Haaland signs up until 2034. Stunning deal for #mcfc just as they agree a transfer for Marmoush. What a January they are having.
Haaland's commitment goes further than smashing Shearer's PL record - it's a huge show of confidence in the club and Pep: www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/footba...
City will recall Issa Kabore from Benfica but he will go back out on loan rather than support the first team. Other loan exits from fringe/academy players not expected this month, but also not ruled out. #mcfc
www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/footba...
City need a January transfer who is available, affordable, can make an instant impact and be an option for the future.
They could also do with that player to cover Rodri, Gundogan and De Bruyne roles.
Not an easy transfer search... #mcfc
www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/footba...
And if he does come back before the end of the season, it will be when City need him to be perfect. Unless he's able to be at 100% straight away, surely there's more benefit to giving him more rest and returning at the start of 25/26.
Remember that Rodri/Nike ad that said: 'Win so much you forget how to lose'?
#mcfc have lost so much without Rodri they've forgotten how to win.
They should act in January to avoid putting even more pressure on Rodri when he returns. ⬇️
www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/footba...
City are training their full-backs to model their game on midfielder Rodri in the academy - an approach that is paying off recently for right-back Lakyle Samuel, who is discovering a goal threat he never knew he had. #mcfc
www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/footba...
All fair points. It did feel like a summer to be proactive but was unusually quiet even when Alvarez left.
That's true, has clearly been low on numbers but McAtee, O'Reilly, Wright have been sat on the bench every week and barely played a minute.
Maybe he was lile the rest of us - didn't think it would get as bad as it has.. and then it was too late.
Suppose that's why there are some questions marks at the manager. Hadn't seen any negativity towards him until this weekend.
It's definitely a mental thing for sure. How have they gone from relentless winning runs to collapse after collapse?
It's interesting, can't argue against that but didn't those transfer windows justify themselves when the title was won a year later?
Had some interesting replies over the weekend about what exactly is going wrong for City.
It all starts with injuries, but there has been mention of transfers, age, confidence, and even some of Pep's decisions.
So City fans - what is the main reason for the drop in form? #mcfc
Familiar story for #mcfc at Juventus last night. Solid enough, but all crumbled after another mistake.
More concerning is the reaction of their captains on the pitch. When the squad need a united front they are getting mixed messages.
www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/footba...
Jack Grealish last started a Premier League game in attacking midfield for #mcfc on his debut for the club.
138 games later, he looked more like the player they signed from Aston Villa last night, back in his preferred position. Coincidence?
www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/footba...
Good news: De Bruyne is back for City, starting his first game since September.
Bad news: Foden has bronchitis so misses out. Walker and Ederson benched. #mcfc
www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/footba...
There was a Liverpool free kick yesterday when Virgil Van Dijk came up, sized up Kyle Walker, dropped a shoulder, and powered a free header just wide.
Walker ended up 5yds away and started blaming someone else. It summed up a gutless first half. #mcfc
www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/footba...
How do you analyse that from City today?
Pep took out the players who were making mistakes and the players who replaced them were at fault for the goals.
It's not just the defending though, there is a lack of desire, awful body language and no sign of where the next goal is coming from. #mcfc
Pep here on what went wrong - and why it wasn't down to his triple change or Josko Gvardiol. #mcfc
www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/footba...
This was Guardiola immediately after City blew their 3-0 lead over Feyenoord. He later admitted the tension of the game prompted him to scratch his face and head.
City in all sorts of trouble and can't buy a win - even when they've done all the hard work. #mcfc
Bernardo Silva back on the right wing and already City feel more like themselves. Grealish on the left and the attack is back to the treble winning front three. #mcfc
Reigan Heskey got a brace and sub Ryan McAidoo netted an 18-minute hat-trick as City put one foot in the Youth League knockout stages infront of Txiki Begiristain. #mcfc
www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/footba...
Fairly sure we recorded a podcast in the summer where I confidently predicted Leicester would stay up because they had Steve Cooper in charge, and Nottingham Forest would struggle because they don't.
Another one spot on. 👍
Sure, City are decimated by injuries. But their rivals' reactions to the Spurs defeat shows that the Blues have lost their aura of invincibility.
Piece on all the factors going against #mcfc and why the mentality issue is bigger than any injury:
www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/footba...
Even when City have lost in the past, they've still looked like themselves.
Most worrying thing about this losing streak is they look nothing like the team who normally drag themselves out of trouble.
Pep's biggest challenge yet? #mcfc
Now a blind pass into trouble from Gvardiol. Great start turns into a nightmare for #mcfc - already down on confidence.
Gvardiol didn't fancy defending that long ball did he.
Another preventable goal conceded by City. Had been a much improved start. #mcfc
Big night for Ilkay Gundogan after a slow start to his second City spell. Probably used more than Guardiola would have liked - and now he has to step up with Kovacic out.
Can play a big role in kick-starting the season for him and his team vs Spurs. #mcfc
Inevitable that Pep's contract breaks late at night to miss print deadlines, and also on my week off.
Incredible deal for #mcfc though, and that 'extra year' is a tempting proposition too.
More detail here from our chief City writer Simon Bajkowski:
www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/footba...
📰 City are front page news on the MEN today.. but not Pep's new contract - the story of Barnby the dog who has a season ticket at the Etihad! 🔗⬇️ #mcfc
www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/footba...
Joining the bandwagon over here on Bluesky.
Let's start with a chat with City youngster Jaden Heskey on:
🇪🇸 His City debut vs Barcelona
🇺🇸 Being starstruck on tour
🤝 Grealish's message
👨👦 Pride at dad Emile's career
📈 Making his own name in the game
www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/footba...