Centre Midfield

Neville Kneville said:
For the Champions League we have a problem, but not for the Prem so much, as the young players all get a free pass as U21. When Stones arrives we then have another to consider.

But irrespective, it looks like two or 3 have to go.

But I suppose if they want to be on the bench in the Prem & not included in he Champs Lg squad, raher tham move on, it's their decision.
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Sorry if this has already been asked but I thought U21s don't count in the CL either?
 
Maybe I'm being swept up in the Pep Effect but personally I feel he might just use Alex Garcia or at least try him in the first half of th season.
 
Gaudion M said:
The prem rule is that under 21’s are unlimited so Nacho, Zinchenko and Sane would not be counted. Stones is 22 although PL does not differentiate between Club and Association Trained so in simple terms Stones fits within the 8 ‘English players’ list for the PL. However in the CL he would take one of 4 slots that are already filled so we would be creating a problem with the CL spaces! Denayer counts as club trained and is in all lists without a problem.

I think we need 4 out at least (Kolarov, Yaya, Nasri, Bony).
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That's why I mentioned Stones as another we would have to consider. But if we look at the Prem, with the squad as it is now, we would probably only need to sell/loan out 1 player.

The Champs League, we leave out a couple of the older players plus, say Zinchenko, & we are more or less covered. Until Jan, when Jesus arrives.

It may be that the Champs Lg fate of the senior players is being decided right now, in training. Then of course it's possible Mangala may never even come back if Stones signs.
 
Full backs is the biggest concern for me. I can see some surprises in those positions because they are so important to an attack minded team and neither Clichy or Sagna are good enough going forward for me. Kolorov and Zab are not good enough defensively nowadays.
 
mavsmcfc said:
It's one of the reason why I think Pep's not going for any other CM other than Kroos. He knows it's close to impossible to getting him, but maybe he thinks it's either Kroos or nobody at all. Maybe he has the fallback plan which having Silva as CM. Silva and Xavi is pretty similar athletically, both relies on their smarts more than anything else. But then again, this is just speculation in my part, trying to guess what's inside Pep's head. I would also not be surprised if he promotes Aleix Garcia to play there. I mean he did pick Busquets who was a particularly unknown figure back then to replace Yaya (of all people).
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I think we have several players who are potentially able to play centre mid & we can find the right blend/s during the season. I also think Kroos does a job for Germany which Pep doesn't actually employ in his teams, he usually has a more robust player defensively at the back of the midfield, so had Kroos signed, I don't think we would have played him in Busquets spot. I don't think Kroos is a better option elsewhere, than Silva (if fit) so I'm happy not to have him.
 
bugsyblue said:
Sorry if this has already been asked but I thought U21s don't count in the CL either?
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If they weren't registered with us beforehand for 2 seasons, then we must name them in our 25 men CL squad even if they are U21.

So Sane, for example, will take a foreign spot on our 'A' CL squad list (from the maximum of 17 foreigners).
 
balotelli's back pocket said:
Gundogan, Dinho, Delph, Fernando, Yaya, Kdb, Silva, Nasri, A.Garcia, M.Garcia, Zinchenko....
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Both Garcia's and Zinchenko are very young. Whilst it would be great for them to be involved we don't know with any certainty if they will be part of the squad this season. Also I wouldn't class KDB or Silva, and possibly Nasri as a central midfielder.

That would leave us with Fernandinho, Gundogan, Delph, Fernando and Yaya out of the established squad for central midfield positions. Fernandinho is already being earmarked to play in a different position, Delph likewise, while Gundogan is due back in early September. We have great options in the squad, with flexibility that by all accounts Pep requires, but personally I would like another established central midfielder to bolster the ranks. I think we would then be very well equipped for injuries, suspensions or loss of form.

One factor that may affect any decision on signing an extra midfielder is that Stones has been muted to play a defensive midfield role on occasions, if that is part of Pep's thinking he might not require another midfielder.

If the young lads are given a chance then great, Pep is used to bringing them through and by all accounts we have some very promising players on the brink of the first team. It'll be interesting to see what happens with comings and goings from now until the transfer window closes.
 
bugsyblue said:
Sorry if this has already been asked but I thought U21s don't count in the CL either?
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In the Prem, any fucker U21 (in Jan this year I think) is eligible. In the CL they have to have been registered at the club for (2? 3 ?) years in order to be registerd as U21.

So Denayer would be U21 & able to play in the CL (which is why it was so fucking ridiculously stupid to loan him out last season, don't get me stated ;) ) but Kelechi, Sane etc would have to take up a place as a senior player if selected for the squad.
 
Bellamy's Caddy said:
Both Garcia's and Zinchenko are very young. Whilst it would be great for them to be involved we don't know with any certainty if they will be part of the squad this season. Also I wouldn't class KDB or Silva, and possibly Nasri as a central midfielder.

That would leave us with Fernandinho, Gundogan, Delph, Fernando and Yaya out of the established squad for central midfield positions. Fernandinho is already being earmarked to play in a different position, Delph likewise, while Gundogan is due back in early September. We have great options in the squad, with flexibility that by all accounts Pep requires, but personally I would like another established central midfielder to bolster the ranks. I think we would then be very well equipped for injuries, suspensions or loss of form.

One factor that may affect any decision on signing an extra midfielder is that Stones has been muted to play a defensive midfield role on occasions, if that is part of Pep's thinking he might not require another midfielder.

