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

[dom]

I still miss conventional LB and RB or invert ones. Ass opposed to what we have now which is CB who play there and Rico who is lightweight.

People have mentioned Kimmich especially as he can play midfield but others have said he is too old but how would he compare to Gundogan and Kovatic for pace legs and age he is younger after all right ? So wouldn’t he still be an upgrade ?

Something about our potential interest in Kimmich in press online today (Football Insider? ..honestly can't remember)...looks like he could do a job for us..

 

[Tevez City]

Watching Brazil vs Argentina u20

Come on Txiki, sign Pedrinho

 

[Keeper!]

I just hope that Viana knows he’s allowed to buy world stars if the chance arises as well? He’s not buying for Sporting now and not every player has to be one that is possibly looked upon to be sold on in the future? Different operation now and it would be interesting to know if Txiki agreed with any of these signings or khaldoon and the board are giving Viana his chance to impress

The class players will be for the summer, so difficult to get those in January.

The chance to get the 2 young defenders was a no brainer both had a que of clubs after them and we have jumped the gun and have beaten them all to them.

 

[Shazza458]

Pep’s presser was reassuring - he usually says he’s so happy with the squad or something when asked about transfers.

A couple take it or leave it bids going in next week

 

[Shazza458]

The class players will be for the summer, so difficult to get those in January.

The chance to get the 2 young defenders was a no brainer both had a que of clubs after them and we have jumped the gun and have beaten them all to them.

We literally got Omar Marmoush out of Frankfurt.

Money makes the world go round - it just depends what you are willing to offer these clubs for there players. It’s why I’ve never thought the likes of Baleba are unattainable in January because he plays for Brighton. Admittedly they’d want serious money but Bloom would listen to a serious offer.

Selling clubs sell - its in the model. There are plenty of class players at them too.

 

[Keeper!]

We literally got Omar Marmoush out of Frankfurt.

We did and I think he will be a excellent addition and the player made clear he wanted the move.

But Bruno etc are not available, Luiz is but the club clearly don't want to sign him permanently because they clearly don't rate him other than a short term fix.

Well over a week to go and clubs looking for money for their own moves, this window is far from over, the club know they have messed up and will make sure things are corrected, believe and trust the process.

 

[Fordyboy46]

We did and I think he will be a excellent addition and the player made clear he wanted the move.

But Bruno etc are not available, Luiz is but the club clearly don't want to sign him permanently because they clearly don't rate him other than a short term fix.

Well over a week to go and clubs looking for money for their own moves, this window is far from over, the club know they have messed up and will make sure things are corrected, believe and trust the process.

I still find it ridiculous how after all this time we still have no proper full backs in this squad, instead Pep tries to mould players who don't play there into full backs. It's not working is it. A right back is a must in this window as well as a def mid

 

[wattle]

I can’t believe the “let’s buy anyone so long as they play centre mid” narrative loads on here are still spouting. That’s exactly the path the rags went down and look at them now. The club/Pep made a massive error in not being active in the summer and Pep acknowledged that himself. But you don’t then just panic (sorry spitty but signing players for the future and the best player in Germany this season isn’t panic buying you thick twat)
If we hadn’t had the centre back injuries we have had we’d have been ok without Rodri- or as ok as you can be without someone that good. We’d have had 4 of Stones, Akanji, Dias, Ake, Gavardiol with Stones or Akanji inverting into midfield to help either Gunda or Kovatic. The attempt to buy Cambiaso is obvious that that’s where he’d fit in as well. If we can get one of our new young Cb’s to settle then this becomes a proper option again.
One of our main problems is the total over reliance on Haaland to score our goals. And hopefully we’ve now addressed that.
We’ve just got to be patient. Pep’s struggling personally and looks terrible, but he’s committed to us yet again, and will get it right. For anyone doubting it’s a ‘do bears shit in the wood’ moment.
We might have to settle for this season being a bit of a right off and the next 18 months might be our transition period. Would it be such a disaster to miss out on champions league for next season? We might miss out on a Wirtz or Mussiala (not that I think for a minute they’ll come to us) but if we qualified for Europa/conference football then it’d be a wonderful opportunity to blood these exciting new players such as Khuzanov, Ries, Etcheverri plus O’Rielly etc)
We’ve a massively difficult run of games coming up and will defiantly loose a number of them but the longer picture is far more important than the shorter one. So if you are not ready for the ride I’d get off now if I were you. You won’t be missed.

