Are we in for a decline?

[nottsblue]

In the last 10 years under Pep we won the lot. Multiple times. And broke dozens of records

Of course we are going to be in decline

We always were. However, decline is a subjective word. If in the next 10 years we won half of what did under Pep, it would probably still be more than anyone else.

Over the next decade or so I actually doubt anyone will dominate the way we have. Arsenal, dippers, Chelsea and potentially even the rags will be challenging for titles and trophies. Throw in Spurs and Villa and there’s gonna be a lot of competition for trophies coming up.

So we ARE going to be winning less than before. Ergo we will be in decline

But I’m totally fine with that. Dominance like we had is rare. The Treble had only been done once previously. The domestic Treble had never been done. Winning 4 in a row had never been done. And is likely to not happen again. We had it good. We achieved more in the last decade than most clubs have achieved in their existence. Times change and new adventures come

Let’s see what happens and where this new road goes

[bigblue]

Read something the other day:

Manchester City utilized an AI quality index and a 43-metric data analysis software to evaluate and eventually sign footballer Rayan Cherki as a potential replacement for Kevin De Bruyne

Now, if we used an AI to build this squad in the past 3 years, then yeah, it all makes sense why we are right here now.

I understand we are living in a different era, but fuck me.

if that is true we are completely fucked

[Nickyboy]

I’m not feeling confident at all this season. The worst I’ve felt in a decade, no surprise why, but look at the facts.

Lost Rodri, Bernardo, Stones, Trafford, Ake and Reijnders.

Brought in a backup GK, Anderson and not much else yet.

Rumored to be losing several others.

Pep gone.

Combine this with losing the likes of KDB and Gundo in recent years. The treble team has been well and truly dismantled. The rebuild Pep began seems to have already been dismantled.

I’ve always thought Khaldoon and our board were the steps ahead, but the season starts in half a week and we’ve lost top top players with one very expensive prospect brought in. What the fuck is going on?

We looked like the best team in the league once we'd signed Guehi and Semenyo.

Of those players that have gone only Bernardo played regularly in the last 2 seasons. The rest were squad players and a recovering Rodri.

My only concern is squad depth. Our first choice XI beats anyone but we are very light on numbers.

[bigblue]

My only concern is squad depth. Our first choice XI beats anyone but we are very light on numbers.

Not sure I agree with that. We need a dedicated RB, an mobile defensive midfielder, and another striker who isn't a deer on ice skates. Besides our wingers, our midfield is slow as fuck. One dribble or pass in the center lets the other team overload our defence and get a chance on goal. Been the same issue ever since Fernandinho left.

We never really replaced Kev. Cherki is more like Foden where he is good in tight spaces but we lack someone who can pick out an early 40 yard ball behind the defence.

We also need Dias & Kovacic to start on the bench.

[Wonderwall]

My only concern is squad depth. Our first choice XI beats anyone but we are very light on numbers.

Not sure I agree with that. We need a dedicated RB, an mobile defensive midfielder, and another striker who isn't a deer on ice skates. Besides our wingers, our midfield is slow as fuck. One dribble or pass in the center lets the other team overload our defence and get a chance on goal. Been the same issue ever since Fernandinho left.

We never really replaced Kev. Cherki is more like Foden where he is good in tight spaces but we lack someone who can pick out an early 40 yard ball behind the defence.

We also need Dias & Kovacic to start on the bench.

Pretty good summation. Cherki and Foden are great against poor opposition where the tricks and flicks look great, but against a well organised top side they will only come off every now and again. We need that player who sees the whole picture, the Rodri, Fern, Kev, David Silva. We don't have that right now and I don't see Anderson having that in his armoury right now.

We need some good players to challenge the front line and the centre midfielders.

We have a lot of defensive players so maybe a RB is low priority as we have a few that can cover that role

[stupot]

My only concern is squad depth. Our first choice XI beats anyone but we are very light on numbers.

Not sure I agree with that. We need a dedicated RB, an mobile defensive midfielder, and another striker who isn't a deer on ice skates. Besides our wingers, our midfield is slow as fuck. One dribble or pass in the center lets the other team overload our defence and get a chance on goal. Been the same issue ever since Fernandinho left.

We never really replaced Kev. Cherki is more like Foden where he is good in tight spaces but we lack someone who can pick out an early 40 yard ball behind the defence.

We also need Dias & Kovacic to start on the bench.

Pretty good summation. Cherki and Foden are great against poor opposition where the tricks and flicks look great, but against a well organised top side they will only come off every now and again. We need that player who sees the whole picture, the Rodri, Fern, Kev, David Silva. We don't have that right now and I don't see Anderson having that in his armoury right now.

We need some good players to challenge the front line and the centre midfielders.

We have a lot of defensive players so maybe a RB is low priority as we have a few that can cover that role

[stupot]

Cherki was great against Arsenal last season and looked good again when he came on last weekend.

[Wonderwall]

Cherki was great against Arsenal last season and looked good again when he came on last weekend.

If he can get a good run of consistency he will be some player. Problem for me is he is anonymous in some games and I really want him to grab the game by the scruff of the neck.

We need a midfield general to dictate the play.

