Cronky

We've been recruiting young players who show potential for the future from all over the world and that opportunity may occur again in January, but what I think people are hoping for is a player who can fit into the first team almost immediately. I think there are several reasons why Eddie has wanted to damp down expectations of that happening. One factor is that a couple of years ago, there were several areas that needed strengthening, so there were plenty of options. Now I think we're only looking at centre back and right-sided forward. Furthermore, we're unlikely to win a transfer battle with a Champions League club, and the player's current club needs to be willing to sell half way through the season. We've done well in picking up players of quality whose form has dipped a bit, and where the bigger clubs' interest has faded as a result (eg Isak, Gordon, Tonali). That would still be a possibility for January, I'd have thought, but overall we may be looking for a needle in a haystack here. What came across to me in Eddie's interview on Match of the Day is that he genuinely feels he can get more out of the current team, and that there's no need right now to buy in haste or take a risk. Tonali has found his feet at last, Bruno is pushed further forward, and the dynamic of the team is changing. Some of our attacking play in the last three weeks has probably been the best I've seen since Eddie arrived.

Arguably the best striker in the world at the moment. Haaland is struggling, and Osimhen's career seems to have stalled in Turkey.

Okay, I've looked at the clip again. Eddie actually said that we 'probably' wouldn't be looking to bring anyone in from outside, so I'll modify my reaction. He's trying to dampen expectations, but in a perfectly realistic way. I think the main issue that the club is struggling with is that in order to bring in a player who will improve the first team at this point, it would need to be someone of Champions League standard, and what player of CL standard is going to choose a club which doesn't look like they'll qualify for the CL? They would have other options. We could either over-pay to overcome that obstacle, or bring in someone who is not quite of the standard that we'd like, and neither of those possibilities are tempting.

In the post-match interview on Match of the Day, Eddie was asked about our plans for the upcoming transfer window, and he said that, at this moment in time, the club was going to concentrate on getting the best out of the existing squad rather than bring in anyone from outside. It was as clear a message as you could get - we're not going to be entering the market. Now that the team has clicked, I can see the wisdom in not rushing to bring in anyone new at this point. The summer is the better time to integrate a new player and, of course, the January window doesn't offer the widest choice or the best value. Our guy has a habit of getting things right, and I continue to have faith in his judgement.

All very promising - no-one else has done that to Ipswich this season.

No I didn't. But as for Zidane, remember where you heard it first.

Just how good is Morgan Rogers? He reminds me of Zidane - virtually impossible to knock off the ball and very creative with it. City's high press has gone. They used to be able to win the ball back straight away and dominate possession. Without it, their slow build-up looks ineffective. Pep has been very successful with a particular style, and he doesn't have the answers at the moment.

I think that's the best draw. It's better to lose Schar and Bruno for the away leg (I think) and we know we have the beating of Arsenal at home. I don't think they like playing us.

When we were taken over by PIF, there was this idea floating in the media that we were going to buy success through a massive spending spree, in the manner of Blackburn in the 1990s, Chelsea under Abramovich, and Man City under Sheikh Mansour. This idea has died hard. Despite the restrictions on our spending, it has been supposed that the expectations of the owners would be similar to those three other clubs, and that Eddie would be dismissed in the event of any failure to achieve on that scale, as was the case with Mark Hughes at City and Claudio Ranieri at Chelsea. Well there are two realities in the face of those suppositions. Firstly, PIF were going to be compliant with the current spending rules, which do make that kind of quick dash for success impossible. Secondly, Eddie Howe has proved to be a manager of the top drawer, and the growth that he has brought to the club, within those restrictions, is fully appreciated by the PIF. I don't think they have any intention of replacing him with a better manager, mainly because there isn't one.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/crmn4g47lyzo Be prepared to shed a tear or two.

I'm not sure he was given quite enough credit on TV for that second goal. He was floating about 2 foot in the air when he hit it, but he got right on top of it. Brilliant finish. My doubts about this player have ebbed away. I think Bruno is getting used to his new role, which is helping a lot. It's starting to click.

I think I know what you mean. We're starting to open teams up with intricate passing moves around the final third, which we didn't see much of even during our top 4 season. Defensively we're a bit more dodgy than before, but Botman's return should help there.

Man City used to starve their opponents of possession with that high press of theirs, and their ability to keep the ball for long periods. That seems to have gone for the time being. It's probably a combination of the loss of Rodri, and a group of players who seem to have grown old at the same time. Man U weren't all that impressive but Diallo was outstanding and won it for them in two moments. Amorim made a bold call in leaving Garnacho out, but it's worked out for him.

It was good to see Gordon and Hall combining so well. In previous games, I'd seen Hall making a number of good runs that Gordon had ignored, preferring to try and create something by himself. I think there's been some work done on the training ground, which bore fruit yesterday.

Very impressed with Bakayoko on the basis of a You tube scouting. Then I come on here. It looks like a non-starter, at the moment. He seems to have a very high opinion of himself too, which may not go down well in the dressing room.