Are we light in Central Mid now?

[Rammy Blue]

I think with Dinho, Yaya and Gundogan we should be ok, especially so if true that Danilo would be an option there, however it'll be one of the few positions that will be a priority next summer.

 

[AustinBlue]

You think Morata is a downgrade? Look at the stats and think again.

Costa was a beast - got all the scrappy Premier league goals through a crowd in the box. Morata is a good looking footballer - but more of a luxury player. I think the scrappy defending teams are going to have better results against Chelsea this year.

 

[leo_city]

We need an excellent strong, powerful and fast DM to guarantee doing well this season.
Chelsea are upgrading too and will still win the league in my opinion.

I thought this too but then you should realise that Bakayoko and Kante are very similar kinda players with time on the ball and making runs/being aggressive. Don't see it working as well as Conte hopes it does. I'm saying. Plus they lack a quality winger and striker. Willian/Pedro/Morata can all do either very well or just be ghost. They got away with having not many competitions last season, this season won't happen.

 

[leo_city]

Gundogan, Yaya, Ferna is enough depth, I'd get rid of Ferna to get someone else but then you realise if he is slightly more consistent and keeps his focus recall the final Pellegrini season and how great he was for us.

Plus KDB, both Silva's is great. We lack one winger/striker and a center half. Maybe a left back too. Rest is great

 

[Jazzman]

Naby Keita is the guy we should pick up. Problem is Yaya is old and we don't know how many games Gündogan can play.

 

[fatbloke]

If only it was that simple. Gundogan can't be relied on due to injuries - same with Delph. Yaya isnt mobile enough to play in the holding midfield role - especially against the top sides, plus the age factor. Fernandinho isn't consistent, and didn't have a particularly good season last season and is 32. The other 3 are attacking players.

I do agree that in most games it isn't an issue but against the top sides it is. We need a top class holding midfielder. Someone who can protect the central defenders and carry the ball forward. The type of player that makes a late run into the box.

It's concerning that the spine of the team is short of players. We need a top class central defender;, a commanding central midfielder, as described above and another striker.

I feel we are going to have to be patient.

Nice to see such optimistic comments.

 

[Tevez City]

For 1 position DM, we have Yaya , Gundogan , Fernandinho & Danilo ! how many do we need ?

 

[Jumanji]

Gundogan is not a DM. He does not show that marking ability, defensive positional intelligence, and the tackling ability (ever so slightly less important than those other two requirements).

 

[dennis the menace]

Nice to see such optimistic comments.

I dont feel pessimistic. If anything it was an optimistic post in the sense that I believe we can build a team that can win the Premier league and the Champions league and regularly compete successfully with Real, Barca Bayern and Chelsea.

The point was that to build a squad capable of that is going to take more than just this transfer window. It may take this and another 2 or 3.

Are you going to criticise Guardiola, for pessimism, who recently said it would take a decade to reach the heights of Real and Barca?

 

[Dax777]

Gundogan is not a DM. He does not show that marking ability, defensive positional intelligence, and the tackling ability (ever so slightly less important than those other two requirements).

And Yaya does? The way I see it. DM for us is less about being Kante and more about pulling the strings. Even Silva will succeed at the position for us.