It’s Quiet 20 - What is the Wirtz that could happen?

[Damocles]

It's currently Jan 15th

There is no sign of any reinforcement in central midfield and the hold area

We have known we are fuct in this area since late Sept

Because we're not the only party involved here. We don't stride through the transfer market like a God picking apples from a tree.

Other clubs have to find replacements for players we buy. Players have to talk to families. Other clubs will bid and also need time to talk to players. Selling clubs need to do their own business. It's not like our people are just fucking sat around playing Monopoly lads. there's lots of moving parts and you're arguing over essentially a week or two

 

[mosssideblue]

Forget wirtz and musiala. We should be fighting to make sure Chelsea finish below us and dont get champions league and we go sign cole palmer back.

 

[mosssideblue]

It's currently Jan 15th

There is no sign of any reinforcement in central midfield and the hold area

We have known we are fuct in this area since late Sept

Because you have no idea what is happening behind the scenes doesn't mean nothing isn't happening

 

[mosssideblue]

Because we're not the only party involved here. We don't stride through the transfer market like a God picking apples from a tree.

Other clubs have to find replacements for players we buy. Players have to talk to families. Other clubs will bid and also need time to talk to players. Selling clubs need to do their own business. It's not like our people are just fucking sat around playing Monopoly lads. there's lots of moving parts and you're arguing over essentially a week or two

Talking sense won't be well received by some on here

 

[The Stockport Iniesta]

Our midfield problem is not a positional one. Its an age one.

We should only start one 30 year old in midfield. Either Kev, Kova or Bernado. Never all 3 and never any 2 with Gundo. We just simply don't have the legs when we do.

We cant press, we cant disposses the opposition, our speed is slow and our reaction time even slower.

In the end we can only afford to start 1 at all times. Period. Anything else is a disaster waiting to happen.

I agree a lack of legs and physicality is the major problem but Kovacic gets pulled out of position numerous times each game leaving a big hole Infront of the defence.

 

[dadnlad]

transfer window still open for almost 3 more weeks.

closing on 3rd of February Monday 11pm.

but rumours say Txiki is taking 2 weeks leave now and he is only back around the 30th.
:)

skiing holiday's is all part of it

 

[Cobwebcat]

Forget wirtz and musiala. We should be fighting to make sure Chelsea finish below us and dont get champions league and we go sign cole palmer back.

I can’t forget Wirtz. If I could sign one player to make the biggest difference at City, this is him.

Until he goes elsewhere I’m going to think we have a chance.

 

[Ajm1985]

Yep.
I suspect if they are looking for an out and out holding midfielder, they need someone who is young but still is good enough. They also need someone who is happy to sit on the bench when Rodri has returned and help out with some minutes here and there. It’s not the easiest ask.

Suspect they are saving the top shelf targets for summer which is another factor they’ll have to add in. I think there is a world where Gundo, Nunes, Kev and McAtee all leave.

I also think the Nunes and Philips deals have given them PTSD.

Tbh any targets would surely look at our midfield this season and back themselves to nail a spot when Rodri is back.

 

[Blu1]

I find it amazing with how long Rodri has been injured & nobody in earlier infact we are not even discussing a Rodri back up! lol glad we are bringing other players in but I’d swap all of them for a good dm

What have the club been doing for the last 3 months

 

[mosssideblue]

I find it amazing with how long Rodri has been injured & nobody in earlier infact we are not even discussing a Rodri back up! lol glad we are bringing other players in but I’d swap all of them for a good dm

What have the club been doing for the last 3 months

You'll catch a few with that

 

[Stoned Rose]

I agree a lack of legs and physicality is the major problem but Kovacic gets pulled out of position numerous times each game leaving a big hole Infront of the defence.

Kovacic is absolutely wank in the 6. Bottom line.

When we were looking at buying him I said on here I dont rate him and he’s lazy. I took the view he was lazy as every time I’d watched him for Chelsea he was “too far away” from where he needed to be positionally. I took that as him being lazy.

Having watched him for a while now I was wrong. He isn’t lazy he just doesn’t understand the defensive “where I need to be” bit of playing CM.

He’s not a 6 and never will be. Its actually a bit cruel playing him there but tbh we don’t have much option atm.

 

[skillman]

We definitely need more players but thinking that a midfield signing will come in January and save our season is fantasy

It took Rodri 18 months to learn the number 6 position , Kovacic is struggling with the positioning now

How do we expect someone new to instantly get it

The signing we make need to be for the long term , which it looks like we are doing

At best we are a cup team this season and we need to adjust our expectations

It's not so much the role itself. It's signing somebody with a bit of aggression and energy about their play. Would transform that midfield rather than relying on Kovacic, Bernardo and Gundogan - three players who weren't fast in their primes, never mind now - to buzz around in there.

