The only place to be

Again, it's a really poor point. Teams that sit deep/park the bus don't leave many gaps in transition because they don't commit many men forward. In fact we hit the post on one of the rare occasions Norwich did leave spaces and Matic was able to win the ball back and immediately play Schurrle in. That was a fantastic example of how we can exploit this gaps on the rare occasions they appear but the issue has been consistency especially from the number 9. And don't worry - most of the replies I post seem obvious to me but apparently aren't... to about 6 or 7 members.

Called out? Gave people the chance to put their money with their mouths were I think is more apt. I think some of your criticisms are bizarre. Slow transitioning from defence to attack?? That's the one thing we've looked remarkably adept at for much of this season and have devastated some top teams like that. Away to City we did that. Home to Liverpool we did that. Home to Arsenal we did that. Away to Galatasaray we did that. It's been the second phase attacks where we've suffered after the counter breaks down. In those instances there's been a distinct lack of movement from the strikers. We don't have a decent focal point for our attacks so what is there to build around? As for Atletico, they have a defined target man in Diego Costa so there's someone for their attack (including the full-backs) to build around. They also have Raul Garcia who is strong in the air. Despite that they couldn't break us down at their place and it wasn't until Eden Hazard decided to not bother defending that they scored against us and basically destroyed our gameplan. You can maintain that getting a left-back and midfielder is as vital as getting a striker, but that's hyperbolic....and also hyperbollocks. A striker changes our whole team. A new left-back probably doesn't even start the first match of next season.

Gerrard's first language isn't English.

Because defence isn't part of football? When you graduate from the Kevin Keegan School of Football Tactics, do you get a certificate? Liverpool were the highest scorers in the league this season. They have scored 99 goals, 30 more than us. That's remarkable. Their goal difference is 7 better than us. 7, with arguably the world's in-form striker against our non-in-form, non-strikers. This season was always about developing a platform for next season. Jose said as much at points this season, and the transfers were explicitly about next season as well. If that was the target then how has this season not been successful? I suppose the fair thing to do is wait to judge it at the end of next season when we know who has won the league, isn't it?

Gross maybe, not net. We have a fair amount of dead wood to get rid of, and that includes players on high wages. Even formerly top earners are looking at reduced terms so financially I actually think we're looking good going into next season. We could sign a left-back, but is there one out there who is clearly better than Azpilicueta? Shaw isn't yet. We won a league title with Gallas playing at left-back, but there seems to be a mental block amongst some people when it comes to seeing a right-footed player at left-back. There's a great rush to see Azpi returned to right-back, despite there being A LOT of criticism about his crossing when he played there. We can win the league with Ivanovic and Azpi as full-backs. It's not the most immediate area to upgrade, especially if the number one choice is an 18 year old who would cost a lot. We could sign 2 midfielders, but we're possibly going to sell 2 (Mikel and Luiz) for a combined real terms cost of possibly £25 million. Striker is the one position where we absolutely need to invest and I think that will have the most transformative impact on the team. There seem to be 6 or 7 members who accept that we need a new striker but stop there, refusing to acknowledge the impact that a striker has on the rest of the team, the way they generate space for others and make chances for themselves. So I think you're being massively pessimistic when it comes to how far away we are from being a top side.

Shaw would be first-choice left-back in most people's views so I can understand that. What exactly is David Luiz's role at this club? He's not considered a central defender by Jose Mourinho so he's a midfielder? Oh right, he plays when Matic is cup-tied....which he won't be next season. £25 million for a substitute. But yeah, call people Mourinho lovers because they can see the sense in selling an under-utilised asset for a good price in order to buy more appropriate players.

There is always a possibility that we just go with Van Aanholt's attacking prowess and ignore the fact that he's shakey in defence. If you've got Ramires and Matic in midfield then maybe you can let them cover the full-backs as they get forward and stretch the pitch. Bertrand...never really seen him excel either going forward or defending.

No reason for you to call members dumb simply because they believe that City should be punished for not playing by the same rules that we have over the last few years.

You realise that FFP is not only supported by us, it actually benefits us as well. Firstly, infrastructure costs (stadiums, training areas etc.) still don't count towards FFP. City can't be allowed to do the same because the rules have changed. It's not fair, which is kinda why we supported them in the first place. The fact is that we, along with other clubs, have since changed our practices in order to meet these new criteria so why shouldn't City as well? It might not be fair, but that's life. Have you even bothered to look at our finances over the last few years? Of course we've reduced spending in accordance with the first monitoring periods of FFP.

Technically they haven't been tested in a court of law ergo the validity is uncertain in that sense. It may well be pathetic to you, but these are the rules that UEFA set out in order to protect clubs. Personally I think that's bollocks but it's their rules. Ultimately it benefits us, but the simple fact is that we've curtailed our spending in order to meet these criteria so other teams shouldn't therefore be able to get away with not following them.

Actually they're in contravention of a set of rules that other clubs have established and agreed to follow. But no, it's not a crime.

Gross or net? Personally I think we're a decent striker away from winning the league especially with the young players we have coming through. I think you're being massively pessimistic which is in vogue amongst 6 or 7 posters on here.

