2023 Summer transfer window - hopes, needs, expectations and rumours.

[Dave]

Without the buy out clause I suspect he wouldn’t have signed his last contract at all.

And also the fact that the buy-out was set at £100m gives a pretty big clue as to the specific transfer value the club put on him and would have been prepared to accept.

[aj2k77]

I can't stand listening to gormless prick Grealish talk during interviews. He's what I imagine an AI would create if you asked it to make up a generic banter bot. Total twat.

[ChicagoLion]

But more to the point that was being made, I think this summer at least the owners would probably say to Martinez, sorry but you're not going anywhere this season.

I think it has been proved that if a player really wants to go, then he goes.
What you don’t want is shenanigans going on at the end of the window when you don’t have time to plan replacements and it can be unsettling for the squad.

[ASHTONVILLA]

He just wanted trophies to share on his Instagram page. ******

If those trophies are ever taken away, I'll be so happy I might actually die.

If there is any sort of god please let Man City lose the Champions League final, I think I'd combust from laughing so hard. Their sense of entitlement is off the charts at the moment and they're just expecting to turn up and take home the Champions League trophy Guardiola is so desperate for. I want to see sad faces on the lot of them, especially Guardiola and Grealish.

Yeah it's time to get round the pentagram, slay the ritual sheep and summon the unquiet spirits of Helenio Herrera, Tarcisio Burgnich et al to help Inter nudge, barge, snip, dive, whinge, stab, and generally shithouse their way to a horrible 1-0. I'd cry with joy.

Especially if Grealish gave away a penalty and then got sent off as well.

[Monty]

Actually Herrera is buried in the cemetery here in Venice. I'll go lay a black rose.

[pauliewalnuts]

I don't give a toss this way or that about the Grealish element, but on account of Man City ruining football, I can not think of anything worse in that context than them winning the Champions League.

The way the football establishment just plays along with what is clear cheating over a period of years is vomit inducing.

115 charges that have taken years and years to levy, and which everyone knows will lead to absolutely nothing happening to them.

[dave shelley]

I don't give a toss this way or that about the Grealish element, but on account of Man City ruining football, I can not think of anything worse in that context than them winning the Champions League.

The way the football establishment just plays along with what is clear cheating over a period of years is vomit inducing.

115 charges that have taken years and years to levy, and which everyone knows will lead to absolutely nothing happening to them.

I think it will peter out into a token 4/5 million quid fine which is just Guy Fawkes money to them and it will be business as usual lads.

[Monty]

I don't give a toss this way or that about the Grealish element, but on account of Man City ruining football, I can not think of anything worse in that context than them winning the Champions League.

The way the football establishment just plays along with what is clear cheating over a period of years is vomit inducing.

115 charges that have taken years and years to levy, and which everyone knows will lead to absolutely nothing happening to them.

I think it will peter out into a token 4/5 million quid fine which is just Guy Fawkes money to them and it will be business as usual lads.

I believe that this is impossible - if they are found guilty then the minimum punishments are rather severe. Far more likely they'll be able to fudge it all off, at which point the sport is, as a competition, effectively dead.

[aev]

I don't give a toss this way or that about the Grealish element, but on account of Man City ruining football, I can not think of anything worse in that context than them winning the Champions League.

The way the football establishment just plays along with what is clear cheating over a period of years is vomit inducing.

115 charges that have taken years and years to levy, and which everyone knows will lead to absolutely nothing happening to them.

The Newcastle thing too.

Shearer wrote some conflicted piece on the BBC when it went through, but it is as if "now that is out of the way" he simply moves on.

I am sure it isn't as simple as this, and I am not sure how we should be reminded, but basically excessive money has disrupted the playing field in a ridiculous way, and has taken some of the enjoyment and interest away from football, despite what the media try and tell me.

[frank black]

But more to the point that was being made, I think this summer at least the owners would probably say to Martinez, sorry but you're not going anywhere this season.

Definitely feels like one of those new contract moments (with the obligatory clause) I can’t see him moving this summer.

I am more concerned about Doug. Just praying we didn’t roll over and add a relatively low buy out. Perhaps that’s why we are being linked with Tielemans (praying I’m wrong)?

[rob_bridge]

But more to the point that was being made, I think this summer at least the owners would probably say to Martinez, sorry but you're not going anywhere this season.

