!000% not being reactionary. I think I've demonstrated many times over that I'm not a flapper nor a happy clapper. I try to keep it as real as possible.
That said, add KDB, Ake, Akanji, Ortega, and Kovacic to the 11 that started and that's it. A 16 man a squad as far as realistically being able to compete at an elite level favorably. You can swap in Gvardiol for Laporte if you like, but 16 either way.
Rico, who we all love, NOT READY, I'll repeat not ready. Obviously a great young talent but needs to be protected and kept away from certain matchups and/or roles.
Gomez is simply NOT a LB or a defender of any sort and not good enough to play as a wide forward for us. Why would we move Laporte instead of Gomez. If we land Gvardiol, him and Ake would be the only lefties vs. Dias, Stones, Walker, Akanji, and Rico as righties. Me, I'm shitcanning Gomez and keeping Laporte if possible.
Get Cancelo the fuck out. That ship has sailed. This would leave us with 8 backs...Dias, Stones, Walker, Ake, Gvardiol, Akanji, Laporte, and Rico.
Phillips sold. There, I'm off the fence. Nice guy and all that but wrong place, wrong time. I would've rather have seen Perrone given a chance today.
Bobb out on loan, No where near ready for our level.
Palmer can't stay fit so for me they can loan him out and I'd be good.
McAtee I'm on the fence with. I'd like to think that if given an opportunity to play with legit senior players he could do a job. For me the jury is still out for him as far as what to do with him this coming season.
If after watching today with no blue colored glasses on anyone thinks we're deep enough to compete and succeed on all fronts this coming season you are sadly mistaken. We are as good as anyone 1 thru 16, actually better, but we need to add back the quality of Gundo and Mahrez as we won't be able to sustain our dominance were we to be unlucky with a couple injuries or expect to get by with as light a team a last year's in terms of depth.
Pep knows this and so does the club and I fully expect us to complete the move for Gvardiol and add at least one young veteran established wide man and perhaps a third quality player. I see no reason why the club would not make such moves. City have built a sustainable squad as far as being among the absolute best and the resources to maintain or even improve upon what we have is readily available. I look forward with great anticipation to what we do the rest of the Summer window.
Optimistic as always!! (How the fuck can you not be?)