Right back options

Aina in.. and let Rico rotate in midfield and let the old cats go, Gundo, Bilva, Kova will probably not go after his injury though and I think he has most left to accomplish at City, more to prove so to speak.

Midfield with Rodri, Nico G, Reijnders, Rico, Nico O, Kova, Foden, + Jashari if the old guys go, even though I think Cherki initially will be used as a inverted right wing with an overlapping right back, in Nunes or Aina then.. And one winger will stay wide to the left. I think Pep will revert back to that when he has settled the team, one inverted wide and one stay wide, not both inverted or both wide, Im talking about side midfielders now.
 
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I've had this thought of how to re-create the 4222 from the end of last season, I think this was our best formation personally. It's probably more likely Pep goes back to a 325 (which he did when Akanji returned), but our attack with the new signings is so potent, I'd not like to abandon the 4222 entirely.

But it relied on 2 high fullbacks, now Ait Nouri is one fix clearly, but perhaps we don't want to rely on Nunes to start (assuming no Livramento), but also want to use our wide wingers (Doku, Savio) more?

This is my potential fix:

In Possession Set Up (4222) Out of Possession Rest Defence (541, could be 532 also)
1749911325541.png1749911579255.png

Other ways to make a 4222 without wide fullbacks is to invert a fullback instead from a 4231 or 4141, but I'm not sure I want to do that either, the best option from that perspective is to play Rico Lewis RB as Pep doens't quite trust Nunes in the middle. I've also had the theory of Khusanov doing this ala Kounde, but obviously that'd be a sort of project development.

This setup borrows a little from the treble system, that started with a back 4 and only pushed up the CB (here Rodri/Stones), tinstead we defend with 5, and push up 3 players, with the CCB easily able to drop to make the 3 on counters.

This perhaps gives more longevity out of Stones and Rodri, as we rotate between them, with Rodri being the clear starter.

Pep usually never uses a back 5 to defend, except... I noticed how often this last season when we lost the ball in our usualy 4231, that a winger dropped to make a back 5 (I've seen Savio, Doku, and Bernardo all do this at various times), so I don't think he is averse to defending with 5, he just hates it for pressing because you have one less.

This is solved by making 4222 the main out of possession shape, as well as the pressing shape (424 he has been using), and only sitting in the back 5 when we defend.
 
BlueDejong said:
tbrfootball.com

Manchester City are now ready to bid £40m for Newcastle player Kyle Walker absolutely loves

Man City are coming back for the Premier League title!
tbrfootball.com tbrfootball.com

Man City’s search for a new right-back has seen them linked with several players. As per TBR Football, they retain an interest in Freiburg’s Kiliann Sildillia.

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Manchester City ready to pay £40m to sign Tino Livramento​

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I'm sure they are. But who could possibly think they'd sell him for that. That's literally what they paid Southampton for him in the first place.
 
Xhavenjoe said:
I saw him playing live a few times and he played well. His main problem was that he could doze off and be inclined to leave a player free at the back post. Very fast, more of a Frimpong type, belting down the wing.
Seems to be OK with his national team.
Not sure why he hasn't settled down anywhere.
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Sounds like Kyle Walker -get him in
 
It must be wanting a top class homegrown player that’s leading us to Livramento then? Plenty of other options out there at cheaper prices so after seemingly giving up on Gibbs White and the need for homegrown we are spending big on Livramento?
 
Blue Coop said:
I’d like to see an Ait Nouri, Gvardiol, Dias & Khusanov back 4. I just think he has all of the attributes to do well there defensively and with Ait Nouri on the other side likely to be more adventurous moving forwards a more defensive right side setup could work well.
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Khusanov? Based on what exactly? Hes barely played a game? I really hope we get a proper RB and even if that was the last deal, ship a few out and im confident about next season.
 
I'm With Stupid said:
I'm sure they are. But who could possibly think they'd sell him for that. That's literally what they paid Southampton for him in the first place.
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Its 40 plus Grealish.

Tolmie tweeted it a few weeks back and im sure it got some traction off the back of that.
 
Dax777 said:
Rico Lewis
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Should definitely have more support in here than he does.

My only worries with Rico are that he clearly wants to play in midfield and how he plays.

Its like keeping Nico O’Reilly at LB, how long before Rico says he wants to permanently play in the middle.

He’s done a great job for us because we’ve used an inverted role for him. But there isn’t really a plan b with him. He’s not an overlapping full back that can get crosses into the big man, which I think we are looking for.
 
Vanderson 23 from Monaco.

Attacking fullback. Will probably cost more than the €11m Monaco paid Gremio.

Not the finished article but would be a reasonable price and a decent age to develop.

Or save us the hassle and train up either Reis or khus to play that role. Both young and will be willing. The rest of the defence is set so having to give a young player time to learn the role with nunes backup is not that big of a deal.

Save the money.
 
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wolviedinho said:
Vanderson 23 from Monaco.

Attacking fullback. Will probably cost more than the €11m Monaco paid Gremio.

Not the finished article but would be a reasonable price and a decent age to develop.

Or safe us the hassle and train up either Reis or khus to play that role. Both young and will be willing. The rest of the defence is set so having to give a young player time to learn the role with nunes backup is not that big of a deal.

Save the money.
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Vanderson should be high up the list mate
 
What about Denzel Dumfries, ok he’s older but a good stop gap for a few years. It would allow Rico or another academy product to step up.
 
wolviedinho said:
Vanderson 23 from Monaco.

Attacking fullback. Will probably cost more than the €11m Monaco paid Gremio.

Not the finished article but would be a reasonable price and a decent age to develop.

Or safe us the hassle and train up either Reis or khus to play that role. Both young and will be willing. The rest of the defence is set so having to give a young player time to learn the role with nunes backup is not that big of a deal.

Save the money.
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I get why we are after Livramento but I just don't see it happening, and with Viana looking like a quite miserly negotiator I'm not sure he'll fancy the mooted fee. Vanderson seems more on brand, but would throw up more issues around the squad make up etc & Livramento can cover both sides. Interesting issue to have
 
bell_mcfc said:
Should definitely have more support in here than he does.

My only worries with Rico are that he clearly wants to play in midfield and how he plays.

Its like keeping Nico O’Reilly at LB, how long before Rico says he wants to permanently play in the middle.

He’s done a great job for us because we’ve used an inverted role for him. But there isn’t really a plan b with him. He’s not an overlapping full back that can get crosses into the big man, which I think we are looking for.
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There really shouldn't be any talk of Rico leaving.
He's invaluble for the squad makeup as he can play two positions. There needs to be proper defensive cover if he plays RB though.
The same as for Nico O.

These lads have the game to play in midfield but they're only young and still need time to develop.
 
Legal Alien said:
There really shouldn't be any talk of Rico leaving.
He's invaluble for the squad makeup as he can play two positions. There needs to be proper defensive cover if he plays RB though.
The same as for Nico O.

These lads have the game to play in midfield but they're only young and still need time to develop.
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Completely agree
 
Livramento isn't coming, Aine is too old and there are very few other HG candidates so I reckon we should get Dalot out of the swamp. Wants to leave the rag train wreck, already settled in Manchester, Madrid are sniffing allegedly so why not have a bid?
Can play both sides, quick, strong and big mates with half our captain group.
 
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