Are we light in Central Mid now?

[bluethai]

I think our defensive midfield is incredibly soft and will be our main weakness.

Yaya too lazy and not mobile enough.

Fernandinho not got the legs he had and isn't a holding midfielder.

I thought the main reason our centre backs were all over the place last year is their lack of protection and if we decide not to address that I fear more of the same.

This

 

[lostgalaxy]

Maybe Pep has a different concept of central mid. With the team moving as a whole, you know. Thats why he chose Gundogan who he said passes the ball very quick.

Oh and he doesnt coach tackles either.

I must say Pep s an eccentric coach but he sure knows what he wants.

 

[mosssideblue]

Assuming Nasri, Delph and Fernando leave as expected, are we going to be short of a midfielder for the coming season?

As it stands the options we have are:

D.Silva - advanced play maker
KDB - can play central mid
Yaya - pivot but another year older
B.Silva - advanced play maker
Danilo - FB who can play def mid but as we only have 3 FB he will most likley be rotated in def
Fernandinho - central mid
Gundogan - central mid but questions over injuries

With four competitions i can see a need for a more specialised central mid, which is why i think we'll be in for Chamberlain who can play several positions.

What are peoples thoughts? In hindsight should we have kept hold of garcia?

Let's wait till we see what we have come the end of the TF window I say

 

[citizenyank76]

It looks like DM is the furthest thing from the Clubs mind at this point. Maybe they hope to pick up somebody on the cheap? Didn't quite work out with Alves though.

 

[Silva_Spell]

Silva, Bernardo, Foden, De Bruyne, Gundogan, Toure, Fernandinho, (Danilo)

Should be enough if we bring in a CB capable of filling in at LB (incase Danilo needed in midfield)

 

[cibaman]

Gundogan is not a DM. He does not show that marking ability, defensive positional intelligence, and the tackling ability (ever so slightly less important than those other two requirements).

I think he could be converted into one, but not when he's just returning from a major injury and hasn't been fit enough to play the position in pre season.

 

[without a dream]

I think the DM/Pivot/whatever you want to call it will be where the money goes next summer, I think with Yaya, Fernandinho and Gundogan we have enough there for this season but Yaya and Fern will probably move on in the summer freeing up a chunk of wages to go after someone like Weigl or Kimmich.

 

[jonmcity]

Phil Foden a must to be played this season, hope Pep gives him plenty of game time so we can see what he can really do in the PL

Still very young and not physically up to a premiership season yet. He now needs to play in a few games, Cup games and grow as a young man.

 

[domalino]

And Yaya does? The way I see it. DM for us is less about being Kante and more about pulling the strings. Even Silva will succeed at the position for us.

Exactly, we have the ball for 70% of the game, most of the other 30% it's in the opponents half, but for some reason people on here still think being a massive lump who puts in tackles is more important that what you do with the ball.

 

[jonmcity]

Exactly, we have the ball for 70% of the game, most of the other 30% it's in the opponents half, but for some reason people on here still think being a massive lump who puts in tackles is more important that what you do with the ball.

OK as long as we can stop the fast breaks against us in the 30%.