30 Aug 2026 22:06:04
Hi all,
Not the best news to share with you but news regardless.
The media push did come, particularly from the player side - but it was not as successful as hoped.
As things currently stand, I believe Gakpo departs and neither Sarr/Minteh arrive. It’s believed Liverpool may like to take advantage of City’s offer while the market is proving extra lucrative.
Deals for either player is looking very difficult to conclude.
If a new winger is brought in, it’ll likely be an understudy to Munoz who has impressed the coaching staff majorly.
It’s worth noting that anything can change in the next 48 hours but I am not filled with confidence. Scatter gun business has landed us in a poor position.
30 Aug 2026 22:15:03
Great news.
We sell and don't replace. How has it come to this! Honestly, it's frightening how bad this transfer window is.
30 Aug 2026 22:17:32
Maybe we hijack someone quick like Munoz in the next couple days.
{Ed666's Note - he already plays for us mate ?
30 Aug 2026 22:20:21
I still think maybe a deadline day last minute loan maybe.
{Ed666's Note - As long as you’re in a giving mood I’ll have £100k please Hampo
30 Aug 2026 22:24:06
Thanks VG, talk about leave the manager short!
Any news on a possible midfielder?
30 Aug 2026 22:35:00
I still think Minteh is the plan and we will get him. Brighton working on the rw from Millwall (who looks decent btw).
30 Aug 2026 22:36:01
That is jaw droppingly bad.
30 Aug 2026 22:36:53
So we have no replacement for Jones or Gakpo despite these being the dominoes that needed to fall (not a dig at any posters).
Richard Hughes has been one of the worst things to happen to the club in recent memory.
{Ed666's Note - Barcola is the Gakpo replacement hence why Gakpo is leaving.
30 Aug 2026 22:38:41
Longthing76, you want to know how it's come to this? FSG leaving recruitment in the hands of a man who is already working for his new employer. It's called incompetence, negligence and maladministration.
30 Aug 2026 22:43:00
Absolute travesty. Just keep Gakpo and use on the RW.
30 Aug 2026 22:43:53
Is this all Hughes though? Could the problems be deeper than just him?
30 Aug 2026 22:45:44
This would be absolutely shocking if it's true. Barcola, Isak and Munoz are a good front 3, don't get me wrong. However, this would basically leave us with Rio, Koumas and probably Chiesa (who would have to stay out of pure necessity).
Ekitike can't come back soon enough.
Desperate times. Let's at least hope the midfield and defence can be fixed with good coaching. As it seems we're done recruiting in those areas.
{Ed666's Note - absolutely no point Ekitike coming back any time soon e soon because it would just be cardio for him playing matches. He’ll be a nothing burger in terms of being back to his best. That will take a long time
30 Aug 2026 22:50:11
If we have no one else lined up to come in, we should not be selling Gakpo. Let alone selling him to a rival, it's ludicrous if that's what's happening.
{Ed666's Note - he wants to go because Barcola is taking his place.
30 Aug 2026 22:56:05
Good grief. How can we have that many directors and be in this position - what are Woodfine, Ward, Marques doing?
Chelsea are a circus, but have done all their business. Martinez, Palestra, Lacroix, Barco, Rodgers, Quenda and look like they will get Lamine Camara - all while making 300m worth of sales. This is not even including the Welbeck and Hendo additions.
30 Aug 2026 22:26:10
Ed666 ?
30 Aug 2026 22:59:21
Maladministration? ? Someone has just bought a thesaurus.
{Ed666's Note - I thought that was our new goalkeeper
30 Aug 2026 23:00:12
Why don't we just wait and see what happens before flying off the handle?
It's really not worth stressing yourself over when you don't know all of the facts.
{Ed666's Note - This is stoicism Barry in Louth
30 Aug 2026 23:01:03
Go for that Azeez from Millwall. African right winger, quick, within our budget and injured. Perfect.
30 Aug 2026 23:01:42
Thanks for your information, as always, Victor. Always look forward to your posts. I honestly can't see the club leaving us so short for the coming season, without bringing someone else in. Let's hope that they have a plan in place and that they have become awesome at stopping leaks to the outside world.
30 Aug 2026 23:07:10
Hughes isn't and Edwards wasn't fit for purpose.
In addition Slot turned out to be useless as a coach in the PL when he had to stand on his own two feet.
Part of the problem stems from buying some very good players last summer but not being able to turn them into a team that could play good football.
Slot was kept on way too long, he should have been gone last November but the club thought they would give him a chance to redeem himself, especially as there was no real candidate to take over (the exception being Xabi, although he might have had enough for a while with the Real Madrid show).
