45 | Abdukodir Khusanov - 2025/26

[Paul1970]

Have you seen him on the ball in the final third?

Why don’t we have defenders that can defend and have a keeper that can save aswell . Why does every player we have to sign have to be great on the ball

 

[Blue Maverick]

He's not good enough as a right back. He has potential to be a world class cb but you can tell he isn't a good rb which is fine since that isn't his primary position anyways

He’s better than what we have, he has speed and can tackle that’ll do until we get a proper right back.

 

[Willo the Wisp]

I vividly remember City V Liverpool last Feb., Szobozlai had a virtual tap in, when from nowhere Khusanov appeared to make a block, we don't have any other defenders who are capable of making that block, they don't have the speed to get there.
Yet we lined out against Al Hilal with Dias and Akanji in central defense, who are supposedly more comfortable on the ball, have any of you ever seen either do anything outstanding with the ball - Akanji usually passes to the nearest team mate available. But the point is that their defensive performance in that match was very poor to put it mildly
Khusanov would make our team a lot better than it was last season - it would be a tragedy if he were left out of the squad of 20, in my opinion

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

Very striking how he was often bailing out Nunes when he was being skinned, in the brief period that he played. Natural centre-half, agreed. We'll need him, and then some — I no longer believe Johnny will come back on any regular basis, not Nate Aké, actually. Not a ball player (John was a freak in that respect, we're not going to get many of those, nobody does), but a good defender. I think it would be stupid to let him go, or even loan him out.
Rubbed up Pep the wrong way? Well, that, we can't know.

 

[mattcity5]

Have you seen him on the ball in the final third?

Reminds me of Richard Dunne, in both the food and the bad. He's got time to improve...

 

[meeesh]

He's bounced back of sorts (a little in what we have seen), but let's be honest here, Pep proper threw him under the bus in his debut, nobody can deny that, it's played a part also I believe

 

[mattcity5]

I vividly remember City V Liverpool last Feb., Szobozlai had a virtual tap in, when from nowhere Khusanov appeared to make a block, we don't have any other defenders who are capable of making that block, they don't have the speed to get there.
Yet we lined out against Al Hilal with Dias and Akanji in central defense, who are supposedly more comfortable on the ball, have any of you ever seen either do anything outstanding with the ball - Akanji usually passes to the nearest team mate available. But the point is that their defensive performance in that match was very poor to put it mildly
Khusanov would make our team a lot better than it was last season - it would be a tragedy if he were left out of the squad of 20, in my opinion

It's a difficult comparison. Because the likes of Akanji are comfortable on the ball, they don't get pressed as much. The opposition sit off and try and make sure the pass doesn't give them problems, so they often end up playing the simple ball.

If they weren't so comfortable they'd get pressed and they probably play a rushed pass that loses possession.

It's a bit like how you sometimes hear commentators at free kicks saying that the "draught-excluder never blocks anything". Well of course he doesn't - because he's lying there the taker tries to go over the wall instead.

 

[BedsBlue68]

Nonsense. Zero players at City are "clearly not good enough". You could put any one in a recent top City side and we wouldn't really get a drop off. Problem is when too many who are question marks have to play in the same side.

Agree with all these players who are "clearly not good enough" we were unbeaten in 14 games running to the end of the league season and went from no hope to nearly pipping Arsenal for second in the league! Pretty damn impressive with a team full of players who are not good enough - Pep is a genius!

 

[Elvis Mann]

The fastest player in the squad. In the last season.

 

[Paul1970]

Agree with all these players who are "clearly not good enough" we were unbeaten in 14 games running to the end of the league season and went from no hope to nearly pipping Arsenal for second in the league! Pretty damn impressive with a team full of players who are not good enough - Pep is a genius!

Didn’t arsenal nearly shit the bed and drop points galore ? . We got third because we have a very expensive squad And we beat teans which we should have been beating and don’t forgot nunes last minute goal against Villa which got us out of jail after pep decided to be pep and shoehorn players into the squad against Southampton one of the worst teams ever and we drew . Against most of the top teams last season we were second best and that needs to change if we are to even challenge for the title .

 

[oldius]

Didn’t arsenal nearly shit the bed and drop points galore ? . We got third because we have a very expensive squad And we beat teans which we should have been beating and don’t forgot nunes last minute goal against Villa which got us out of jail after pep decided to be pep and shoehorn players into the squad against Southampton one of the worst teams ever and we drew . Against most of the top teams last season we were second best and that needs to change if we are to even challenge for the title .

So we are both responsible for others dropping points and for us gaining points?
And Pep is not responsible when we gain points - that is just our expensive squad - but he is responsible when we lose points, despite that expensive squad?
I urge you to cease the negativity: it just isn't warranted and we have a new season, with a host of new players to look forward to.

