Sibierski

But he’s also a massive dickhead, and someone they likely would’ve binned off had they got promoted anyway.

Always prefer when it’s someone who’s very fresh out of the game on co-comms. As they’re closer to the button on the game dynamics. Someone who retired 10 years ago, whilst seemingly young are so far detached from the modern game.

Just reaffirms what we see in games, our defenders are really reluctant (and likely a tactic too) to even pass to Pope. Because it’s not like he always launches it, it’s just the defenders rather launch it themselves then pass to Pope in case his control bounces 5 yards forward.

Really don’t rate Gray. Never brought into the hype he had, and nothing I’ve seen this season has helped changed that view.

Lee Carsley sides can’t deal with corners. Was his only weakness when in charge of national team, seemingly everyone not being able to deal with corners

Elliot

Shocking from McAtee that. Have to be more precise in those situations.

Doubt there would be. A home-grown Geordie that’s played an integral role in 2 League Titles and One UCL (and further 2 UCL finals) in addition to countless other trophies would be worshiped. And of all the clubs to leave on a free, the single biggest and most famous club in the world is perfectly acceptable. Liverpool fans are a mental bunch, and see Real Madrid as fierce rivals. When Real likely don’t even recognise Liverpool

Funny to me. Fuck Maldini off because they were not happy, and how they've gone about the business since then has been nothing but a train wreck. Get what they deserve.

If we could swap squad place of Willock to Grealish, and it not come with such big sums, we'd be far better off. Because they're similar in what they can bring (LCM, travelling with the ball, work rate), with Grealish being far better at the final pass element. It's just Willock is probably on like £60k pw and Grealish would still be 3 times that if Man City covered wages for rest of his contract.

Like we wanted to sign a GK last summer. Don’t this summer, that’s two in a row. What’s the difference to not signing a RW because we’ve got Murphy? His output and contribution has been even more key than Pope.

We have to spend on a GK eventually. So it’s either we don’t this season, miss out on Trafford, then still spend reasonably well next summer on a GK. All whilst potentially Pope getting injured again and needing to roll out Dubravka still in 2026. I can’t see why we can’t spent what we would have budgeted this summer, then even more for the GK, seeing Trafford would be out GK till like 2034 at least.

The technical ability and composure at such a young age made people really hot on him. Moving to Atletico for that fee (and a Simeone side ffs) was both weird and wrong. Never kicked on, so he’s still the same player when at Benfica, where people hope to get that final bit out of him. If he didn’t have such a high fee attached to him, he would have a very good career at like a side 7-10 in table, that then gets the top sides interested again. 5 consecutive seasons of different managers does no-one any good.

Can’t see what the upside is to spending that on Wirtz? Very good player in Bundesliga, but not a generational talent IMO, especially at prices and wages that comfortably signs two good players. Musiala was available for less last summer.

And we all kept pointing out how we were much better with Tonali in the side. Trafford has to start number 1. I maintain you can’t bring in a GK for £30m, a position you can’t bring them on with 20 to go, and them just warm the bench. Especially one on the back of an absolute high of a season and full of confidence. People will say Howe gets things correct, but he does get things wrong and not starting Trafford would be one.

Can’t be spending £30m on a GK for them not to come in as number one from the word go.

Ait Nouri will be only one that’s a first teamer on the regular, and that’s courtesy of one year left on his deal. Agree Man City primarily operate in the 30-50 range as they often don’t want to outlay huge wages all the time which the 60m+ fees bring. But it’s still many signings at that price point which no other club can match. Marmoush, Reis, Khusanov, Savinho, Gonzalez, Cherki, Ait Nouri, Rejinders £290m+ since start of last summer Which doesn’t count signing on fees and agent fees. It’s insane. Season before can add Gvaridol, Doku, Nunes, Kovacic and Echeverri for another £230m Helped by bringing in £300m from sales, but it’s still a huge outlay that only Chelsea can match with their broken model.

Forgot from looking at their squad, got Buendia and Countinho still on books returning this summer

Cheap? Khusanov, Cherki and Air Nouri is £90m+ Haaland wasn’t discounted either. Had a release clause, but then all his agent signing on fees took it to a very big transfer.

We must be signing a player from Juventus to balance this deal out. Was an outrageous fee from word go.

Of all players to take from Villa, I’d have Konsa. Locks down CB for a while, and equally competent at RB which is helpful.

£30m worth of an upgrade? Doesn’t feel like an great opportunistic move, especially when it helps a rival.

They’re running low on future options though. Sign a whole new expensive attack, and it doesn’t click, they have even less future room to manoeuvre. It’s proper high risk.

Is Ramsey any more of an upgrade on Willock?

So Joelinton starts just 20% of games?