With hindsight it was disappointing that the club couldn't / didn't have replacements ready for Hughes and Edwards (although I know Gordon stepped in when the situation became untenable), but the lack of preparedness, the change of manager and the effect of the World Cup really stuffed us up.
I think that when Slot and Edwards left the plans for the window went out of the window (see what I did there) and keeping Hughes on may well be a case of the elephant in the room.
All that said, the kids we have brought in look good but we are about 3 or so short still. For me I'd rather stick with what we have rather than panic buy on the last day. I'd get rid of Hughes, bring in a DoF to work with AI and work on the players for the system he wants to play for the winter and summer 27 transfer windows.
30 Aug 2026 23:13:22
Club's a mess!!!
{Ed666's Note - Did you just wake up Rip Van Winkle?
30 Aug 2026 23:22:34
An understudy to an understudy.
30 Aug 2026 23:25:25
That would be disappointing to say the least. I guess FSG are happy to leave the manager deal with a thin squad and a disgruntled fan base.
In that case, this season's focus will be on improving players, getting his systems imbedded, and deciding who fits and who doesn't.
I do think if we sell Gakpo and no replacement is bought, I suspect FSG have checked out and it's just a case of waiting for the new owners to take over.
I love I'm hope as always.
30 Aug 2026 23:31:49
Hughes probably doesn't work bank holidays either. ?
Just to add, Virgil & Ali probably leave next season too.
30 Aug 2026 23:23:29
I appreciate the response Ed666 but I jusy think, the club should come first here, I'm fine with him going as to be honest I'm not his biggest fan but he should only be allowed to go if we have another winger coming in.
{Ed666's Note - it’s no secret I don’t rate Gakpo but I have to respect him for wanting to leave to play football and not sit on the bench. Hes going because we have another winger coming in Barcola who plays in cody’s position and we have Rio as Barcolas understudy. Now you may say that Gakpo can play up front and would be a perfect Isak substitute but that’s not gakpos preferred position. If city or spurs are giving him an opportunity to play week in week out and he’s not getting a reduction in wages why wouldn’t he do it?
30 Aug 2026 23:44:19
It's just the End of FSG. New ownership is around the corner.
30 Aug 2026 23:49:51
Selling Gakpo without a replacement is madness.
{Ed666's Note - wait till Tuesday please
30 Aug 2026 23:58:17
For what it's worth, I still think we will sign a player to replace Gakpo. As incompetent as Hughes is, and perhaps Woodfine in the DOF role, you'd have to imagine they'll be working hard to get someone over the line.
Brighton chasing Azeez is what gives me hope. And Minteh is the one I want.
{Ed666's Note - I really like Minteh. I was against signing him because he’s injured but after seeing some of the names brandished about for right wing id be happy with his signature.
31 Aug 2026 00:00:01
Who would have thought selling Cody for £80m would cause so much unrest. Arne must be laughing from his VIP spot in Ibiza.
31 Aug 2026 00:10:47
Has to be Szob on the right hand side then surely?
31 Aug 2026 00:19:40
Hughes and Co have pulled off some major mind trick here.
Last week no one wanted Minteh or Sarr for £50m. Now some want the Millwall right winger. Talk about managing down expectations, and creating hysteria and desperation.
Next thing you know, fans will be calling for last season's best midfielder Szob to play at right back, with Macallister in defensive midfield.
Will Wright for centre forward, anyone?
31 Aug 2026 00:12:20
Ok gotcha Ed0666 ?
31 Aug 2026 00:24:23
Riostep is so right, the best post this window. I'm also happy with the business we've done, the results speak for themselves.
31 Aug 2026 00:28:20
Utter meltdown, hugs needed everywhere. ?
{Ed666's Note - And belly rubs for the most hysterical ones.
31 Aug 2026 00:36:37
Just wait till news filters out that Barcs has failed his medical.
31 Aug 2026 00:40:49
The place is crazy atm, can't wait till the window closes and folk calm down.
31 Aug 2026 00:42:57
Don't, Overkill, place will be even more unbearable.
31 Aug 2026 00:50:23
It's all a bit of an insult to the club, the new manager, his staff and us supporters in my opinion. It's wholly incompetent behaviour from those in charge of these things. They don't care, that's the long and short of it.
31 Aug 2026 00:51:52
So Red jn Belfast, I take it that you're happy that the cretin who is paid to deal with the squad incomings and outgoings has been more focused on sorting out transfers for his new employer in Saudi Arabia than dealing with the glaring deficiencies in the squad of his current employers, whilst those self same current employers idly sit by and watch it happen? It doesn't bother you one bit that the owners, the senior management and recruitment team are so incompetent and utterly negligent.