 

[foggy1974]

I still find it ridiculous how after all this time we still have no proper full backs in this squad, instead Pep tries to mould players who don't play there into full backs. It's not working is it. A right back is a must in this window as well as a def mid

How can you say its not working after 4 in a row, winning the treble with 4 CBs & won the league with Delph at leftback. The problem has been not being able to keep those 4 centreback fit & having to play Lewis & Nunes as an emergency rightback

 

[wattle]

I still find it ridiculous how after all this time we still have no proper full backs in this squad, instead Pep tries to mould players who don't play there into full backs. It's not working is it. A right back is a must in this window as well as a def mid

We weren’t saying that after the champions league final. Pep will sort it. He always does. Have you forgotten Delph, Zinchenko etc?

 

[blueparrot]

I still find it ridiculous how after all this time we still have no proper full backs in this squad, instead Pep tries to mould players who don't play there into full backs. It's not working is it. A right back is a must in this window as well as a def mid

Yes right it’s never worked not playing traditional full backs has it.

 

[foggy1974]

Yes right it’s never worked not playing traditional full backs has it.

We also just seen time catch up with one of the best rightbacks of the Premier league era, huge reason why Pep could play the high line & suffocate teams with the ball

 

[Blue tiger]

I can’t believe the “let’s buy anyone so long as they play centre mid” narrative loads on here are still spouting. That’s exactly the path the rags went down and look at them now. The club/Pep made a massive error in not being active in the summer and Pep acknowledged that himself. But you don’t then just panic (sorry spitty but signing players for the future and the best player in Germany this season isn’t panic buying you thick twat)
If we hadn’t had the centre back injuries we have had we’d have been ok without Rodri- or as ok as you can be without someone that good. We’d have had 4 of Stones, Akanji, Dias, Ake, Gavardiol with Stones or Akanji inverting into midfield to help either Gunda or Kovatic. The attempt to buy Cambiaso is obvious that that’s where he’d fit in as well. If we can get one of our new young Cb’s to settle then this becomes a proper option again.
One of our main problems is the total over reliance on Haaland to score our goals. And hopefully we’ve now addressed that.
We’ve just got to be patient. Pep’s struggling personally and looks terrible, but he’s committed to us yet again, and will get it right. For anyone doubting it’s a ‘do bears shit in the wood’ moment.
We might have to settle for this season being a bit of a right off and the next 18 months might be our transition period. Would it be such a disaster to miss out on champions league for next season? We might miss out on a Wirtz or Mussiala (not that I think for a minute they’ll come to us) but if we qualified for Europa/conference football then it’d be a wonderful opportunity to blood these exciting new players such as Khuzanov, Ries, Etcheverri plus O’Rielly etc)
We’ve a massively difficult run of games coming up and will defiantly loose a number of them but the longer picture is far more important than the shorter one. So if you are not ready for the ride I’d get off now if I were you. You won’t be missed.

Agree with everything you say, but with the way we are playing, the injuries, old midfield and no sign of a 6 coming in this week, then I wouldn't be so confident of even getting European Conference league qualification.

 

[Cobwebcat]

A lot of our players have come in for individual criticism. There are calls for many of our players to leave.

What are the chances that so many have instantly turned rubbish, have got too old, too young, too slow, cannot read the game anymore, have given up, are gutless and don’t care?

Isn’t it more likely that there is a problem with the system? When Rodri got injured Pep said it was his job to find a solution and, if he failed, we would look to go into the market.

The City squad is built to play a certain way.

If you have a flat battery you don’t immediately scrap your car because the rest of the car must be crap. It’s missing a vital part and when that is replaced the car will work just fine.

The point is, although it’s not all down to missing Rodri, a lot of it is. We have seen enough evidence now.

Our signings so far are intelligent and Cambiaso is another one which will help.

Assuming we get Cambiaso what else do we need? Let’s see whose contract is running out this year. KDB and Gundo.

I would argue KDB still has another season left in him. That leaves two issues replacing Gundo and having another DM that is as near to how Rodri plays as we can get.

I don’t buy the theory that another brilliant DM will not come because of Rodri. The top players back themselves.

We have a great squad and it’s folly to want to bin players like Rico who were brilliant in a functioning team.

A top class (and I mean top class) DM and a CM should be enough to get us going again.

City have admitted that they should have refreshed the squad and replaced departing players but they failed to see how much we would miss Rodri and brought Gundo back instead of replacing him. By the way I thought Gundo coming back was a great idea at the time.