If the young lads are given a chance then great, Pep is used to bringing them through and by all accounts we have some very promising players on the brink of the first team. It'll be interesting to see what happens with comings and goings from now until the transfer window closes.
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Where do you hink silva and kdb are gonna play hen? Up feont? If we play a 4 3 3, they will be midfielders. End of.
 
Bellamy's Caddy said:
Both Garcia's and Zinchenko are very young. Whilst it would be great for them to be involved we don't know with any certainty if they will be part of the squad this season. Also I wouldn't class KDB or Silva, and possibly Nasri as a central midfielder.

That would leave us with Fernandinho, Gundogan, Delph, Fernando and Yaya out of the established squad for central midfield positions. Fernandinho is already being earmarked to play in a different position, Delph likewise, while Gundogan is due back in early September. We have great options in the squad, with flexibility that by all accounts Pep requires, but personally I would like another established central midfielder to bolster the ranks. I think we would then be very well equipped for injuries, suspensions or loss of form.

One factor that may affect any decision on signing an extra midfielder is that Stones has been muted to play a defensive midfield role on occasions, if that is part of Pep's thinking he might not require another midfielder.

If the young lads are given a chance then great, Pep is used to bringing them through and by all accounts we have some very promising players on the brink of the first team. It'll be interesting to see what happens with comings and goings from now until the transfer window closes.
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Because we don't see Silva etc, as centre mids, doesn't mean a great manager can't see them there. Maybe he can ? In Silva's case, I think it might be his only chance of a long term future at the club. I can't see him keeping KDB, Sane, Jesus, Sterling, Moreno & all the kids such as Manu Garcia, Diaz etc out of the team in the attacking mid/forward positions for much longer.

Stones, Denayer, Angelino in a Lahm style role, are also possibliities under a manager willing to think outside the box. Then we have a winter transfer window & then next summer. I don't think the plan is for an instant team, we are building one.
 
balotelli's back pocket said:
Where do you hink silva and kdb are gonna play hen? Up feont? If we play a 4 3 3, they will be midfielders. End of.
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In a 433 I would think they would be the most advanced midfielder, with two central midfielders behind them. As the thread is about central midfielders I was talking about who might play in those positions.
 
Bellamy's Caddy said:
Both Garcia's and Zinchenko are very young. Whilst it would be great for them to be involved we don't know with any certainty if they will be part of the squad this season. Also I wouldn't class KDB or Silva, and possibly Nasri as a central midfielder.

That would leave us with Fernandinho, Gundogan, Delph, Fernando and Yaya out of the established squad for central midfield positions. Fernandinho is already being earmarked to play in a different position, Delph likewise, while Gundogan is due back in early September. We have great options in the squad, with flexibility that by all accounts Pep requires, but personally I would like another established central midfielder to bolster the ranks. I think we would then be very well equipped for injuries, suspensions or loss of form.

One factor that may affect any decision on signing an extra midfielder is that Stones has been muted to play a defensive midfield role on occasions, if that is part of Pep's thinking he might not require another midfielder.

If the young lads are given a chance then great, Pep is used to bringing them through and by all accounts we have some very promising players on the brink of the first team. It'll be interesting to see what happens with comings and goings from now until the transfer window closes.
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Fernandinho is not being earmarked to play in another position. That's just not true.

Pep said he could play CB when asked if Fernandinho could play CB like Mascherano, he also said he could play 10 positions.

He didn't say he *will* and his moves in the transfermarket don't back it up.
 
Bellamy's Caddy said:
In a 433 I would think they would be the most advanced midfielder, with two central midfielders behind them. As the thread is about central midfielders I was talking about who might play in those positions.
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Pep usually plays with 1 anchor and 2 attacking midfielders.
 
Neville Kneville said:
Because we don't see Silva etc, as centre mids, doesn't mean a great manager can't see them there. Maybe he can ? In Silva's case, I think it might be his only chance of a long term future at the club. I can't see him keeping KDB, Sane, Jesus, Sterling, Moreno & all the kids such as Manu Garcia, Diaz etc out of the team in the attacking mid/forward positions for much longer.

Stones, Denayer, Angelino in a Lahm style role, are also possibliities under a manager willing to think outside the box. Then we have a winter transfer window & then next summer. I don't think the plan is for an instant team, we are building one.
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Yeah the Silva situation is an interesting one. I agree, I don't think he'll keep the players you have mentioned out of the team for long. Especially with the high intensity pressing game Pep will have us playing.

Agree that Pep is building a team, but we will still be expected to compete in the interim.
 
Neville Kneville said:
In the Prem, any fucker U21 (in Jan this year I think) is eligible. In the CL they have to have been registered at the club for (2? 3 ?) years in order to be registerd as U21.

So Denayer would be U21 & able to play in the CL (which is why it was so fucking ridiculously stupid to loan him out last season, don't get me stated ;) ) but Kelechi, Sane etc would have to take up a place as a senior player if selected for the squad.
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Thank you and @Hungarian blue for the explanation. I didn't realise that, looks like we have to make some tough decisions but hopefully means some CL exposure for the kids.
 
Bellamy's Caddy said:
Agree that Pep is building a team, but we will still be expected to compete in the interim.
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And you think Pep doesn't realise that?

You have been presented with two world class CMs, Gundogan and Fernandinho, with a range of available, albeit younger, backup options available. I'm not quite sure what more you want, especially since we can only field so many players.
 
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