The thing is it's not just the authorities they have to worry about. Arsenal and us are also very serious about FFP. The simple fact is that clubs like us have potentially limited our shot at success by adhering to these rules so I have no doubt that we would probably look to take some sort of action as well if City aren't punished appropriately.

I think it's harsh to say he went back on his word. Jose has already said that he felt we needed to change the way we played and I think he had higher expectations of Luiz as a central defender. He had to drop him twice so in his mind I think he stopped being a CB option and had to be utilised elsewhere. Throw in the injury to Van Ginkel and the decline of both Mikel and Essien and it was a pragmatic move to make. But I agree that it's probably a good thing not to have him in midfield next season despite the fact I think it's his best position in the Premier League. I think people have vastly different definitions of charisma too. Selfies, thumbs ups and sticking your tongue out whilst being a bit of a clown is one type of charisma. Bobby Moore, Roy Keane, JT etc. had a different type of charisma, but one that would inspire others. I'm not saying that Luiz isn't capable of that (indeed he's shown aspects of being a leader in the past) but I think his more exuberant personality is what some people find appealing.

I think this transfer saga has a few twists and turns in it. The fact that he's agreed terms is almost meaningless - he'll have a rate and Barca have probably just said that it's ok in principle. There will be other teams aware of this though. What happened to Bayern in the CL is great for us because it might mean they re-examine their personnel and look to spend big. PSG could also be in the running although those reports of the FFP sanctions could go either way. If they have to sell to buy then Cavani becomes a possible option because for all his talent and profile, he ain't Zlatan. The other wrinkle is the World Cup. If he plays to his potential then his value could really increase, but Barca will be aware of this. It might be prudent to pay over the odds for a player now in case he increases even more when his face is plastered across the world lifting the World Cup. It's a fascinating story.

If the league finishes as it is then it's probably a fair representation of where we are as a team. City are a team at the peak of their development with an established spine before the season started (Hart, Kompany, Zab, Toure, Silva, Aguero) and Aguero has only started 19 league games for them, missing almost half of them. We're a team in the process of being built. Coming into the season we probably one had two players who would remain as part of the spine all season long - Cech and Hazard. JT was by no means the player he is now and Cahill didn't lock down that spot until December. Even Ivanovic was used as a CB as much as a right-back last season. In that sense this season has a fair amount in common with Ranieri's last season in charge....hopefully the comparisons continue.

I don't particularly like Rami as a starter but I think it is possible to win the league with him in the team if we make signings elsewhere and players like Oscar and Willian become more consistent. I'd really love for us to give the young players a chance though. We've got Van Ginkel, Chalobah, RLC and Baker (more of a 10 but still...) to try alongside Matic....just one of them has to make it.

4 Premier League goals. Eto'o has started ONE more game and scored 9 goals. Schurrle has started the same number of games as Torres and scored 7. Torres is a busted flush and the day he leaves will be one of the best days in this club's history. The single worst transfer in the history of football, not just for what he's failed to produce on the pitch but because of the financial cost off it. He was literally too expensive to sell because of the way FFP works. Never seen such a weak-willed, softcock, shell of a man play football in my life.

Just imagine if we had a decent striker in our team and not the useless cunt in your avatar - once that parasite is removed from the club we'll be much better.

We've got Ivanovic as third-choice CB with Kalas and Zouma needing game time. Then there's Ake and Christensen, as well as Chalobah and Omeruo on-loan. The reality is that Luiz simply isn't trusted by Jose as a defender and I personally don't think he's a £20 million+ midfielder.I'd rather we invested in someone like Vidal or stuck with Ramires and Van Ginkel whilst developing Chalobah, Baker and Loftus-Cheek.

Selling our third/fourth choice CB and our third choice midfielder (behind Matic/Ramires and hopefully a new signing next year) for about £25 million is good business. As for him giving his all, watch the Cardiff game or the Newcastle away game. He was dropped twice and not chosen to play in CB when Terry and Cahill were fit for the rest of the season for a reason. How anyone is surprised by this I'm not sure.

One more thing he's dropped tonight. Although in fairness he was very secure in the second-half and his kicking was absolutely top class.

There are some real gems in that team as well. Loftus-Cheek and Christensen are probably the best known ones but Dasilva might be the best left-back to have come through in some time with a bit more time there. Aina is a bundle of energy, Musonda is prodigiously talented, Solanke is a natural scorer, Colkett can pick a pass probably better than anyone and then you've got the likes of Kiwomya and Boga who weren't involved. Now we need the under-21s to do the business against United in the final.

Never been overly impressed with Izzy but he did well tonight. Looked a lot more decisive than he has done previously and that was a nice ball into Colkett. Actually rate Colkett too. It's like having a second crack at developing McEachran. Would certainly like us to have a crack at Fulham's number 10. Reminiscent of Lallana.

This is OUR fucking cup. Get the fuck in. Best thing is that it should be paraded at the first home game of next season too. Brilliant work lads, Solanke the difference.