It’s time to tell a few of the older players “It’s time. You’re probably not going to play and if you want a decent move while you’ve still got something to offer a decent team, it’s time to call your agent and get the ball rolling.”
We are in danger of making the same mistake with the defence that we made with the midfield last season…one season too many, and injuries that decimate the team structure.
We bought the lad to be a City player, played him a few times, he looked like a NEW John Stones (silky, tidy, good ball player), yet here we are still hanging on to Stones, Ake and Akanji as half of our defensive structure?
Ake & Akanji both want World Cup football and should move on to ensure they’re fit and ready. Stones? Being HG helps him, he is much beloved, and is almost certain to be more available this season that last!
Dias, Gvardiol, Stones, Khusanov and Reis looks to me like plenty of CB cover, with 3 or 4 of them able to provide full back cover and they could all operate well in a back 3, with a roving R.A.N.