There May Be Trouble Ahead

[Blue Jam]

Bernie to be offered new deal? (Star)
https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/footb ... w-27792750

[Outcast]

Bernie to be offered new deal? (Star)
https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/footb ... w-27792750

Every man and his dog, sly media knows he cost us 43m. No idea where they got 55m from?

[Mase]

Sick to fuckin death now -

If an offer arrives there are seven days left and if Bernardo leaves we would have to go to the market and not it's easy.

Pep - 'Having said that, Bernardo likes Barcelona a lot.'

Catalan giants manager Xavi was also quizzed on whether or not Barca are still looking to bring the Portugal international to Spain.

‘Who doesn’t like Bernardo Silva? Or Haaland or De Bruyne?’ Xavi said.

‘Silva has great decision-making ability, he protects the ball very well, he’s very good. It depends on City. But now there’s no news.’

[Outcast]

Sick to fuckin death now -

If an offer arrives there are seven days left and if Bernardo leaves we would have to go to the market and not it's easy.

Pep - 'Having said that, Bernardo likes Barcelona a lot.'

Catalan giants manager Xavi was also quizzed on whether or not Barca are still looking to bring the Portugal international to Spain.

‘Who doesn’t like Bernardo Silva? Or Haaland or De Bruyne?’ Xavi said.

‘Silva has great decision-making ability, he protects the ball very well, he’s very good. It depends on City. But now there’s no news.’

I said it before, if he ain't happy then he can fuck off to skint Barcelona. Some posters think he's irreplaceable, not true. Everyone is replaceable, we just have to evolve.

[Mase]

Sick to fuckin death now -

If an offer arrives there are seven days left and if Bernardo leaves we would have to go to the market and not it's easy.

Pep - 'Having said that, Bernardo likes Barcelona a lot.'

Catalan giants manager Xavi was also quizzed on whether or not Barca are still looking to bring the Portugal international to Spain.

‘Who doesn’t like Bernardo Silva? Or Haaland or De Bruyne?’ Xavi said.

‘Silva has great decision-making ability, he protects the ball very well, he’s very good. It depends on City. But now there’s no news.’

I said it before, if he ain't happy then he can fuck off to skint Barcelona. Some posters think he's irreplaceable, not true. Everyone is replaceable, we just have to evolve.

I’m at that stage now. Barcelona is no more accessible to Lisbon than Manchester. It’s on the opposite side of Spain.

If he “loves the club” he’d either put us out of our misery or commit for this next season openly.

Really souring my thoughts on Bern. But ultimately, like you say, he’s replaceable. We won our first two games without him.

[johnny crossan]

Sick to fuckin death now -
If an offer arrives there are seven days left and if Bernardo leaves we would have to go to the market and not it's easy.
Pep - 'Having said that, Bernardo likes Barcelona a lot.'
Catalan giants manager Xavi was also quizzed on whether or not Barca are still looking to bring the Portugal international to Spain.
‘Who doesn’t like Bernardo Silva? Or Haaland or De Bruyne?’ Xavi said.
‘Silva has great decision-making ability, he protects the ball very well, he’s very good. It depends on City. But now there’s no news.’

I said it before, if he ain't happy then he can fuck off to skint Barcelona. Some posters think he's irreplaceable, not true. Everyone is replaceable, we just have to evolve.

I’m at that stage now. Barcelona is no more accessible to Lisbon than Manchester. It’s on the opposite side of Spain.
If he “loves the club” he’d either put us out of our misery or commit for this next season openly.
Really souring my thoughts on Bern. But ultimately, like you say, he’s replaceable. We won our first two games without him.

Now this - the second sentence is very depressing

[Mase]

Sick to fuckin death now -
If an offer arrives there are seven days left and if Bernardo leaves we would have to go to the market and not it's easy.
Pep - 'Having said that, Bernardo likes Barcelona a lot.'
Catalan giants manager Xavi was also quizzed on whether or not Barca are still looking to bring the Portugal international to Spain.
‘Who doesn’t like Bernardo Silva? Or Haaland or De Bruyne?’ Xavi said.
‘Silva has great decision-making ability, he protects the ball very well, he’s very good. It depends on City. But now there’s no news.’

I said it before, if he ain't happy then he can fuck off to skint Barcelona. Some posters think he's irreplaceable, not true. Everyone is replaceable, we just have to evolve.

I’m at that stage now. Barcelona is no more accessible to Lisbon than Manchester. It’s on the opposite side of Spain.
If he “loves the club” he’d either put us out of our misery or commit for this next season openly.
Really souring my thoughts on Bern. But ultimately, like you say, he’s replaceable. We won our first two games without him.

Now this - the second sentence is very depressing

Hopefully Pep and Bernardo can come out now, when asked, and repeat that and point out Barca can’t afford him. I’m not sure why the two them keep adding fuel to the fire.

[john@staustell]

Sick to fuckin death now -

If an offer arrives there are seven days left and if Bernardo leaves we would have to go to the market and not it's easy.

