I thought this was about someone potentially making a difference to our first team next season. It sounds like you’re making a different point.If you don't think a 17yr old kid playing,and more than holding his own,in the 2nd division,in a promotion winning side,doesn't have enormous talent and potential......then there is no more to be said.
Seen some daft shit on this forum before, but fuck me the last couple of pages of crazy talk are right up there.
Fucking hell. We aren't binning Zinchenko to bring Cucurella in. We are not cashing in on Gabi and Raz to go with 6minutes Palmer as a starter all of a sudden. We are not going with 3 CBs just because Chelsea might fancy a reasonable bid for Ake. Get a fucking grip. It is 2 players for each position, not 5 players for 7 positions. Challenging in all competitions, with top players, not managing a bare bones squad and seeing what happens. Even when we did go with '3CBs', we had an in form peak-ish dinho, Garcia who pep rated like fuck, and THB showing promise. And it still went to shit. Last year we had all 4 injured or unfit at points, just about made do. The club is not irresponsible to fanny about with a multi million squad they have built to let it fall apart over a few positions.
If this is Pep's last season, no fucking way is the club going to fuck about giving him meagre choices. If it is not his last season, no way is he fucking about chopping big players and hoping some kid may or may not surprise him and waiting for next year to fill gaps in the squad. Let's cut the shit.
Of the two, Doyle is the only one I can see making it at the very top of the game. THB is a decent defender, but lacks football intelligence/instinct.Who IMO isnt as good as THB or Doyle.
FI, reread his comment. He's talking about Mbete I believe.
I thought this was about someone potentially making a difference to our first team next season. It sounds like you’re making a different point.
“No more to be said” is an odd comment for a forum, but fair enough, noted.
there is no thing as a lower key PL fixture .Well, the only way the kids will get experience, is game time alongside one of the big three, in the Cups, lower key PL fixtures?
Surely the rags at the old toilet countsthere is no thing as a lower key PL fixture .
It only makes sense if Pep thinks either of them (Mbete or TBH) could offer the same thing (or close to it with the potential to offer even more) as Ake would do to the team this season. If he dont think so, we should sign a replacement imo. Regarding starting in a CL semi or against Liverpool, I assume no manager ever wants to be forced to start their 4th choice in any position in any of the toughest games of the season. Regardless if your name is Mbete, TBH, Palmer or Ake.yes that is the only way it makes sense. if pep already thinks Mbete is ready to start in a PL game against pool or against madrid in a CL semi if needed
what I meant was Ake was expected to start in a PL match against liverpool or against madrid in a CL semi incase 2 of our CBs are out and his replacement will be expected of the sameIt only makes sense if Pep thinks either of them (Mbete or TBH) could offer the same thing (or close to it with the potential to offer even more) as Ake would do to the team this season. If he dont think so, we should sign a replacement imo. Regarding starting in a CL semi or against Liverpool, I assume no manager ever wants to be forced to start their 4th choice in any position in any of the toughest games of the season. Regardless if your name is Mbete, TBH, Palmer or Ake.
Surely the rags at the old toilet counts
Yes I agree on that point. I think we should sign a replacement. Like I said, the only reason not too would be if Pep thinks either of our young CBs is about as good as Ake anyway, which I doubt he does. I wouldnt rule it out completely though, he said that he thinks Palmer could do the job of Torres, and promoted Garcia in the past (even if I personally never understood why, he sucked). Its not completely out of the question he thinks one of them could replace Ake without the squad hurting from it. But I really doubt it.what I meant was Ake was expected to start in a PL match against liverpool or against madrid in a CL semi incase 2 of our CBs are out and his replacement will be expected of the same
Big mistake with a mid season World Cup and John Stones tending to miss quite a few games every season.So, what do people think about going into the season with just 3 CB’s?
But when we have even just one CB injury, how would we rotate?Exactly, Stones picks up injuries, so Dias is cover and happy still getting games on the right when not on the left.
Laporte is happy because he is getting more games.
The squad constantly evolves. Going by your logic why bother changing a winning formula with the Haaland purchase?All this talk amongst the fans of two holding midfielders in the starting lineup. I really don't expect that's going to be a thing very often.
Every year people want to fuck about with a winning formula, adding an extra defensive player, playing three at the back or whatever else. Realistically, we just make minor tweaks every year and that's not a minor one. You'd be sacrificing way too much on the offensive end.
I really can't see us starting Rodri and Phillips very often because I don't see the point. At all.
We might see it on the odd occasion, probably more likely later in the second half against opponents we're wary of but other than that... why?
Frank Spencer does!Only because no **** knows how to pronounce it.
Not really. Youd only need one to be injured and then youre rotating in makeshift CBs on our every 3 day scheduleExplained why I don't think we would need to.
Stones and Dias.
Stones and Laporte.
Dias and Laporte.
One player covers absences for either side.
You would need Stones and Laporte to be injured at the same time for an issue to arise.
Going by your logic why bother changing a winning formula with the Haaland purchase?
Pep needs options in certain games. Rodri and Phillips could form an outstanding partnership when needed. No way is kavlin moving to not play unless Rodri is injured.
I will wait to see how pep utilises Phillips but I would not be surprised to see Rodri & Phillips start together. Ake was brought into replace stones until he turned it around. Zin fair enough is used to cover multiple positions. Haaland coming in changes our approach slightly and I would not be surprised to see an attacking player sacrificed at times to accommodate this change. Philips if he settles will play more than many on here believe. Throw injuries into the mix.That's just nonsense. The only reason anyone thought the Haaland transfer went against any formula was because people had this silly idea in their heads about what a "Pep player" was.
He'll be playing to rotate, the same reason we have players like Ake and Zinchenko in the squad and to provide competition to keep Rodri on his toes.
Does anyone seriously think we're going to be dropping the best defensive midfielder in the league for any significant amount of time, unless he gets injured or loses form?
And for those saying he'll be starting alongside Rodri, who is Kalvin Phillips going to be replacing out of the attacking players? Bernardo, De Bruyne, Foden, Haaland, Mahrez or Grealish? It's just not going to happen. We need players like Kalvin Phillips because the season is long and a lot of shit happens along the way.
That doesn't mean he only ever plays when Rodri is injured, it just means our plan for next season isn't going to be a mid-noughties revival 4231 because that makes absolutely no sense on any level.
Which position does Zinchenko cover apart from left back?I will wait to see how pep utilises Phillips but I would not be surprised to see Rodri & Phillips start together. Ake was brought into replace stones until he turned it around. Zin fair enough is used to cover multiple positions. Haaland coming in changes our approach slightly and I would not be surprised to see an attacking player sacrificed at times to accommodate this change. Philips if he settles will play more than many on here believe. Throw injuries into the mix.
I should have said he is a capable player who can cover lm, cm or lb.Which position does Zinchenko cover apart from left back?