Centre Midfield

[IeMo_2007]

if we didn't sign any other midfielder , I think our 3 mid players would be

--------Debryune
Gendogan Fernandinho

It's very strong midfield for me and can win us the league
although i would be very excited if we signed one of Kroos , Thiago or Rakitic
because we could face a big problem if one of them is injured before a big match

 

[Dax777]

We already purchased the best CM in Germany, his injury was a freak one from training that looks to be ahead of schedule. Real Madrid and Barca are the only 2 teams stocked in that position but with Madrid not buying Pogba they won't be selling since they have a ban coming up.

In a Pep 4-1-4-1 Fernandinho or Gündogan(Aleix Garcia should be groomed for this role) can be that 1 in front of the defense with KDB/Silva apart of the 4 with Sterling/Nolito Sané/Navas on the wings.

4-3-3. Fernando/Fernandinho/Gündogan in the middle with Delph/Yaya (Garcia's if we ever need to get this far) as options

Point is, we aren't as short a lot of people seem to think. The problem with the MF was Pelle's tactical suicicde playing Dinho/Yaya where Yaya isn't tackling well and Dinho overcommiting to make up + seemingly always a card away from being sent off. That changes the way tackles went in from there. With a more pressure based tactic,with the entire team working to win the ball back as soon as possible, these mistakes shouldn't happen.

We are not short at all. I've argued this ad nauseam on many threads. Folks just don't want to see it. They love their positions being rigid.

CM to many means someone who has been labeled such ea some point. So Silva, DeBryune, and Nasri don't count because they weren't designated CMs in their mind.

Zichencho, Garcia and Garcia don't count coz they are too young.

And Dihno, Yaya, Nando, and Delph reminds them of the inadequacy of last season. That plus a 20 million crock inin Gundogan doesn't seem enough.

It's easy to see how they came to such an incorrect position. But doesn't stop it from being incorrect anyway. Well have Gundogan, Dihno, DeBryune as the starting Central 3, with Yaya and Silva as possible backup. I'd like to see what team in football has 5 players that talented for their Central 3 position. Bayern, Real, and City. That's the list. No one else on it. We are not weak at CM. Could we be better? Sure. But weak we are far from.

 

[Dax777]

if we didn't sign any other midfielder , I think our 3 mid players would be

--------Debryune
Gendogan Fernandinho

It's very strong midfield for me and can win us the league
although i would be very excited if we could get one of Kroos , Thiago or Rakitic
because we could face a big problem if one of them is injured before a big match

What if we got Thiago and 2 of them got injured?

When your backups are Yaya, Silva, Nasri, Fernando. I'd conclude you are alright in midfield.

 

[BillyShears]

Garcia has that look about him: the look that says "made for Pep".

Against Dortmund I watched him intently and the thing that makes me think he may well be the reason we aren't going to buy another CM is that honestly, squint and I was watching Xavi. Every pass the right one, every pass made to look so simple, nine times out of ten the pass is a first time one. Just oozed class and composure. Now obviously it was just a preseason friendly etc. However for the moment I think this could be the guy who saves us having to go buy someone like Kroos.

 

[MCFC ISRAEL]

Riechedly Bazoer - all night long

 

[tolmie's hairdoo]

It's understandable why many feel we are light in the central areas, lacking another stellar name...

I think too many have not factored in the manager we now have.

We will defend completely as a team, the wingers we have brought in are essentially central midfielders, tucked in and as near as damn it, full-backs to boot, when the needs calls for it, too!

It's a footballing personnel, multi-faceted, and if they don't adhere to the gameplan, Pep just changes the player to fit the team as a whole (and probably immediately in a game)

It's why I think he has looked at Delph, Fernando, Garcia and even Nasri and thought, 'they can do a job for me', so long as they can take on board his instructions and have the right attitude.

I've seen enough already in the two game v Bayern and Dortmund to see our desire and ability to press is already out of sight, in comparison to anything we have seen at City.

Once the bigger names get their fitness up, the whole cohesion of the team will look amazing.

 

[tolmie's hairdoo]

Against Dortmund I watched him intently and the thing that makes me think he may well be the reason we aren't going to buy another CM is that honestly, squint and I was watching Xavi. Every pass the right one, every pass made to look so simple, nine times out of ten the pass is a first time one. Just oozed class and composure. Now obviously it was just a preseason friendly etc. However for the moment I think this could be the guy who saves us having to go buy someone like Kroos.

Glad others have seen this. The kid has the eye of the tiger about him, as well as a pass.

There were glimpses of it against Chelsea last season.

I would put Manu Garcia, Angelino and Maffeo in the same category.

These kids are hungry and desperate to please a man they are in awe of.

 

[MarsLlama]

Fernando, Fernandinho, Delph, Touré, Nasri (think he'll come under this category this season), Gundogan and Aleix Garcia will be more than enough, at least for this season. Have a feeling Zabaleta and De Bruyne won't be against playing there if they're asked either. Garcia deserves to break through this season, same kind of path Iheanacho went through last season.

 

[MarsLlama]

Riechedly Bazoer - all night long

I hear you. I would genuinely be thrilled if we got him.

 

[Dr Jacoby]

I consider the full-back position to be our weakest area.