Noisy Neighbours - the Man City thread

[DungBeetle]

He’s my favourite player these days, just on the enemies enemy rule alone.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46498849

If I was in charge of a moderate socialist government. The only truly left field policy would be that all copies of the Sun, Mail and Express would, by law, have to be sold with a (entirely optional) free cyanide capsule attached to the front cover.

I like the enemies enemy rule

The support for him today has been brilliant and this is v good from this evenings  MNF:

Also some absolute nonsense though.  Ashley Cole had to go to MLS because of persecution?  Nothing to do with the fact he was kept out of Roma team by Holebas for a whole reason and was on fat wages.  If Holebas goes to Watford which club does Neville recommend would have been interested in expensive veteran reserve Cole?

[nirvana]

I think Pep's decision to play for a draw at Liverpool earlier in the season is starting to look like a poor judgement on his part. Has he run out of ideas ?

[horseplayer]

looks that way tbf`

[Archer]

I think Pep's decision to play for a draw at Liverpool earlier in the season is starting to look like a poor judgement on his part. Has he run out of ideas ?

Time for Poch I think.

A shock to the system today. Think we've only lost once in the league to a bottom half team in the last 10 years. Maybe it will finally be Liverpool's year...

[nirvana]

I think Pep's decision to play for a draw at Liverpool earlier in the season is starting to look like a poor judgement on his part. Has he run out of ideas ?

Time for Poch I think.

A shock to the system today. Think we've only lost once in the league to a bottom half team in the last 10 years. Maybe it will finally be Liverpool's year...

Haha, give Pep a chance :-)

It was a shock today, didn't watch the whole game but saw the last half an hour or so and it felt like Palace deserved the result

[teddybloat]

If Liverpool do he unthinkable and fail to bottle it, then pep maybe walks with 1 league title + a league cup in 3 years.

Given the resources, players and levels of investment and infrastructure he walked into how would history judge that return?

As a reference point Pellegrini managed 1 title + 2 milk cups in his three years

[DungBeetle]

If Liverpool do he unthinkable and fail to bottle it, then pep maybe walks with 1 league title + a league cup in 3 years.

Given the resources, players and levels of investment and infrastructure he walked into how would history judge that return?

As a reference point Pellegrini managed 1 title + 2 milk cups in his three years

It would be pleasing on the eye abject failure if that were the final returns.

[hhyftrftdr]

If Liverpool do he unthinkable and fail to bottle it, then pep maybe walks with 1 league title + a league cup in 3 years.

Given the resources, players and levels of investment and infrastructure he walked into how would history judge that return?

As a reference point Pellegrini managed 1 title + 2 milk cups in his three years

Why would he walk away? He signed a new contract this summer keeping him at the club until 2021 (I think).

His family are settled here, he has control that he wouldn't get anywhere else, he is essentially unsackable and is probably quite well paid

We won't have him for years and years a la Wenger/Fergie but he ain't going anywhere just yet.

But to indulge your question, which is interesting....kinda hard to answer. If we finish 2nd this season and no domestic/European success then from a trophy return standpoint you could argue it's a disappointment. But then I think back to last season and how could a management 3 year reign that contained that season ever be classed as a failure?

[TightEnd]

Wan Bissaka and Van Aanholt handled sane and sterling superbly one on one and there wasn't much in the way of overlap from Walker and Delph to provide the ability to play it wide and stretch Palace?


by the way do you agree with MOTD that Fernandinho is the one player Guardiola cannot currently replace in his first choice XI?

i noticed last week Stones was playing DM in front of Garcia (looks a great talent) last midweek and seemed to be playing there again yesterday and he has tried KDB, Delph in there and Gundogan plays a bit further forward

this is the reason he was in for Jorginho in the summer?

[hhyftrftdr]

Wan Bissaka and Van Aanholt handled sane and sterling superbly one on one and there wasn't much in the way of overlap from Walker and Delph to provide the ability to play it wide and stretch Palace?


by the way do you agree with MOTD that Fernandinho is the one player Guardiola cannot currently replace in his first choice XI?

i noticed last week Stones was playing DM in front of Garcia (looks a great talent) last midweek and seemed to be playing there again yesterday and he has tried KDB, Delph in there and Gundogan plays a bit further forward

this is the reason he was in for Jorginho in the summer?

