18 May 2026 20:47:11.
Lots in the papers that Guardiola is leaving City at the end of the season.
Interesting to see where they turn.
18 May 2026 21:04:24
Maresca, isn't it? Don't know how he's fluked that.
18 May 2026 21:22:55
Maresca was hard done to at Chelsea. They will have a plan for sure, perhaps Paul Dickov or Keith Curle?
18 May 2026 21:32:35
Elliot Anderson might be possible then. City are a top team, but without the allure of Pep, it won't be as easy for them to cherry pick talent. Hope the story is true and not media fairytales.
18 May 2026 22:02:37
Also, rumours of the decision on the now 130 charges against City coming in June. Maybe got a heads up for the 40-60 points deduction. :)
18 May 2026 22:03:44
Tim, I'll pop my tinfoil hat on and say the allure of City is the bag of cash you get off the books.
They've somehow managed to keep their wage bill intact all these years without a peep from anyone. Mancini and Kompany admitted they were paid for some ambassador roles which supplemented their wages. Whether that's calmed or stopped these days, it's hard to tell.
As for City as a project, Anderson is 23. He was 9/10 when City won their first Premier League. The football world doesn't stand still. He may be persuaded to come to United, but the romantic aspect of playing for United has probably gone from that generation.
18 May 2026 22:15:21
I'll say it now. City won't win a PL in the next 5 years.
There have been lots of opinions here, some stating the coach is not the deciding factor.
The coach is, imo, the most important person in the squad. It's all about the manager.
Even at the biggest clubs, with the best players, it's the manager who makes the difference.
They have chosen someone who worked with Pep and has the same basic principles, but he is not Pep.
Silva will leave, and probably Rodri and Haaland, next season. Tricky times ahead for them, no doubt about it. You can't move on from the best there is seamlessly. It might be a couple of years before they feel the full damage, but I do think there are lean times ahead for them.
18 May 2026 22:31:33
I'll agree with u Mumbles, no doubt there's some creative accounting going on. ? I just think the idea of playing for Pep is a huge factor too, if he does indeed go, then they won't have that as another carrot to dangle in front of prospective signings.
19 May 2026 02:17:11
It's absolutely a huge factor, Tim. Maresca doesn't have the same pull as him.
As Ken said, I think any team losing a manager of that caliber suffers. We lost Fergie and Gill in the same summer, and still haven't got close to resembling a title-winning team. Liverpool's great work under Klopp is well and truly gone now, with Slot in charge. If they keep him, they're in huge trouble next year.
I think the title might change hands a few times over the next few years. Hopefully our mitts are on it soon. If we get the summer acquisitions right and the upheaval at other clubs, we could surprise a few.