06 Aug 2026 22:23:01
Getting a bit worried about the huge holes all over the squad as the season gets closer. Remember 20/21 the CB situation was a disaster waiting to happen and 22/23 the midfield was the same and how both seasons went now Both are the case. Barcola and Mbaye if we get them looks very good for the wide positions but surely we aren't going into the season expecting 2 of Szob/Grav/Mac/Jones to play together in the pivot? It doesn't work especially if Wirtz will be ahead of them.
The CB situation is even worse and there's no cover for Isak!! We need to get Iraola the tools to be successful he won't be a miracle worker.
07 Aug 2026 00:01:35
There are not huge holes in the squad. The midfield is the same one that won the league. We've got numerous players who can play the forward positions, and when everyone is fit (which won't be too long), we have multiple players who can play all across the back 4.
We all know that pretty much all of them massively underperformed last season, but that doesn't make them bad players.
I'm constantly being told how Iraola is a great manager and is brilliant at improving players, yet in the same breath that he needs more/better players. If he's that good, he'll be able to get a tune out of what he has.
No team is perfect. No team has a squad capable of winning every game. The trick is, and what the best managers do is, find a way to keep collecting points.
That can be like prime City, when you just have better players than everyone else so you can outplay most teams, or like Arsenal where they stifle games so they can control and choreograph the finer details.
It really doesn't matter which way you do it, you just need to find a way. As it stands, we have a better squad than all but 3 or 4 clubs in the league so if Iraola is that good he should be able to beat most teams. Then he just needs to find a way to get points against the better teams and we are golden.
I do think we will sign players. In fact I'm sure of it, but the current situation is nowhere near as bleak as some people are trying to make out.
{Ed025's Note - love the attitude mate..
07 Aug 2026 00:30:00
Arguably, this season's defensive depth is worse than that 2020/21 season.
At least we had three senior first team defenders plus Nat Phillips and academy kid Rhys Williams, to start the season.
This season we're two senior first team defenders plus couple new, unproven and unfit kids plus the actual academy kids.
Numbers-wise we have enough, but we can also see the 'what if' scenario and how destructive to the season that may be if it played out.
We've often walked this line, especially in defense. And I don't know why we keep doing it, other than in theory, we have the roster spots filled, and so the recruiting team don't prioritize it as highly.
Actually, we did try to sign Guehi, so perhaps the fact that we have 'bodies' makes the team think we have more grace period to find the perfect solution for that position.
07 Aug 2026 03:15:08
Please tell me who it is that can cover Isak when he is injured or tired or his body breaks down?
It's not Danns. There is no other striker and Ekitike will be struggling to regain full fitness and sharpness the entire season.
Marmoush would be the logical buy for me.
07 Aug 2026 05:19:15
We have one fit right back who is really a wing back, one fit senior centre back who is 35, one fit striker who can't play 3 games a week and no right winger.
The current situation is extremely bleak.
07 Aug 2026 06:52:13
Who are these multiple players who can play across the back four?
How many injuries do you need to regularly see that it's not realistic.
07 Aug 2026 07:00:36
Time to break out the Valium, methinks.
07 Aug 2026 07:41:10
I'd wager that Riostepover also thinks having Rio will win us the league. Wake up you buffoon. No holes? No brain more like it.
07 Aug 2026 08:34:05
We have some holes in the squad. That is not breaking news. But I don't think we have as many holes as the OP is saying as that is a bit OTT, imo.
For me, we need 4 players to come in, including, and essentially, a CB/RB hybrid, a midfielder, a backup striker, and just maybe another wide player, even if Barcola signs, which, by our sources, is near completion.
The good thing is that, bar the backup CF (this is why Gakpo needs to stay, imo), the other 3 holes are being addressed, so let's wait and see what happens here, esp. with 3 weeks left in the window before going all doom and gloom, cos that seems to be the norm on here of late.
07 Aug 2026 09:09:00
No, Oli, I really don't think we do have holes in the squad. Let alone gaping holes like the OP said.
We have areas that could be improved, sure. But then name me a team in the world that doesn't.
It seems that people won't be happy until we have world class players in every position including the bench.
Even then they'd moan that we paid too much for them, we didn't sign them quickly enough, Hughes got it wrong blah, blah, blah.
It's painful to read.
07 Aug 2026 10:04:06
Wasn't 2 of them 3 first team CBs, Matip and Gomez? And the 4th was Nat Phillips? I'd rather go with this season's options, thanks. And I still expect another CB signing, hopefully meaning Joe leaves the club.
07 Aug 2026 10:05:36
Squad can't be that bad. Should have walked the league last year. ?
07 Aug 2026 10:30:22
@Shughes, don't be so pessimistic. We got Chiesa as back up!!
07 Aug 2026 10:43:46
If we bought Zabarnyi, Kounde, Wharton, Barcola and Mbaye, the squad would still need improving. There are areas of the squad that are weaker than others, but that is always the case for all teams. Stop panicking, we'll be ok. In fact I think AI will have us in the title race this season, irrespective of the current misgivings.
07 Aug 2026 11:19:58
@Rios, To a point, I agree that we don't really have that many holes and the whole "we have gaping holes" schstick is just OTT stuff we can both ignore.
Indeed, I am not a perfectionist and realise that every team has areas and plyers they can always improve on, but simply can't, all in one go. Hence, my 4 players option has a lot more to do with improving on the first 11. So to me, thoise 4 players in those 4 areas will not just improve our first 11, but also help with depth, imo.
As for the other stuff you said, I agree completely. Seems the more hyperbolic they sound, the more posters think their points are valid. The whole "hair on fire" crap is not my thing either, hence I tend to not participate in such threads as much as possible.
It's as you said, "It's painful to read".
07 Aug 2026 11:30:48
I actually wouldn't be surprised to see a window like that, WDW.
07 Aug 2026 12:29:49
I must admit I'm surprised. People would be happy going into a season with:
CB's of:
VD - 35
Gomez - Never available
Leoni - Returning from a horrible injury
Jacquet - might be injured, just returning
and RB's of:
Bradley - sad history of injuries and currently out
Frimpong - Really poor season and looks poor defensively
The youth?
For nearly 50 games? Surely that is not acceptable.
07 Aug 2026 13:16:48
The window closes on 1 September. I trust a lot will be sorted by then.
Don't worry. Everyting coowol.
07 Aug 2026 13:39:03
I don't think we need to spend another half a billion and play fantasy football to win the title. Arsenal won the league with a brick player upfront and it seems they'll be trying to do the same again this season.
City are losing their most important player and have hired an Italian Arne Slot. The 99 points era is well and truly over. Couple of additions, and we will be right up there, I'm sure.
07 Aug 2026 15:51:58
Does that mean Maresca is gonna win it in his first season like Arne?
07 Aug 2026 17:06:09
I mean, Arsenal won playing terrible football, so yeah City could win.
Also helps when you have some cover for your starters.