Next season's strategy

[PeterParker]

Ok, we have one final to go, but at this level we need to start early and smart.

The team:
What do we need?
- For me it seems that Danilo, Otamendi, Delph, Vinnie and Gundogan are out the door. With big question marks above Dave & Sane. From this bunch, I reckon Merlin and Sane will stay and Vinnie will be convince to go one more year here. But with that being said, we will have to invest. Also, with the FFP problems, we might see 6-7 new faces.
So what is needed: A right back, two center backs, a left back (want but I think it will not happen) and two midfielders.

The priorities:
I think in order to retain the title again and most of all, win the UCL we need to sacrifice the cups. The quadruple, at this level, It can't be done. The amount of extrafactors that can fuck you changes are really high and I hope our club knows that. But I think Pep will go again next year for everything. You can't reason with a lunatic.

The Premier League
I think the teams in this competition need to step up next season. And I mean really step up. Liverpool getting 97 points had also a big part from teams not doing their job right and allowing them to be muggers. With all the joke aside, next year might actually be their year, but I hope they will implode and fuck their morale in the summer.
For me this season really changed the hate towards our rivals. I can handle a rag win, it happen many times, we are used to it. But if these fuckers win, we will never hear the end of it.
Chelsea, United, Arse and Spurs are squads that have a semi gray future ahead of them, but we need them to step up next year in case we can't do it all over again.

Over to you, Pep.

[Sideshow Bob]

we badly need a striker. possibly 2. sergio is not what he once was, and jesus shows no signs of being ready to replace him.

[PeterParker]

we badly need a striker. possibly 2. sergio is not what he once was, and jesus shows no signs of being ready to replace him.

Agree.
I think, slowly, we are looking at Sergio getting older. This is life.

[john@staustell]

I agree about the striker too.

Clearly some sort of Ferdy replacement.

And some sort of left back who can play full back and is fit to play would be useful. Or two. And I guess if Danilo is off to Italy then another right back.

[Hazy2]

Keep Gundo ! It will cost 80 mill for his replacement, why allow him to become this important to us and let him flourish elsewhere. Top player goals and assists in big games.

[Mase]

Keep Gundo ! It will cost 80 mill for his replacement, why allow him to become this important to us and let him flourish elsewhere. Top player goals and assists in big games.

He won't sign mate. We've offered, it's him dragging his heals.

[PeterParker]

Keep Gundo ! It will cost 80 mill for his replacement, why allow him to become this important to us and let him flourish elsewhere. Top player goals and assists in big games.

He won't sign mate. We've offered, it's him dragging his heals.

If he wants to go, he should go now.
He owes the club a transfer fee after we took care of him when he was injured.

Also, motivation comes big with this. These fellas won everything locally. They need a new challenge and we need fresh faces that are hungry.

[Nick]

Not that keen on gundo. Hes not signing- why ? Game time ? Hes played most games!

[Mase]

Not that keen on gundo. Hes not signing- why ? Game time ? Hes played most games!

It's his "last big contract"

[Hazy2]

Keep Gundo ! It will cost 80 mill for his replacement, why allow him to become this important to us and let him flourish elsewhere. Top player goals and assists in big games.

He won't sign mate. We've offered, it's him dragging his heals.

Maybe Mase, He looked happy last night. Such a class player.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

First of all I don't think there is anyway we will " give up" the cups.

Second I am not giving up on any of the players listed as going as maybe going. If (massive if) Mendy and De Bruyne are fit it will be like 2 new signings after they missed most of this season but there is no doubt some incomings are needed for the older guys who have been our backbone for a few years.

Yaya already gone and easily managed, Dinho can carry on but probably can't handle a full season. I would certainly like Gundo to stay as he has filled in superbly for him despite being a different type of player. Will Pep look at alternatives out on loan like Matt Smith or Douglas Luiz?

David Silva has another year in him even if not as an automatic starter. Foden coming along nicley in that central role but I wouldn't at all be surprised if Pep brings another high quality midfield player. Sane I hope will stay and grow under Pep as he is top quality but if there is an unsurmountable problem there we need a serious replacement.

Then there is Aguero! Can't last forever scoring 20 a season but he should be ok for next year.The problem is whether Jesus is the answer as his understudy, which I think he is and will start to flourish, or we find a replacement who is good enough but prepared not to be a regular first choice. Not easy.

