I am enjoying the "vibes" between Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland. The potential of these two has me drooling.
I hope both know how much City are now going to rely on them both turning in eight out of ten performances every week. We’re looking at one Premier League rookie and one record transfer needing to justify his move.
It is a big season for Grealish, who didn’t contribute significantly last season. When you are a £100m record signing you have got to be in the top two or three players in terms of contribution to the team. I don’t think he was last season.
Haaland will be fascinating to watch. He will bring 25 goals. But how will all the elements of his game fare? Will he get balls over the top to run on to or will teams defend deep so it will be goals from inside the six yard box.
The gamble with both of them is there. Haaland will be a big target for central defenders to want to do well against.
Since Abu Dhabi came into City, they have not had huge personalities. Great players, great scorers, but not players with a huge swagger, overtly confident. Even Sergio Aguero.
They’ve had great technicians, do a job, keep their heads down and go home quietly. Machine footballers. Kevin De Bruyne would be the apex of that type.
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I think in Grealish and Haaland they have something different. They are veering into the type of Paul Pogba style of signing. Personality and talent.
Grealish is now a Gucci model. People will want to know what Haaland is up to during the week. He isn’t qualified for the World Cup with Norway so will have lots of sponsorship things to do. The next big global superstar.
Man City have won trophies by being “Kevin De Bruyne”. Brilliant, efficient and get the job done.
They’ve not had a Grealish or Haaland. They make City more showbusiness, showier, when they are playing.
I think it will work. But this is a departure from the recent City. Two guys who are very visible on the pitch but also taking City into the realms of superstardom that has usually been in the realms of Manchester United.
It will grow Man City off the pitch. They need the world of football to like them and talk about them as well as win, and in Haaland and Grealish these are the two biggest personalities they have had.
They have trophies, they want the Champions League, and this is Man CIty spreading their wings into becoming a global brand - and to be one like NBA teams and NFL teams you need a superstar or two.
LIONESSES
The Lionesses have the chance to change women’s football forever this week.
Imagine if Sarina Wiegman’s side can go on and win the Euros. Right at the start of the new men’s football season it will be the women in the spotlight and becoming national heroes.
There is huge national pride when our England teams - men or women - reach the final stages of a tournament.
We’ve not seen an England men’s team win anything since 1966, and I really hope the women get their first this week. It will be hugely inspiring for a generation of girls who are growing up knowing football is the sport for them.
The legacy of Lucy Bronze and co going all the way will be felt for years to come. It won’t turn the dial like a men’s World Cup win would in November. And it won’t suddenly mean the WSL will bet 20-30,000 crowds, that’s a generational change.
But young girls now have heroines to aspire to, and boys too.
Lingard
West Ham fans should stop crying that Jesse Lingard snubbed them and went to Nottingham Forest.
Were my eyebrows raised by the move? Yes. Was it partly because of the money? Yes.
But Forest are a massive club, a great club. They have two stars above that tree on the shirt that will make a difference in getting players over the line.
So I don’t understand the noise, spite and bitterness from pundits and people with a West Ham allegiance about Lingard’s decision.
Barcelona
How come it is fair that Barcelona have £1.3bn of debt and still have the cash to spend on Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski for £115m, and more to come.
It’s the only club in the world with no money that can buy players, as coach Julian Nagelsmann said, calling it “crazy and weird.”
Barca have kicked their debt crisis down the road by selling a quarter of their domestic TV rights over the next 25 years for several hundred million. Family silver is being sold, but the leaking finances are not being fixed by another transfer window spree for Xavi.
Other clubs try to develop players, sell at a profit and keep ticking over financially. Barca just spend, kick their issues down the road, and are still in huge debt.
