It's Quiet - a new dawn

[doobyedoobye]

Can Barkley play the pivot role and join as Gundogan's understudy?

 

[christened at st marks]

In the long-term future though, it is likely that Isco will drop back to the bench once Gareth Bale returns to fitness. Thus, he is of the opinion that his career would progress better elsewhere, at a club where he can get regular game time and continue to grow.

And there’s no shortage of interest in him, with the likes of Barcelona, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Paris Saint-Germain all linked with him in recent months. But, it now looks like Manchester City may have stolen the march over all of the aforementioned clubs to secure Isco’s services in the summer.

City are in hush-hush talks with Isco, as per the report, with the player himself keen to work under Pep Guardio

la next season. The City boss himself sees the 25-year-old as the missing piece of puzzle in his team’s attack, an addition that can make his side a truly fearsome force.


Don Balon

 

[Blue Coop]

Isco would be a better signing for us than anybody currently mentioned over the last few weeks, even Sanchez. He is exactly the type of midfielder Pep likes in his side. Closely followed by VVD and Sanchez. I mean realistically if you added those 3 with 2 new top fullbacks and didn't win the league you've done something wrong.

 

[2001bluesky]

Can Barkley play the pivot role and join as Gundogan's understudy?

Barkley is not City level player, it will be another Sinclair or Bony kind of situation.

 

[slicky202]

Barkley is not City level player, it will be another Sinclair or Bony kind of situation.

Agree. Barkley would be exposed trying to play in this system

 

[City_Sean]

I was thinking about this last night and the worrying lack of links to CDM, and I've been wondering if Stones could fill this role. It's a bit long winded but here goes:

Pep's 3-4-3 and 4-3-3 are essentially the same. In the the latter the fullbacks push up and the holding mid essentially drops into the back three and dictates the play from deep. Stone's passing is very incisive, he's so good at cutting between the lines, that it opens this idea up.

The slight change is that usually in Peps 3-4-3 the LCB drives into midfield, but this could work all the same.

Let's say we play a 4-3-3, it can look along these lines:

Sane Aguero Sterling
Silva Stones Gundogan
Mendy Otamendi Bonucci/VK Walker
Bravo

When the game starts the fullbacks push up and we essentially revert into a back three:

Sane Aguero Sterling
Mendy Silva Gundogan Walker
Stones
Otamendi Bonucci
Bravo.

This enables Stones time and space on the ball and to use his exquisite passing range. If we become under the cosh then it reverts to the 4-3-3 with the fullbacks dropping deeper.

 

[richards30]

I was thinking about this last night and the worrying lack of links to CDM, and I've been wondering if Stones could fill this role. It's a bit long winded but here goes:

Pep's 3-4-3 and 4-3-3 are essentially the same. In the the latter the fullbacks push up and the holding mid essentially drops into the back three and dictates the play from deep. Stone's passing is very incisive, he's so good at cutting between the lines, that it opens this idea up.

The slight change is that usually in Peps 3-4-3 the LCB drives into midfield, but this could work all the same.

Let's say we play a 4-3-3, it can look along these lines:

Sane Aguero Sterling
Silva Stones Gundogan
Mendy Otamendi Bonucci/VK Walker
Bravo

When the game starts the fullbacks push up and we essentially revert into a back three:

Sane Aguero Sterling
Mendy Silva Gundogan Walker
Stones
Otamendi Bonucci
Bravo.

This enables Stones time and space on the ball and to use his exquisite passing range. If we become under the cosh then it reverts to the 4-3-3 with the fullbacks dropping deeper.

fuck mate never thought of stones playing in the DM position! genuinely think he could do it as well. like you say frees up a world class CB signing space

 

[richards30]

ederson
walker
kolasinac
alderweireld
mendy
isco
sanchez
mbappe (if Sergio leaves)

would be a good window?

 

[lee_wsm]

always thought stones could become a dm

 

[domalino]

ederson
walker
kolasinac
alderweireld
mendy
isco
sanchez
mbappe (if Sergio leaves)

would be a good window?

It would address every issue except defensive midfield, and Gundogan/Fernandinho might well be the future there anyway, so it'd be pretty much perfect.

We're not going to be able to buy half of Spurs defence though.

 

[City_Sean]

Might have to cross Pickford off the list:

 

[richards30]

It would address every issue except defensive midfield, and Gundogan/Fernandinho might well be the future there anyway, so it'd be pretty much perfect.

We're not going to be able to buy half of Spurs defence though.

walker seems done mate and the alderweireld link is genuine so im told. wants double his money to stay AND the release clause put in which spuds wont do so there is a chance of getting him this summer. with vinny and kev here as well and if we sign walker he would be among friends

 

[BillyShears]

Might have to cross Pickford off the list:

Bit premature that story but will please loads on here. To the Ederson thread we go and hope we don't get gazumped by Mendes and the rags.

 

[richards30]

Might have to cross Pickford off the list:

good!! never fancied pickford.

 

[2001bluesky]

Might have to cross Pickford off the list:

We can easily beat this.

 

[Charlesfarsbar]

This should be our default team without any signings

Bravo

Stones Kompany otamendi

Sane fenandinho gundogan Sterling

Silva de Bruyne

Jesus

That's a very good team on paper

If we can add

Walker
Pickford
Mendy
Bonucci
Sanchez
Tielemans (or a n other)

Then that is a world class squad which would be flexible enough to play many different systems with most of the players able to play more than one position

 

[The Blue one!]

Bit premature that story but will please loads on here. To the Ederson thread we go and hope we don't get gazumped by Mendes and the rags.

I think Ederson always was our first choice and think we will get him.

 

[doobyedoobye]

Barkley is not City level player, it will be another Sinclair or Bony kind of situation.

You rate him on a similar level to Sinclair and Bony?

 

[City_Sean]

Bit premature that story but will please loads on here. To the Ederson thread we go and hope we don't get gazumped by Mendes and the rags.

The biggest positive with Pickford was his HG status, It's a massive problem having two foreign keepers. The problem with a deal for Ederson is you're looking at spending £50m due to the co-ownership. It's arguably more difficult than the Mangala deal.

 

[Akiva]

That Echo article is far less confident than the sensationalist, click-bait title indicates. It simple states Everton are "confident" of signing Pickford, but no deal has been done.

Mind you, Everton have been rumoured to be the front runners for a few weeks now and that situation only emerges of City aren't interested or Pickford wants to be the uncontested number 1 wherever he goes.

Regardless, Ederson was our first choice, the club allegedly have an agreement with the player, and is a perfect fit for our squad. The only issue is financial but I could see Donarumma going for even more.

Then again, I wouldn't rule out Pickford on the basis of that article alone.