Who now then?...

I bought into the Jorginho hype, based on regular watchers of Serie A.

Having seen him three times against us now, I fail to see he was up to the standard we need.

Might be Napoli or Serie A standard, even for Pep, but not for me.

We need someone with physicality, intensity and technique.

Delph has all that, sadly the fitness issues have held back his career.

For me, he could again be a shock standout for us in rotation with Fernandinho.
 
On a positive note, this might mean we will field more of our academy players. If Gundogan drops to DM, that could give Foden or eventually Diaz more chances. If Stones is used as a DM, we could maybe see Eric Garcia in cup games etc.
We won nearly every big game with Gundogan at DM I don't know why people act like we'd be better off signing some average player over going with a quality player we know works there. Still leaves Kev, Dave, Bernardo, Foden and even Mahrez to play ahead of him in midfield.

Stones fits too, he's obviously not a dominant commanding centre back he's a deep play maker, the likes of Busquets, Jorginho, Xabi Alonso are more comparable than Kompany, Ota, Ramos, Koulibaly types.
 
I bought into the Jorginho hype, based on regular watchers of Serie A.

Having seen him three times against us now, I fail to see he was up to the standard we need.

Might be Napoli or Serie A standard, even for Pep, but not for me.

We need someone with physicality, intensity and technique.

Delph has all that, sadly the fitness issues have held back his career.

For me, he could again be a shock standout for us in rotation with Fernandinho.

Delph doesn't have the technique, he's improved a lot but is no where near the level needed to excel in that single pivot role IMO.
 
Delph doesn't have the technique, he's improved a lot but is no where near the level needed to excel in that single pivot role IMO.

Given the array of DMs fans have suggested this window, it's abundantly clear that finding a player with every attribute Pep wants for his pivot is either impossible as that player doesn't exist, or prohibitively expensive.

The best way around that may be to use a player that had most of the attributes but needs training to improve others. No reason Delph is any different from any of the 20+ names mentioned in that regard.
 
Delph doesn't have the technique, he's improved a lot but is no where near the level needed to excel in that single pivot role IMO.
I think (and hope) that Delph could surprise us again. He has the physical attributes required and training everyday with Pep means he will be in no doubt of what the role requires. Perhaps we'll see him try it in a lesser game - I'm betting he'll be a success.
 
We are still trying. Pep isn't lying, he is just managing expectations.

City have repeatedly rubbished off the record Kovacic and Pjanic.

Money isn't the issue, it is the manager's clear definitions.

That's good to hear mate....Hopefully we find the right deal before the window shuts. Kovacic on loan for a season seemed like the perfect deal for us but if Pep doesn't agree, who are we to argue!;)

I get we could try Delph or Stones in that role but I'd much prefer to keep Delph as No1 backup option at Fullback instead of moving him round and Stones looked like the world class CB we all knew he was, in the world cup...Potentially he could be the clubs best CB for years to come, moving him between DM and CM seems like a risk we don't need to take..

The squad is by far the best in the prem in almost every area, it would be a shame to head into the season with this as our only question mark...Don't think I've seen so many DM/CM's move in one transfer window before and just alittle surprised we've got to the last day and still not found one....fingers crossed Txiki working those phones as we speak!

cheers for the info!
 
I bought into the Jorginho hype, based on regular watchers of Serie A.

Having seen him three times against us now, I fail to see he was up to the standard we need.

Might be Napoli or Serie A standard, even for Pep, but not for me.

We need someone with physicality, intensity and technique.

Delph has all that, sadly the fitness issues have held back his career.

For me, he could again be a shock standout for us in rotation with Fernandinho.
This is my only concern about City and their recruitment at times. Jorghinio was never going to cut it based on what you have stated. Given the vulnerabilities were/are quite clear, why on earth did we spend all that time chasing the fella. Worse still its not a one off as prior to Jorghinio we spent a lot of time chasing Fred. If jorghinio was not gonna cut it due to a lack of the qualities you've mentioned above, Fred from what I've seen of his size and game was also was not going to be suited to the dm role in are team. I love the club to bits but City in respect of recruitment in this role aren't making any fucking sense at all.
 
This is my only concern about City and their recruitment at times. Jorghinio was never going to cut it based on what you have stated. Given the vulnerabilities were/are quite clear, why on earth did we spend all that time chasing the fella. Worse still its not a one off as prior to Jorghinio we spent a lot of time chasing Fred. If jorghinio was not gonna cut it due to a lack of the qualities you've mentioned above, Fred from what I've seen of his size and game was also was not going to be suited to the dm role in are team. I love the club to bits but City in respect of recruitment in this role aren't making any fucking sense at all.
Unless of course Pep and Txiki, are better judges of players than Tolmie, or anyone on here, could that be possible. Especially in a position Pep knows better than any other manager in the game.
 
