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I will not be buying a Messi shirt unless he brings it home to me, signed and for Β£10.00!!!!
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Messi to City is definitely a possibility but he won’t be going anywhere unless he can leave on a free which looks like it could be a massive legal wrangle that no Club would want to be on the end of or Barca lower the Β£630m buy out clause significantly which currently looks unlikely.
If he does get to leave Barca, City will be a preferred choice and if he were to sign for City I think that would make City outstanding favourites for both the PL and the CL.
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Well I have already stated about Messi, still do not think it will happen. As to Barca wanting a 630m buy out, they have no chance and the fact that Messi could still stay, it will cost them millions for a player, who clearly does not want to stay. barca will be big losers in this unless Messi relents in his quest. I also think two class act players at city would be a better choice. I think Barca will also angle for deals on Garcia and Bernado. maybe Sterling as well
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Yes, I think it’s right to be sceptical about this happening and also about the potential effect. Faint shades of Rodney Marsh joining City in 1972 ( yes I know RM isn’t a fair comparison to Messi in terms of potential impact and ability) and City is undoubtedly a much more competent outfit now. But not entirely sure that Messi joining for a relatively short spell would be a game changer for the Club.
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It could get messy.π
The buy out clause is the buy out clause and Barca will have every right to sit on the Β£630m and whilst it could be negotiated down the fee would still be very high for a 33 year old and sensibly only spreadable over circa 3 years
And the clause relating to Messi being able to leave on a free seems fraught with legal problems that no Club dare risk.
As for player exchanges that could soften the the fee but would you want to lose a player like Bernardo Silva for instance, whilst offerin Garcia who is in the last year of his contract would have little value as he can be signed on a pre contract for free in January.
Maybe Messi means it? But making it happen is another thing altogether,or maybe he has played his ultimate trump card to try and get rid of Bartomeu and Koeman etc. We shall see.
Be great to see the master magician strut his stuff in the PL for a couple of seasons though.
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I’m not sure that Messi going to City would actually be that good for City. Now I will say that I think Messi has been the greatest of all time, a truly wonderful player, but he is undoubtedly on the decline now, admittedly a decline from a supremely high level, but if he does go to the Etihad, regardless of any transfer fee or wages, I believe that City will suddenly become all about Messi, losing some of the team ethic that Pep has instilled in to them over the years. The pressure on Messi to perform to the brilliant level we all have seen at Barca will be immense.
And there will be no ‘gimme’ games in the EPL, at least very few compared to Spain, and he will have to work a lot harder in England than he has done in recent years in Spain…in a shit climate…where he doesn’t speak the lingo.
I was about to offer evidence of his demise as the 2nd leg at Anfield 16 months ago, where he got treated as a mere mortal by Robertson and Milner and was very poor…but then I remembered his brilliant free kick in the 1st leg!!
I really hope he does come to these shores, but I do feel it could be a rather sad sight of a faded champion.
Haunt me with this post when he’s got 20 goals by Christmas and City are 15 points clear!!
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Hightown – I’m thinking along your lines. Sorry to hark on about it, but City has (sort of) been here before with the eminently forgettable Rodney Marsh Show and it concerns me that this isn’t the way to get the team going again after the relative struggle of last season.
All in all, a bit strange as I really can’t see Messi as the catalyst for progress – if it happens._____________________________
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Messi isnt going to happen.
Its a way of getting rid of their president!_____________________________
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Somewhat agree HH, it may also upset the balance of the team with KDB. But by Messi simply being available, it is acting as a huge temptation to City, and many fall foul of temptation, though it would undoubtedly help put City more on the global footballing map. So it makes more commercial sense than football sense, and it depends on what City want to prioritise. I can still see it happening because City are in a transition after a period of dominance, and many top clubs act increasingly erratically in their attempts to stay at the top. Itβs just the sort of thing many clubs do in such times. But I think City would be his only destination in Europe, otherwise heβll stay at Barca or return to Argentina.