I didn't watch MOTD so don't know exactly what was said but yes, generally speaking and despite the immense talent across the squad, we have no like for like quality replacement for Fernandinho. And he will be 34 by the time the season ends. He's an incredible athlete and although time catches up with everyone, he's still an integral cog in the machine.

Jorginho would've been the one to eventually phase Fernandinho out the team over the next year or 2. I know Pep brushed it off when he went to Chelsea instead but I think it stung a little as he was the ideal candidate and we had all but signed him.

As you've mentioned, we have players who can 'fill in' in that defensive midfield/pivot role, but its a role of great importance in a Guardiola team and it's not a case of just going out and buying a younger defensive midfielder. The skillset required is pretty demanding.

I think KDB could do it (he's so good on the ball that he could play anywhere), but then you'd potentially miss out on some of his attacking talents, and a midfield 3 of KDB at the base with the 2 Silva's in front could also be a little unbalanced as the pivot role needs solid discipline, amongst many other things.

I'm not sure Stones is mobile enough, not sure Delph is good enough, not sure Gundogan would be disciplined enough....all these are fine to fill in occasionally but if we're talking long term then we need a solution.

All this highlights just how good Fernandinho has been for us, and another player who has raised their game even further since Pep arrived. Eyebrows were raised when we paid £30m for him 5 years ago, coming from Ukraine football and hardly a spring chicken at 28 years old, but he really has worked out to be a snip and one of our best signings since we started ruining football in 2008.

[nirvana]

Wan Bissaka and Van Aanholt handled sane and sterling superbly one on one and there wasn't much in the way of overlap from Walker and Delph to provide the ability to play it wide and stretch Palace?


by the way do you agree with MOTD that Fernandinho is the one player Guardiola cannot currently replace in his first choice XI?

i noticed last week Stones was playing DM in front of Garcia (looks a great talent) last midweek and seemed to be playing there again yesterday and he has tried KDB, Delph in there and Gundogan plays a bit further forward

this is the reason he was in for Jorginho in the summer?

I didn't watch MOTD so don't know exactly what was said but yes, generally speaking and despite the immense talent across the squad, we have no like for like quality replacement for Fernandinho. And he will be 34 by the time the season ends. He's an incredible athlete and although time catches up with everyone, he's still an integral cog in the machine.

Jorginho would've been the one to eventually phase Fernandinho out the team over the next year or 2. I know Pep brushed it off when he went to Chelsea instead but I think it stung a little as he was the ideal candidate and we had all but signed him.

As you've mentioned, we have players who can 'fill in' in that defensive midfield/pivot role, but its a role of great importance in a Guardiola team and it's not a case of just going out and buying a younger defensive midfielder. The skillset required is pretty demanding.

I think KDB could do it (he's so good on the ball that he could play anywhere), but then you'd potentially miss out on some of his attacking talents, and a midfield 3 of KDB at the base with the 2 Silva's in front could also be a little unbalanced as the pivot role needs solid discipline, amongst many other things.

I'm not sure Stones is mobile enough, not sure Delph is good enough, not sure Gundogan would be disciplined enough....all these are fine to fill in occasionally but if we're talking long term then we need a solution.

All this highlights just how good Fernandinho has been for us, and another player who has raised their game even further since Pep arrived. Eyebrows were raised when we paid £30m for him 5 years ago, coming from Ukraine football and hardly a spring chicken at 28 years old, but he really has worked out to be a snip and one of our best signings since we started ruining football in 2008.

Not many team could take on Palace at home without Fernandinho tbf,

[rinswun]

One of Fernandinho's main strengths (to my eye) is his ability to commit a cynical foul to prevent an attack forming, far enough out from his own goal to avoid a booking. Does it about 5 times a game and routinely gets away with it. Very impressive.

[hhyftrftdr]

Wan Bissaka and Van Aanholt handled sane and sterling superbly one on one and there wasn't much in the way of overlap from Walker and Delph to provide the ability to play it wide and stretch Palace?


by the way do you agree with MOTD that Fernandinho is the one player Guardiola cannot currently replace in his first choice XI?

i noticed last week Stones was playing DM in front of Garcia (looks a great talent) last midweek and seemed to be playing there again yesterday and he has tried KDB, Delph in there and Gundogan plays a bit further forward

this is the reason he was in for Jorginho in the summer?