Similar with the center backs. I really don't want Vinnie to go as I know he can still doa job with us next season and forever but it seems like he might be on his way to play somewhere else.So if the Otter goes as well we need a new center back for sure with Garcia and Bellis Harwood not yet ready for the prem on a regular basis just yet. Phillippe Sandler maybe but I just havent seen enough of him to know.

[PeterParker]

I said it many times, but I would really be gutted if Danilo leaves. For me he is a fantastic player to have around, excellent squad player and a lad who looks like a genuine nice fella

But I understand him if he would want to go.

What I love about this squad and is the main reason why we have this succes is about character and the fact each player is picked based on his attitude both in and out the pitch.

[carl_feedthegoat]

OUTS 6 INS 5

DS
VINNY
GUNDO
DANILO
OTTO
JG (big maybe)

INS

FORWARD (just 1 to accompany Aguero for next season but a priority signing IMO)
RIGHT BACK
DEFENDER
LEFT BACK (Mendy cannot be relied upon)
MIDFIELDER

Foden to replace DS (People aught to stop harping on about his 2 latest mediocre performances out of the 15 performances..some of them fantastic...hes good enough now)

It will be a busy summer but unfortunately we will only get around 50 million for the outgoings unless JG goes and that will boost it somewhat.

[Nick]

Not that keen on gundo. Hes not signing- why ? Game time ? Hes played most games!

It's his "last big contract"

Who is gonna pay him more ? Ffs greed

[Foreverinbluedreams]

Not that keen on gundo. Hes not signing- why ? Game time ? Hes played most games!

It's his "last big contract"

Who is gonna pay him more ? Ffs greed

Why are you assuming it's greed? It could be playing time, it could be a desire to finish his career at home, it could be a desire to play in another top European league.

[sheblue]

Why the need for such massive wholesale squad changes? We have just racked up 98 points. Were hardly in crisis! Think this talk of considerable changes are way over stated. Yes we will bring in a few but 7-8? Cant see the necessity for that amount of upheaval.

I do think we need to take a view on the cups next season.

[PeterParker]

Why the need for such massive wholesale squad changes? We have just racked up 98 points. Were hardly in crisis! Think this talk of considerable changes are way over stated. Yes we will bring in a few but 7-8? Cant see the necessity for that amount of upheaval.

I do think we need to take a view on the cups next season.

Well, those 5 from my initial post were linked with departure.
The thing is, next year motivation will come first because it will be very very hard to make them play again for the League and league Cup. I think we are close to end a cicle.

[Michigan Blue]

The danger of binning off the domestic cups is that you prioritize a competition where freak results and corruption are commonplace. It will only get worse when Real Madrid, etc. bounce back.

I was thinking about this yesterday. In a way we are the perfect club for Pep, because we know the score, and won’t get frustrated by Pep’s European “failures.” If we win on Saturday most Blues would consider it basically a perfect season.

Only worry is that Pep probably doesn’t feel the same. Eventually a lack of progress in the UCL will frustrate him, he will start overthinking the domestic comps, and then finally he might decide he can achieve nothing more here.

[nottsblue]

Strategy for next season?

Seems to me that the last two years have gone rather well, and if it ain’t broke.....

Yes, we will lose a few players and a couple more are getting on a bit and probably haven’t got full seasons in them. But we will recruit new players just as in previous years to freshen up the squad. Foden will play more next year. Next season Garcia and/or Sandler may have their breakthrough seasons. Things are looking good.

The advent of VAR should ensure the dippers aren’t as lucky as this season, though I wouldn’t put my life on it! Also be surprised to see them retain all their best players as well. Chelsea can’t sign anyone and are likely to lose Hazard. Spuds aren’t renowned for spending and could well lose Eriksen and Alderweireld, two of their best players. Arsenal are still a work in progress who still have a soft underbelly in away games. The rags are miles behind and aren’t even in our rearview mirror.

So, we are in a position of massive strength with the others playing catch up. Our enemy is complacency and judging by the season we’ve just had, especially the second half, it’s not a word that comes into our vocabulary. So, next seasons strategy? More of the same please

[budfox]

Next season, win the prem again to equal what the rags did twice.

Balls to everything else but build for the 2021/22 and 22/23 seasons and an all out assault on the CL.

I think as long as Pep stays there isn't anything we can't do.

It won't always be like this, empires rise and fall. What we have is incredible support, and the knowledge that in our lifetime we saw Manchester City take the crown of the best side the Premiership has ever seen.