Comment of the day on the BBC Live feed

[Cassius Kray]

It's obviously obscene amounts of money, but why are people levelling it at Man City? All clubs do it, the problem for them is Man City buy players that are worth the money.

They've gradually shaped the team, yes for a large amount of money, but they don't always wave their chequebook. Foden from the youth set up, Zinchenko cost £1.7m or something, Kompany and Aguero have long since paid off their transfer fees, same for Silva.

They've also shipped £130m worth of players out in the last 2 years so it's not all out of the owners pockets.

Find it a bit amusing all the salty Liverpool fans saying they've bought the league when they spent £140m on two players.

Don't hate the player, hate the game, it's the same in F1, everyone complains about big teams spending too much money but then baulk at strict budget caps.

I don't know the whole story with their possible expulsion from Europe for FFP reasons to be fair but from a neutral it just seems like a lot of sour grapes from teams that have pissed similar amounts away, just on 2 or 3 squads that just didn't work.

They're really not comparable. According to the data on transfermarkt.com:

On average, since Man City got taken over their net spend has been 300% more than Liverpool every season. That's over £700 million more. Before this season the difference was more than 500%.
City have had a net spend over 100m in over half of those seasons (6/11), Liverpool in just one.
In four of those seasons Liverpool have turned a profit. City have never turned a profilt, and indeed only once had a net spend below 50m

Yes, Liverpool have spent a lot this season (thanks largely due to a big profit last season on the sale of Coutinho). But I think it's pretty reasonable for their fans (and those of everyone other than Chelsea and Man U) to draw attention to Man City's outragrous spending as a major factor in their success.

 

[orlandoblade]

It's been wonderful to see how the sports media are actually taking us seriously, all due to Chris Wilder"s magic.

this is probably because he does not make pathetic excuses and talk garbage in the interviews, he is real, human and folks can relate to him. Unlike say when Colin was managing us in the Prem and is was excuse after moan after excuse after moan....

Tufty is a breath of fresh air to them

 

[AWetFlannel]

They're really not comparable. According to the data on transfermarkt.com:

On average, since Man City got taken over their net spend has been 300% more than Liverpool every season. That's over £700 million more. Before this season the difference was more than 500%.
City have had a net spend over 100m in over half of those seasons (6/11), Liverpool in just one.
In four of those seasons Liverpool have turned a profit. City have never turned a profilt, and indeed only once had a net spend below 50m

Yes, Liverpool have spent a lot this season (thanks largely due to a big profit last season on the sale of Coutinho). But I think it's pretty reasonable for their fans (and those of everyone other than Chelsea and Man U) to draw attention to Man City's outragrous spending as a major factor in their success.

This.

To pick out a few 3rd choice players that happen to have come out of the academy or only cost about 3million (Zinchenko) is dishonest. Every position has been filled by established 50mill players.

City are a fantastic team, fair play to them. But they SHOULD be winning league titles by massive margins; pointing out Manure's embarrassing failures isn't a counter.

 

[bromtom]

This.

To pick out a few 3rd choice players that happen to have come out of the academy or only cost about 3million (Zinchenko) is dishonest. Every position has been filled by established 50mill players.

City are a fantastic team, fair play to them. But they SHOULD be winning league titles by massive margins; pointing out Manure's embarrassing failures isn't a counter.

Zinchenko cost under £2m and isn't 3rd choice. He's played the last 12 games.

Foden is a bencher at the moment.

I don't see how Man U's failure isn't a counter though, big clubs have a huge pot, whether it's spent on players or infrastructure (like the new main stand at Anfield, or the Emirates or Spurs stadium) they all spend ridiculous money, and I think the fact Man U have spent the same and failed shows how good a job Citeh have done.

Unlike Man U who buy shirt sales, Citeh buy players.

 

[Topplayersleave]

This.

To pick out a few 3rd choice players that happen to have come out of the academy or only cost about 3million (Zinchenko) is dishonest. Every position has been filled by established 50mill players.

City are a fantastic team, fair play to them. But they SHOULD be winning league titles by massive margins; pointing out Manure's embarrassing failures isn't a counter.

They are winning by massive margins, they can only influence Liverpool's result twice. It's not their fault if nobody else beats Liverpool

 

[GymClassHero]

Sheikh Mansour buys Everton, then Pep Guardiola’s Everton just pipped Liverpool to the league. That’s the reality.

