if the inevitible departure of Stones and Trafford happens in the summer,
I sincerely hope there's nothing inevitable about the departure of Trafford. That lad can keep goal. It will be difficult to persuade him to stay, for sure.
As for the central defence — let's look at this coolly. Días, Gvardiol, Guehi, Khusanov, Alleyne, Stones, Aké, Akanji (on loan, remember) — and let's not forget, Reis! Nine.
Something's got to give. In fact, a fair bit's got to give. Let's assume that Akanji's never coming back. (Do Inter have an option to buy, by the way?) Let's also assume that Johnny and Nate Aké, wonderful servants that they have been, are on their way in the summer. I hope they get good clubs to go to, whether in England (preferably not, because I'd be devastated to see a fit Johnny playing against us) or abroad, because both, fit, are a class act. It would just our luck for John to go and then have really minor fitness problems for the next three years. But I can't really believe it…
Max has been great, truly wonderful, thrown in at the deep end like that. I mean it. I was startled at how cool, how assured he has looked. It was like Nico O'R twelve months ago. Astonishing to see these academy players come in and say “Yes, I belong here as much as anyone else”. Can it therefore be assumed, on a handful of games, that he can become a nailed-on starter in the team? I don't think it can. I'd like to see more of him, much more, but I think the jury has to still be out, reasonably speaking. He's looked the business, no question. Guehi's not coming to sit on the bench — nor is it Pep and Viana's intention, otherwise he wouldn't have been recruited
right now. Khusa out therefore for PL games? I would be
thoroughly pissed off if that happened to me. Khusa was a bit of a rough diamond when he arrived, but he can be polished, and he is being polished. He's already not diving in like a madman as he did when he arrived. His athleticism is phenomenal. He's got ferocious speed. He can improve his reading of the game, but he is doing just that, visibly. I think he's in City's central defence for
years to come.
Just looked up Ruben's age. He's younger than I thought he was. He'll be 29 in May.
Well, these are good problems to have, rich man's problems…
In the larger picture: Semenyo and Guehi coming in now tells me that Pep is
firmly going for the title, however cautious he may be in press conferences. He put a brave face on it, but the man lives to win, he didn't like coming “merely” third last season, screwing it up at Wembley against a palpably weaker team, and being turfed out of the CL unceremoniously. What for other managers would be a reasonable “off” season is, for him, failure.
Believe it, the biggest recruitment in the history of this club is Josep Guardiola. When he leaves, those who haven't yet understood that will finally twig.
