Lavia?Need to sign a DM in the summer. Not someone like Rice, but someone who'll be a clearly defined backup to Rodri and can step in for 10-15 games. Zakaria would be perfect.
Lavia?
Gundo is the #3 choice and should be sufficient until Lavia comes through. In a pinch, even KDB & Bernardo could play in there, as could Stones or Ake.
A striker and a young, competent LB are our first two imperatives today.
That said, an experienced stop gap might be a good third option, given Fernandinho’s impending retirement, Gundo’s age, and with Lavia still so young.
lets be real here. other than rodri no one is reliable as a 6 in our system. yeah gundo can play there but then we lack any physicality in midfield (ball retention/recycling he is very good at but defensively he isn't anywhere near the lvl of rodri). stones was horrible when he played there. ake already looks atleast a lvl beneath our other players in his natural position. dinho can have good games for sure but he can't do it every 3 days.Gundo is the #3 choice and should be sufficient until Lavia comes through. In a pinch, even KDB & Bernardo could play in there, as could Stones or Ake.
A striker and a young, competent LB are our first two imperatives today.
That said, an experienced stop gap might be a good third option, given Fernandinho’s impending retirement, Gundo’s age, and with Lavia still so young.
A fantastic player who has just got better and better. I think he really works well alongside Bernardo, They make a brilliant and very dynamic realationship in the middle of our midfield. This is the first season where we look like we have not missed Fern...that's a tribute to Rodri.Rodri is having an absolutely brilliant season so far and long may it continue!
Can’t argue with anything you said there.lets be real here. other than rodri no one is reliable as a 6 in our system. yeah gundo can play there but then we lack any physicality in midfield (ball retention/recycling he is very good at but defensively he isn't anywhere near the lvl of rodri). stones was horrible when he played there. ake already looks atleast a lvl beneath our other players in his natural position. dinho can have good games for sure but he can't do it every 3 days.
zinchenko could also be an option but pep does not seem to rate him as a DM.
with rodri we have somehow the same problem as for instance bayern has with lewa. very important position, very high level player, almost never injured but if something would happen, you need someone to step up.
I don't think we have the player in our squad to do so.
I’d like to see a young LB nurtured, as you and others rate Zin higher than I do. Cancelo is currently playing LB and covering at RB.I can't think of any reason why a LB should be ahead of a DM when Cancelo and Zinchenko are two great options (to the extent that I can't think of anyone realistic who could upgrade that position for us). They'll still be great options next season.
In fairness, I think he was using the colloquial definition of athlete. I.e someone who is athletically superior to another in the same sport.Try Google.
"Who is called athlete?
1 : a person who is trained or skilled in exercises, sports, or games requiring physical strength, agility, or stamina."
Are you someone who believes a miler is an elite athlete but a marathon runner is not or you just haven't a clue what an athlete is.
I think it was the opposite. He was brilliant the first 3/4 of the season and then around the time we played Monchengladbach or so his performances just seemed to fall off a cliff. I put it down just to hitting that proverbial physical 'wall'. Hense Pep dropping him in the CL final. I've said previously that I worry the same could happen this year with only Dinho as his direct backup.He pretty much made us tick in the latter stages of last season