Are we light in Central Mid now?

[Rammy Blue]

I think with Dinho, Yaya and Gundogan we should be ok, especially so if true that Danilo would be an option there, however it'll be one of the few positions that will be a priority next summer.

 

[AustinBlue]

You think Morata is a downgrade? Look at the stats and think again.

Costa was a beast - got all the scrappy Premier league goals through a crowd in the box. Morata is a good looking footballer - but more of a luxury player. I think the scrappy defending teams are going to have better results against Chelsea this year.

 

[leo_city]

We need an excellent strong, powerful and fast DM to guarantee doing well this season.
Chelsea are upgrading too and will still win the league in my opinion.

I thought this too but then you should realise that Bakayoko and Kante are very similar kinda players with time on the ball and making runs/being aggressive. Don't see it working as well as Conte hopes it does. I'm saying. Plus they lack a quality winger and striker. Willian/Pedro/Morata can all do either very well or just be ghost. They got away with having not many competitions last season, this season won't happen.

 

[leo_city]

Gundogan, Yaya, Ferna is enough depth, I'd get rid of Ferna to get someone else but then you realise if he is slightly more consistent and keeps his focus recall the final Pellegrini season and how great he was for us.

Plus KDB, both Silva's is great. We lack one winger/striker and a center half. Maybe a left back too. Rest is great

 

[Jazzman]

Naby Keita is the guy we should pick up. Problem is Yaya is old and we don't know how many games Gündogan can play.

 

[fatbloke]

If only it was that simple. Gundogan can't be relied on due to injuries - same with Delph. Yaya isnt mobile enough to play in the holding midfield role - especially against the top sides, plus the age factor. Fernandinho isn't consistent, and didn't have a particularly good season last season and is 32. The other 3 are attacking players.

I do agree that in most games it isn't an issue but against the top sides it is. We need a top class holding midfielder. Someone who can protect the central defenders and carry the ball forward. The type of player that makes a late run into the box.

It's concerning that the spine of the team is short of players. We need a top class central defender;, a commanding central midfielder, as described above and another striker.

I feel we are going to have to be patient.

Nice to see such optimistic comments.

 

[Tevez City]

For 1 position DM, we have Yaya , Gundogan , Fernandinho & Danilo ! how many do we need ?

 

[Jumanji]

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).

 

[dennis the menace]

Nice to see such optimistic comments.

I dont feel pessimistic. If anything it was an optimistic post in the sense that I believe we can build a team that can win the Premier league and the Champions league and regularly compete successfully with Real, Barca Bayern and Chelsea.

The point was that to build a squad capable of that is going to take more than just this transfer window. It may take this and another 2 or 3.

Are you going to criticise Guardiola, for pessimism, who recently said it would take a decade to reach the heights of Real and Barca?

 

[Dax777]

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).

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.

 

[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%.