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Saw this and posted it on the new signings thread but this story supports what Adlab said in his post above.
“TV3 and Marca have both reported that Bartomeu will resign if Messi publicly agrees to stay at Barcelona.β
There are clearly commercial benefits to signing Messi but anyone ruling out the football benefits does so at their peril.
Messi would ultimately drive City to both the PL title again and the CL imo.
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Quite possibly Adlab, but if so neither side will come out of this with much dignity and Barca might as well formally rename themselves as βMessi FCβ.
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Iam not big on conspiracy theories in football, situations change like our weather pattern but how about this….Messi gets his wish…a few sackings, buys into Barcaand waits for Pep to take over after this season…Daft , I know but we are all guessing. If I was in Pep’s shoes I still not want the Barca job for a few years because I think they will be in some turmoil for a couple of seasons I also believe until the pandemic is over a large amount of uncertainty exist at about every club, in a way, it could be a good leveller which would be good for the game. Still far too much emphiasis placed on the CL…..so many other games to enjoy…do fans exist just to watch CL? I like all level of football, I will be watching our local village team this year, make a change from my comfy seat at City being replaced by Wellies and two overcoats!!!
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What is interesting about Peps new statement that he wants to stay beyond his contract, is, he has put pressure on himself to perform this season, although he says , no pressure is put on him to win this or that but continue improving the club. The club of course may decide to change at the end of the season but I doubt it, unless there is a complete collapse in results this season. On the brighter side this should encourage players and fans to focus on how he develops the next generation of City players. I am pleased he wants to stay and extend his contract. I doubt there is another club that would give the freedom or support he gets Carry on Pep!!!!
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Reasonably happy with the win at Wolves, some obvious changes to be made but for the first game, away, and to a good team the result was good. We need Bernado out there though because we had not enough ball playing craft. Sterling,Jesus and Foden to some extent very much the same mould, cannot expect KDB to do everything but he usually does.Pep says he will be playing mostly Academy players against Bournemouth on Thursday , why not?
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I am looking forward to Pep’s team selection to morrow. One thing for sure, he will put a team out to win, no half measures with Pep but we will have to see what happens. He needs to rest Fernandinho and KDB for sure, I would also change the keeper as well. Garcia and Stones as CBs
Mahrez, Delap and Sterling upfront ._____________________________
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Brian, interesting one in terms of team selection for Thursday. Actually not sure who is fit, injured or in isolation. I think we’ll field a fairly strong one with maybe 3/4 of the younger players – Doyle, Garcia, Harwood-Bellis, Delap, etc. I also think that Bournemouth will field a weakened team as their priority has to be to get back in the PL, so no distractions for them.
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Pleased for the youngsters to-night but I wish we had not had to call on KDB towards the end. Bournemouth very plucky and hope they get promoted again. The CB’s did well, the Keeper on what little had to do was confident. Pleased for young Delap, 17yr old and scores on debut, great goal as well
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It will be interesting to see who will play as striker to day, I think we have a lot of players missing to day, Jesus, Bernado, Laporte?, Augerro,Zinchenko, Gungdoghan? so it will be a tough game but perhaps another chance for the youngsters to have another go, they did not let us down on Thursday but hope Mendy is on bench
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No excuses from me, out thought tactically and not enough grille to challenge Leicester. I found it amazing to take off Fernandinho instead of Mendy who again was our weakest ling…but Rodgers knew that.. Well done Leicester, you will have tougher games than this.City made it easy for you to day
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Laporte need at least 45 min inches game time at burnley ,to morrow, before he is ready for Leeds, Hopefully, we may see new signings, he has been playing regular so should be fit. I would still have a young defender in, as well. We have nobody to knit things together like Silva, Bernado still out and Gungdoghan still in isolation I think. Delap should start, give him some encouragement although he will be up against some tough opponents
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