Alexis Sanchez

[Marvin]

If we play with a front 3 then 6 players in the squad is a reasonable number:

Aguero, Sanches, Jesus, Sane, Sterling, Roberts.

That line up assumes Navas and Nacho go, but that looks likely. I remember Keegan saying once that 6 strikers was a good number - that was rubbish but 6 players covering 3 positions and when many of those players can interchange is fine for me. You could easily start 3 and sub on 2 most weeks.

I also suspect Sanches could do a job in the midfield 3 behind as well in the Silva or KDB role.

The time to buy Sanchez was when barca bought him or when Arsenal bought him. We have just bought Sane and Jesus on top of Sterling the season before. Timing is wrong

I can understand why we'd be linked with him. You look at Arsenal, and the one player who gave them something in the big games, indeed all the games was Sanchez. he is a fantastic player, but I do think he maybe at his best now, or just past it, and it's the one place in our squad where we are strongest.

An argument for signing him would be instant competiveness. It would be Guardiola's 2nd season. We need to be competitive and transfer mkt is going to be insane. Liverpool, Utd, Chelsea plus foreign clubs going to be chasing a limited group of players. Arsenal might throw everything at it trying to get back in.

 

[domalino]

If we play with a front 3 then 6 players in the squad is a reasonable number:

Aguero, Sanches, Jesus, Sane, Sterling, Roberts.

That line up assumes Navas and Nacho go, but that looks likely. I remember Keegan saying once that 6 strikers was a good number - that was rubbish but 6 players covering 3 positions and when many of those players can interchange is fine for me. You could easily start 3 and sub on 2 most weeks.

I also suspect Sanches could do a job in the midfield 3 behind as well in the Silva or KDB role.

It's not reasonable at all, it's the opposite.

Look at some teams in the past who've tried it. Barcelona in 08/09 are a good one as they're under Pep:

Appearances (starts)

Eto'o 52 (46)
Messi 51 (42)
Bojan 42 (18)
Henry 42 (36)
Gudjonsen 34 (17)
Pedro 14 (6)

That's what actually happens in real life. Starts aren't handed out equally with everyone getting 20 starts and 20 sub appearances, the best players become almost ever-present and anyone outside those 2/3 get pissed off.


Now apply those numbers to the players you are talking about. You think Jesus, Sané, Sterling are going to accept 18 starts in a season? No fucking chance.

 

[Marvin]

i think the point that 6 players to cover 3 places is correct but will Pep do that did he ever drop or rest Messi, if a player is on fire scoring loads of goals does he drop him ? personally i like 6 front players competing for 3 places gives you loads of options.
Back to Sanchez hope he is one of the 6.

No one could be upset if we signed him, but ideally I'd look to sign defensive players. At moment if one forward comes in, it will be at the expense of Aguero. You need cover, but no team in European football rotates their forwards unless you are talking Cup games. You play Real Madrid or Barcelona, you know who they play upfront

 

[Marvin]

It's not reasonable at all, it's the opposite.

Look at some teams in the past who've tried it. Barcelona in 08/09 are a good one as they're under Pep:

Eto'o 52 (46)
Messi 51 (42)
Bojan 42 (18)
Henry 42 (36)
Gudjonsen 34 (17)
Pedro 14 (6)


Now apply those numbers to the players you are talking about. You think Jesus, Sané, Sterling are going to accept 18 starts in a season? No fucking chance.

As it is, one of Jesus, Sterling, Sane or Aguero is going to miss out next season and at this moment it looks like Sterling. we can't buy another top forward without letting one of them go.

 

[domalino]

As it is, one of Jesus, Sterling, Sane or Aguero is going to miss out next season and at this moment it looks like Sterling. we can't buy another top forward without letting one of them go.

Hahahaha, you actually think Sterling is going to be sold this summer? You actually think that's a genuine possibility? Christ, the transfer forum is jumping the shark today.

 

[Neville Kneville]

It's not reasonable at all, it's the opposite.

Look at some teams in the past who've tried it. Barcelona in 08/09 are a good one as they're under Pep:

Appearances (starts)

Eto'o 52 (46)
Messi 51 (42)
Bojan 42 (18)
Henry 42 (36)
Gudjonsen 34 (17)
Pedro 14 (6)

That's what actually happens in real life. Starts aren't handed out equally with everyone getting 20 starts and 20 sub appearances, the best players become almost ever-present and anyone outside those 2/3 get pissed off.


Now apply those numbers to the players you are talking about. You think Jesus, Sané, Sterling are going to accept 18 starts in a season? No fucking chance.

That list actually proves how easy it is to use more attackers. Take Bojan's starts, add to Gudjonsen & you have 35. So that's 4 senior players with over 35 starts each. Take Pedro out, trim each to 35 starts & you have an extra 24 starting places free. Easy enough to trim it a bit more to get all of them 30+ starts, before even beginning with sub appearences.

If one of those players came on as sub each game, in a successful season, it's another 50 appearences for him.

