It's Quiet thread 14 - 'do one' edition

[Del_Bosque]

Regardless of Gundogan, I think it’s a mistake not to move for Aouar.

Strange that with 2 players on the move this summer in Thiago and Aouar who could play the role Pep wants from a midfielder, that we haven't gone for anyone

 

[domalino]

We don't yet have said 60m defender.

So as it stands, Stones, Garcia & Fernandinho are favourites for right sided cb.

Ake may be able to stand in. Then we have no stand in for Laporte.

If you're going to pretend the current squad is the final squad then Otamendi is still there as well.

The fact is we have added Laporte and Aké to the side that played 6 of our 9 losses last season.

We already had the best defence in the league when Laporte was fit, and we've added Aké.

 

[Steve Coppell’s 33 Days]

It's probably a bit of an oversimplification, but assuming we'll be largely playing 4-3-3 and want two players for every position given the amount of rotation needed, then I still think we possibly need one more midfielder. We currently have
Rodri and Gundogan as the holding midfielders, with De Bruyne, Bernardo and Foden as the 8s.

Unless Guardiola is planning on using Fernandinho as a holding midfielder again, freeing up Gundogan as another 8?

Yes, I think that’s precisely the plan. Gundogan is the rotation option for Kev.

If the glaring defensive weaknesses are addressed (so far they have in part) then with Kev and Bernardo/Foden providing dynamicism ahead then the relative lack of pace of Rodri/Fernandinho is much less exposed.

I can see Gundo also starting the bigger games alongside Kev as an 8. We lose energy but probably gain better control in possession. Just my thought.

 

[Neville Kneville]

Fernandinho sadly doesn’t have the legs to play DM anymore. I think we’re going to have issues in midfield this season mainly in the big games when Pep plays Gundogan and Rodri. Bernardo and Foden rarely played as 8s last year so Gundogan and Rodri will play a lot together.

I understand Fernandinho doesn't have the 'legs' he once did, but I don't understand folks who say he doesn't have the legs to play his position, when the alternatives are Rodri & Gundogan.

He is still a better athlete than those two, so if he can't play there, neither can they.

 

[nijinsky69]

It's probably a bit of an oversimplification, but assuming we'll be largely playing 4-3-3 and want two players for every position given the amount of rotation needed, then I still think we possibly need one more midfielder. We currently have
Rodri and Gundogan as the holding midfielders, with De Bruyne, Bernardo and Foden as the 8s.

Unless Guardiola is planning on using Fernandinho as a holding midfielder again, freeing up Gundogan as another 8?

I’m surprised we’re not in for Luis, particularly as we appear to have an option on him. He’s way too good for Villa.

 

[blueparrot]

Agree on Aouar, he’s been excellent in 3 matches against in 2 seasons.i think he would allow Pep play 2 in the middle against better sides but with more aggression and energy than Gundogan. The Lyon match showed the weaknesses of the Rodri/ Gundogan partnership that Pep favours for big games.

There were a couple of games last season, can't remember which, when Bernardo played deeper alongside Rodri and KDB had a free role in front. Seemed to remember it being effective though. I know Lilo in known for a 4231, so maybe we'll see more of that. Plus we think Ake can play d.m too.

ederson
walker/ cancelo ???? / Stones laporte/ake ake/ mendy
rodri/ gundogan ake/ bernardo

mahrez/ torres kdb /foden sterling/ torres

aguero/ jesus.

 

[Neville Kneville]

If you're going to pretend the current squad is the final squad then Otamendi is still there as well.

The fact is we have added Laporte and Aké to the side that played 6 of our 9 losses last season.

We already had the best defence in the league when Laporte was fit, and we've added Aké.

But Laporte was not the same when he returned & Ake plays his position.

And yes, currently, Otamendi stays.

Hence concern.

 

[Marvin]

A CB and we are done. Good window.

Not sure from where talks of Striker or LB comes from. We haven't sold Zinchenko and Mendu won't be sold cancelo is decent back up there. Kun is here means striker won't be signed until next summer unless we get a good deal.

Next summer remains key as well with a striker and a CM in sights. Unless Pep changes his mind about youth and maybe we have Dela ready for dew minutes

Think back to last season: Mendy lost his place and he hasn't recovered his game. The season ended with Cancelo playing at left back. he is a right-back.

Aguero shows the effects of age and injury.

 

[domalino]

But Laporte was not the same when he returned & Ake plays his position.

And yes, currently, Otamendi stays.

Hence concern.

We conceded 3 goals in the 11 games Laporte played after coming back with 9 clean sheets.

So if that's him not "being the same" I don't care.

 

[pavelsrnicek]

If you're going to pretend the current squad is the final squad then Otamendi is still there as well.

The fact is we have added Laporte and Aké to the side that played 6 of our 9 losses last season.

We already had the best defence in the league when Laporte was fit, and we've added Aké.

in fairness to @Neville Kneville I doubt he believes we’ve finished our transfer business but as it stands he’s right. We start away at Wolves with a choice of the following as right centre backs Stones, a want away Garcia, Otamendi, Fernandinho or an out of position Laport or Ake. Given the fine margins at the top of the league we can’t afford to throw away points but we look under prepared for a very tough start.