I didn't watch MOTD so don't know exactly what was said but yes, generally speaking and despite the immense talent across the squad, we have no like for like quality replacement for Fernandinho. And he will be 34 by the time the season ends. He's an incredible athlete and although time catches up with everyone, he's still an integral cog in the machine.

Jorginho would've been the one to eventually phase Fernandinho out the team over the next year or 2. I know Pep brushed it off when he went to Chelsea instead but I think it stung a little as he was the ideal candidate and we had all but signed him.

As you've mentioned, we have players who can 'fill in' in that defensive midfield/pivot role, but its a role of great importance in a Guardiola team and it's not a case of just going out and buying a younger defensive midfielder. The skillset required is pretty demanding.

I think KDB could do it (he's so good on the ball that he could play anywhere), but then you'd potentially miss out on some of his attacking talents, and a midfield 3 of KDB at the base with the 2 Silva's in front could also be a little unbalanced as the pivot role needs solid discipline, amongst many other things.

I'm not sure Stones is mobile enough, not sure Delph is good enough, not sure Gundogan would be disciplined enough....all these are fine to fill in occasionally but if we're talking long term then we need a solution.

All this highlights just how good Fernandinho has been for us, and another player who has raised their game even further since Pep arrived. Eyebrows were raised when we paid £30m for him 5 years ago, coming from Ukraine football and hardly a spring chicken at 28 years old, but he really has worked out to be a snip and one of our best signings since we started ruining football in 2008.

Not many team could take on Palace at home without Fernandinho tbf,

Very good

[DungBeetle]

Wan Bissaka and Van Aanholt handled sane and sterling superbly one on one and there wasn't much in the way of overlap from Walker and Delph to provide the ability to play it wide and stretch Palace?


by the way do you agree with MOTD that Fernandinho is the one player Guardiola cannot currently replace in his first choice XI?

i noticed last week Stones was playing DM in front of Garcia (looks a great talent) last midweek and seemed to be playing there again yesterday and he has tried KDB, Delph in there and Gundogan plays a bit further forward

this is the reason he was in for Jorginho in the summer?

I didn't watch MOTD so don't know exactly what was said but yes, generally speaking and despite the immense talent across the squad, we have no like for like quality replacement for Fernandinho. And he will be 34 by the time the season ends. He's an incredible athlete and although time catches up with everyone, he's still an integral cog in the machine.

Jorginho would've been the one to eventually phase Fernandinho out the team over the next year or 2. I know Pep brushed it off when he went to Chelsea instead but I think it stung a little as he was the ideal candidate and we had all but signed him.

As you've mentioned, we have players who can 'fill in' in that defensive midfield/pivot role, but its a role of great importance in a Guardiola team and it's not a case of just going out and buying a younger defensive midfielder. The skillset required is pretty demanding.

I think KDB could do it (he's so good on the ball that he could play anywhere), but then you'd potentially miss out on some of his attacking talents, and a midfield 3 of KDB at the base with the 2 Silva's in front could also be a little unbalanced as the pivot role needs solid discipline, amongst many other things.

I'm not sure Stones is mobile enough, not sure Delph is good enough, not sure Gundogan would be disciplined enough....all these are fine to fill in occasionally but if we're talking long term then we need a solution.

All this highlights just how good Fernandinho has been for us, and another player who has raised their game even further since Pep arrived. Eyebrows were raised when we paid £30m for him 5 years ago, coming from Ukraine football and hardly a spring chicken at 28 years old, but he really has worked out to be a snip and one of our best signings since we started ruining football in 2008.

City should buy Doucoure I think.  Reckon you’d get him for 35m.

[arbboy]

If he comes second in the EPL (lets not forget that they are still odds on for the title before we get too carried away) by a country mile from third which is likely with incredible offense/defensive numbers/GD and points total (they are currently in for 94 points on the spreads) goes relatively deep in the CL without winning it (thats just variance) it would still be an incredible season and not a failure.  FA/Milk cups surely make no difference to a team of your standing nowadays?  They are for the Arsenal's of the world to crow about winning?  If you win them its just a bonus right?  You don't think 'shit we came 2nd in the league/semi final in champs league but won the fa cup so its been a goood season because we got a pot?'

Would just mean the scousers have had a season for the ages and you have to tip your hat to their combo of offense/defensiive improvement with VVD/keeper etc recruitment wise.  They have spent nearly half as much as manure have spent on Pog/luk on those two.