Bernardo Silva

[Alan Harper's Tash]

i get that but i don't think it's too much to expect an adult response , even in the school holidays .
P.S.
i don't think saying our squad is weaker is " hyperbole ". it is.

I think our squad is less experienced that it was last year.

It’s very early to say it is weaker.

Gomez is faster that Zinchenko, so already has a higher potential ceiling that Zinchenko, but he will need time to adapt to Pepball.

Alvarez needs time to adapt to his new life and team. If he gets decent game time, I doubt he’ll be far from the numbers Sterling posted last season.

I actually think our biggest ”problem” is incorporating Haaland into our fluid system. The tell for me when the system isn’t working like the well oiled machine that it normally is is Rodri looking like he’s running in treacle and being overrun/out of position.

We’ll get better, but we have a few teething issues and it wouldn’t be a total shock to me if Haaland was benched for our biggest away games.

 

[Sleeping_Easy]

For me Bernardo stays this summer and leaves next summer when he'll only have 2 years left on his deal. Barring Silva having a POTY season we'll probably end up getting about 50m-60m for him and we'll reinvest that in a replacement. I love the lad but long drawn out saga's like this piss me off. Barca either stump on what city want or they fuck off. Its not like city haven't been clear on the price they expect

 

[bondsman]

The thing is it’s not just the media writing their usual drivel. Pep after the Barca game has added fuel to the fire after we had all thought It was over. There was no need to make those comments at all.

I’m a fully Paid up member of the pep fan club but that was just unnecessary to make those comments.

For me. I hope he stays. I really thought he was happy here and wants to stay but there is obviously something going on. It’s not flapping or what not. It’s realism. We have a long old season coming up and we are in for a grapple to win the league and champs league. We need a fully fit and committed squad if we are going to succeed.

It’s far too late in the day now to be selling Bernardo. The only way it would make sense if de jong was to come this way. Apart from that we are going to be considerably weaker.

Love Bernardo think at points with us he’s been the best midfielder in Europe. Sadly, I also loved Sane and this situation is starting to feel very similar. Another world class player (sane was for us) not refuting stories about wanting to leave and a clear link to a club they fancy and who fancies them. I think if he wants to go then some kind of deal involving De Jong makes sense. That said I think Bernardo is a mikes better player who offers more versatility.

 

[Sleeping_Easy]

I think our squad is less experienced that it was last year.

It’s very early to say it is weaker.

Gomez is faster that Zinchenko, so already has a higher potential ceiling that Zinchenko, but he will need time to adapt to Pepball.

Alvarez needs time to adapt to his new life and team. If he gets decent game time, I doubt he’ll be far from the numbers Sterling posted last season.

I actually think our biggest ”problem” is incorporating Haaland into our fluid system. The tell for me when the system isn’t working like the well oiled machine that it normally is is Rodri looking like he’s running in treacle and being overrun/out of position.

We’ll get better, but we have a few teething issues and it wouldn’t be a total shock to me if Haaland was benched for our biggest away games.

I'd agree with the first half of that but disagree with the second half.

The squad is definitely stronger than last year but with this kind of squad turn over it takes a bit of time for the players to adapt and for things to stabilise so in the short term you get things like Foden not finding Haaland for the goal or Haaland making runs but not being picked out. As long as the results come in the first half of the season, I've got full confidence that in the second half of the season things will have clicked and we'll be flying. Hopefully it's just in time for the important games in later rounds of the FA cup and UCL

As for Haaland being benched for the big away games, I really can't see it. Thats what he was signed for. His pace and physicality in games where the opponent has stepped out against us would be lethal. We've seen glimpses of it already and its only going to get better.

 

[domalino]

it wouldn’t be a total shock to me if Haaland was benched for our biggest away games.

Hahahahahaha.

It's not often posts make me laugh out loud but this one is a cracker.

Haaland is the embodiment of everything Pep has been crying out for in big games. He is a killer, who will take one chance and score one goal.

Every game we've not won under Pep has been because we lacked a clinical finisher, and Haaland will play every game he's fit enough to play.

 

[Claytop]

I think our squad is less experienced that it was last year.

It’s very early to say it is weaker.

Gomez is faster that Zinchenko, so already has a higher potential ceiling that Zinchenko, but he will need time to adapt to Pepball.

Alvarez needs time to adapt to his new life and team. If he gets decent game time, I doubt he’ll be far from the numbers Sterling posted last season.

I actually think our biggest ”problem” is incorporating Haaland into our fluid system. The tell for me when the system isn’t working like the well oiled machine that it normally is is Rodri looking like he’s running in treacle and being overrun/out of position.

We’ll get better, but we have a few teething issues and it wouldn’t be a total shock to me if Haaland was benched for our biggest away games.

It's early days but I wonder whether we'll have to compromise total control of the midfield (or the attempt of it) to get the best out of Haaland. We are effectively a man light in there at times but the potential upside of Haaland may outweigh that.

 

[jimharri]

Wouldn’t have him for 60p, toxic, narcissistic little twat.

Not a fan then?

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

Hahahahahaha.

It's not often posts make me laugh out loud but this one is a cracker.

Haaland is the embodiment of everything Pep has been crying out for in big games. He is a killer, who will take one chance and score one goal.

Every game we've not won under Pep has been because we lacked a clinical finisher, and Haaland will play every game he's fit enough to play.

Absolutely, but at the same time, our collective press is weaker and we are more susceptible to the counter attack against better teams.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

It's early days but I wonder whether we'll have to compromise total control of the midfield (or the attempt of it) to get the best out of Haaland. We are effectively a man light in there at times but the potential upside of Haaland may outweigh that.

This is what I meant 100%.

Pep will have to make a judgement call on which he thinks is better.

Sometimes it will be without Haaland, just like Sergio at times.

 

[domalino]

Absolutely, but at the same time, our collective press is weaker and we are more susceptible to the counter attack against better teams.

Haaland is going to press like everyone else. Why do you think he wouldn't?

He was averaging 12 or 13 pressues per game for Dortmund, which is a 1 below what Sterling and Jesus were doing last year, the same as Grealish and more than Mahrez.