The Manchester City Thread.

[Scouseinthehouse]

Rivalry aside, I love that.

2019 Tottenham was the same. They were just in wonderland being in Madrid. Brings to mind being in our favourite wine bar in Madrid, Fatigas del Querer, dinner time the day of the final, and these Tottenham lads came in to eat and as their walking past, this lads put his hand out and I'm like 'Yers having a good time. Boss Madrid isn't it?' And he stops and say's something along the lines of 'Mate, it doesn't get ANY better than this, does it? 45 years I've been following Tottenham and this just blows everything else away. 'Spurs. In a European Cup final! We've had 2 days already and it's the best trip and buzz I've ever had in my life. And you lucky bastards get to experience it all the time haha.' ...... Which we obviously don't but still, each and every European Cup final is as special as the last as you might never get there again. So I totally get your enjoyment yesterday. Even more so with it being the clubs first. And love that you took the right things from the day and savoured it all. Just getting there is reason to be massively proud enough.

I sincerely hope, if City do get back to another one (and I'm a great believer, at our level, that losing one can be the catalyst for driving them on to get back to another), you get to experience it in person. That will just complete everything for you.

 

[wkdsoul]

Rivalry aside, I love that.

2019 Tottenham was the same. They were just in wonderland being in Madrid. Brings to mind being in our favourite wine bar in Madrid, Fatigas del Querer, dinner time the day of the final, and these Tottenham lads came in to eat and as their walking past, this lads put his hand out and I'm like 'Yers having a good time. Boss Madrid isn't it?' And he stops and say's something along the lines of 'Mate, it doesn't get ANY better than this, does it? 45 years I've been following Tottenham and this just blows everything else away. 'Spurs. In a European Cup final! We've had 2 days already and it's the best trip and buzz I've ever had in my life. And you lucky bastards get to experience it all the time haha.' ...... Which we obviously don't but still, each and every European Cup final is as special as the last as you might never get there again. So I totally get your enjoyment yesterday. Even more so with it being the clubs first. And love that you took the right things from the day and savoured it all. Just getting there is reason to be massively proud enough.

I sincerely hope, if City do get back to another one (and I'm a great believer, at our level, that losing one can be the catalyst for driving them on to get back to another), you get to experience it in person. That will just complete everything for you.

They should do, the age of the squad is there, and they've overcome the QF and SF mental block together. If we've had broken that barrier 4 years ago, Silva,Aguero,Kompany, Yaya etc would have been the driving force and there'd be none there going into next season.. This is the usual summer in the cycle where they spend 200mil over jsut grabbing what they need in a position or two. Can defo see a big move and a suprise in the outgoings.

 

[Theatre of Dreams83]

Can see KDB missing some of the Euros if what he’s said is true.

 

[Scouseinthehouse]

They should do, the age of the squad is there, and they've overcome the QF and SF mental block together. If we've had broken that barrier 4 years ago, Silva,Aguero,Kompany, Yaya etc would have been the driving force and there'd be none there going into next season.. This is the usual summer in the cycle where they spend 200mil over jsut grabbing what they need in a position or two. Can defo see a big move and a suprise in the outgoings.

FWIW, Munich aside, City are the only team, domestically and in Europe, I'm looking at having to finish in front of next year as I type.

Getting to the final under Pep and over that mental bloke as you noted, put's City into a whole new European threat bracket for me.

 

[Theatre of Dreams83]

Hopefully he’s learned from yesterday if they get there next year. He’s said after the match he did it for the best of the team but I’m not having that.

 

[dilakh2]

Hopefully he’s learned from yesterday if they get there next year. He’s said after the match he did it for the best of the team but I’m not having that.

They will have other chances but this year was their best chance. In a season plagued by the pandemic and injury issues for most top clubs due to fixture congestions, City with the deepest squad and who can rotate the most were at an advantage. You need to take advantage in times like this when other clubs have downturns. I don't know how they let it get away yesterday, they had all the momentum and this Chelsea side who got stunned in a final recently and limped to 4th place outworked them completely yesterday. It reminds me of our CL final against Tottenham and in an alternative universe if we had lost that like City did I would be ******* livid and rightly ****** off.

