I think if we rid ourselves of Dzeko & Fernando and are fortunate enough to get KDB & Pogba, with a permanent change of formation to just using one striker and taking injuries, suspensions, rotations and loss of form into consideration, I think there will be ample opportunities for KDB & Nasri in the same set up.
The solutions to last seasons issues are right in front of us as the last few games proved. Someone posted a stat to show that Sergio scored over double the goals playing as a loan striker than with a partner and someone recently posted another stat that showed how much more effective we are using a loan striker which will come as no surprise to many of us. Using one less striker means using one more offensive midfielder and time and time again this has proven to be our strongest formation.
I know it was just a pre-season match but Arsenal tore Everton a new arsehole today playing with Ramsey, Ozil and Cozorla in central mid. I've never understood why we've needed more than one specialist defensive midfielder and I'm now convinced we can do so much better than the likes of Fernando & Garcia before him as our midfield anchors. Just because a player can tackle doesn't mean we have to have limited personnel where this is all they can mainly do.
I believe we shouldn't ever drop below the level of Fernandinho as a defensive/deep lying midfielded and that's why I was so happy that we signed Delph. Not because he's a world-beater, its because he offers so much more than Fernando which will make our midfield a more dynamic one and he also helps fulfil our home grown quota.
Love Samir, put up with loads of shit, played blinders, played dog muck.
a top player that hasn't found himself yet.
Imagine him in another team, wasted at City.
Trophies not withstanding.
still one of the best midfielders in world football on is day.
Love Samir, put up with loads of shit, played blinders, played dog muck.
a top player that hasn't found himself yet.
Imagine him in another team, wasted at City.
Trophies not withstanding.
Yes Nasri is a prima donna. But did someone post here that he is a £40m player?
Samir nasri has had 4 seasons here at city but still has not been able to cement his place.
The fact is that both manuel and mancini have had problems with him and preferred a less talented players in milner .
Last season was were samir had the chance to step up and take more responsibility but he failed and the only game he really did something was
the match vs roma . just one game against a top opposition. he has never performed against top in prem and i think the club have give him enough
time to really show he is a top player but now view as dispensable asset who will sold if a decent offer comes
Lol :-)Bravo Sir! One of the best posts I've ever read on Bluemoon. Totally agree with every word.
Some of us (I'm sure you included) have been calling for one up front for 18 months but unfortunately the sensible posters usually get swamped out by a load of drivel from Pellegrini fan boys from as far wide as Didsbury to Paris.
But finally it seems Pellegrini is starting to see sense and we'll go to one central striker next year. You'll see an improved Kun, an inproved Kompany and a vastly improved Yaya. It's an absolute no brainer. Fingers crossed Pogba comes in to complete the puzzle so we can bomb out the woeful Fernando. Hopefully Hull might take him on loan or something.
Lol :-)
I had high hopes for Fernando after his first four games last season, but he was never the same after his injury. I'm always prepared to give a player a chance to prove themselves as I did with Dzeko, but I watched Fernando yesterday against Melbourne and what I saw the vast majority of last season was clearly evident again and I'm sad to say it but I've lost faith that be can be anything more than he's shown us already. We need more rounded midfielders than specialist destroyer Fernando who imo is only effective in a 3 man midfield with the other 2 playing ahead of him.
As for next season's formation, I think what's really telling is reports of Dzeko and Jovetic (who I rate) being touted as available for transfer with no reports of us going for any high profile specialist striking replacements. This is the clearest indication yet that either the 442 penny has finally dropped or there is a club policy shift to a one striker system to ensure we make the most of the players we have and to ensure we don't repeat the formational mistakes that characterised last season. Here's hoping :-)
Whether the penny's dropped or it's been instructed from above the move to using a loan striker is an obvious must and long overdue. What I don't get is if we are stronger with a single striker against the the Prem's & Europe's best then surely we'd be even stronger against weaker opposition with a single striker?Totally agree about Fernando mate. With Delph as excellent cover for Fernandinho in the holding role, I think Fernando's even more redundant than last season now. Surprised he's not been linked with anyone. If we get Pogba I'd probably expect Fernando to go back on loan to Portugal, I can't see us getting a fee for him this summer.
I think Nasri is more than capable of playing as a number 8 in a 433 as well. Particularly against weaker opposition at home where we expect to dominate possession.
It's great we're moving to one up front, but I'm not sure whether it's down to the penny dropping with the manager, or he's being instructed from above.
It seems clear that Pep is coming next year, and if you were planning a smooth transition the first thing you'd do is change the shape to one central striker. The next thing you'd do is ease out the players who slow play down, and bring in ones who play at a high tempo with lots of energy when out of possession. We've done all of those things this pre season, it's like a masterclass in succession planning, kind of the exact opposite of what The Shite did when Ferguson left!