Morgan Gibbs-White

O’Reilly was on his chinstrap by the end of the season and needs a couple of years to be able to cope with a full domestic season in midfield. Soucek covers the ground but we need someone to be able to do so with pace, especially heading back the way, as Rodri and Gonzalez just don’t have that in their lockers.
There's very few players in the City side that will play week in week out other than Rodri, Josko, Haaland and maybe one or two others, When called upon O'Reilly can definitely fit the bill in my opinion.

I understand where you are coming from in regards to needing a full season to get up to speed and intensity of the Premier League, I just think because he won't be playing full 90 minutes week in week out it's something he can do when he is brought into the team.

He's no slouch either he's a quick lad when his legs get going. Personally I'd prefer to see the likes of O'Reilly develop into a huge part of the team and get as many minutes as possible in preference to signing Morgan Gibbs White.

I fully understand your thinking behind it though.
 
yeah, its kind obvious why the MGW & Sara seem to be the targets for that, looking at the profiles of those in the mix already.
Forgot about Sara. He’s got a bit of heft about him, too, and played in England before. Might not be a bad option if a sane price cannot be reached for someone within England.
 
There's very few players in the City side that will play week in week out other than Rodri, Josko, Haaland and maybe one or two others, When called upon O'Reilly can definitely fit the bill in my opinion.

I understand where you are coming from in regards to needing a full season to get up to speed and intensity of the Premier League, I just think because he won't be playing full 90 minutes week in week out it's something he can do when he is brought into the team.

He's no slouch either he's a quick lad when his legs get going. Personally I'd prefer to see the likes of O'Reilly develop into a huge part of the team and get as many minutes as possible in preference to signing Morgan Gibbs White.

I fully understand your thinking behind it though.
I don’t disagree but I think we both know that Guardiola won’t start him in there on a regular basis, and it’s only by playing there regularly, full games three times per week, that he’ll get the lung capacity and stamina to become dominant in midfield. Having seen Rogers’ development, I’d be prepared to allow O’Reilly to go to the Championship, just for a season, because at this stage I think he only needs hard minutes under his belt.
 
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I'd be surprised if we signed MGW. He's too expensive to be a squad player, and he doesn't have the quality to be a regular starter for us.

Cherki, Foden and Marmoush can play behind Haaland. We have enough options in CM with Rodri back plus Nico G and TR. Kova and O'Reilly are options too. I think at least one from Gundo and Bernie will stay.

MGW won't happen.
 
Im still not understanding the argument some are saying that we still "need" a midfield presser like MGW.

At Forrest, he is predominantly a "hard working 10", but I have big doubts we let him play as the 10 with Cherki and Foden available.

He isnt really suited to a midfield double pivot playing as a 6/8, but I suspect alot of people want him there... but we are definitely stacked there with Rodri, Reijnders, Nico G as very strong options before you go to the old timers or O Reilly.

Then maybe people are thinking of more of a 433 with 2 8s and no 10? I dont personally want to play this formation but this would suit MGW more now as Cherki is unsuited as an 8 in this role.

But at this point, the system now favours someone like Wharton anyways, who is the better long term buy.
 
Im still not understanding the argument some are saying that we still "need" a midfield presser like MGW.

At Forrest, he is predominantly a "hard working 10", but I have big doubts we let him play as the 10 with Cherki and Foden available.

He isnt really suited to a midfield double pivot playing as a 6/8, but I suspect alot of people want him there... but we are definitely stacked there with Rodri, Reijnders, Nico G as very strong options before you go to the old timers or O Reilly.

Then maybe people are thinking of more of a 433 with 2 8s and no 10? I dont personally want to play this formation but this would suit MGW more now as Cherki is unsuited as an 8 in this role.

But at this point, the system now favours someone like Wharton anyways, who is the better long term buy.
I think he'd be a great buy.

A midfield of Rodri - Reijdners - MGW against teams we need proper workhorses in the middle is great.

A midfield of Rodri - Reijdners - Cherki/Foden against teams we will most likely dominate and have plenty of possession this is again great.

Both Rodri and Reijdners I used as 1st choice here and they cant play all the time. Rodri will rotate with Nico, Reijdners can rotate with MGW/O'Reilly.

If it was Wharton id be very happy as well. I think he's a more talented player but actually really intrigued to see what a player like MGW could bring to our midfield.
 
I think he'd be a great buy.

A midfield of Rodri - Reijdners - MGW against teams we need proper workhorses in the middle is great.

A midfield of Rodri - Reijdners - Cherki/Foden against teams we will most likely dominate and have plenty of possession this is again great.

Both Rodri and Reijdners I used as 1st choice here and they cant play all the time. Rodri will rotate with Nico, Reijdners can rotate with MGW/O'Reilly.

If it was Wharton id be very happy as well. I think he's a more talented player but actually really intrigued to see what a player like MGW could bring to our midfield.

Why would one pay 70m to keep Cherki and/or Foden on the bench in the big games? Doesn't make sense.

Plus, we can have enough stability with Rodri at 6 and Nico G and Reijnders in front of him.
 
Why would one pay 70m to keep Cherki and/or Foden on the bench in the big games? Doesn't make sense.

Plus, we can have enough stability with Rodri at 6 and Nico G and Reijnders in front of him.
Foden has missed plenty of big games due to getting the balance of the squad right. Cl final we had Bernie out on the RW and he was on the bench.

To be fair Nico is more than just a 6 and can play there as well. Its about balance, getting the right players together.

You can argue that Foden isn't a long term 10 for us in the biggest of games and we need a proper midfield behind him. But it looks like we are changing shape ever so slightly with proper full backs so I do think Foden would be better as a RW that drift inside and has an overlapping full back or he goes out wide if he wants to.
He's a special player and we need to build a proper team around him. Kev is more of a proper CM than Foden, thats not a know on Phil at all before you say it is.
 
