Our rival's squads next year - Man City

Kind of weird that he wore no. 16 for nearly 5 years.

He's always preferred #10. He wore #16 when #10 wasn't available because was it the date of his wife's birthday I believe, although he's since separated from her. Luckily for fans who'd already bought a shirt with his #16 on it they are allowed to either switch it for a #10 one or have Aguero sign it.
 
Waiting for De Bruyne to sign before we do that ;)
Weird how some on Bluemoon are so adamant its happening. I saw one in a thread about City being underrated for the season posting a team for the current season saying that it was amazing your strongest side wouldn't even contain Yaya Toure and it had De Bruyne on the wing and Delph in midfield with Fernandinho.
 
They all think (Bluemoon) that Pellegrini's new contract is a smokescreen.
 
Weird how some on Bluemoon are so adamant its happening. I saw one in a thread about City being underrated for the season posting a team for the current season saying that it was amazing your strongest side wouldn't even contain Yaya Toure and it had De Bruyne on the wing and Delph in midfield with Fernandinho.

I think we will get him to be honest, we're almost certainly after him and he seems willing to join. We'll probably pay around the same as we did for Sterling.

They all think (Bluemoon) that Pellegrini's new contract is a smokescreen.

Yeah, saw the same on Twitter earlier and was quite amazed at the delusion among some that Guardiola is one million percent joining us and this contract extension is meaningless. I perhaps don't share the infatuation with Guardiola that same fans do, however it would be madness to believe Pellegrini's been given another year with the club having zero intention of ever letting him see it out.
 
I think we will get him to be honest, we're almost certainly after him and he seems willing to join. We'll probably pay around the same as we did for Sterling.



Yeah, saw the same on Twitter earlier and was quite amazed at the delusion among some that Guardiola is one million percent joining us and this contract extension is meaningless. I perhaps don't share the infatuation with Guardiola that same fans do, however it would be madness to believe Pellegrini's been given another year with the club having zero intention of ever letting him see it out.
I think it's a reward, he's won a double and finished second in his first two seasons. Say what you like but it is a good record. I agree it would be a bit strange that they'd give him new contract and just tell him to sod off.
 
I think we will get him to be honest, we're almost certainly after him and he seems willing to join. We'll probably pay around the same as we did for Sterling.
Just seems weird to me how things are taking so long on that front. Don't think you've even submitted an official offer yet?
 
Just seems weird to me how things are taking so long on that front. Don't think you've even submitted an official offer yet?

We're definitely interested though. Most likely conversing with Wolfsburg + De Bruyne's people before making a proper bid.
 
Why would they spend a fortune on KDB? Attacking midfield is one area where they don't need an improvement.
 
Why would they spend a fortune on KDB? Attacking midfield is one area where they don't need an improvement.
If Nasri or Navas remain starters, despite the signing of Sterling, they can always bolster their options in that department. He's a significant upgrade on the aforementioned and could elevate City from a team finishing fourth, to title-winners.
 
The thing that seems to have gone under the radar going into this season for me is City's youth prospects. Everyone is talking about their failure to spend big money to strengthen this summer, but from what I saw of them in preseason, not only does Sterling look like he is going to be an excellent player for them, but they have some really promising youth prospects that look like they will be getting game time this season. Denayer, Zuculini and Iheanacho all look to be around the first team squad and will be pushing for starts, and there are a few others waiting in the wings as well.

I think City have actually done some good business to offload some of their deadwood, although I think the decisions to let Milner leave and sign Delph were both somewhat questionable. From a football standpoint, they are a team I am actually quite excited to watch this season and see how they do.

That said, I don't think they are among favourites for the league this year as in my opinion they are going through something of a transition now as a few of their senior players potentially get phased out, and youngsters are integrated into the first team.
 