 

[alexmcity]

Didn’t arsenal nearly shit the bed and drop points galore ? . We got third because we have a very expensive squad And we beat teans which we should have been beating and don’t forgot nunes last minute goal against Villa which got us out of jail after pep decided to be pep and shoehorn players into the squad against Southampton one of the worst teams ever and we drew . Against most of the top teams last season we were second best and that needs to change if we are to even challenge for the title .

Mental negativity.

We had so many injuries: the likes of Rodri, Dias, Stones, Ake, Akanji, Kovacic, KDB, Haaland, Doku, Bobb missed from 1 to 9 months due to injuries. Note most of them defensive players. Yet we finished above Chelsea and Newcastle. Imagine if Pep didn't make the mistakes you mostly magine. We'd have competed for the title then...

 

[BedsBlue68]

Didn’t arsenal nearly shit the bed and drop points galore ? . We got third because we have a very expensive squad And we beat teans which we should have been beating and don’t forgot nunes last minute goal against Villa which got us out of jail after pep decided to be pep and shoehorn players into the squad against Southampton one of the worst teams ever and we drew . Against most of the top teams last season we were second best and that needs to change if we are to even challenge for the title .

But if all our players are "not good enough" how are we expected to beat all these teams? Which other side went 14 games unbeaten after Christmas? Oh and now last minute goalsl dont count any more - christ how did we get back into that playoff, Aguero moment never happened, Sterling should not have bothered doing that cross for Gundogan cause none of them count apparently :-D

The unrealistic negative rubbish and entitlement i read on here these days - getting as bad as facebook and twitter

 

[Paul1970]

So we are both responsible for others dropping points and for us gaining points?
And Pep is not responsible when we gain points - that is just our expensive squad - but he is responsible when we lose points, despite that expensive squad?
I urge you to cease the negativity: it just isn't warranted and we have a new season, with a host of new players to look forward to.

I’ll do you a deal mate I’ll be positive if pep plays this new young exciting squad . I don’t dislike pep and as far as I’m concerned he’s the greatest manager ever but atm I’m finding it very difficult to trust him and maybe that is me but that’s where I’m at at this moment .

 

[Paul1970]

But if all our players are "not good enough" how are we expected to beat all these teams? Which other side went 14 games unbeaten after Christmas? Oh and now last minute goalsl dont count any more - christ how did we get back into that playoff, Aguero moment never happened, Sterling should not have bothered doing that cross for Gundogan cause none of them count apparently :-D

The unrealistic negative rubbish and entitlement i read on here these days - getting as bad as facebook and twitter

Since when have we celebrated being the best team since Christmas aswell . We are better than that .

 

[oldius]

I’ll do you a deal mate I’ll be positive if pep plays this new young exciting squad . I don’t dislike pep and as far as I’m concerned he’s the greatest manager ever but atm I’m finding it very difficult to trust him and maybe that is me but that’s where I’m at at this moment .

Then it is incumbent on you to wait for the season to begin. At the moment, your constant forecasts of doom are premature, and your inability to trust the 'greatest manager ever' is misplaced.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

The fastest player in the squad. In the last season.

Was this meant for the Nunes thread?

 

[BedsBlue68]

Since when have we celebrated being the best team since Christmas aswell . We are better than that .

Lol you are just being obtuse and misreading what people say now?

I'll say is simple for you just in case:
(1) None of our players are good enough according to you yet we have just gone 14 game unbeaten with those players and still with key players injured. Not bad for good enough - as I said Pep must be an absolute genius to achieve that.
(2) According to you we didnt go 14 games unbeaten as we should have beaten them anyway - which is impressive as with all those players who are not good enough we still went 14 game sunbeaten
(3) Apparently last minute goals do not count (i note you didnt respond to that) which will be a shock to Paul Dickov, Sergio Aguero and Ilkay Gundogan.

The squad is now undergoing a major refresh no one on here knows what the plans are so as always i look forward to seeing what they are.

Anyway bored now have a lovely day.

 

[Paul1970]

Lol you are just being obtuse and misreading what people say now?

I'll say is simple for you just in case:
(1) None of our players are good enough according to you yet we have just gone 14 game unbeaten with those players and still with key players injured. Not bad for good enough - as I said Pep must be an absolute genius to achieve that.
(2) According to you we didnt go 14 games unbeaten as we should have beaten them anyway - which is impressive as with all those players who are not good enough we still went 14 game sunbeaten
(3) Apparently last minute goals do not count (i note you didnt respond to that) which will be a shock to Paul Dickov, Sergio Aguero and Ilkay Gundogan.

The squad is now undergoing a major refresh no one on here knows what the plans are so as always i look forward to seeing what they are.

Anyway bored now have a lovely day.

Tbh I got bored half way through lol . Only joking

 

[noseve]

Why don’t we have defenders that can defend and have a keeper that can save aswell . Why does every player we have to sign have to be great on the ball

Because how else are we going to win every game 5-4?