Completely agree. Does irritate me a bit when people throw that excuse out. Pep spends money but he rarely buys big stars he usually buys lesser know s and moulds them into great players. Take Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling for example.

 

[oaklandrdblade]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.ma.../man-city-loan-players-guardiola-15931634.amp

14 according to the above.

There's been 2 at PNE not mentioned on there

 

[bornablade]

Could Chris Wilder take the Man City squad and win the Premier league. I think so.

Could Pep take our squad of two years ago and with the same additions get the side into the Premier league. I very much doubt it.

 

[AWetFlannel]

Zinchenko cost under £2m and isn't 3rd choice. He's played the last 12 games.

Foden is a bencher at the moment.

I don't see how Man U's failure isn't a counter though, big clubs have a huge pot, whether it's spent on players or infrastructure (like the new main stand at Anfield, or the Emirates or Spurs stadium) they all spend ridiculous money, and I think the fact Man U have spent the same and failed shows how good a job Citeh have done.

Unlike Man U who buy shirt sales, Citeh buy players.

From what I've seen Zinchenko was more than £2m especially with the add-ons he will have activated for appearances. Mendy is 1st choice and cost £50m, as have most 1st team players.

I'd not say City haven't done a good job, they are probably the best Prem team ever. I'd just say it isn't remarkable given what they've spent. Guardiola has still implemented a fantastic style and philosophy, along with fantadtic consistency.

 

[jt64]

With the amount City have spent, they should have won at least two Champions Leagues by now

 

[tomtheblade]

There's been 2 at PNE not mentioned on there

Splitting hairs. It's still not 'nearly 40' is it.

 

[A Storm of Blades]

Liverpool are still about minus £150m in transfer fees though, since Klopp came in. They've spent plenty of money.

While Pep has been at City they haven't really spent much more than Man United, (both minus £300m easily) and look where they are.

It’s an optics issue more than anything. You’re right, Man Utd and Liverpool have spent comparative amounts. It could be argued though that both clubs have built themselves up over decades, whereas it’s not long ago that Man City were in League One and Chelsea were mid-table also rans. Feels like neither truly served their apprenticeship and success came a bit quickly after “new money”. Money isn’t everything as we’ve shown this year, but I’d say it’s 90% of the equation.

 

[A Storm of Blades]

Splitting hairs. It's still not 'nearly 40' is it.

Regardless, the changes to the loan rules are long overdue. 16 players out on loan is silly. I mean Chelsea have 28 year olds out on loan, it’s clearly not about development and needs to be regulated.

 

[Kozzy_is_my_Dad]

Chris Wilder has 4 promotions in the English Footballing ladder.

How many does Pep have?

Proof, if ever you needed it, that Wilder is better than Pep.

 

[lakedistblade]

Can wilders success in lower leagues transfer into the prem? His most obvious skills are getting players to up their game and encouraging a powerful team spirit that copes well with setbacks. No prima Donna stars and a lower than average wage structure fairly spread across the squad supports this. He manages from a distance sharing in celebrations but generally maintaining distance and authority which also throws the team together. The handful of new signings are going to add quality but will they need their hands holding more, will the contracted core promotion lads be happy with their wages and if times get tough will the squad pull together when wilder again says it's up to you. To succeed we need hard work and quality, more than we've shown so far. It is going to be a massive challenge for Wilder and he will have prove he's got it in him to manage a team with some more high profile players to assume the mantle of cloughie. I wouldn't put it past him but the odds against us just get stacked higher with every new season in theWilder era.

 

[super_pig]

Regardless, the changes to the loan rules are long overdue. 16 players out on loan is silly. I mean Chelsea have 28 year olds out on loan, it’s clearly not about development and needs to be regulated.

chelsea bank players so other teams can't have them

 

[tomtheblade]

Regardless, the changes to the loan rules are long overdue. 16 players out on loan is silly. I mean Chelsea have 28 year olds out on loan, it’s clearly not about development and needs to be regulated.

Yes I agree. If 16 is silly, then 30+ is taking the piss, as Chelsea are doing, and something should be done about it. Some clubs are worse than others and should be made examples of.

 

[oaklandrdblade]

Splitting hairs. It's still not 'nearly 40' is it.

I know its not entirely reliable but take a look on this wikipedia page https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018–19_Manchester_City_F.C._season#Loans_out. The 2 at PNE I mentioned as they were the two obvious ones missing, some of these listed may be youth loans but still around 40.