 

[Tyton]

Yeah I think there's an opportunity to start new european dynasty, since all 3 teams that dominated 2010s are in need of major rebuild. Barca and Madrid are in deep doodoo while Bayern maybe have one more season in them with Lewy, Neuer and Mueller all reaching mid 30s.

 

[Sherkey]

Yeah I think there's an opportunity to start new european dynasty, since all 3 teams that dominated 2010s are in need of major rebuild. Barca and Madrid are in deep doodoo while Bayern maybe have one more season in them with Lewy, Neuer and Mueller all reaching mid 30s.

Barca and Madrid need a proper rebuild, since their prospects haven't exactly performed as expected (Barca, more so than Real). On the other hand, Bayern are really well placed throughout. Muller can easily dominate for a couple of years more, since his game has never been about pace. They already signed Nubel to take over from Neuer. They have a solid young-ish team built up in Sane, Gnabry, Kimmich, Goretzka, Sule, Upamecano, Davies among others. Bayern, with a couple of signings, are well placed to dominate through again. Don't think they need a major rebuild.

 

[Theatre of Dreams83]

Can defo see the English teams dominating Europe for a little while with Bayern.

 

[Bujakaa92]

Barca and Madrid need a proper rebuild, since their prospects haven't exactly performed as expected (Barca, more so than Real). On the other hand, Bayern are really well placed throughout. Muller can easily dominate for a couple of years more, since his game has never been about pace. They already signed Nubel to take over from Neuer. They have a solid young-ish team built up in Sane, Gnabry, Kimmich, Goretzka, Sule, Upamecano, Davies among others. Bayern, with a couple of signings, are well placed to dominate through again. Don't think they need a major rebuild.

I am waiting to see how Barca will follow after Messi. Will it be crashing down or they manage to use that freed up wage for few stars to hold the boat up and push. But considering Barca board and mess they keep pulling themselves, don't see them thinking ahead and using that wage wisely.

 

[Sherkey]

I am waiting to see how Barca will follow after Messi. Will it be crashing down or they manage to use that freed up wage for few stars to hold the boat up and push. But considering Barca board and mess they keep pulling themselves, don't see them thinking ahead and using that wage wisely.

Messi, dunno if the move to City is happening or if he extends on lower wags (but on a longer contract duration). Despite the wages being the stumbling problem, Barca would do well to retain him - they have again been saved by him more times than they can count this season. They have a few good players (ter Stegen, Pedri, Fati) along with younger prospects (Dest, Mingueza, Garcia, Puig). They really need a vision for the team first, and then a rebuild to go along with it. If Koeman is an option only for a year, any rebuild will have to happen once they appoint a new long-term coach, whoever that is. The signings that are being brought in are clearly Koeman signings (Depay, Wijnaldum) and might not be in-line with their new manager.

 

[Scouseinthehouse]

@Sherkey Wijnaldum would fit into most any role in most any system mate. Super intelligent, technical Rolls Royce of a player. He's the very definition of a Dutch ‘total footballer.’

To the wider point, if you finish ahead of City, L’pool or Munich going forward, there’s every chance you’ll be Champions of Europe.

Thats your big three every other club wants to avoid right now every draw.

 

[Bujakaa92]

@Sherkey Wijnaldum would fit into most any role in most any system mate. Super intelligent, technical Rolls Royce of a player. He's the very definition of a Dutch ‘total footballer.’

To the wider point, if you finish ahead of City, L’pool or Munich going forward, there’s every chance you’ll be Champions of Europe.

Thats your big three every other club wants to avoid right now every draw.

Regarding Wijnaldum. Dutch head coach de Boer has told noone can do any medicals or contracts talks. Should fully be commited to national team. How can u be 100% if you might be losing out contract with Barca if something happens during euros or something else.

 

[Sherkey]

@Sherkey Wijnaldum would fit into most any role in most any system mate. Super intelligent, technical Rolls Royce of a player. He's the very definition of a Dutch ‘total footballer.’

To the wider point, if you finish ahead of City, L’pool or Munich going forward, there’s every chance you’ll be Champions of Europe.

Thats your big three every other club wants to avoid right now every draw.