I just don't see it myself although Lijnders might see him as the Firmino role in the gegenpress. Playing in the lowblock for Forest with so much space to run into won't be the same as playing against the same lowblock for City & can Marmoush fill that role.

You only have to look at how the runs of Haaland & Marmoush are ignored for a safer pass & for me this would neutralise the majority of his game.
 
I think he'd be a great buy.

A midfield of Rodri - Reijdners - MGW against teams we need proper workhorses in the middle is great.

A midfield of Rodri - Reijdners - Cherki/Foden against teams we will most likely dominate and have plenty of possession this is again great.

Both Rodri and Reijdners I used as 1st choice here and they cant play all the time. Rodri will rotate with Nico, Reijdners can rotate with MGW/O'Reilly.

If it was Wharton id be very happy as well. I think he's a more talented player but actually really intrigued to see what a player like MGW could bring to our midfield.
I think he can fit into the squad.

But many think we "need" a player like him, and I disagree on that
 
I think he'd be a great buy.

A midfield of Rodri - Reijdners - MGW against teams we need proper workhorses in the middle is great.

A midfield of Rodri - Reijdners - Cherki/Foden against teams we will most likely dominate and have plenty of possession this is again great.

Both Rodri and Reijdners I used as 1st choice here and they cant play all the time. Rodri will rotate with Nico, Reijdners can rotate with MGW/O'Reilly.

If it was Wharton id be very happy as well. I think he's a more talented player but actually really intrigued to see what a player like MGW could bring to our midfield.
I like MGW but if we wanted a more solid midfield then Rodri Nico G and Reijnders would do the job.Not sure MGW for the money is what we need to spend the money on now.
 
I don’t disagree but I think we both know that Guardiola won’t start him in there on a regular basis, and it’s only by playing there regularly, full games three times per week, that he’ll get the lung capacity and stamina to become dominant in midfield. Having seem Rogers development, I’d be prepared to allow O’Reilly to go to the Championship, just for a season, because at this stage I think he only needs hard minutes under his belt.
When we were struggling early in the season it seemed the obvious choice to throww Nico on for either Gundogan or Kovacic when they were flagging around the 70 minute mark but Pep was reluctant to do that.

Now that Rodri is getting back to full fitness it seems that Nico could potential ease his way into the 1st team by replacing Rodri with 10/15 minutes left similar to how Foden was eased in
 
There's two issues. HG grown quota, which MGW is fine on, and pep's i'll quit if the squad is too big stance. Fans obviously want 25/26 players so find ways to convince themselves it won't matter. But squad size is clearly a massive, massive issue to pep. He tanked last season holding his ground over it, more or less.

If MGW comes in on top of cherki and Reijnders, I think basically all of Bernardo, Gundo and Kovacic would have to go. We have a million centre backs as well, bought for a system we're now abandoning as we purchase full backs. And the number of players/number of unhappy players is going to reach too many for pep.
 
I like MGW but if we wanted a more solid midfield then Rodri Nico G and Reijnders would do the job.Not sure MGW for the money is what we need to spend the money on now.
I get it’s reported as more than the 3 new signings coming in. But buying from the prem especially an English player coming off a great season is always going to be expensive.

I could just say not my money like a lot of people do but it’s important the club handles business well. And I’m confident off the back of the last 10 days that if we are in for MGW we will get a favourable deal.

Personally I think we want Bernie and Gundo at the CWC as they didn’t get a proper send off as (rightly) overshadowed by Kev in the last home game. They know the system and still have enough to offer. But we also then need to move them and we probably will send one of McAtee/Nunes there as well. Just takes time.

If we can’t shift players we go again. We have made some great moves already so if it was just this I’m confident it’s a massive improvement from last season but we do need to look at our midfield going forward for the next 5 years.
 
When we were struggling early in the season it seemed the obvious choice to throww Nico on for either Gundogan or Kovacic when they were flagging around the 70 minute mark but Pep was reluctant to do that.

Now that Rodri is getting back to full fitness it seems that Nico could potential ease his way into the 1st team by replacing Rodri with 10/15 minutes left similar to how Foden was eased in
Unless we’ve got a three-goal cushion, Guardiola will play safe, which means O’Reilly (20) will be feeding off scraps when at his age and stage he needs to be at the all-you-can-eat buffet.
 
Unless we’ve got a three-goal cushion, Guardiola will play safe, which means O’Reilly (20) will be feeding off scraps when at his age and stage he needs to be at the all-you-can-eat buffet.
Not necessarily. I think Pep likes how the kids react on the pitch and in training. He clearly trusts O’Reilly like he does Lewis which is more than McAtee. He sees things everyday we don’t and I’m confident looking at how Pep operates he’s now in a different bracket.

They have to earn it. Nico deserves his chance.
 
Not necessarily. I think Pep likes how the kids react on the pitch and in training. He clearly trusts O’Reilly like he does Lewis which is more than McAtee. He sees things everyday we don’t and I’m confident looking at how Pep operates he’s now in a different bracket.

They have to earn it. Nico deserves his chance.
He’s not going to get sufficient starts, though, which is what he needs if he is to play full games, so then he’s dependent on substitute appearances. Guardiola can like him and trust him, but he just won’t be starting him. I think he’s got a bright future at the club, but if we want to get the best out of him in 26-27, by when we know more will be leaving, then a good loan now might serve him better.
 
I don't think this one is a go.

I think City got turned off by the price tag and felt they could get much better value for money. I think if we go for an English CM, I think they would be more likely to look at an Adam Wharton.
Doubt he'd be any cheaper. Don't think we'll go for either, but we'll see.
 

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