I think with that squad and before the transfer window has finished they are one of the favourites, if not the favourites, watching them tonight they are so fluid and this is without Aquerro
 
Its just the 1st game but I see them as the biggest favorites for the title.
If you are not wumming then yeah I would probably agree. There attack has so many goals in it and if Kompany regains his old form and mangala finally settles it looks like a very nice team on paper (and on the pitch if today is anything to go by)
 
If you are not wumming then yeah I would probably agree. There attack has so many goals in it and if Kompany regains his old form and mangala finally settles it looks like a very nice team on paper (and on the pitch if today is anything to go by)
Big ifs concerning Mangala and Kompany though.
Touré not looking quite as past it as some on here have been saying.
It's a long season.
 
Huge if surrounding Kompanys fitness, Mangala looks an absolute dud and they are weak in the full back positions imo. Who knows whether Toure will be arsed in a few months while Fernandinho and Fernando won't intimidate any half decent midfield in the league.
 
Its just the 1st game but I see them as the biggest favorites for the title.
If/when they get De Bruyne then they'll be close. It's vital to have players who can open up teams who park the bus and they have them in abundance. Defence is still dodgy but there's talk of them signing a CB as well.
 
If/when they get De Bruyne then they'll be close. It's vital to have players who can open up teams who park the bus and they have them in abundance. Defence is still dodgy but there's talk of them signing a CB as well.
Yeah but.. If they dont sign a CB they'll have good firepower in the attack but will still be poor at the back which wont help their case in PL, not to mention CL.
 
Its just the 1st game but I see them as the biggest favorites for the title.

I'd agree, they're a good league team. A lot of good goalscorers. I think they're the team to beat this year
They'll beat all the weaker teams week in and week out, which i think we and chelsea without costa will struggle a bit against.

They'll still struggle a bit against stronger teams though and the pellegrini thing could blow up in their face any week.
 
In last few years of watching Toure, I have seen him play really good when the team is doing well. But when they face a team who push them and dominate the midfield, he seems to be completely lost. Like in CL matches, he looks lost.
 
Toure is of course capable of great performances, but if you press him and they come up against a big team, he'll struggle IMO. His problem the last season was only showing up once every 5-10 games as well. They'll have a very good attack of course, as aguero and Silva are brilliant players, but I don't think they'll be very consistent overall.

We'll see how the season goes, but I can see them having a very similar year to last year. Top goalscorers, but a leaky defence.
 
They will look pedestrian at CM if the big guy breaks down but that's not really where they make a living anyway. An AM arsenal of Silva, Nasri, Sterling and quite possibly de Bruyne looks devastating considering they are servicing the deadliest striker in EPL history. Defensively they can be had but none of the top 4 can claim to be flawless in that regard. The thing about City is that last season they dropped points they had no right to, I don't see that happening 2 seasons in a row.
 
Not convinced fernando (or the first one of them they bought) is as rubbish as everyone says either.
I remember him being pretty good in his first season and i think most of that brazil squad had a pretty tough year after the world cup.
I'd expect better from him and oscar and a few others this time out.

They're gambling on their defence though.
 
Can someone explain to me why they always seem intent on strengthening their strengths instead of improving their weaknesses? I get that in the prem they can get away with fielding some of the mediocre players they have but when the big european boys stroll into town they get found out rather easily.
 
I see their players have come out with the predictable 'we've something to prove' line after failing miserably at defending the title. I'm honestly not worried about them. They're the same ageing team as last season, plus Sterling.
 
Said it before that one of their most important strengths is they don't complicate the game. They don't play to keep the ball away from the opponents. They have majority ball possession because they are superior players. They'll go forwards and look for the opening. If it doesn't come they'll keep probing in the opponents half and when a half chance comes they won't hesitate attempting to make it. A lot of their goals are from basic cut backs from the byline. Simple but damn irritatingly effective.
 
Said it before that one of their most important strengths is they don't complicate the game. They don't play to keep the ball away from the opponents. They have majority ball possession because they are superior players. They'll go forwards and look for the opening. If it doesn't come they'll keep probing in the opponents half and when a half chance comes they won't hesitate attempting to make it. A lot of their goals are from basic cut backs from the byline. Simple but damn irritatingly effective.
Agreed with all of that. They play more like the 'incincibles' Arsenal side than anyone else in the last decade. Brilliant team, and by far the best attack in the league.