SHA Small Heath Alliance

Not saying we should go for him, but what a massive loss for Man City, that has to be one of the worst transfer deals recently.

Paid a reported 42 million + Add Ons on a 6 year contract, 4 seasons ago and paying him 150k a week for 16 appearances in that time

He is meant to be talking to Sheff Utd about a transfer and willing to take a significant pay cut to be close to his family

Strikes me as a player who maybe doesn't actually like football. He's played for England, had big moves and made a lot of money - seems to be done with the game.

He was poor when he played for England. I think it shows how good a manager Bielsa is and how he gets his players to fitness levels that other managers cannot.

NotFitToLaceDeanPeersBoots

Not saying we should go for him, but what a massive loss for Man City, that has to be one of the worst transfer deals recently.

Paid a reported 42 million + Add Ons on a 6 year contract, 4 seasons ago and paying him 150k a week for 16 appearances in that time

He is meant to be talking to Sheff Utd about a transfer and willing to take a significant pay cut to be close to his family

It is mental - he looked bang average last season at champ level and was shocking at West Ham and Ipswich in the prem.

One of the worst prem transfers of the last 10 years for sure.

Bluesince62 F.E.A.

Strikes me as a player who maybe doesn't actually like football. He's played for England, had big moves and made a lot of money - seems to be done with the game.

Seemed like he fell out of love with the game at Man City.
Odd in some ways, as he flourished under Biesla and Pep is a Biesla disciple. Possibly burnt out by the demands of playing under both.
Maybe he will refind his passion for the game under a different style of manager but it feels quite risky given his loan spells haven't seemed great.

To be fair, Biesla made Tyler Robert’s look like an okay premier league player.

Bernard Sun

He was poor when he played for England

England men's player of the year in 2021 when we got to the Euro's final

It's been an almighty fall from grace since then though, wouldn't be interested in having him at Blues

Fred Savage

To be fair, Biesla made Tyler Robert’s look like an okay premier league player.

True, he did.
And part of both players' issue now might be the intensity he demanded from them has burnt them out. Probably an important lesson is not to buy players from Biesla!

He seems a good bloke, just probably made far too much of a step up when he left Leeds

[m.allfootballapp.com]

Hope he can find a home somewhere as he was a very decent player for Leeds and England

He's 30 now and it is a few seasons since he last looked good.
If he wants to continue playing he needs to find the right team that play with a style he can thrive in even if that involves stepping down a bit.
He could work his way back if he isn't carrying permanent injuries, especially as he won't have taken as many knocks over the last few years.

It's not as if he neds the wages so he can go almost anywhere. I could see him doing well in less physical leagues. Maybe somewhere in Italy. There is definitely a player in there, if he really wants to make another go of it.

I expect he will sign for West Ham. He fits the Sullivan model in being available very cheaply.

I remember him playing for Leeds against us in the Championship and he was the best player I had seen in the division that year. Absolutely head and shoulders above everyone on the pitch.

Some players do seem to fall off a cliff . Raheem Sterling for example. A closer to home version would be McSheffrey those years ago

Dele Alli

Reckon we could make an 11 of English players who fell off in their peak age?

Joe Hart got to start in goal surely?

Michael Johnson (the Man City player)
Jack Wilshere

Would be high on my list.