It's Quiet 18 - Wanna ring the bell?

[It'sBlue93:20]

I do wonder if that's why O'Reilly was a staple of pre-season amongst others around him changing. He and Kovacic playing together to give Pep a proper idea...?

Yeah I reckon between Kovacic , O’Reilly , Rico and inverting defenders that might be our solution next season.

 

[applejuice]

Don’t see Zubimendi as anything else though, don’t see him get into the team as an 8 ahead of Kovacic, Bernardo or even KDB, from only seeing him play a couple of times to be fair. In fact think we’ve moved away from any 8/6 idea.

Or copy Spain mode? Put Zubi at 6 and Rodri as center back? The only issue is that we have so many center backs already.

 

[It'sBlue93:20]

Or copy Spain mode? Put Zubi at 6 and Rodri as center back? The only issue is that we have so many center backs already.

Can’t take Rodri out of the 6. That’s crazy imo.

 

[It'sBlue93:20]

Kovacic and O’Reilly together may work.

Kovacic dropping deep and helping in build-up and carrying and progressing play. O’Reilly doing the defensive part of the game and having the extra legs and physicality in midfield.

 

[blueparrot]

Or copy Spain mode? Put Zubi at 6 and Rodri as center back? The only issue is that we have so many center backs already.

If buying Zubemendi means a need to move Rodri, then he’s definitely the wrong player. Think myself we’ll come up with a plan for no Rodri with what we already have.

 

[SWPISHOME]

O'Reilly is more an attacking player than a defensive midfielder. He played as 10 or false 9 in EDS. He is more like a Gundo than Rodri. Able to drop deep but still an attacking player.

I seen a few of Peps interviews on the tour and he seems to think O'Reilly can play in Rodri’s position due to his physique and reading of the game.

We don't have many midfield players with the height and physique that O'Reilly has other than Rodri.

Pep is capable of putting him there and turning him into a defensive midfielder.

 

[Gaz (FMwkdsoul)]

I seen a few of Peps interviews on the tour and he seems to think O'Reilly can play in Rodri’s position due to his physique and reading of the game.

We don't have many midfield players with the height and physique that O'Reilly has other than Rodri.

Pep is capable of putting him there and turning him into a defensive midfielder.

Over a few seasons maybe. Kova plus one will be the Rodri alt for the season as i stands,

 

[applejuice]

If buying Zubemendi means a need to move Rodri, then he’s definitely the wrong player. Think myself we’ll come up with a plan for no Rodri with what we already have.

We played stones in midfield and it won us a treble. So I don't think moving Rodri around totally out of question. Perhaps it will release some magic. Tough I don't think it will happen.

 

[Jonas.shaffer]

It seems like I'm in the minority who's content going into the season with what we have, seeing where we need help, and spending big next summer in those areas. It's so late in the window that anyone we try to buy will be far more expensive than what they're actually worth. No club has a world-class backup for a world-class player, as some seem to want for Rodri. Any combo of Lewis, Kovacic, Nunes, Bernardo, Stones, etc., is more than enough in my mind. I can see the argument for wanting a Haaland backup, but the same issues with Alvarez would arise for the most attractive options. I'd prefer just to let Bobb/Foden play as a false 9. Our football in 20'/21' was the most fun to watch with that setup, in my opinion, anyway.

 

[It'sBlue93:20]

We played stones in midfield and it won us a treble. So I don't think moving Rodri around totally out of question. Perhaps it will release some magic. Tough I don't think it will happen.

Stones played alongside Rodri though.

Moving Rodri to CB is a complete no for me. He is our key -glues the defensive and offensive lines together.

 

[It'sBlue93:20]

It seems like I'm in the minority who's content going into the season with what we have, seeing where we need help, and spending big next summer in those areas. It's so late in the window that anyone we try to buy will be far more expensive than what they're actually worth. No club has a world-class backup for a world-class player, as some seem to want for Rodri. Any combo of Lewis, Kovacic, Nunes, Bernardo, Stones, etc., is more than enough in my mind. I can see the argument for wanting a Haaland backup, but the same issues with Alvarez would arise for the most attractive options. I'd prefer just to let Bobb/Foden play as a false 9. Our football in 20'/21' was the most fun to watch with that setup, in my opinion, anyway.

One more in to replace Alvarez and I’m fine with that.
Wouldn’t mind a right-back either.

 

[SWPISHOME]

Over a few seasons maybe. Kova plus one will be the Rodri alt for the season as i stands,

Agreed.

I think it will be a double pivot of either:

Kovacic and Rico

OR

Kovacic and Nico

I'm sure Pep could also go for Akanji also for that role, Whenever we missed Rodri last season we did lack physical presence in midfield and that's were Nico O'Reilly has an advantage.

 

[Gaz (FMwkdsoul)]

Agreed.

I think it will be a double pivot of either:

Kovacic and Rico

OR

Kovacic and Nico

I'm sure Pep could also go for Akanji also for that role, Whenever we missed Rodri last season we did lack physical presence in midfield and that's were Nico O'Reilly has an advantage.

Kova and whoever steps out of defence, Dont see Nico even making the bench with the numbers we have when the squad is fully back

 

[applejuice]

Stones played alongside Rodri though.

Moving Rodri to CB is a complete no for me. He is our key -glues the defensive and offensive lines together.

We played with Gundo at CM without Rodri and beat Utd 6-3. It was only one season ago. So nothing is unthinkable.

 

[Jonas.shaffer]

One more in to replace Alvarez and I’m fine with that.
Wouldn’t mind a right-back either.

What options are out there that are up to our level, content with backing up Haaland, and whose club is willing to sell them this late?

 

[It'sBlue93:20]

We played with Gundo at CM without Rodri and beat Utd 6-3. It was only one season ago. So nothing is unthinkable.

Rodri wasn’t available that game. He wouldn’t have been left out through choice.

 

[It'sBlue93:20]

What options are out there that are up to our level, content with backing up Haaland, and whose club is willing to sell them this late?

Not a Haaland back-up. Someone to replace Alvarez’s minutes in the 10.

I like the look of Kudus , Eze , Neto all have qualities they can offer us.

 

[applejuice]

Agreed.

I think it will be a double pivot of either:

Kovacic and Rico

OR

Kovacic and Nico

I'm sure Pep could also go for Akanji also for that role, Whenever we missed Rodri last season we did lack physical presence in midfield and that's were Nico O'Reilly has an advantage.

So it basically means if we get a new backup CM like BrunoG or Zubi we need to sell Kova. Otherwise there won't be enough game time for both of them. I doubt it will happen.

 

[It'sBlue93:20]

Agreed.

I think it will be a double pivot of either:

Kovacic and Rico

OR

Kovacic and Nico

I'm sure Pep could also go for Akanji also for that role, Whenever we missed Rodri last season we did lack physical presence in midfield and that's were Nico O'Reilly has an advantage.

For me. Kova and Nico have the right blend of technicality and physicality as a pivot.

I’d be a bit worried about Kova and Rico up against physical midfielders like Onana. That being said both players use their body well and are usually press-resistant.

 

[It'sBlue93:20]

So it basically means if we get a new backup CM like BrunoG or Zubi we need to sell Kova. Otherwise there won't be enough game time for both of them. I doubt it will happen.

Don’t think it will happen either but we play in so many competition that I’m sure the player could get decent minutes.