First of all, what is a generalist? A generalist is a player with the ability to singularly impact a game in different ways, conditions and positions. Haaland for instance thrives with space in behind or, if there is none, in the crowded box, both in open play & setpieces.

Jude Bellingham can impact as a ball progressing machine, shooter/finisher, dueller etc as demanded by the conditions and role he has in a specific game. Generalists are adaptable to impact in different —Game roles —Game models —Game speeds —Game states —Game situations

A specialist on the other hand is adaptable only to specific circumstances and with specific skill to impact. They can even be the best in the world with a specific skill and game circumstance. —Phil Foden as a ball-carrying, hard-shooting second striker.

Generalists are more preferable to sign over specialists because they need less conditions and are adaptable to circumstances of injury, game state, role change, and responsibility shift. Of course, they are more expensive and more difficult to find in the market.

I am not saying never to sign a specialist player. Especially if a generalist alternative is not possible. I am only saying this is how standards of recruitment erode from A to B. From only Kovacic to only Doku to only Ait-Nouri to only Cherki...

City have gone from a team of generalists to a team of specialists. Mahrez to Grealish Jesus to Doku KDB to Cherki Gundogan to Kovacic

None of them are “bad footballers” and they can make an impact and they can still win with them but you must not get addicted to their “cheap effectiveness”. Specialists are often cheap and super effective in a systematic team with generalists. They are addictive transfers.

Once you get addicted, it is difficult to shift the mindset. They are like opoids. 22/23, the treble-winning season, was, ironically, the beginning of the end of the blue empire. How many specialists can you see here?

This is fine if you still have a lot of generalists but once City won the treble, they immediately lost —Cole Palmer —Ilkay Gundogan —Riyad Mahrez To give you an idea, these 3 players in their prime are worth a minimum of £280-300M They lost 3 generalists.

In the previous window, they lost Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus, 2 generalists. In the timespan of 2022/23 to 23/24, City lost 5 generalists and gained 3 in Gvardiol, Alvarez and Haaland. They lost Alvarez and KDB after. And lost Rodri to an ACL as well.

Jesus Sterling Gundogan Mahrez KDB Alvarez Palmer Rodri When you think of City dominance, these are the players you think of. Haaland Kovacic Cherki Gvardiol Savio Doku Marmoush Nico G These are the players that took up the lost minutes of City's generalists.

Here, let me show you a list of City's struggle to acquire generalists —Maguire > Dias (higher impact in setpiece/aerial/ballplaying situations) —Kane > Haaland (higher impact in setpieces) —Rice/Jude > Kovacic/Nunes —Wirtz > Cherki (higher impact in different game states)

Once you get used to cheap, addictive specialists, it is difficult to get rid of the acquired taste. Arsenal in this window went from Sesko > Gyokeres (higher impact in aerials/setpieces/the box) When they had Isak and Ekitike and Watkins on their shortlist.

The significant impact of switching like this is not short-term; it is the beginning of an acquired taste of compromise. While it may not have been possible to sign any of the other targets at CF, Arsenal must be careful to not go down the route of specialists over generalists.

@nonewthing Nice post bro! Lack of those kind of players tormented last years season .

@nonewthing Nice thread,what's your take on alkiouche,do you think he came become generational? Underrated,has champions league experience and can perform at a top club.

@nonewthing Your analysis>>>>>>>

@nonewthing Would you call Reijnders and Ait Nouri a specialist? How many specialists are in Man City's squad at the moment

@nonewthing As much as i loathe for the way you tweet my club Chelsea, i actually love some of your analysis and takes. This one is top tier.

@nonewthing On point bro..@Arsenal @m8arteta

@nonewthing I think I get your point. I'd love to see Arsenal's transfer plans with Andrea Berta this winter.👍

@nonewthing nonewthing football “analysis”

@nonewthing This is insightful

@nonewthing I'm not moved. Sorry

@nonewthing 💯 facto

@nonewthing Great stuff

@nonewthing Top thread bro!