Pep - 'Having said that, Bernardo likes Barcelona a lot.'

Catalan giants manager Xavi was also quizzed on whether or not Barca are still looking to bring the Portugal international to Spain.

‘Who doesn’t like Bernardo Silva? Or Haaland or De Bruyne?’ Xavi said.

‘Silva has great decision-making ability, he protects the ball very well, he’s very good. It depends on City. But now there’s no news.’

I said it before, if he ain't happy then he can fuck off to skint Barcelona. Some posters think he's irreplaceable, not true. Everyone is replaceable, we just have to evolve.

Absolutely, although I don't think he's going anywhere.

I'll have a word about the site distributing free valium to those who feel the need.

[johnny crossan]

Our cup runneth over this morning

any news on Mbete btw?

[johnny crossan]

Let's face the music ---- and dance?

[Outcast]

Let's face the music ---- and dance?

Can we start unsettling his replacement ready for next summer?

[johnny crossan]

Let's face the music ---- and dance?

Can we start unsettling his replacement ready for next summer?

So if as predicted Bernie gets sidelined tomorrow to join Phillips, Ake, Grealish, Laporte & Mbete we'll have Alvarez, Palmer, Gomez, Lewis, Esbrand, Bobb + 2 other EDS on the bench for Palace.

[johnny crossan]

Can we start unsettling his replacement ready for next summer?

[john68]

Funny how quickly the mood changes from being extremely positive to one of fear and trepidation.

During last season most recognised that all we needed was a dedicated striker as the final jigsaw piece to enable us to cash in on all the chances we generally created each game. A striker that would move us ahead of our nearest rivals and make us almost unbeatable.

City duly complied and brought in a striker considered the best in Europe, possibly the World and backed it up with another striker who could play all across the front. We should have been delighted..

Now all I am reading on here is the complete reverse. Tons of negativity and criticism and fear of the future.

In recent years, we have lost the like of Yaya, David Silva,Vincent Kompany, Sergio Aguero, all at some point deemed to be irreplaceable.
The dippers lost their star defender for a large part of a season and it was considered the reason they failed. On the other hand, despite our iconic player losses, City kept rolling on, winning and dominating domestic football. Four Prem titles in five years andon the brink of winning the CL.

THB, I don't want Bernie to leave but if he does at some pont go, I am sure it won't impact on our continuing rise.

[stupot]

Can't stand Duncan Castles but he's in Jorge Mendes who's Bernardo's agents pocket.
It obviously isn't just a Barca thing, he wants to leave.

[johnny crossan]

Funny how quickly the mood changes from being extremely positive to one of fear and trepidation.

During last season most recognised that all we needed was a dedicated striker as the final jigsaw piece to enable us to cash in on all the chances we generally created each game. A striker that would move us ahead of our nearest rivals and make us almost unbeatable.

City duly complied and brought in a striker considered the best in Europe, possibly the World and backed it up with another striker who could play all across the front. We should have been delighted..

Now all I am reading on here is the complete reverse. Tons of negativity and criticism and fear of the future.

In recent years, we have lost the like of Yaya, David Silva,Vincent Kompany, Sergio Aguero, all at some point deemed to be irreplaceable.
The dippers lost their star defender for a large part of a season and it was considered the reason they failed. On the other hand, despite our iconic player losses, City kept rolling on, winning and dominating domestic football. Four Prem titles in five years andon the brink of winning the CL.

THB, I don't want Bernie to leave but if he does at some point go, I am sure it won't impact on our continuing rise.

Bernardo being helped out of the club by Pep is the perception John and combined with an obvious lack of depth in the squad it makes for the unease on here and among most fans. The departures of Sergio, Merlin, Yaya, Vinny et al in their twilight years are not comparable to the VVD injury last season and we are even more vulnerable in defence and midfield - 16 senior outfield players and 4 of them crocked already!

[johnny crossan]

Barcelona friendly reveals Manchester City are threadbare in defence



Luke Mbete

Pep Guardiola sat in the Camp Nou press room, nearly six years since his last visit, listening to his former assistant coach and friend Juan Carlos Unzue.

“A year and a half ago it could only be a dream and tonight it was real,” said Unzue, after 91,062 football fans watched Manchester City play Barcelona on Wednesday night.

The friendly was to raise awareness and funds to research amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which Unzue was diagnosed with in 2020. The match was broadcast in 140 countries and the amount raised will be announced soon.

Juan Carlos Unzue, Pep Guardiola

Pep Guardiola and Juan Carlos Unzue, right, in conversation during the friendly between Barcelona and Manchester City (Photo: Pedro Salado/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
Afterwards, Manchester City spent Wednesday night at the sail-shaped Hotel W, waking up to a view of the Platja de la Barceloneta (Barceloneta beach) at the end of their five-day expedition. They were due to leave the hotel at 10am, jet back to Manchester, have some light training, then watch the Champions League draw together.

By then, Guardiola must have been back to the usual head-scratching over the concerns that are looming.

