencer’s started as a market stall. Similarly the Emirati States had nothing but oil to trade until they diversified and boy did they diversify.
A quick Google search would show anyone interested the different pies that ADUG have their fingers in.
You may not think that they know their stuff but more analytical minds do and have backed their judgment to the tune of hundreds of millions worth of investment in CFG.

CFG is owned by Abu Dhabi United Group (ADUG) (77%), the China Media Capital (CMC) Consortium (13%), and Silver Lake (10%)
 

Solius

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I'll be honest, part of me really wants to dismiss it based on the usual oil club/poached the best manager/bought the best players argument but really I'm just annoyed by it because it's a mightily impressive run. I really want it to stop now asap and at least we have a chance to do that, even if it's a draw.
 

copen1945

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He’s been injured for the last two months. If you’re going to make claims like that then at least do the research to back them up. Your starting XI cost a lot as well, not to mention that your most expensive player is injured at the moment too. You’re nitpicking and your claims are disingenuous.
Isn't this one more round of the same.

United: City spent money.
City: United spent just as much.
United: We are not sportswashing, at least.
City: Saudi will most likely buy United shortly.
 

Deery

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He’s been injured for the last two months. If you’re going to make claims like that then at least do the research to back them up. Your starting XI cost a lot as well, not to mention that your most expensive player is injured at the moment too. You’re nitpicking and your claims are disingenuous.
Not that disingenuous really.
 

NicolaSacco

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Bought for that much.
So by that metric you would discount

GKs
Ederson
Steffen

Defs:
Ake
Stones
Zinchenko
Cancelo
Sandler
Garcia

Mids:
Gundogan
Bernardo Silva
Fernandinho
Foden
Torres

Forwards:
Sterling
Aguero
Jesus

But include 7 players - Laporte, Rodri, De Bruyne, Mendy, Mahrez, walker, Dias
 

Deery

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So by that metric you would discount

GKs
Ederson
Steffen

Defs:
Ake
Stones
Zinchenko
Cancelo
Sandler
Garcia

Mids:
Gundogan
Bernardo Silva
Fernandinho
Foden
Torres

Forwards:
Sterling
Aguero
Jesus

But include 7 players - Laporte, Rodri, De Bruyne, Mendy, Mahrez, walker, Dias
Half the players you’ve noted were more than £50m Sterling, Silva, Cancelo, Stones, Ake.
 

MongeySpangle

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Not that disingenuous really.
I’d say that playing down what City have achieved just because they’ve spent a lot (something that both Manchester clubs are accustomed to but with very different impact) whilst also making claims that are either only half-true, or blatantly incorrect is pretty disingenuous yes.
 

Deery

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I’d say that playing down what City have achieved just because they’ve spent a lot (something that both Manchester clubs are accustomed to but with very different impact) whilst also making claims that are either only half-true, or blatantly incorrect is pretty disingenuous yes.
You haven’t achieved nothing yet the season isn’t over and I’m still sceptical about Pep in the cups he has a habit of self imploding..
 

SqualorVictoria

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Half the players you’ve noted were more than £50m Sterling, Silva, Cancelo, Stones, Ake.
Well that's just semantics now isn't it? If I would word it this way: none of the above cost more than 50m that would also be true. Sterling and Stones can or maybe already reached it thanks to the bonuses.

So that leaves us with Cancelo, who was that expensive obviously due to FFP accounting, so both clubs sell their players on a high (Danilo was part of the package for ~30m, but incomings are accounted in FFP terms throughout their contract).
 

Guy Incognito

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Their squad is packed full of quality and experience. Even their second string would give most teams in the league a hiding.

A season like this would always depend on rotation, especially going into four competitions. Still think they need a top striker, at least one who can perform in the big games, if they are going to win in Europe.
 

Deery

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Well that's just semantics now isn't it? If I would word it this way: none of the above cost more than 50m that would also be true. Sterling and Stones can or maybe already reached it thanks to the bonuses.

So that leaves us with Cancelo, who was that expensive obviously due to FFP accounting, so both clubs sell their players on a high (Danilo was part of the package for ~30m, but incomings are accounted in FFP terms throughout their contract).
At the end of the day they have an embarrassment of riches to choose from and that’s what I was saying, not entirely true the way I put it but not far off the mark either. They play good football and if they win the league they will be deserving of it. I think some of the stuff they played first half last night was fantastic but then again when Wolves scored they were really rattled so we’ll see what the future holds wouldn’t count my chickens just yet with quad talk.
 

Zlatan 7

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I’d say that playing down what City have achieved just because they’ve spent a lot (something that both Manchester clubs are accustomed to but with very different impact) whilst also making claims that are either only half-true, or blatantly incorrect is pretty disingenuous yes.
City buy a player and if he’s crap they just buy another player the next window, I may be wrong but it feels like you’ve bought about 10 defenders in the last couple of years untill you get ones that work, that’s a lovely luxury to have.

I don’t really care about Man City, it’s mildly annoying that they’re on a winning run but I’d feel worse about that if it was Spurs or any other small club. City is kind of meaningless and quite funny. They’re a cute club that names training grounds after recent goal keepers and have to have Noel Gallagher as someone to ‘represent’ them on sky sports as their legend, imagine Kevin Webster or Mick Hucknall going on sky to talk about United :lol: Bless Them.

It’s also funny seeing their fans crying and getting salty on here about their spend and trying to justify it.
 

Gentleman Jim

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Half the players you’ve noted were more than £50m Sterling, Silva, Cancelo, Stones, Ake.
Silva and Ake were under £50m. Cancelo cost was cushioned by Danilo PX at above market value as FFP workaround for City and Juve.
 