The PL and its clubs have changed. Gone are the technicians, in are the energetic, physical midfielders who aren't scared to run and defend for their team. If they just so happen to be fantastic on the ball (Rodri) too then it means they're worth a premium (Bruno G for example).

We haven't adapted to that and having the aforementioned 3 in midfield week in, week out without battling it out with players who are faster and stronger than them, it's a struggle.

 

[Shazza458]

It's not so much the role itself. It's signing somebody with a bit of aggression and energy about their play. Would transform that midfield rather than relying on Kovacic, Bernardo and Gundogan - three players who weren't fast in their primes, never mind now - to buzz around in there.

The PL and its clubs have changed. Gone are the technicians, in are the energetic, physical midfielders who aren't scared to run and defend for their team. If they just so happen to be fantastic on the ball (Rodri) too then it means they're worth a premium (Bruno G for example).

We haven't adapted to that and having the aforementioned 3 in midfield week in, week out without battling it out with players who are faster and stronger than them, it's a struggle.

Agreed, they’ve been so behind the curve. You need strong athletic runners in the midfield now

 

[decmancity]

It's not so much the role itself. It's signing somebody with a bit of aggression and energy about their play. Would transform that midfield rather than relying on Kovacic, Bernardo and Gundogan - three players who weren't fast in their primes, never mind now - to buzz around in there.

The PL and its clubs have changed. Gone are the technicians, in are the energetic, physical midfielders who aren't scared to run and defend for their team. If they just so happen to be fantastic on the ball (Rodri) too then it means they're worth a premium (Bruno G for example).

We haven't adapted to that and having the aforementioned 3 in midfield week in, week out without battling it out with players who are faster and stronger than them, it's a struggle.

When did that change happen because weve won the title 4 years in a row.

A purple patch by the likes of Gravenberch and McAllister for the scousers and all of a sudden the PL landscape has changed.

 

[Coatigan]

When did that change

Between October and December last year.

 

[Charlesfarsbar]

It's not so much the role itself. It's signing somebody with a bit of aggression and energy about their play. Would transform that midfield rather than relying on Kovacic, Bernardo and Gundogan - three players who weren't fast in their primes, never mind now - to buzz around in there.

The PL and its clubs have changed. Gone are the technicians, in are the energetic, physical midfielders who aren't scared to run and defend for their team. If they just so happen to be fantastic on the ball (Rodri) too then it means they're worth a premium (Bruno G for example).

We haven't adapted to that and having the aforementioned 3 in midfield week in, week out without battling it out with players who are faster and stronger than them, it's a struggle.

This is bollocks , we’ve just won 6 premier league titles out of 7 with these technical players

The difference this season is their legs have all fallen off so that can’t press as a unit anymore

If you think Pep is going to proritise athletes over technicians then you’re going to be disappointed .if they are both then great

He wants players that can take the ball in tight spaces and pick apart teams in their low blocks

Just as we have done that past 7 years

 

[mancityscot]

I find it amazing with how long Rodri has been injured & nobody in earlier infact we are not even discussing a Rodri back up! lol glad we are bringing other players in but I’d swap all of them for a good dm

What have the club been doing for the last 3 months

dropping points, mainly.

 

[skillman]

When did that change happen because weve won the title 4 years in a row.

A purple patch by the likes of Gravenberch and McAllister for the scousers and all of a sudden the PL landscape has changed.

We had Rodri who can do exactly what I was referring to. This season we don't and we can't risk it happening again. Regardless of how good he is and how good his level is when he comes back.

We need midfield reinforcements and unless we get the second comings of impossible-to-replace KDB/Bernardo/Silva who were brilliantly technically but also physically then I can't see us going down any other route than a stronger presence in there.

Newcastle's midfield is one of the best in the league and it has three players in there willing to do the dirty work (Tonali, Bruno G and Joelinton) while all also being technically sound.

In those 4 seasons, KDB was younger and more physical in the middle, so was Gundogan and so was Bernardo. All 3 are older and can't do those roles anymore and are being overrun by those who can. Every game.

You can't survive with players who are fabulous on the ball - or we'd have pissed this season because the players we have are better on the ball than 99% of other midfielders in the league - because they don't have the legs to keep up. You need a player with a blend of technical ability and also physicality but those players are a premium despite league winning teams being built on them in the past. Us with Yaya, Fernandinho, Rodri. Chelsea with Essien, Lampard, Ballack. Rags with a few. Liverpool with Fabinho, Gerrard (didn't win but you get my point). Then going abroad you have Madrid with Zidane, Makelele, Seedorf. All players who could mix it with the big boys in all areas of the game.

Just my opinion anyway.

 

[skillman]

The difference this season is their legs have all fallen off so that can’t press as a unit anymore.

Exactly my point. I mustn't have articulated it well enough.

 

[Centurions]

dropping points, mainly.

I'm a glass half full kind of guy so I'd say scraping the odd draw, mainly.