It's Quiet - a new dawn

[City Raider]

Talk of £70m for Serg on here, can't see it. The huge fees are all about sell on value and by the time he finishes a 3 or 4 year contract, he won't have any.

 

[Cityfan]

I agree, but I did say he's only played about 7 games and assessing him off of that. I'm not looking at his stats, but his general movement/positioning in those games and his overall attitude and contribution to the team. This is a Pep team so scoring opportunity, creating chances when it's finished product won't be an issue.

Since Pep has left Barcelona, he's been looking for as I call it is his "project Messi". He wanted Neymar at BM, but they gave him Gotze. At City he has GJ and seems to be interested in Mbappe to be as I believe his project Messi the reason is not only how they've seem to be clinical, but there overall game.

Sure and I'm as exited about GJ as anyone and though I completely agree his play looks good I still think it's premature to be relying on him as our main striker. Hojberg was a pretty exciting footballing talent at Bayern and one Pep took under his wing but although looking a pretty decent player does not yet look quite like the kind of player you need to dominate at the top level.

 

[BAB.DAB]

Mbappe look like a more direct Aguero replacement, agreed.

We won't be paying £100m+ and what will likely be half of our budget on him though.

Depends on what we get for Aguero and how much pep wants the lad

 

[simon23]

If he's doing it in the CL, then I have no doubt he can in the PL. Granted, us and Dortmund aren't the strongest defensively but Juve are one of the best. Let's see how he does against them

its not just about strong defences...its the manner in which teams defend....ie everyone behind the ball.....which is what we often face.

 

[simon23]

Our problem is the combination of Silva, KDB and Sterling. Quite simply they don't score enough. I'll forgive Silva as assists + key passes is immense. But KDB and Sterling together is a problem - they need to convert more, much more.

fully agree...you could add sane, ferna to that list as well

 

[TotalFootballOne]

Sure and I'm as exited about GJ as anyone and though I completely agree his play looks good I still think it's premature to be relying on him as our main striker. Hojberg was a pretty exciting footballing talent at Bayern and one Pep took under his wing but although looking a pretty decent player does not yet look quite like the kind of player you need to dominate at the top level.

I know, this is why I said that City will probably be looking at Mbappe or Auba as possible replacement if Aguero leaves.

 

[BlueAnorak]

fully agree...you could add sane, ferna to that list as well

Sane scores enough and will get better.
Fern is generally playing a deeper role and nobody in central midfield is allowed to run at the opposition defence and shoot (or so it appears).

 

[The Stockport Iniesta]

fully agree...you could add sane, ferna to that list as well

Sane is a very good finisher.

 

[leewill31]

'kinell Sanchez has done well to get 3 assists in the league this afternoon...

i did edit to say 9 but hey ho :)

 

[IWasHere]

Fuck that, he's created like the second most chances in Europe bar Messi. I hope he plays more freely next season, a new holding mid with legs and someone like Gundo who is more defensive than Silva next to him.

+1 this is KDB we're talking about ffs!

 

[Dax777]

It's good to have a strong group of homegrown players who know each other. But besides that, Walker and Rose are very good fullbacks. I'm not really sure whether any of the mentioned full backs like Mendy, Gaya, Bernat, Semedo, Sidibe etc. have anything over those two but they'll cost about the same. We're not getting a player like Carvajal from Real Madrid or Alaba or even Sandro from Juventus (are we?). Even Bayern Munich are said to be interested in Walker, he's a solid right back with good pace and defensive skills.

As for Pickford, I have my doubts over Ederson who will cost twice as much money and I don't know whether he'll be good or will end up like Bravo who was also very good at Barcelona but so far flopped in the Premier League and cost us a lot of points, but that's just me. I don't watch Benfica regularly.

Alaba Sandro and Carvahal didn't start off being that. Theo, Semedo, Perreira are the Marcelo, Alaba and Carvahal of tmrw. Rose and Walker aren't.

 

[BlueDeadHead]

He is young and I'm sure he is capable of adding this to his game, personally love the look of Ederson.

The main thing I understand though is that Bravo is a disaster and should most certainly not be our first choice keeper next season.

I wouldn't even have him in my 5 asides team, he really is that bad a shot stopper and barely resembles a keeper

He has very poor ball skills right now. I guess its possible that he could add that to his game but I am curious as to why you are sure he can when up to this point he hasn't Surely adding that to his game at this point would be exceptional not the rule.

 

[BlueDeadHead]

no idea but some people on here who clearly know more than me regarding inside info on comings and goings, think he is going...but say it will be his decision (this comment to me is a little bit disingenuous as if a player is made to feel like he isn't wanted he will leave even if he doesn't want to)

Its not disingenuous at all. Aguero has a choice, leave or become second choice to Jesus. Not being first choice and an automatic starter is not the same as saying you aren't wanted.

 

[BlueDeadHead]

I think you have indicated that GJ has been effective, but it is only on very few appearances. Loads of players have looked good before the other teams have got a lot of material to study and work out how to negate them. Look at Hernandez and Martial at the swamp
I am not saying that GJ will not turn out to be an outstanding forward, just that it would be premature to chuck Kun and rely on him from such a small number of matches to assess him in the premier league.

He is Brazil's starting number 9.

 

[Sunset]

He is Brazil's starting number 9.

Brazil has been lacking strikers for a while outside of Neymar. Their starter was Fred for goodness sake.

 

[BlueDeadHead]

Talk of £70m for Serg on here, can't see it. The huge fees are all about sell on value and by the time he finishes a 3 or 4 year contract, he won't have any.

An Italian team payed 75 for Higuain.

 

[Sunset]

Its not disingenuous at all. Aguero has a choice, leave or become second choice to Jesus. Not being first choice and an automatic starter is not the same as saying you aren't wanted.

Well one option is reasonable the other is not. He would be doing an injustice to himself if he stayed.

 

[BlueDeadHead]

Brazil has been lacking strikers for a while outside of Neymar. They're starter was Fred for goodness sake.

Fair...

 

[BlueDeadHead]

Well one option is reasonable the other is not. He would be doing an injustice to himself if he stayed.

Pep disagrees obviously.

 

[Sunset]

Pep disagrees obviously.

No he doesn't. He probably agrees Sergio is too good to be on the bench, that's why he is leaving the choice up to him. Sergio just doesn't fit Peps bill because he's not as much a playmaker as he wants and he can't be considereed his prodigy so he will put him in a situation where it would be unreasonable for him to stay. I understand it, it just sucks.

Mainly because we could see our most potent attack of all time if we weren't bowing down to a philosophy and instead aimed for getting the most out of or current players but to each his own.