Oh, that's true. He's pretty much a beast, and probably one of the more important components of your midfield. Fabinho would be the most important for me, followed by Wijnaldum and then Henderson. Thiago, still needs to play properly and more.

But Wijnaldum might not fit a traditional Tiki-Taka system (and old Barca's obsession with it). He's also 30 now, so long term could be a problem.

 

[Scouseinthehouse]

Well, if there was two players I’d pick as the first two in any L’pool 5-aside team over the past 5 years, who fit perfectly into that as you can neither get the ball off them, or they never give it away in possession, keeping it moving sharply and accurately, it would be two lads most would be aurprised at.

Lallana and Gini. Two highly intelligent, hard working, technical dreams of footballers.Can’t speak highly enough of either.

The only concern with Wijnaldum is the amount of Klopp miles in his legs. He’s not getting any younger as you noted and he’s barely missed a minute for club or Country over the past 5-years. That was telling this past season when he just had nothing left in the tank at times. And as he’s the Netherlands captain and most important player, he won’t miss a second of action this summer when he BADLY needs a rest.

That said, La Liga, if he does indeed end up there, would be much leas strenuous on his legs so there is that.

 

[Theatre of Dreams83]

Ederson
Cancelo - Stones - Diaz - Mendy
Rodri
KDB - Foden
Mahrez - Kane - Grealish

WKD City potential starting 11 ?

 

[wkdsoul]

Ederson
Cancelo - Stones - Diaz - Mendy
Rodri
KDB - Foden
Mahrez - Kane - Grealish

WKD City potential starting 11 ?

They'll bring in a Left back, Grealish will probably play the LCM and Foden the LW i think. Give the carry from deeper on that side. but yeah looks about right, They may or maynot go for a #6 as well. Bit in the air that one.

 

[Theatre of Dreams83]

They'll bring in a Left back, Grealish will probably play the LCM and Foden the LW i think. Give the carry from deeper on that side. but yeah looks about right, They may or maynot go for a #6 as well. Bit in the air that one.

Yeah 6 can most likely wait a yr if Fernandinho is staying and with Rodri

 

[wkdsoul]

Yeah 6 can most likely wait a yr if Fernandinho is staying and with Rodri

Gundo can play there, so can Doyle & at a very easy cup draw i'd love to see Lavia now that he's training with the first team.



Ideally they go for that in a perfect world, the only question is who for Mendy if can move him.. Tagliafico for 15 seems sensible, but if Athletico want Laporte prob Renan Lodi in a deal.

 

[Bujakaa92]

Revealed: Sergio Aguero’s leaving gifts to Manchester City staff included watches and raffle tickets to win his car

By Sam Lee 16m ago

4

Sergio Aguero’s move to Barcelona was confirmed on Monday but he did not leave Manchester City without making a series of grand gestures.
The Athletic understands that the striker bought every member of staff at the club’s first-team building either a Hublot or Tag Heuer watch, each engraved with the words “Gracias! Kun Aguero”. There are more than 60 staff involved in first-team affairs, and each watch cost at least £1,000, including the Tag Heuer Formula 1 model that is priced between £1,200 and £1,650.

One of the watches gifted by Aguero
Aguero also gave each staff member a raffle ticket for the chance to win a grand prize: his recently purchased Range Rover Evoque.
The lucky winner was one of the team’s kit men, which delighted Aguero, since he greatly appreciates the hard work that department does to ensure the players have everything they need for training and matches. The Argentinian also had a particular appreciation for the winner’s work ethic and personality.
It is also understood that Aguero contributed a significant amount — far above what is customary — to a cash pot that the squad hand over to support staff twice a year. The money is handed over at the end of the season and used to buy presents at Christmas.
The striker, who turns 33 on Wednesday, will join Barcelona when his City contract officially ends at the end of June. He was formally presented as a Barca player on Monday, featuring in social media posts on the club’s channels and giving an interview in which he said that City boss Pep Guardiola was in favour of his choice.
“After we won the title, I had lunch with Pep and he told me I was joining the best club in the world,” he said.
“We all know that Barca are the best club in the world. So I think I made a great decision to be here.
“It’s a step forward in my career. I’m really happy and hopefully, I can help the team to win things.”