You're happy we're writing off then? Because to me it looks like a complete and utter mess.
31 Aug 2026 01:23:02
Vik, trust the process, there's time even though it's getting late.
If all else fails, as the likes of Rio point out, the players we have just need a cuddle.
It's the taking part, not the winning that counts.
31 Aug 2026 01:32:57
Gakpo should absolutely be sold while the offer is there - Liverpool made a massive error of judgment, giving him such a large wage, and 80m+ for him is essentially a bailout of that. Come January, City and other suitors will have moved on and we'll be stuck with a player simply not providing the value to match his wage.
{Ed666's Note - Preaching to the choir mate I’m all for it. I think you and I are in the minority.
31 Aug 2026 02:03:17
I don't understand how he is guaranteed to play regularly for City. They already have good wingers. He was getting a decent amount of games while Diaz was here. Why would it be different now?
31 Aug 2026 03:21:49
Not good news, Victor
In a situation where every player leaves, there's no signing of Uwing, no signing of a fullback, and no signing of a midfielder.
31 Aug 2026 07:45:04
Can we get £80m for Grav as well, please, and get his wasted wages off the books?
31 Aug 2026 07:55:15
You might not like the guy from information you've been given, VV, but calling someone a cretin that you don't even know personally is ridiculous. You can get your point across without name calling.
31 Aug 2026 08:00:03
Well then, I look forward to our glorious triumph when we become UEFA Conference League winners 2028!!
31 Aug 2026 08:09:45
I know Bournemouth sold players every year from AIs team and he worked miracles rebuilding the squad, but he thought coming to us would give him a better squad and transfers he wanted.
The club have really s*** on him from high, unable to get transfers done even though he has said it's what he needs.
Absolute shambles.
31 Aug 2026 08:13:57
I'm glad no one overreacted to Barcola replacing Gakpo.
31 Aug 2026 08:22:06
Sharing is usually caring, Goddam, but you've caused an international incident this time with your careless whispers. We know anything can change, please be more definitive in your future briefings to the troops.
31 Aug 2026 09:27:24
I am not too bothered about Gakpo leaving motw, just the lack of options we're providing AI.
No depth or cover up top, an unbalanced midfield and a rb who doesn't know how to play his position.
31 Aug 2026 09:36:05
If City want to pay 85 mil pounds for Gakpo & match his wages, then they are just like us, they don't know what they're doing.
31 Aug 2026 09:37:00
From reading this thread, it would appear now that Gakpo is the second coming of Christ and can play in every single position much better than anyone else.
Look, guys, he's on big money, was atrocious last year to the point that every single site and YouTube channel should have been renamed to "Gakpo bashing."
We are in the best position to replace him and make a profit.
A very tidy and inflated profit. We have Barcola and Rio in that position now. All of a sudden, fans want Gakpo to play RW, RB, GK and assistant coach. Why the sudden turnaround? He was at fault for absolutely everything last year, according to the same fans that all want a statue of him now.
31 Aug 2026 10:07:21
The contrarians are running riot inbeta. Last season was all Slot and his love child Cody, and Konate. No one else really got a mention despite a season of abject failure.
This season Cody is reborn because we're looking to sell him, despite buying his replacement for £100m plus.
We had the same gnashing of teeth when offloading Curtis, and even a few lamenting the loss of Harvey and the young Spanish sick note, I forget his name.
No one can leave the asylum.
In a few weeks it'll all either be forgotten because we've won a game or two, or Iraola will be getting it because there's no one else left to blame for our abject start to the season.
31 Aug 2026 11:08:56
I like how no one is even talking about how poor and pointless both Wirtz and Isak have been. Two massive mistakes, but let's blame everyone else.
31 Aug 2026 11:27:12
Gakpo leaving to City won't put him as a confirmed first eleven. Unless that's negotiated into his contract. But I see it more to do with Xavi taking over as Head Coach of Netherlands National Team.
Gakpo wants a shoe-in playing to the sort of gameplay Guardiola, Xavi and Maresca employs. Where better to understand and thrive if not in a City team.
Possession-based, wingers hugging the touchline, suffocating their opponents with passes and the once in a blue-moon counterattack.
Iraola is more direct and edge-of-the-seat gameplay. One which Anfield loves, as it reflects the working class identity of effort, grit and never giving up. Pass and move but vertically and Duracell + Redbull infused.
31 Aug 2026 08:45:03
Ed666 - so you think Gakpo will start more games for City, than 'Liverpool + Barcola'.
Can't say I'm sure about that.
{Ed666's Note - if barcola hits the ground running Gakpo wouldn’t get a sniff on the left, isn’t really effective through the middle and can’t play on the right so yes I think so mate.