I don't think Pep[ will be able to play the way he wants, unless he uses the attack/midfield players more sparingly. The work required is much harder in the Prem than at Barca.

 

[domalino]

That list actually proves how easy it is to use more attackers. Take Bojan's starts, add to Gudjonsen & you have 35. So that's 4 senior players with over 35 starts each. Take Pedro out, trim each to 35 starts & you have an extra 24 starting places free. Easy enough to trim it a bit more to get all of them 30+ starts, before even beginning with sub appearences.

If one of those players came on as sub each game, in a successful season, it's another 50 appearences for him.

I don't think Pep[ will be able to play the way he wants, unless he uses the attack/midfield players more sparingly. The work required is much harder in the Prem than at Barca.

...Yeah if you get rid of 2 players in Bojan and Gudjonsen it works, but that's pretty much the whole point. You can't balance 6 players.

There's also a big difference between the expectations of academy players breaking into the team like Bojan or Pedro and players who've been bought for £45m like Sterling and Sané, you can't expect them to be happy with the same amount of starts.

5 is possible I think. Not easy but possible short term if the very young guys know the likes of Aguero and Sanchez will be off in a couple of seasons and you're winning enough as a team to keep them happy.

Either way, it's going to be a massive improvement from the 3 decent players for 3 positions we had this season.

 

[Marvin]

Hahahaha, you actually think Sterling is going to be sold this summer? You actually think that's a genuine possibility? Christ, the transfer forum is jumping the shark today.

I give up. You know full well what I was saying

 

[domalino]

I give up. You know full well what I was saying

"We have to let one of them go" - what else can that mean except selling one?

 

[Neville Kneville]

...Yeah if you get rid of 2 players in Bojan and Gudjonsen it works, but that's pretty much the whole point. You can't balance 6 players.

What I mean is if you get rid of Bojan & Pedro, you get Gudjonsen with 35 starts & then you take each of the 4 down to 30 starts you get another 30 starts available for another, signed player.

If you were to then look at it with appearences rather than starts, you could easily make up enough to get yet another in. Then add injuries, loss of form etc, for me it's easy.

Get the players in, get them competing, including a few kids, and if someone sulks or isn't quite good enough, sell, & buy or promote a new one, then same again. Don't assume thy all have to stay for 5/10 years each, just turn them over. Which is effectively what Barca did, with Sanchez & Fabregas.

 

[domalino]

What I mean is if you get rid of Bojan & Pedro, you get Gudjonsen with 35 starts & then you take each of the 4 down to 30 starts you get another 30 starts available for another, signed player.

If you were to then look at it with appearences rather than starts, you could easily make up enough to get yet another in. Then add injuries, loss of form etc, for me it's easy.

Get the players in, get them competing, including a few kids, and if someone sulks or isn't quite good enough, sell, & buy or promote a new one, then same again. Don't assume thy all have to stay for 5/10 years each, just turn them over. Which is effectively what Barca did, with Sanchez & Fabregas.

So you're advocating 5 players for that front 3? I agree with that, I think that's the perfect amount.

If you're advocating 6 players who all start 30 games it's never going to happen. Big players like Aguero, Sanchez or even Jesus and Sané aren't going to accept starting on the bench for 50% of the season.

 

[Neville Kneville]

So you're advocating 5 players for that front 3? I agree with that, I think that's the perfect amount.

I'd have five plus kids. And I'd rotate the fuck out of them, whether they like it or not. And if Unal, Iheancho had a better scoring record between them than Aguero, they would rotate more & he would be on the bench more. I'd also look at Sterling Sane as being in competition with DeBruyne, Silva (Roberts) etc as well as being counted as front 3 strikers.

Edit: that would go for Sanchez too.

 

[domalino]

I'd have five plus kids. And I'd rotate the fuck out of them, whether they like it or not. And if Unal, Iheancho had a better scoring record between them than Aguero, they would rotate more & he would be on the bench more. I'd also look at Sterling Sane as being in competition with DeBruyne, Silva (Roberts) etc as well as being counted as front 3 strikers.

Edit: that would go for Sanchez too.

5+Kids is good, but I'm not sure Roberts will go for it, he seems to want to play week in week out for his development and possibly even a 2018 WC place if he plays well at a PL club. It won't help Iheanacho either, who's already limited by his inability to play wide. That means the kids are more likely to be real kids, EDS players.

 

[Neville Kneville]

5+Kids is good, but I'm not sure Roberts will go for it, he seems to want to play week in week out for his development and possibly even a 2018 WC place if he plays well at a PL club. It won't help Iheanacho either, who's already limited by his inability to play wide. That means the kids are more likely to be real kids, EDS players.

I don't know what Pep's plans are for Kelechi, but the player seems to be under the impression he'd needed at City, which presumably comes from Pep, so maybe Pep meant it when he listed him as one of the players for the future.