Unless of course Pep and Txiki, are better judges of players than Tolmie, or anyone on here, could that be possible. Especially in a position Pep knows better than any other manager in the game.
There not gods. Even the best can get it wrong, Fergie, Jose, the lot of them. The pursuit of players with obvious deficiencies is worthy being mentioned. Particularly when tixi/ city fucked up a few years back bloating the team with mediocrity like javia garcia, Scott sinclair and Jack Rodwell. Saddling the club with big contracts, blocking the pathways of academy players and or superior players city could have recruited. So no. Sorry, I love pep but none of this feels right. I think we are actually lucky as fuck that fern was at the club before pep signed because on the strength of the players pep has been looking to fill ferns role, pep would never in a million years signed fern, who for me as been the lynchpin of are success.
 
I bought into the Jorginho hype, based on regular watchers of Serie A.

Having seen him three times against us now, I fail to see he was up to the standard we need.

Might be Napoli or Serie A standard, even for Pep, but not for me.

We need someone with physicality, intensity and technique.

Delph has all that, sadly the fitness issues have held back his career.

For me, he could again be a shock standout for us in rotation with Fernandinho.

I really wanted him, especially after some of his passes for Napoli vs us (although we did flatten him afterwards) but I did think he might end up playing in another position than Fernandinho's, once in the Prem.

But having watched how easily Pep took him apart, & not only that but we thrived by pressing the receivers of his passes, I feel like I've just got out of a huge car crash, after driving pissed, & nobody was injured & there are no police around.
 
There not gods. Even the best can get it wrong, Fergie, Jose, the lot of them. The pursuit of players with obvious deficiencies is worthy being mentioned. Particularly when tixi/ city fucked up a few years back bloating the team with mediocrity like javia garcia, Scott sinclair and Jack Rodwell. Saddling the club with big contracts, blocking the pathways of academy players and or superior players city could have recruited. So no. Sorry, I love pep but none of this feels right. I think we are actually lucky as fuck that fern was at the club before pep signed because on the strength of the players pep has been looking to fill ferns role, pep would never in a million years signed fern, who for me as been the lynchpin of are success.

Not disagreeing with your point, but that summer you refer to had nothing to do with Txiki - he joined the club on 28th October 2012, well after that clusterfuck of a transfer window had shut.

Blame City, blame Ferran Soriano, blame Marwood - but you can't reasonably pin that window on Txiki.
 
If Fabian Delph can play full back all season I for one have no worries he could play DM as could kompany he started life in midfield. Also stones , fern we have options.
 
I'm just happy we are not just spending money for moneys sake in building squad depth.

We need players who will be first team or at least putting pressure on the first team.

No more Rodwell, Garcia, Fernando, Sinclair etc
 
There not gods. Even the best can get it wrong, Fergie, Jose, the lot of them. The pursuit of players with obvious deficiencies is worthy being mentioned. Particularly when tixi/ city fucked up a few years back bloating the team with mediocrity like javia garcia, Scott sinclair and Jack Rodwell. Saddling the club with big contracts, blocking the pathways of academy players and or superior players city could have recruited. So no. Sorry, I love pep but none of this feels right. I think we are actually lucky as fuck that fern was at the club before pep signed because on the strength of the players pep has been looking to fill ferns role, pep would never in a million years signed fern, who for me as been the lynchpin of are success.
Course they can get it wrong, they can miss judge a player, but in this position Pep has moved players to it that no one has even contemplated and made a success of it, and even if he were to sign the wrong player to think you or me could spot it first and see it coming is just silly.IIRC Txiki didn't sign Rodwell, Garcia nor Sinclair, could be wrong with that. and certainly a long way from this.
I love the club to bits but City in respect of recruitment in this role aren't making any fucking sense at all.
 
There not gods. Even the best can get it wrong, Fergie, Jose, the lot of them. The pursuit of players with obvious deficiencies is worthy being mentioned. Particularly when tixi/ city fucked up a few years back bloating the team with mediocrity like javia garcia, Scott sinclair and Jack Rodwell. Saddling the club with big contracts, blocking the pathways of academy players and or superior players city could have recruited. So no. Sorry, I love pep but none of this feels right. I think we are actually lucky as fuck that fern was at the club before pep signed because on the strength of the players pep has been looking to fill ferns role, pep would never in a million years signed fern, who for me as been the lynchpin of are success.

We are also as lucky as duck that they signed KDB, Stones, Ederson, Jesus, Walker , Bernardo, Laporte, Sane......All at costs which seem bargains. TO suggest that they may be doing a poor job of recruitment is not right.

Fernandinho could easily play in a number of roles, as can a number of our midfield players. We are so so lucky to have Pep, so so lucky.-;)
 
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