Cocacolajojo wrote:bigblue wrote:Yeah but Joe is about as City as you can get. I just worry that with Joe, Zabba, and maybe even Vinny soon to leave, we're going to lose most of the players who truly identify with the club and fans.
Joes been with us through all the ups and downs over the years. And more times than not was our standout performer in the CL and key PL games. Just seems undignified to offload someone like this, when they have contributed so much for so long to City
I think this is a legitimate concern.
I agree for what it's worth, but surely we have to look to future heroes rather than let the past ones become a burden and just sit out their career in a comfort zone
One way or another, every single one of the first championship winning team will be gone in the next 2/3 seasons. Whilst that's a cause for concern from an identity and cultural perspective, it's equally the manager's call to suggest some players have been around too long and it's better for all concerned to move some of them on sooner rather than later. Eeess football!
In my opinion, if he is replaced Joe is likely to be collateral damage as much as anything else, and the footballing bit could well be secondary to Pep laying down a marker to the squad that nobody is safe, just the same as he did when he fucked Ronaldinho (amongst others) off in his first summer at Barca, who most thought was untouchable.