So don’t give up on these players because we are two midfielders away from being very good again. There is still a chance we might get at least one of the two this window but, if we don’t, we will get them in the Summer and all learn from our mistakes.

In the meantime we have players playing through the pain barrier. Let’s get behind them.

 

[pauls]

How can you say its not working after 4 in a row, winning the treble with 4 CBs & won the league with Delph at leftback. The problem has been not being able to keep those 4 centreback fit & having to play Lewis & Nunes as an emergency rightback

Absolutely, Pep's understandably frustrated, even on Wednesday his game plan was obliterated by Ruben going off at the break.
He's suffering well documented personal problems and has to face these absolute bellends at press conferences.Fatty Racing Post Jeremy wrote a disgusting piece on the Daily Beano yesterday (these tossers are finally acknowledging we have built an Empire now it's aging!).
He's clearly up for the rebuild so let ALL behind him even if it gets worse before it gets better !

 

[thegoatsthegoat]

How can you say its not working after 4 in a row, winning the treble with 4 CBs & won the league with Delph at leftback. The problem has been not being able to keep those 4 centreback fit & having to play Lewis & Nunes as an emergency rightback

I think it does hamper our wingers though, no full back overlapping meaning they are doubled up and easy to mark against. Obviously overall we have still had success, it doesn't mean that actual full backs won't work either. It has been an even greater unbalance that last year and this year we have been happy with a proper right back and not on the other side. I would think that if we are happy with it being centre halves at full back, it needs to be both.

 

[CC1]

I still find it ridiculous how after all this time we still have no proper full backs in this squad, instead Pep tries to mould players who don't play there into full backs. It's not working is it. A right back is a must in this window as well as a def mid

How long has it not been working for? Just the last few months during an injury decimation of the squad maybe?

 

[wattle]

Agree with everything you say, but with the way we are playing, the injuries, old midfield and no sign of a 6 coming in this week, then I wouldn't be so confident of even getting European Conference league qualification.

I’m pretty confident with Haaland, Marmoush, Foden, DeBryne, Doku and maybe Savio we have enough goals in us to put teams to bed so that the defence won’t cost us every game and be easily enough for top 6/7 which should be enough for Europe next season - admittedly I wouldn’t put my house on it though. The league is very poor due to PSR so even us in this state at the moment should be plenty. It might not look like it after this month but our run in is very favourable when we SHOULD have players back fit and the new lads will have bedded in

 

[wattle]

A lot of our players have come in for individual criticism. There are calls for many of our players to leave.

What are the chances that so many have instantly turned rubbish, have got too old, too young, too slow, cannot read the game anymore, have given up, are gutless and don’t care?

Isn’t it more likely that there is a problem with the system? When Rodri got injured Pep said it was his job to find a solution and, if he failed, we would look to go into the market.

The City squad is built to play a certain way.

If you have a flat battery you don’t immediately scrap your car because the rest of the car must be crap. It’s missing a vital part and when that is replaced the car will work just fine.

The point is, although it’s not all down to missing Rodri, a lot of it is. We have seen enough evidence now.

Our signings so far are intelligent and Cambiaso is another one which will help.

Assuming we get Cambiaso what else do we need? Let’s see whose contract is running out this year. KDB and Gundo.

I would argue KDB still has another season left in him. That leaves two issues replacing Gundo and having another DM that is as near to how Rodri plays as we can get.

I don’t buy the theory that another brilliant DM will not come because of Rodri. The top players back themselves.

We have a great squad and it’s folly to want to bin players like Rico who were brilliant in a functioning team.

A top class (and I mean top class) DM and a CM should be enough to get us going again.

City have admitted that they should have refreshed the squad and replaced departing players but they failed to see how much we would miss Rodri and brought Gundo back instead of replacing him. By the way I thought Gundo coming back was a great idea at the time.

So don’t give up on these players because we are two midfielders away from being very good again. There is still a chance we might get at least one of the two this window but, if we don’t, we will get them in the Summer and all learn from our mistakes.

In the meantime we have players playing through the pain barrier. Let’s get behind them.

Perfect

 

[Sleeping_Easy]

Something about our potential interest in Kimmich in press online today (Football Insider? ..honestly can't remember)...looks like he could do a job for us..

This one seems to be staring us in the face. Covers the 6 position for the rest of this season. Covers RB moving forward. Played under pep before so will understand the demands. Only 6 months left on the contract. Only question mark is his age but I reckon we should get it done