Houssem Aouar

[Dirty Harry]

I wonder if Ake might be deployed in a defensive midfield/destroyer role more than we think. I gather he has played there on occasion in the past

When I watched him in Chelsea's youth team many years ago, he seemed to be playing more that kind of role Longsight, and as I've said before, he was the stand-out player on the pitch, so maybe he will.

 

[Txiki Txiki Bang Bang]

I wonder if Ake might be deployed in a defensive midfield/destroyer role more than we think. I gather he has played there on occasion in the past

I made a post about this yesterday, so I guess that could be a realistic option for Pep. I would love to see it tried out, could just turn Ake to the signing of the summer, Ake at DM could also give Pep the option of playing Rodrigo at CB, I just have a feeling that position would be perfect for Rodrigo.

 

[Gumzy97]

I wonder if Ake might be deployed in a defensive midfield/destroyer role more than we think. I gather he has played there on occasion in the past

From talk on the Bournemouth forums hes played there and did well, but also played LB a bit and was really good in that position also.

 

[Craig]

I made a post about this yesterday, so I guess that could be a realistic option for Pep. I would love to see it tried out, could just turn Ake to the signing of the summer, Ake at DM could also give Pep the option of playing Rodrigo at CB, I just have a feeling that position would be perfect for Rodrigo.

Wouldn’t do much for our current big problem when we play such a high line though.

 

[Txiki Txiki Bang Bang]

Wouldn’t do much for our current big problem when we play such a high line though.

Actually I think it could improve the team! Rodri actually has a great positional sense in terms of winning the ball back and defending, he's also very cautious when passing, its just his pace and turn that lets him down. I think if the team is set up for Laporte to receive the ball from Eddy and move further into the midfield, while Rodri sits a little deeper, closer to Eddy, that could just improve our defensive dilemma.

 

[KokaKoola]

People quite often like their favorite player, but the big CB for Lyon was the best player on the park, he has done wonderfully considering this team has been battered in every game since the group stage, and had to rely on the defense

That's not even remotely true though?
Are you pretending you've watched their games from groupstages? Really doubt that.
They didn't have to defend at all against Leipzig took 4 points out of 6 against them, neither did they need to defend in that 1st leg against Juventus.
Also I doubt that Aouar is De Bruyne's favorite player because by De Bruyne's own admission he doesn't watch football from France or even England for that matter.

THey can think what they like but 9 times out of 10 City would win that game. We've been terrorised by teams from France before eg Monaco but this Lyon side were comparatively ordinary and rode their luck.

I think we need a defensive midfielder and I'd go for Luiz. I think he's done really well in a very poor Villa side and he was their key player. I'd go for him at the base of our midfield.

Teams from France? As in Lyon? Who's unbeaten in 3 games against City in the past 2 seasons?
Win at the etihad, draw in Lyon and that CL QF tie.
Monaco lost one at the Etihad, won one in their stadium, hardly terrorised anything.

 

[Neville Kneville]

That's not even remotely true though?
Are you pretending you've watched their games from groupstages? Really doubt that.
They didn't have to defend at all against Leipzig took 4 points out of 6 against them, neither did they need to defend in that 1st leg against Juventus.
Also I doubt that Aouar is De Bruyne's favorite player because by De Bruyne's own admission he doesn't watch football from France or even England for that matter.


Teams from France? As in Lyon? Who's unbeaten in 3 games against City in the past 2 seasons?
Win at the etihad, draw in Lyon and that CL QF tie.
Monaco lost one at the Etihad, won one in their stadium, hardly terrorised anything.

Monaco were much much better though.

We were dogshit v Lyon.

 

[Easy]

Perfect signing. Good price as well.

For those that think we don’t, we absolutely do need a midfielder.

Rodri, Gundogan, De Bruyne are our only midfielders now. For some reason Pep is not playing Bernardo nor Foden there. So we definitely need another player.

 

[mosssideblue]

Gundogan and 20mil....don't want 2 gundogans in the same team. Pep will end up dropping Kev to have them both starting with Rodri

Has become boring now.

 

[01cravend]

Has become boring now.

Now? I posted that yesterday morning. With that pace you could have played in our backline this season.

 

[mosssideblue]

Now? I posted that yesterday morning. With that pace you could have played in our backline this season.

Not just you but nearly every thread has reference to Gundog.

 

[oldius]

Not just you but nearly every thread has reference to Gundog.

Correct.

 

[argyle]

Absolutely baffled by the continuing links to this guy. We don't have room in the squad for another central midfield player - especially one who is neither defensively a machine nor offensively a machine. Auoer is a younger version of Gundo and we have Gundo.

It's telling that the only place that we're linked with him is in the French press.

Oh and also City themselves briefed categorically just a few days ago they will not be buying a CM this window.

Shame, as it was quite clear against Lyon that Gundo and Rodri aren't good enough together.

 

[uwe rosler 28]

I've read somewhere this in a done deal to be announced after the chumps lge?? So do I fill my boots with the 6/1 available????

 

[itisrising]

Shame, as it was quite clear against Lyon that Gundo and Rodri aren't good enough together.

They're not, thankfully we have Foden and Bernardo as midfield options.

 

[Keeper!]

Shame, as it was quite clear against Lyon that Gundo and Rodri aren't good enough together.

And more importantly when they played together at Norwich...... never again!

 

[decmancity]

They're not, thankfully we have Foden and Bernardo as midfield options.

I don't think Pep does see them as options though, I genuinely believe that he only thinks Gundogan can play the way he wants in that central position. KDB has a free position to move and Rodri stays as the base. I think its daft if we don't get Aouar.

 

[itisrising]

I don't think Pep does see them as options though, I genuinely believe that he only thinks Gundogan can play the way he wants in that central position. KDB has a free position to move and Rodri stays as the base. I think its daft if we don't get Aouar.

I'm not really sure what Pep looks for in midfield but it seems to be his blindspot. I'd obviously take Aouar over Gundo but I just don't see anything he's better at than Foden.

 

[decmancity]

I'm not really sure what Pep looks for in midfield but it seems to be his blindspot. I'd obviously take Aouar over Gundo but I just don't see anything he's better at than Foden.

Well its supposed to be this "pausa" quality that we have now lost that Silva has left, Gundogan is the only one in the team with the same quality according to an article that was in The Athletic.

I think Bernardo and Foden are too forward thinking and risk takers for Pep which is why he rarely puts them there. Foden and Bernardo I think are battling with Mahrez and Torres to occupy a forward slot either as a winger or just behind a striker and/or Sterling.

 

[Zenmanc]

"central midfield player - especially one who is neither defensively a machine nor offensively a machine"

He turned 22 1.5 months ago FFS. Name me one player on our club who was a legit "machine" at 22. I've scanned the roster:
KDB no
Bernie no
Fern no
Laps no
Gabby not there yet
Raz no (10 goals all comps that age)