The boring, predictable and outrageous notion that Manchester City ‘buy’ success, took yet another pounding when the summer transfer window closed last Friday night.
Tired and baseless, the narrative of City’s record-breaking trophy haul being fuelled by ‘dirty oil money’ has long since run dry.
The stark reality facing their detractors is that City have adopted a ‘less is more’ approach to continue their winning ways.
It’s a process far removed from those aspiring to get close to, let alone dislodge, Pep Guardiola’s team at the pinnacle of the Premier League.
As ever, Chelsea gave their bizarre wheel of football fortune another spin, shelling out the obligatory £200m+, whilst allowing ‘Sterling’ to be spectacularly devalued.
United backed Erik ten Bob with another pot of £200m in a bid to catapult themselves up from 8th place in the league. The ‘investment’ will most likely add up to Erik reporting to Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Omar Berrarda & Co that his team are just two seasons away from being two seasons away, in pursuit of Pep’s men!
Historically, there was a time when Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal took a perverse perennial pleasure in claiming the non-existent Net Spend Trophy, whereas Liverpool feasted out for years on the proceeds of Philipe Coutinho’s switch to Barcelona.
And then there’s City, the club with no history, ‘state-funded’ and cheating their way to being the dominant force in English football.
For those who believe or more aptly, are desperate to believe such a jaundiced narrative, there is a palpable feeling of bewilderment coming down the pike.
Not only were City the most profitable Premier League club in the transfer window - where's that Net Spend Cup - they've also strengthened themselves into the bargain.
There’s a 14-year gap between Savinho (20) and Ilkay Gundogan (34 next month), but City have played a blinder in their own version of the Generation Game.
The Brazilian winger has City supporters salivating after just 116 minutes and one assist of Premier League playing time. He’s viewed as the closest thing to a prime Leroy Sane in a City shirt and, while it’s too early to judge, Savinho certainly looks the part.
Conversely the return of ‘Silky Ilkay’, ‘Mr Whippy’ or ‘Gun Dog’ – City’s new No 19 is a man of many guises – has to be the signing of the summer.
Gundogan’s return from the clutches of the crooked Catalans at FC Barcelona is a joyous reunion for the player, his peers, Pep Guardiola and the fans.
It’s a case of back to the future for City’s Treble winning Kapitan, a signing which promises so much after a transfer window previously viewed as somewhat underwhelming.
Julian Alvarez’s departure to Atletico Madrid and the seeming lack of cover for Rodri, suggested City could conceivably be weaker as they went for an unprecedented Five-In-A-Row Premier League titles.
Alvarez served City well in his two seasons since switching from River Plate for £14m. He made a more than valid contribution with goals, assists and a tremendous work ethic in picking up two Premier League, a Champions League, FA Cup, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup winner’s medals.
Internationally, he’d won the 2022 World Cup and a couple of Copa America’s, and yet he wasn’t going to be a first choice player at the Etihad.
Pep the pragmatist didn’t want to lose him, but if a player wants to go and the price is right he never stands in their way.
Alvarez’s departure with a fee of up to £82m was key to player sales that could rake in £180m+. With the exception of the talented but tantrum-throwing Joao Cancelo to Al Hilal for £21m, the rest of the revenue derived from fringe players, Academy youngsters, loanees who’d never worn a City shirt, and sell on clauses for the likes of Douglas Luiz and Arijanet Muric.
The 2024 revenue stream follows on from similar incoming fees in 2023 and 2022 – further proof that the CFA is widely perceived as the ‘Harvard’ of the football world.
The Academy has been instrumental in City amassing a potentially huge war chest for 2025. Hopefully the transfer fund will be at Pep’s disposal as it’ll mean he’ll have extended his nine-year tenure at City. It’ll be money needed to address certain elements of an ageing squad.
City have displayed a supreme talent in the past when it comes to replacing the ‘irreplaceable’. Yaya Toure, Vincent Kompany, David Silva, Sergio Aguero and Fernandinho have all gone but the club's title winning machine has ground on in relentless fashion.
Txiki Begiristain, Ferran Soriano, Khaldoon and Pep will be focused on doing likewise with future succession planning.
The average age of the current squad is 27.13, but in a year’s time there’ll be plenty of thirty-somethings.
Age is indeed just a number and there’ll be no clear out based solely on what's written on a player’s birth certificate. Nonetheless, younger and more energetic legs will have to be integrated.
Contract renewal and extension talks will dictate who stays and who goes.
Kevin De Bruyne will be out of contract next summer, having completed 10 years at City and aged 34. There’s cautious optimism of his willingness to remain at the Etihad.
