comment by Boris 'Inky’ Gibson (U5901)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by Winston (U16525)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Boris 'Inky’ Gibson (U5901)
posted 33 seconds ago
Otamendi was at City long before Pep arrived but don’t let that cloud the criticism
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It's less about the signings and more about the inability to work with these players.

We keep being told what an amazing coach he is, but it seems those skills only work with a specific set of players.

Outstanding manager, but not quite as exceptional as perhaps we thought.
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The only failure in that list is Mendy, 3 have left , 2 are goalkeepers, 1 went straight out on loan and another only signed yesterday
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Really?

So Stones is a success? Or jury still out?

comment by Carter (U18826)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Winston (U16525)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by Boris 'Inky’ Gibson (U5901)
posted 33 seconds ago
Otamendi was at City long before Pep arrived but don’t let that cloud the criticism
----------------------------------------------------------------------

It's less about the signings and more about the inability to work with these players.

We keep being told what an amazing coach he is, but it seems those skills only work with a specific set of players.

Outstanding manager, but not quite as exceptional as perhaps we thought.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
That's a fair point for the players he is working with now, time will tell on how that works out. So far he has been an outstanding manager for us.
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He has, and it takes more than money, but I just think with the massive sums invested in City's teams, we're starting to have some questions about whether he's as good as we all thought.

comment by Winston (U16525)
posted 6 seconds ago
comment by Carter (U18826)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Winston (U16525)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by Boris 'Inky’ Gibson (U5901)
posted 33 seconds ago
Otamendi was at City long before Pep arrived but don’t let that cloud the criticism
----------------------------------------------------------------------

It's less about the signings and more about the inability to work with these players.

We keep being told what an amazing coach he is, but it seems those skills only work with a specific set of players.

Outstanding manager, but not quite as exceptional as perhaps we thought.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
That's a fair point for the players he is working with now, time will tell on how that works out. So far he has been an outstanding manager for us.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

He has, and it takes more than money, but I just think with the massive sums invested in City's teams, we're starting to have some questions about whether he's as good as we all thought.
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Agreed, I can't argue against that, let's judge him end of season and see if he is bang average

Most of those players played a part in both the title winning seasons.

Bravo, absolutely didn’t work out. Angelino and Porro are money makers as much as anything. Danilo we made a profit on. Zinchenko, still not sure I’d class him as a defender really, he’s more like Delph was for us.

Biggest disappointments - Bravo, Mendy and Stones (the latter is the most frustrating one out of all
of them). Quite liking Ake, think he’ll be good for us and I think Cancelo will be good this season too.

Our issues are as much about ahead of the defence at the mo though. Going to be a difficult season.

comment by *Robbing Hoody - Clandestine Boat Pleb (U6374)
posted 45 minutes ago
comment by Edinspur (U1109)
posted 4 minutes ago
Wow
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Haha Erin was a typo.

But yeah net spend is bollox imo. Like there is a petty cash tin marked 'transfers' and an excel sheet saying 'in' & 'out'.
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You mean there's not?

Melton, you may view this as overly simplistic but let's say City won't win the Premier League or CL this season... what's that, two titles out of a possible five and no European trophy - with some early eliminations in there as well.

Are we starting to move into the area of calling Pep a failure, given the money spent?

So you’re saying City’s season is over after 2 games?

comment by Boris 'Inky’ Gibson (U5901)
posted 11 seconds ago
So you’re saying City’s season is over after 2 games?
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Yeh, that's clearly what I said, isn't it?

comment by Boris 'Inky’ Gibson (U5901)
posted 1 minute ago
So you’re saying City’s season is over after 2 games?
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Nah, 8 more league losses and a CL QF exit to come yet.

Go even further back and it makes grim reading for City’s defensive signings. Since the takeover it’s been their biggest weakness in the transfer market.

Slightly ironic that their best defender in that time was bought as a midfielder.

No one’s mentioned how much City have earned in prize money during Peps tenure

comment by *Robbing Hoody - Clandestine Boat Pleb (U6374)
posted 7 minutes ago
Slightly ironic that their best defender in that time was bought as a midfielder.
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And the defender that actually turned out to be the best of the lot was sold to Bayern after a season.

comment by Winston (U16525)
posted 24 minutes ago
Melton, you may view this as overly simplistic but let's say City won't win the Premier League or CL this season... what's that, two titles out of a possible five and no European trophy - with some early eliminations in there as well.

Are we starting to move into the area of calling Pep a failure, given the money spent?
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Depends what your opinion of success is. The quality of football we’ve been able to watch week in week out has been an absolute joy, and on another level completely to that of other successful City sides of the past decade.

comment by Winston (U16525)
posted 17 minutes ago
Melton, you may view this as overly simplistic but let's say City won't win the Premier League or CL this season... what's that, two titles out of a possible five and no European trophy - with some early eliminations in there as well.

