The Official Manchester City Thread - Part 2

With City having lost all 3 domestic games that Rodri has missed due to suspension it really highlights how Pep has failed to get any value at all from Kalvin Phillips.

He came in for £45m as a very sought-after, high-performing mobile defensive midfielder. Wind on just over a year and he has only made 2 PL starts and played the equivalent, minutes-wise, of ~4 PL games.

He was never going to directly replace Rodri, but he was bought as a rotation and break-glass option for times when Rodri is out.

But when he had to sit out these 3 games Pep ignored Phillips and played square pegs in round holes instead - losing all 3 games.
 
With City having lost all 3 domestic games that Rodri has missed due to suspension it really highlights how Pep has failed to get any value at all from Kalvin Phillips.

He came in for £45m as a very sought-after, high-performing mobile defensive midfielder. Wind on just over a year and he has only made 2 PL starts and played the equivalent, minutes-wise, of ~4 PL games.

He was never going to directly replace Rodri, but he was bought as a rotation and break-glass option for times when Rodri is out.

But when he had to sit out these 3 games Pep ignored Phillips and played square pegs in round holes instead - losing all 3 games.
Correct
 
With City having lost all 3 domestic games that Rodri has missed due to suspension it really highlights how Pep has failed to get any value at all from Kalvin Phillips.

He came in for £45m as a very sought-after, high-performing mobile defensive midfielder. Wind on just over a year and he has only made 2 PL starts and played the equivalent, minutes-wise, of ~4 PL games.

He was never going to directly replace Rodri, but he was bought as a rotation and break-glass option for times when Rodri is out.

But when he had to sit out these 3 games Pep ignored Phillips and played square pegs in round holes instead - losing all 3 games.
Thing is though, Pep is allowed to make a lot more mistakes than any other manager because of the never ending bank account. He was able to bench Grealish for a year, before the thick brummie copped on that he had to work his balls off for the team (and tbf he does now)

Imagine Klopp, MikOle or ETH buying a 100 million pound player and benching him? Not going to happen is it?
 
Thing is though, Pep is allowed to make a lot more mistakes than any other manager because of the never ending bank account. He was able to bench Grealish for a year, before the thick brummie copped on that he had to work his balls off for the team (and tbf he does now)

Imagine Klopp, MikOle or ETH buying a 100 million pound player and benching him? Not going to happen is it?

Bang on.

Also, his players/signings are never under the same scrutiny as LFC/MU/Arse.

€90m on Gvardiol, €62m on Nunes, €64m on Doku and €30m on Kovacic this summer.

Replacing Laporte, Gundogan, Mahrez and Cole Palmer. €246m and probably weaker than last year.

A near €1/4bn summer splurge is not normal for any team. United did it last year and then relied on loan signings in january.


ETH/Klopp/Arteta’s signings are under a microscope from day 1 with every missed pass/tackle/shot replayed on sky.

The Havertz/Mount/Darwin signings, for example, could easily make or break their managers. Pep can write off a Mendy/Phillips/Danilo/Nolito/Bravo/
Cancelo fee with zero repercussions.
 
Bang on.

Also, his players/signings are never under the same scrutiny as LFC/MU/Arse.

€90m on Gvardiol, €62m on Nunes, €64m on Doku and €30m on Kovacic this summer.

Replacing Laporte, Gundogan, Mahrez and Cole Palmer. €246m and probably weaker than last year.

A near €1/4bn summer splurge is not normal for any team. United did it last year and then relied on loan signings in january.


ETH/Klopp/Arteta’s signings are under a microscope from day 1 with every missed pass/tackle/shot replayed on sky.

The Havertz/Mount/Darwin signings, for example, could easily make or break their managers. Pep can write off a Mendy/Phillips/Danilo/Nolito/Bravo/
Cancelo fee with zero repercussions.

when you win* as much as Pep does, you can do what you want, simple as, nobody gives a shit about Phillips monstrously flopping when City win a treble the same season

*yes, i know, 115 charges and crazy amounts spent to 'win'
 
Fully agree with all 3 posts above.

Pep has significantly more margin for error than anyone else. Some of that is earned, based on his managerial record

...but a big chunk of it is systemic, based on Citeh's financial/political power.

Quite simply, the rules of the game are different for them.

tbphwy if you told Pep right now that he has to run a net spend of zero for the next 3 seasons he should still have a degree of confidence* that he can win 2+ leagues and 4+ trophies over that period.

* based on the current level of quality in the squad, his coaching ability, the pipeline of youth players that he can draft in (...or give some exposure to & sell on for big bucks like Palmer) and the relative financial strength of opposing teams.
 
With City having lost all 3 domestic games that Rodri has missed due to suspension it really highlights how Pep has failed to get any value at all from Kalvin Phillips.

He came in for £45m as a very sought-after, high-performing mobile defensive midfielder. Wind on just over a year and he has only made 2 PL starts and played the equivalent, minutes-wise, of ~4 PL games.

He was never going to directly replace Rodri, but he was bought as a rotation and break-glass option for times when Rodri is out.

But when he had to sit out these 3 games Pep ignored Phillips and played square pegs in round holes instead - losing all 3 games.

Was injured when they signed him and his fitness has apparently been an issue since.
 
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