I don't see the problem for Roberts provided Pep rates him. If he doesn't, imo, he should sell him, & same with Kelechi. But if Pep is willing to give Roberts a fair trial, he can stand up & test himself v Sterling, Silva, Sanchez & anyone for a while & see how it goes. It's no great problem for him to be a bit part player for half a season & if he's shit & can't get on at all, go out on loan for the 2nd half, to keep in match shape, like Maffeo did. Then he can decide on his next step.

Alternatively, if he comes on & wins us games (which is very possible) he's on his way to being a Prem player.

In recent games, we have often had two upfront, but not he same two. Sometimes it's Silva or DeBruyne, nearest the striker with the wide players dropping in, suddenly it's Jesus with Aguero wide or Sane appearing in te centre. It's morphing into a 4132 at times, so there is a lot of scope for attacking players swapping roles.

Pep is just warming up imo. I'd hope he rates Roberts & that Roberts has the patience to give it a go, but we'll see.

I don't think we should rule out selling pretty much any of them in the years to come though, depending on who gets in the team most often.

 

[JimmyGrimble10]

Karl Heinz recent comments seem to confirm that Bayern will not pay £50m for Sanchez or pay those wages demanded.

They rarely pay big for players and if they do, they're always young and not anywhere near the 200k wage mark. City and PSG only left if that's the case, and I can only see one winner.

 

[Hart of the Matter]

I make it 6 players and 3 positions, that is obviously each player playing half the games so around 25 / 30 starts depending on how many we play.

Not sure how you get 5 positions and 7 players? We tend to have squads of around 25 each year which is obviously more than 2 players per position.

I am including the deeper creative attackers like KDB and Silva. They fill the front 5 positions. Sanchez flexibility covers most, if not all those positions. Gundogan can play into that also but can play DM. Jesus has also played in a deeper role. In reality, Kun is the least flexible across those front 5 positions.
Pep has also talked of a much smaller squad. A smaller but more work class players, backed up by youngsters appeals to me.

 

[MCFC_4Heatons]

IF Sanchez has his heart set on joining us it will be a who a blinks first scenario between him and the Arsenal bosses. Arsenal do not want to sell him to us, Sanchez is desperate to move this summer and if Arsenal say you can go to PSG or stay here for another year its down to him to stand his ground, if Arsenal let him go on a free in 12 months and pass up £40m-£50m that would be madness!!

Personally I think he'll go to PSG if they are serious about buying him, they don't p*ss about like Txiki does and will get it done quickly especially with Arsenal keen to make sure we don't get him ... Sanchez wants CL football and once last big wage increase IMO and it doesn't have to be with us ....

 

[MCFC_4Heatons]

game when Sterling can't play.

I remember commenting when we were in for Sane that we should not because we have Roberts. There is not really room at City for all these wide forwards

Sane is a different level to Roberts ... Sane is doing it in the hardest league in the world and scaring the sh*t out of top class defenders, Roberts is doing it in a very poor league where one team is miles ahead of the others, it's easy to look top class. I'm not saying Roberts isn't talented but a loan for another 12 months to a mid table PL team would be the acid test, if he can improve again and go up another level then maybe he#ll be ready for City

 

[Saddleworth2]

Denayer doesn't even look fit to me nowardays, just galumping about like a fatty who has just had a spliff . Was twice the player when he came back from Celtic & that was the time to try him, as it is with Roberts now.

I don't see how it makes any difference re Sanchez. If Pep wants Sanchez, sign him. Also, give Roberts a go. Both could be done easily.

There are too many games for our players to play them all & stay sharp, all of them have struggled during last season from time to time & the one before, under the Pelle's training, they often struggled after ten minutes running.

If Roberts is just an impact sub, that's fine for his first season in the Prem anyhow, so long as he gets on. Take off Sterling or whoever, bring on Roberts. Rest Sanchez for a game, try Roberts, if he's shite, take him off etc etc, it's easy. We don't have to keep all of these players for a lifetime. If it turns out Roberts is the least effective, sell him, bring through Sancho, & so on & so on.

It's not difficult at all. We can sign players & bring through young ones. Keep the best, sell the others. Job done.

Agree with every word. Just like we did with Leroy and Jesus. Give them a chance and then playing time based on their impact. Really don't understand this either or mentality. Really feel that we missed a trick with Jason. Living in Scotland, I saw what a great season he had with Celtic. The more cultured player in the VVD/Denayer partnership. He could have been a valuable squad member by now if he had been given any kind of chance.

 

[MCFC_4Heatons]

Oh, not that one again.

That rules out Luiz Suarez being any good, because thirty other strikers in the Dutch League were shite & was used by idiots on here to explain why Virgil Van Dijk would be a bad signing for City at 13 mil.

I wish people would stop using this. It's garbage.

The only way to find out about Roberts isto try him out. If he fails, sell him. If we don't try him out when he's done absolutely everything right, what was the point of buying him ?

Brainless comments there mate, give we're after Sanchez, MBappe and the players we already have he'd be sat on the bench. Obviously a loan deal to a mid table PL team (assuming he'll be a starter) for a season is a must to see if he can cut the mustard at the top-level .... Anyways I'll take Pep's judgement over yours any day of the week ...