Are we starting to move into the area of calling Pep a failure, given the money spent?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Other fans would I imagine, yes.

I have a bit of sympathy for him with how some of the money has been spent. That and the injuries are too much at the minute, we need some players back ASAP.

Personally I wouldn’t because, as a fan, I’ve enjoyed his tenure more than any other manager we’ve ever had and we’ve played the best football I’ve ever seen under him, particularly the first title winning season. Even when the results or trophies haven’t come, I’ve still been fascinated by his performances - it’s the first time I’ve properly enjoyed a coach more than the players.

This season will be a hard one to judge in general
I think. Personally, I’m already struggling with it, I’ve watched far less football than I usually do!

Bit extreme to call him a failure, he helped create one of the best teams to ever play in England. I don’t think there’s any argument that he hasn’t failed in Europe, however.

comment by meltonblue (U10617)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Winston (U16525)
posted 17 minutes ago
Melton, you may view this as overly simplistic but let's say City won't win the Premier League or CL this season... what's that, two titles out of a possible five and no European trophy - with some early eliminations in there as well.

Are we starting to move into the area of calling Pep a failure, given the money spent?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Other fans would I imagine, yes.

I have a bit of sympathy for him with how some of the money has been spent. That and the injuries are too much at the minute, we need some players back ASAP.

Personally I wouldn’t because, as a fan, I’ve enjoyed his tenure more than any other manager we’ve ever had and we’ve played the best football I’ve ever seen under him, particularly the first title winning season. Even when the results or trophies haven’t come, I’ve still been fascinated by his performances - it’s the first time I’ve properly enjoyed a coach more than the players.

This season will be a hard one to judge in general
I think. Personally, I’m already struggling with it, I’ve watched far less football than I usually do!
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It’s actually been great for me personally to move away from such a partisan approach to appreciating the way we have often played in games where it hasn’t been a win. I’ve loved the past few seasons. 2 out of 4 leagues is not to be sniffed at. We have either won or been in the final few for the domestic cups every year. And champions league, still waiting for that little bit of luck one year that will help see us put a run to the final together!

Fack me, we could have cured the Coronavirus already with that sort of spending.

Ditto grated.

Made me change how I perceive what’s going on and where the real issues are too.

It’s the main reason I’m going to struggle with this year, I’ve loved watching us in the flesh the last few seasons as you can see all of the movement, I very rarely focus on the ball when I’m watching in the ground.

CL, it will come eventually, it’s been very fine margins in a couple of them.

comment by Spurtle (U1608)
posted 5 minutes ago
Fack me, we could have cured the Coronavirus already with that sort of spending.
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Given we’ve spent 12 billion just on a tracing app, I highly doubt that...

comment by meltonblue (U10617)
posted 1 minute ago
Ditto grated.

Made me change how I perceive what’s going on and where the real issues are too.

It’s the main reason I’m going to struggle with this year, I’ve loved watching us in the flesh the last few seasons as you can see all of the movement, I very rarely focus on the ball when I’m watching in the ground.

CL, it will come eventually, it’s been very fine margins in a couple of them.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

My dad was saying similar tbh. He doesn’t have sky or bt or anything so without being able to go every week says he doesn’t feel very attached to it all at the moment. Doesn’t look like much will change this year either now.

comment by meltonblue (U10617)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by Spurtle (U1608)
posted 5 minutes ago
Fack me, we could have cured the Coronavirus already with that sort of spending.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Given we’ve spent 12 billion just on a tracing app, I highly doubt that...

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T'was only a joke to be fair. Still a ridiculous amount of money to throw away though.

comment by gratedbean (U4885)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by meltonblue (U10617)
posted 1 minute ago
Ditto grated.

Made me change how I perceive what’s going on and where the real issues are too.

It’s the main reason I’m going to struggle with this year, I’ve loved watching us in the flesh the last few seasons as you can see all of the movement, I very rarely focus on the ball when I’m watching in the ground.

CL, it will come eventually, it’s been very fine margins in a couple of them.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

My dad was saying similar tbh. He doesn’t have sky or bt or anything so without being able to go every week says he doesn’t feel very attached to it all at the moment. Doesn’t look like much will change this year either now.
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There’s that and VAR is also really making me miss the championship!

comment by Spurtle (U1608)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by meltonblue (U10617)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by Spurtle (U1608)
posted 5 minutes ago
Fack me, we could have cured the Coronavirus already with that sort of spending.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Given we’ve spent 12 billion just on a tracing app, I highly doubt that...

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T'was only a joke to be fair. Still a ridiculous amount of money to throw away though.
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It’s all relative. For us probably the equivalent of dropping 50p under the car seat.

Plus Bravo, Stones and Mendy are probably the only ones you could say were really throwing money away at this point..