We’re gonna pay 80m for Douglas Luiz in the summer aren’t we 👀… too much smoke

What realistic level raising 8s are actually available in the summer? Midfield options in the market feel limited atm

You can talk like this when you can afford Vinicius and Rodrygo.

No shit it’s easy to give Mbappe creative freedom lol. Also some young players develop very consistent good habits out of “over-instruction”.

Let’s kick off the boring international break with pointless discussions eh

My summer wishlist (in order of positional priority):

Zubimendi (kidnap him fuck it), Kubo, Toney.

Funded by the outgoings of:

Partey, Eddie, ESR, Reiss…. I’d love for ESR to stay but we might need to sell due to FFP to fund all the key positions we need with quality.

Who can we really get out there at ST that is of high quality and comfortable being on the bench from time to time ?

Or alternatively if we get an Osimhen what does that mean for Jesus? Not sure he’ll be comfortable on the bench and he’s def not starting ahead of Saka or Martinelli on the wings. Dilemma

One thing that still makes me curious is our CM plans last summer. We seemed to go for Mount first, plus were very interested in Gundogan but seemed to land on a different profile in Havertz. Not sure 🤔

Thank goodness we missed on Mount btw

The more I watch city the more I see what Arteta is trying to evolve to. It boring and too cautious at times but absolute control is the best form of defense. If they don’t have it, they can’t shoot it.

Top 5 is super congested wow. If we drop points at Newcastle we could be heading down to 4th or 5th. Obv it’s still early but damn the top 5 teams are real solid this season.

Wolves have an erectile dysfunction attack. So much tease, not much output

Henry will play martinelli role. Interchange with Jesus in game

No one doubts what he bring BUT he is rarely ever available when we need him. What’s the point of all this “quality” when he’s making starter level wages on the bench for key periods of the season? He is Mr unreliable.

You’re hanging on to an imagination. Amazing amazing player WHEN he plays, but we need available and he’s turning 31, best time to cash in.

Will all due respect Eddie is done man. City’s “back up” to Haaland is Alvarez. Ours is Eddie. We can do better.

In the next two windows I think these players are unfortunately done here: Eddie, ESR, Partey (love his game but he’s unavailable everytime, we also tried to sell last summer), Ramsdale (please stay, but might force his way out for more starting opportunities ahead of the Euros and beyond).

That’s 4 squad openings. 3 where we need to make critical upgrades. I don’t think we are getting an Osimhen because that’d mean Jesus goes to the bench (he left City for that, he’d leave us if he’s not starting). I think we are/should be potentially looking at Toney as a significant upgrade to Eddie + alternative approach to Jesus when necessary.

We were more “exciting” gave people energy. Now we are more poised and mature and trending City like in our management of game phases and people don’t like it. Sevilla rarely had any chances yesterday. Last season we’d have looked a little more fluid offensively but more shaky defensively.

We were tied top two before chelsea game I think. How are we 5th now

Okay then I see where we disagree. I don’t think Rice is an 8 at the level of a Barella or Bellingham or Bernardo Silva or Gundogan.

I’m not selling him short wtf are u reading? He is a good 8 he’s not ELITE at that position. That’s what we need for where we are going.

Again Rice at the 8 is only a short term option because of what we have and it’s a moot point discussing that incessantly. He won’t play 8 long term. Hes our long term 6 and he’s our Partey replacement. Simple.

Why not LCM? Lone 6 Zina is a scary defensive proposition lol

Rice is not a quality 8 at the level we need that position to be im sorry. It’s not his instincts and it’s not his long term position. He has won MOTMs playing 6. He is a World class 6 and a good 8.

We need a top top class left 8

Yes I named players as profile examples, of players primarily as 8s who could also play 6 if needed. Which is what I said

We have Timber though.

What does Zina evolve to on this team? The true LB/RB profile is evolving. We will see more UCL teams with pacey wingers start to target him more. That was part of Chelsea’s plan yesterday.

I think that’s Timbers spot long term, but what does that mean for Zina long term? Do we move him central as a CM option? Not sure

We can agree to disagree. We have two top quality 6s and one quality 8. We need two quality 8s and one quality 6. With one of the 8s being comfortable rotating as a 6 for Rice if necessary. By “quality” I mean Odegaard Partey Rice level and the position is their preferred primary position.

The club would most likely see this summer as the time to cash in on Partey. He’s turning 31 and is injury prone. Not sustainable.

Arteta doesn’t like ESR and would move on from him as soon as he can (see Ramsdale) - he lacks intensity.

Unless Havertz or Fabio significantly step it up this season, it’s a position we should be looking into after this season. Again, we can agree to disagree