Commenting on his future he said: “Once the season goes on, I’m sure there will be conversations to be had…I just want to feel good, play good football and this will come in the upcoming months. I don’t really feel the rush for the moment…”
Bernardo Silva will be 31 with just a year left on his deal. He’s close friends with Gundogan and the German will have marked his cards about the chaotic Catalans. His most likely destination in either 2025 or, more hopefully 2026, will be a return to his boyhood club, Benfica.
Kyle Walker, who’ll be 35, and John Stones 31, will also have 12 months left on their existing deals. Mateo Kovacic will be 31, Nathan Ake and Manu Akanji will both hit 30 and of course City new boy ‘Gundo’ will be closer to 35 than 34.
Ederson and Stefan Ortega will both be 32, but that’s no age for topflight goalkeepers, whereas Scott Carson - the man who defies Father Time - will be 40 on September 3rd, 2025. That could be one helluva party!
Complementing the vast experience is the world class brilliance of Rodri (28), Phil Foden and Erling Haaland (both 24) and perennial title winners, Ruben Dias (27) and Jack Grealish (28).
Josko Gvardiol and Jeremy Doku (both 22) have Premier League winning debut seasons under their belts, Matheus Nunes (26) might benefit from ‘Second Season Syndrome under Pep’, whereas Rico Lewis (19) is now getting England call ups ahead of Kyle Walker.
Academy graduates James McAtee and Nico O’Reilly possess great promise and Pep has had warm words for both. McAtee (21) will be battle hardened after two seasons out on loan with Sheffield United, whereas O’Reilly (19) impressed on the pre-season tour in the USA.
As if this plethora of talent wasn’t enough to make a fifth consecutive PL crown a viable proposition, City will be boosted by two outstanding talents towards the end of the year.
The electrifying Oscar Bobb was earmarked for a breakthrough season – no pun intended – before breaking his leg in training before the season opener at Chelsea.
A full recovery would see the exciting 21-year-old Norwegian winger back up to speed before Christmas. His return will be as good as a new signing, whereas the arrival of 18-year-old Argentine midfielder Claudio Echeverri, will be a new signing of sorts.
The adage, ‘If you’re good enough, you’re old enough’, could see the youngster from River Plate add a further dimension to City’s attacking options.
In a similar arrangement to that which brought Julian Alvarez to City, Echeverri has stayed with River Plate on a temporary loan, after signing in a £12.4m deal last January.
Their fellow countryman Maximo Perrone (21) will be spending this season on loan at Como is Serie A. He’ll be under the watchful gaze of his new manager Cesc Fabregas – a classy midfielder in his time at Arsenal and Barcelona – as his football education continues. With no option or obligation to buy, it’d be no surprise if Perrone returns to challenge for a First XI berth in 2025.
What is a very pleasant ‘surprise’ is City’s three wins out of three, beginning to the defence of their PL crown.
With the Euros and Copa America delaying the return of so many of his squad, Pep had warned fans not to expect a fast start to the season. He was quoted as saying: “We will be late…”
Whether he meant it or not, is up for debate, but his team’s actions have spoken louder than Guardiola’s words – just the way he likes it.
Away from playing matters, City will finally get their 'day in court' when an 'Independent Panel' will sit in judgement on the infamous #115 alleged breaches of Premier League rules.
The case is due to start this month, with City vehemently denying any wrongdoing, saying they have 'irrefutable' evidence of the club's innocence. Khaldoon & Co have always expressed their supreme confidence that City will be cleared.
The Premier League's bruising legal defeat to Leicester this week - whilst completely different in nature to City's case - exposed gaping flaws in their Financial Fair Play (FFP) and Profit & Sustainability Rules (PSR).
Not that City should need to rely on any legal technicalities, it's nonetheless encouraging to hear that the Premier League - unlike City - cannot boast a 100% record this season.
By David Walker
Dedicated to Blues Brothers Simon and Andy Kershaw,who’ll be saying a final goodbye to a very special lady blue tomorrow, their Mum, Mavis who passed away last month.
A lifelong City fan, Mavis (90) lived in Dorset Avenue on Moss Side and would look after the bikes of City fans going to Maine Road on matchdays. Our thoughts are with Simon, Andy and the wider Kershaw family.
Twitter @ReadButNeverRed
@djwskyblu
Brilliant read as always Dave. I'm dying for the day City take on the Prem. There are going to be some really red faces around and a lot of people feeling really stupid. I'm just wondering who will be the first to say I knew they were innocent 🤣. I'm a bit surprised at Pep letting Alvarez go without being in a replacement, but what do I know. Keep up the good work pal 👍👏
Superb read as always, David, with a few laugh out loud chuckles thrown in for good measure. Who said that Thursday nights were boring? Not when RBNR delivers! Top class, sir 👏 🩵
Thanks for this great read .... thoughts and prayers are with the Kershaw family 💙
RIP to another Blue angel 💙