XLVIII

It’s taken our own game here in GB over 150 years to reach the pinnacle of world football. The Saudis can spend as much as they want right now and their league will never be of the standard of our league or game. They don’t have a pyramid system and the structure from youth, women’s and coaching and even scouting, nor the audience or marketing reach of a world-wide audience to worry our game. They will worry certain clubs as their money can now buy them talent from the likes of Italy, Spain, Germany, England and France etc. The PL will always be the dominant league, however, due to how universal it is. No top or elite player in their prime will go to Saudi Arabia and any young talent that does go there, especially European players, they won’t commit their entire careers to that league.

I like our approach, I think we are a top 6 side now on and off the pitch and Pep’s Man City won’t be around forever, we are primed just nicely for when that day arrives to take over the mantle given the fine balance we have right now between youth, experience and serious talent in the likes of Botman, Bruno, Tonali and Isak, we will keep adding one or two real quality level players per window while also padding out the squad and the youth levels. Does the starting XI have some weaknesses, of course, but we are now stronger than we ever have been since the Keegan and John Hall days, in every area on the pitch and also off the pitch. Our academy has never been stronger, nor our scouting and coaching.

I’m not going to rate this window, but I long for the days we signed the likes of Rossi and Sibierski…