Josko as a defensive midfielder

[mattcity5]

We already have a strong aggressive player who could do the DM job: name of Khusanov.

You think Khusanov could play like Rodri and control the tempo? You think he's got the 360 awareness?

I'd be amazed if he could do the job better than Kalvin Phillips.

 

[KS55]

You think Khusanov could play like Rodri and control the tempo? You think he's got the 360 awareness?

I'd be amazed if he could do the job better than Kalvin Phillips.

He wouldn’t be doing that, Nico G or Bernado would be. Khusanov is the man to put his foot in and hurt a few. We are so weak there.

 

[jaiguruKun]

I'd rather see O'Reilly play in midfield, the lad is ready for it.

 

[mattcity5]

He wouldn’t be doing that, Nico G or Bernado would be. Khusanov is the man to put his foot in and hurt a few. We are so weak there.

It's be like having Richard Dunne back in defence instead of a footballer. He'd try dead hard and throw himself around, but it'd turn out we'd be unable to keep the ball and he'd be an absolute liability when he had it.

Having someone solely to "put his foot in and hurt a few" isn't what won us 4 in a row or a treble. Though it'd maybe see us having to play on the break more due to being reduced to 10 players, so not all bad!

 

[Matt Diablo]

Worth a shot as he is terrible in one v one situations. Gets done over so often at the back whether LB or CB. Not just this season last one too

 

[ono]

Absolutely not. Doesn't have enough awareness as a CB let alone to play as the pivot. His short one touch passing isn't reliable and it would take too long to develop the 360 awareness you need in that role - even if the above issues were gone.

 

[ninjamonkey]

We already have a strong aggressive player who could do the DM job: name of Khusanov.

You think the worst technician in the squad should be playing in the most technical position on the pitch? I'd sooner see Haaland in net.

 

[Nightmare Walking]

I'd rather see O'Reilly play in midfield, the lad is ready for it.

That's been my thinking. The 2 Nico's in the midfield and Ait Nouri at LB.

 

[KS55]

You think the worst technician in the squad should be playing in the most technical position on the pitch? I'd sooner see Haaland in net.

I didn’t say that. Do you remember, for example, Tommy Smith?

 

[KS55]

It's be like having Richard Dunne back in defence instead of a footballer. He'd try dead hard and throw himself around, but it'd turn out we'd be unable to keep the ball and he'd be an absolute liability when he had it.

Having someone solely to "put his foot in and hurt a few" isn't what won us 4 in a row or a treble. Though it'd maybe see us having to play on the break more due to being reduced to 10 players, so not all bad!

No, but Ferna’s clever fouls did! There are few like him around. I go back a long way and Liverpool for example always had a hitman.

 

[ninjamonkey]

I didn’t say that. Do you remember, for example, Tommy Smith?

No, I don't. He had retired decades before I was even born. I dont think referencing a player from half a century or so back supports your point very well tbh, you dont need me to tell you it's essentially a different sport.

Khusanov cannot currently play centre back for us because he is woeful on the ball, that is why he plays fullback, whrre he has the most time, minimal involvement in build up and simple tasks when he is on it. putting him in midfield would be a catastrophic train wreck, he is genuinely the last player in the entire squad Pep would put in there.

 

[KS55]

No, I don't. He had retired decades before I was even born. I dont think referencing a player from half a century or so back supports your point very well tbh, you dont need me to tell you it's essentially a different sport.

Khusanov cannot currently play centre back for us because he is woeful on the ball, that is why he plays fullback, whrre he has the most time, minimal involvement in build up and simple tasks when he is on it. putting him in midfield would be a catastrophic train wreck, he is genuinely the last player in the entire squad Pep would put in there.

Ok then, try Roy Keane.

 

[ChicagoBlue]

Actually he was directly at fault for Brighton's winner.

And besides, losing 3 out of 4 games in which he played isn't a meaningless stat. It's the total opposite of the word meaningless.

I guess everyone else played great and he was at fault for the losses????

 

[Bluewonder]

I guess everyone else played great and he was at fault for the losses????

Didn't exactly cover himself in glory tonight again, did he?

 

[ChicagoBlue]

Didn't exactly cover himself in glory tonight again, did he?

Came on for 30 mins and played 4 positions!!

But, yeah, he was to blame for at least 6 of their goals, right?!! Sheesh!

 

[citytill1die84]

Came on for 30 mins and played 4 positions!!

But, yeah, he was to blame for at least 6 of their goals, right?!! Sheesh!

Came on to help the midfield and was completely shit so ye he was partly to blame lol

 

[ChicagoBlue]

Came on to help the midfield and was completely shit so ye he was partly to blame lol

When you say “help” I think you mean “BE”!!!

We played 4-1-4-1 for most of the game, and Stones replaced Gonzales, with Bernie tucking in. Then, we switched to a 5 with Nunes, Dias, Stones, Gvardiol and Ake, and a cramping O’Reilly stepping into a line of 4 in a 5-4-1.

Listen, I’m in the “no new contract” camp for Stones, as he’s not contributing enough regularly and we need to be bringing young talent like Khusanov, Reis & Bah through.

I expect he will leave, along with Kovacic, Bernie, Ake and Grealish (and probably Trafford) and he will go with my thanks for the excellent work he has done and service he has given. He was revelatory as the “step forward CB” in our Treble season, but he has been an expensive sick note for too much of his career now and can’t stand up to the rigor of what has become a young man’s game.

I just don’t think he’s been at fault for the stuttering start we have made, esp considering the onfield time he has accumulated so far.

 

[citytill1die84]

When you say “help” I think you mean “BE”!!!

We played 4-1-4-1 for most of the game, and Stones replaced Gonzales, with Bernie tucking in. Then, we switched to a 5 with Nunes, Dias, Stones, Gvardiol and Ake, and a cramping O’Reilly stepping into a line of 4 in a 5-4-1.

Listen, I’m in the “no new contract” camp for Stones, as he’s not contributing enough regularly and we need to be bringing young talent like Khusanov, Reis & Bah through.

I expect he will leave, along with Kovacic, Bernie, Ake and Grealish (and probably Trafford) and he will go with my thanks for the excellent work he has done and service he has given. He was revelatory as the “step forward CB” in our Treble season, but he has been an expensive sick note for too much of his career now and can’t stand up to the rigor of what has become a young man’s game.

I just don’t think he’s been at fault for the stuttering start we have made, esp considering the onfield time he has accumulated so far.

He's definitely not to blame for our stuttering start. Problem is he doesn't look match fit when he comes on yet he's playing for England. Something seems to be going on because Pep would use Stones whenever he could in recent seasons.

It does seem his City career is at the end and he's been absolutely brilliant, if not for injuries he'd be spoke of against the best Premier League CBs of all time.

 

[ChicagoBlue]

He's definitely not to blame for our stuttering start. Problem is he doesn't look match fit when he comes on yet he's playing for England. Something seems to be going on because Pep would use Stones whenever he could in recent seasons.

It does seem his City career is at the end and he's been absolutely brilliant, if not for injuries he'd be spoke of against the best Premier League CBs of all time.

I think that the club (Pep!) has made their decision and he’s gone.

 

[Gingers Dad]

Come on Pep it's time. Johnny Stones was excellent at stepping out from CB into midfield but hes no DM. Reminded me of Paul Bosvelt last night, chasing shadows.