City’s night at the Camp Nou ended in a 3-3 draw, the Spanish manager having mostly used a second-string side. New signing Sergio Gomez performed in a City shirt for the first time. The 21-year-old looked comfortable enough as a left-back, showing gifted footwork and a couple of good blocks on former Leeds United winger Raphinha.

Julian Alvarez opened the scoring after a howler from Barcelona backup keeper Inaki Pena. The Argentinian looked lively and tireless and he could have ended the night with more goals to his name. He is an exciting talent for Guardiola to work with, though, as everyone around the Catalan manager points out.

Academy graduate Cole Palmer and Riyad Mahrez were the other scorers for City, the latter putting away a spot kick nine minutes into injury time. Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan played less than 30 minutes; Erling Haaland, no more than 20, in which he had time to win a soft penalty from Andreas Christensen.

Arguably the most concerning element of the game was who was lining up behind those names. Kyle Walker played as a centre-back, which is surprising until you assess Guardiola’s limited options.

Ruben Dias and John Stones are the only two senior centre-backs Guardiola has at his disposal, which makes Walker practically the third-choice central defender at the minute.

Nathan Ake did not feature after getting injured last Sunday at Newcastle. Aymeric Laporte is still on his way back from the knee surgery he had in May. Club sources expect him to be back with the team in September, but add the 28-year-old will have to be carefully assessed during his recovery.

When it rains, it pours.

Kalvin Phillips, who was already used as an emergency centre-back in pre-season, was also subbed off with a new injury, having just returned to the squad after missing the games against Bournemouth and Newcastle. The 26-year-old was grabbing his shoulder before making way for Rodri at Camp Nou. City sources are relaxed about Phillips’ injury, however, and he will be assessed before they host Crystal Palace on Saturday.

Kalvin Phillips
Kalvin Phillips picked up a shoulder injury in the friendly (Photo: Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
Academy centre-back Luke Mbete, who came on in the 64th minute to give Ruben Dias a breather, had to be stretchered off and taken to Hospital Quiron in Barcelona after a head collision in the final minutes of the game. Mbete spent the night there as a precaution but travelled back to Manchester with the team.

Seasons go by, but problems in Guardiola’s back line remain. The shortage of central defenders has been a common story for Guardiola since his Barcelona side won the Champions League final with Yaya Toure starring as a centre-back in 2009, to the summer of 2019 when City failed to sign Harry Maguire.

The following year, the club’s hierarchy decided to equip Guardiola with four senior options in that role. This summer, City were ready to repeat the search when Ake looked set to join Chelsea.

Yet the transfer window is about to shut and Manchester City are, possibly, in a worse position than expected.

City’s CEO, Ferran Soriano, insisted this week the club plans no more business this summer, so Guardiola’s preference of a small squad will be tested again with midweek Champions League and cup games coming soon.

In fact, any rumours are more about making the squad smaller. City’s visit to Barcelona gave a new airing to rumours about Bernardo Silva’s future. The first to speak about it after the game was Barcelona manager Xavi.

“Who does not like Bernardo Silva? But there’s no news. I can’t say more,” he said. “He’s a key player to Pep (Guardiola) and Man City. A guy who makes the difference. I love him as a footballer. He does not lose the ball, understands everything on the pitch, his decision-making is outstanding. There are few footballers like Bernardo.”

Then it was Guardiola’s turn.

“I am no one to tell Bernardo to forget about anything,” he said. “Bernardo is our player and we want him with us because he is super important. Having said that, as I’ve always told my players, I don’t want anyone unhappy here.

“If you ask me if I want Bernardo Silva, there is no doubt about that. He’s a superlative player in every aspect of the game. The bigger the game, the better he plays. We want him. The club wants him.

“If at the end there’s an offer — that until now there’s been zero offers in the last two years — and both clubs reach an agreement, I don’t know what would happen. But as Ferran Soriano said, we have seven or eight days of the transfer window left and if a player like Bernardo leaves, we must go to the market and, at the minute, it’s not easy. Having said all that, Bernardo loves Barcelona.”

New quotes, more speculation and no news. City’s stance is the same as last week. They are confident Bernardo will stay at the club and Soriano confirmed to Spanish media no offers had been received for Silva. Sources close to the first team believe it is impossible for any proposal to change City’s mind before the transfer deadline.

Now, City prepare to face Palace at the Etihad on Saturday. Some might feel the biggest victory for City would be to lose no more bodies before the end of the month.

[johnny crossan]

Bernie Banter about 3 mins in

Watch on youtube.com

[City64]

Pep confirms just now in his presser that Bernardo is staying at City and City have received no offers or phone calls for him .
So basically it has been and still is rag media bullshit (castles and others) yet again.

[Mase]

Pep confirms just now in his presser that Bernardo is staying at City and City have received no offers or phone calls for him .
So basically it has been and still is rag media bullshit (castles and others) yet again.

The offers, yes. Whether he was going or not is nothing to do with the media. Bernardo literally said twice last week that he didn’t know if he was going or not. What do you want the media to do when he says that?