Definitely feels like one of those new contract moments (with the obligatory clause) I can’t see him moving this summer.

I am more concerned about Doug. Just praying we didn’t roll over and add a relatively low buy out. Perhaps that’s why we are being linked with Tielemans (praying I’m wrong)?

We have to do what Leicester did 17-21 (but not run out of rope by paying stupid wages or shorter contacts) - silly money clauses and try and replace with better.

It is bloody hard work mind and the Grelaish money wasn't well spent.

[Nii Lamptey]

I don't give a toss this way or that about the Grealish element, but on account of Man City ruining football, I can not think of anything worse in that context than them winning the Champions League.

The way the football establishment just plays along with what is clear cheating over a period of years is vomit inducing.

115 charges that have taken years and years to levy, and which everyone knows will lead to absolutely nothing happening to them.

The Newcastle thing too.

Shearer wrote some conflicted piece on the BBC when it went through, but it is as if "now that is out of the way" he simply moves on.

I am sure it isn't as simple as this, and I am not sure how we should be reminded, but basically excessive money has disrupted the playing field in a ridiculous way, and has taken some of the enjoyment and interest away from football, despite what the media try and tell me.

I'm just totally disinterested in anything Man City are involved it.... what's the point as it's no longer a competition? The second it looked like they were going to pip Arsenal to the title, I stopped following the run-in. Same with FA Cup final - ZERO interest at all - And with Man Utd as the opponents, it was a bit like asking which bollock you want to be kicked in!

As for the Champions League final, I'll watch it rooting for Inter, but the second it looks like it's going City's way, it will be turned off. Can't think of anything worse than that fake plastic team getting their cheating grubby mitts on that trophy.

Hope they get destroyed by the charges against them, but they probably won't. Money talks.

[chrisw1]

I don't give a toss this way or that about the Grealish element, but on account of Man City ruining football, I can not think of anything worse in that context than them winning the Champions League.

The way the football establishment just plays along with what is clear cheating over a period of years is vomit inducing.

115 charges that have taken years and years to levy, and which everyone knows will lead to absolutely nothing happening to them.

I think it will peter out into a token 4/5 million quid fine which is just Guy Fawkes money to them and it will be business as usual lads.

Even if they relegate them it will be a small bump in the road.  They'd be back in the top 4 in 2 seasons.

Pre Chelsea and Man City there was always rich clubs and the playing field was never really level, but even so there was still a decent mix of trophy winners and any club with a good manager and ambitious owner could have a good crack at it.  Now things are so skewed it's destroyed football as we know it.  And we've sleep walked into allowing another fox in the hen coop with Newcastle.

And don't forget, these Jonny come lately bastards were all for drawing up the drawbridge and locking the rest of us out of it forever.

Man City are everything I hate about football.  And by allowing this financial doping for 10 seasons the PL has been entirely complicit.

I guess there will be fans who would call this hypocritical, with our owners we've had just as much advantage over other clubs as City have had over us.  I do accept that.  But notwithstanding what Blues detectives will tell you, we've played the financial system with a pretty straight bat, not systematically destroying the game and competition as we know it.

People laugh at the Scottish PL - no club other than Celtic or Rangers has won the league in 38 years.  We've now pretty much allowed the same monopoly to happen in the PL.  And once Newcastle are up and running the chances are we'll have the same two horse race until another arab state is allowed in.

[OCD]

Grealish wanted to join Spurs and then Man United (twice I think).

In the summer before he went, Man Utd wanted him and we got him to sign a big fat contract to keep him, to much fanfare. Little did we know that his agent had negotiated a £100m release clause.

There had clearly been some long-term thinking from his agent. Double/treble his wages, cement his image/branding, agree that clause and then exercise it the following year.

Our owners did well to make sure the clause was record setting but once the clause was agreed, it was a matter of time. But Grealish and his representatives showed long before he moved that he had no intention of staying long-term.

And I agree about the money being spent poorly. Selling a player for £100m, especially a home-grown one, is understandable. Using that money poorly isn't.

[Joe S]

Apparently Tammy has done his ACL in the last match of the season poor lad
So he’s not going anywhere soon

Looks painful, hopefully he recovers well. I think we can definately take him out of the discussion now.
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