Gentleman Jim

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At the end of the day they have an embarrassment of riches to choose from and that’s what I was saying, not entirely true the way I put it but not far off the mark either. They play good football and if they win the league they will be deserving of it. I think some of the stuff they played first half last night was fantastic but then again when Wolves scored they were really rattled so we’ll see what the future holds wouldn’t count my chickens just yet with quad talk.
Journos ask “can this team really do the quadruple?”
I’ve never yet heard one City fan or ex player say that they will. The nearest you’ll get is “I wouldn’t rule it out”.
Do you have an example of someone who goes further than that?
 

Deery

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Journos ask “can this team really do the quadruple?”
I’ve never yet heard one City fan or ex player say that they will. The nearest you’ll get is “I wouldn’t rule it out”.
Do you have an example of someone who goes further than that?
They never shut up about it in the media must have been mentioned about 20 times during the game. I think they’re good but missing a Messi up front that will really make the difference when the chips are down.
 

jontheblue

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What's particularly ironic is that of course it was once United who were known as moneybags for having a rich sugar daddy
:lol:
:lol:
You do realise our owners take money out of the club and pay part of (their debt) every year about 100m. That is more than 1b pounds since Mansour took over city and poured 2b into city.
United fans are always banging on about 'history'

Don't you know about your own ?
 

GhastlyHun

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I'll be honest, part of me really wants to dismiss it based on the usual oil club/poached the best manager/bought the best players argument but really I'm just annoyed by it because it's a mightily impressive run. I really want it to stop now asap and at least we have a chance to do that, even if it's a draw.
They are approaching our (Bayern's) record of 23 wins across competitions, so feel free to stop them anytime.
If they equal or surpass it, we'll still have the fact that our winning streak comprised games like the CL final and UEFA super cup. Beat that, you casuals (don't).
 

jontheblue

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City buy a player and if he’s crap they just buy another player the next window, I may be wrong but it feels like you’ve bought about 10 defenders in the last couple of years untill you get ones that work, that’s a lovely luxury to have.

I don’t really care about Man City, it’s mildly annoying that they’re on a winning run but I’d feel worse about that if it was Spurs or any other small club. City is kind of meaningless and quite funny. They’re a cute club that names training grounds after recent goal keepers and have to have Noel Gallagher as someone to ‘represent’ them on sky sports as their legend, imagine Kevin Webster or Mick Hucknall going on sky to talk about United :lol: Bless Them.

It’s also funny seeing their fans crying and getting salty on here about their spend and trying to justify it.
The last central defender that didn't work out was Mangal bought in 2014

The last goalkeeper that didn't work out was Bravo bought in 2016, replaced a year later by Ederson though he ended up being a great, useful, though expensive back up to Ederson

The last fullback purchased who didn't work out was Danilo, bought in 2017, more recently swapped for Cancelo.

I can't think of any defender bought in the last 4 years that hasn't worked out (you mention the last couple of years)
 

Thunderhead

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Wrong, we are balls deep for haaland and Messi only has to say the word and he's in Manchester. Pep will be here for another 2 years and then we'll never the best there is. Why appease people? We had 20 years of utd dominating, no mention of ruining the league then? We have walked the league previously and we are walking it again. It's not our problem if clubs buy shit players and appoint shit managers every 5 minutes.
Apart from that, spot on.

we've only walked the league once, the 100 point season, every other season has been a scrap down to the wire, out title wins have improved the Premier League 'brand' no end

2011-12 - Winning the last 6 games including beating United and the Aguero moments
2013-14 - Battling with Liverpool and Chelsea then the Slippy G moment
2017-18 - 100 points, yeah it was boring for the neutral but at least there was a bit of a story to it.
2018-19 - Winning 14 on the bounce with Liverpool winning about 10 with enough of them going to the final minutes of tight games

This is probably our worst title win for the neutral and the Premier League 'brand' but we'll not dominate for 5 years like some are predicting, teams have a 3-4 year shelf life tops.

United were 1 point and a few goals off winning 7 on the trot between 07-13 so all this talk of SPL is a load of rubbish and it's nearly been like that before.
 

DannyCAFC

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I was being a bit flippant but point still stands for the starting 11 and where was Axe that’s a £50m player doesn’t even make the bench and Mendy.
Their spend since Pep took over hasn't been much different from United's - they've just used it better.

Let's not pretend United don't have a ludicrously expensive squad as well:

Maguire - world record for a defender.
Pogba - 2nd most expensive player ever at the time.
Shaw - most expensive teenager ever at the time.
De Gea - 3rd most expensive GK at the time.
AWB, Martial, Fernandes, Fred - all around £50m
 

Thunderhead

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The last central defender that didn't work out was Mangal bought in 2014

The last goalkeeper that didn't work out was Bravo bought in 2016, replaced a year later by Ederson though he ended up being a great, useful, though expensive back up to Ederson

The last fullback purchased who didn't work out was Danilo, bought in 2017, more recently swapped for Cancelo.

I can't think of any defender bought in the last 4 years that hasn't worked out (you mention the last couple of years)
Mendy
 

Tarrou

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Their spend since Pep took over hasn't been much different from United's - they've just used it better.

Let's not pretend United don't have a ludicrously expensive squad as well:

Maguire - world record for a defender.
Pogba - 2nd most expensive player ever at the time.
Shaw - most expensive teenager ever at the time.
De Gea - 3rd most expensive GK at the time.
AWB, Martial, Fernandes, Fred - all around £50m
pretty sure Pogba was a record at the time