[Hazy2]

Is this a second rebuild in 2 years? Our stable feel has evaporated. Even if Dias and Kova survive the cull it’s a reprieve…. Up and down season incoming. Meltdowns
aplenty …

[salford city]

Is this a second rebuild in 2 years? Our stable feel has evaporated. Even if Dias and Kova survive the cull it’s a reprieve…. Up and down season incoming. Meltdowns
aplenty …

This is my expectation depending on an 'established' midfield general arriving. To WW's post, Anderson is not that and I don't see him morphing into it.
Seems odd from the club to now need a complete midfield rebuild. I can only think that Rodders has been a part in this and we were looking at either January or next summer to add.
That said, we are here now and need a proper No.6. a new midfield will take time to gel particularly if inbounds lack the PL experience..Both Cherki and Foden would be big assets if they can find consistency

[bigblue]

Is this a second rebuild in 2 years? Our stable feel has evaporated. Even if Dias and Kova survive the cull it’s a reprieve…. Up and down season incoming. Meltdowns
aplenty …

This is my expectation depending on an 'established' midfield general arriving. To WW's post, Anderson is not that and I don't see him morphing into it.
Seems odd from the club to now need a complete midfield rebuild. I can only think that Rodders has been a part in this and we were looking at either January or next summer to add.
That said, we are here now and need a proper No.6. a new midfield will take time to gel particularly if inbounds lack the PL experience..Both Cherki and Foden would be big assets if they can find consistency

Especially with Bernardo gone, we have a gaping black hole of anyone in midfield who will run themselves into the ground for 90+ mins battling the other team for every lose ball. We used to have half a team of players like that now I'm struggling to think of any besides Khus in defense

[Nickyboy]

Is this a second rebuild in 2 years? Our stable feel has evaporated. Even if Dias and Kova survive the cull it’s a reprieve…. Up and down season incoming. Meltdowns
aplenty …

This is my expectation depending on an 'established' midfield general arriving. To WW's post, Anderson is not that and I don't see him morphing into it.
Seems odd from the club to now need a complete midfield rebuild. I can only think that Rodders has been a part in this and we were looking at either January or next summer to add.
That said, we are here now and need a proper No.6. a new midfield will take time to gel particularly if inbounds lack the PL experience..Both Cherki and Foden would be big assets if they can find consistency

Especially with Bernardo gone, we have a gaping black hole of anyone in midfield who will run themselves into the ground for 90+ mins battling the other team for every lose ball. We used to have half a team of players like that now I'm struggling to think of any besides Khus in defense

Based on what I saw for England in the summer that's exactly the player that Anderson is.

[john@staustell]

Is this a second rebuild in 2 years? Our stable feel has evaporated. Even if Dias and Kova survive the cull it’s a reprieve…. Up and down season incoming. Meltdowns
aplenty …

This is my expectation depending on an 'established' midfield general arriving. To WW's post, Anderson is not that and I don't see him morphing into it.
Seems odd from the club to now need a complete midfield rebuild. I can only think that Rodders has been a part in this and we were looking at either January or next summer to add.
That said, we are here now and need a proper No.6. a new midfield will take time to gel particularly if inbounds lack the PL experience..Both Cherki and Foden would be big assets if they can find consistency

Especially with Bernardo gone, we have a gaping black hole of anyone in midfield who will run themselves into the ground for 90+ mins battling the other team for every lose ball. We used to have half a team of players like that now I'm struggling to think of any besides Khus in defense

Based on what I saw for England in the summer that's exactly the player that Anderson is.

Makes you wonder why he was played on the right last week!

Unless Foden becomes effective again, it's like playing with 10 men

[Nickyboy]

Is this a second rebuild in 2 years? Our stable feel has evaporated. Even if Dias and Kova survive the cull it’s a reprieve…. Up and down season incoming. Meltdowns
aplenty …

This is my expectation depending on an 'established' midfield general arriving. To WW's post, Anderson is not that and I don't see him morphing into it.
Seems odd from the club to now need a complete midfield rebuild. I can only think that Rodders has been a part in this and we were looking at either January or next summer to add.
That said, we are here now and need a proper No.6. a new midfield will take time to gel particularly if inbounds lack the PL experience..Both Cherki and Foden would be big assets if they can find consistency

Especially with Bernardo gone, we have a gaping black hole of anyone in midfield who will run themselves into the ground for 90+ mins battling the other team for every lose ball. We used to have half a team of players like that now I'm struggling to think of any besides Khus in defense

Based on what I saw for England in the summer that's exactly the player that Anderson is.

Makes you wonder why he was played on the right last week!

Unless Foden becomes effective again, it's like playing with 10 men

Because it was a pre season friendly with a scratch team missing a few and with others with only two days training

[john@staustell]

Oh, OK

[Nickyboy]

Oh, OK

If it's the same again tomorrow I'll be the first to come back here and apologise to you John!

[salford city]

Oh, OK

If it's the same again tomorrow I'll be the first to come back here and apologise to you John!

Someone is going to have to play on the opposite side to Semenyo. Let's hope it is not Anderson.

[john@staustell]

Oh, OK

If it's the same again tomorrow I'll be the first to come back here and apologise to you John!

Someone is going to have to play on the opposite side to Semenyo. Let's hope it is not Anderson.

Monga?

[zabbadabbado]

I am not feeling confident either.

Squad is a complete mess.

Vianna has a lot to answer for.

spunking £130 000 000 on an Argentinian with a bad attitude when we need 6/7 players is absolutely crazy.We need players all over the team.

[salford city]

Oh, OK

If it's the same again tomorrow I'll be the first to come back here and apologise to you John!

Someone is going to have to play on the opposite side to Semenyo. Let's hope it is not Anderson.

Monga?

Oi you cheeky bastard , no need. Seriously, I was thinking the same but that is a big call for Enzo thar I don't see him making.More likely that Cherki replaces an anonymous Foden at HT.