 

[Gingers Dad]

I understand Fernandinho doesn't have the 'legs' he once did, but I don't understand folks who say he doesn't have the legs to play his position, when the alternatives are Rodri & Gundogan.

He is still a better athlete than those two, so if he can't play there, neither can they.

It's because players still think they can do what they used to do before. If Fernandinho plays in midfield he'll see opportunities he used to be able to do but get there a fraction of a second too late. The Southampton game away was a perfect example. He'll play most of the game after his first booking. I would be happier if we signed an athletic DM than a CB

 

[bondsman]

Well obviously but we don’t know what that is since none of us work at city in upper management so, as fans, on a football forum, we debate what we think we need and evaluate how the club is doing.

Not sure what your point is?

He rarely has one. Just posts about posters, it’s very rare he expresses an opinion of his own about football. As you say a forum is meant for sharing thoughts, some in here seem to object to that. Don’t feed the troll mate.

 

[pavelsrnicek]

There were a couple of games last season, can't remember which, when Bernardo played deeper alongside Rodri and KDB had a free role in front. Seemed to remember it being effective though. I know Lilo in known for a 4231, so maybe we'll see more of that. Plus we think Ake can play d.m too.

ederson
walker/ cancelo ???? / Stones laporte/ake ake/ mendy
rodri/ gundogan ake/ bernardo

mahrez/ torees kdb /foden sterling/ torres

aguero/ jesus.

Bernardo played 8 against Leicester at home but I’m not sure he played there much after that. He was excellent there at Anfield and at home to Liverpool last season but Pep only seemed to play him with Silva. He doesn’t seem to rate a midfield of Rodri KDB and Bernardo. According to one of Sam Lee’s article Pep believes it lacks “pausa” or control. Hence Gundogan plays.

 

[Neville Kneville]

We conceded 3 goals in the 11 games Laporte played after coming back with 9 clean sheets.

So if that's him not "being the same" I don't care.

?

I could have sworn we got dumped out of 2 cups, with shambolic defending ?

Going on recent years, Liverpool would normally have scored 3 or 4 before we scored.

Chelsea 2.

Did Southampton not miss a sitter in that game ?

 

[Marvin]

That is flapping.

"Oh my god we lost 9 times!!!!!".

How is that relevant to next season? 6 of them were when Laporte was injured and we had no left sided CB and no pace at CB. That problem is fixed. Why are you still going on about it?

On top of that, we'll get another CB before the window is closed. So that's Laporte, Aké and another £60m+ CB signing that's being added to the side that lost most of the games last season.

If you're still whining about the defence, you're flapping.

Also, there is nothing more disingenuous than being hyper pessimistic to the point of melodrama and then bookending all your posts with, "I'm just being realistic! just seeing it how it is, man"

Ake covers Laporte but he might struggle on the right of Laporte. Laporte does not play right sided central defence so why assume Ake will?

The defence was a massive problem last season. We didn't concede many goals in the league because we monopolised the ball but we were so weak in midfield off the ball and one to one at the back that 3-4 counter-attacks were enough to turn a game, and it happened continually throughout the season.

The season kicks-off for City on the Monday and we could have done a lot more in the transfer market.

 

[bondsman]

We conceded 3 goals in the 11 games Laporte played after coming back with 9 clean sheets.

So if that's him not "being the same" I don't care.

And lost the only two that mattered.

 

[Marvin]

Bernardo played 8 against Leicester at home but I’m not sure he played there much after that. He was excellent there at Anfield and at home to Liverpool last season but Pep only seemed to play him with Silva. He doesn’t seem to rate a midfield of Rodri KDB and Bernardo. According to one of Sam Lee’s article Pep believes it lacks “pausa” or control. Hence Gundogan plays.

KDB can't control a game?

 

[Saddleworth2]

We conceded 3 goals in the 11 games Laporte played after coming back with 9 clean sheets.

So if that's him not "being the same" I don't care.

Nice stats mate. However in the two most important games he played against Lyon and Arsenal we shipped 5 goals. I didn’t think he played great in either albeit he was not alone.

 

[BillyShears]

It's probably a bit of an oversimplification, but assuming we'll be largely playing 4-3-3 and want two players for every position given the amount of rotation needed, then I still think we possibly need one more midfielder. We currently have
Rodri and Gundogan as the holding midfielders, with De Bruyne, Bernardo and Foden as the 8s.

Unless Guardiola is planning on using Fernandinho as a holding midfielder again, freeing up Gundogan as another 8?

I think Gundo's versatility and Pep's love for him as a player is why we aren't in for another midfielder. Ultimately I think that with the investment made in Rodri, after more than a year to bed in, he has to hit the ground running this season and cement that place as his own. If he does then we'll be fine in midfield.

 

[Neville Kneville]

Nice stats mate. However in the two most important games he played against Lyon and Arsenal we shipped 5 goals. I didn’t think he played great in either albeit he was not alone.

I thought his game v Lyon was horrible.