Centre Midfield

[Neville Kneville]

He's always been like that, even last season. A little bit on the pudgy side, I might say.

He looks fine to me.

 

[Cityfan]

Maybe, but I don't believe those two can't do more when they lose the ball, especially in short bursts as in a Barca style setup. Running 60 yards over and over in Pellegrini's turkey shoot would wear out Colin Bell, but a bit of extra fitness & extra effort in a proper formation should be possible.

I think optimising when people should make an effort is very important. Interestingly in Pep confidential the author talks about how he does not want some of his players making lots of lung busting runs so they can use their energy optimally.
Having said that I think Central midfield and full back are two positions where you do need the ability to sustain running for major parts of the game.

 

[Kompany is King]

I hope the Pep evolution does not pass Jack Byrne by as he is on loan to Blackburn.

Looks a very promising player.

 

[Neville Kneville]

I think optimising when people should make an effort is very important. Interestingly in Pep confidential the author talks about how he does not want some of his players making lots of lung busting runs so they can use their energy optimally.
Having said that I think Central midfield and full back are two positions where you do need the ability to sustain running for major parts of the game.

Well we are talking about Kroos as a potential signing, & his general m.o. is to watch people run about whilst someone else picks them up.

 

[domalino]

There are more imo & most could have helped the squad a great deal last season. Better late than never I suppose but it is annoying to sit through it & even moreso to hear some people making excuses for it.

Jack Byrne is unlucky imo as he was arguably ahead of most, if not all of them on performances last season.

Not sure how jack Byrne can possibly be described as unlucky.

He was sent on loan after Pep became coach. Clearly there was a discussion at some point and Byrne ended up on loan.

Now that could be because Pep didn't fancy him (unlikely).

Or he thinks he needs another loan before he's ready.


Or it could be that pep did like him but Jack wanted to play football every week.



But I can't see how he's unlucky. Guardiola was our manager, we know how involved he's been in the academy already, bringing loads into training and watching u18 games.

So Pep would have been part of the decision

 

[Neville Kneville]

Not sure how jack Byrne can possibly be described as unlucky.

He was sent on loan after Pep became coach. Clearly there was a discussion at some point and Byrne ended up on loan.

Now that could be because Pep didn't fancy him (unlikely)

Or it could be that pep did like him but Jack wanted to play football every week.

But I can't see how he's unlucky.

Ulucky that circumstances mean Pep hasn't seen him in a City team. If he had, I fancy he'd be in the squad.

 

[domalino]

Ulucky that circumstances mean Pep hasn't seen him in a City team. If he had, I fancy he'd be in the squad.

But Pep would have been part of the discussion when he went out on loan.

You're acting like Byrne has some how slipped through the net, and Guardiola somehow doesn't know he exists.

Does that sound like the guy who was making phonecalls to people like Boadu? The guy who's already been to see the u18s at Brentford on his day off?

No, of course not. Pep would have looked over hours of footage of Byrne, come to a conclusion about how good he was and how much he could use him, and then they would have sat down with Byrne to decide what he did this season.

The only way Jack could be unlucky is if Guardiola was not involved at all in he decision to loan him. And given everything we know about Pep's thoroughness and want for control, that seems very unlikely.

 

[Delphacito]

He looks fine to me.

PMSL. But our ginger pele has never been on the muscular side. It's just how it is me thinks.

 

[Edwin Edwin]

Moving forward,Merlin will have to accept a deeper role where he may have to put in a bit of graft now that KDB is arguably the numero uno no.10..No chance on the wings with Marlos,G.Jesus,RS7,Roberts,Sané coming through..Can see Pep playing him deeper cause of his ability on the ball this season..alongside Fernandinho & Gundogan.

 

[Neville Kneville]

But Pep would have been part of the discussion when he went out on loan.

You're acting like Byrne has some how slipped through the net, and Guardiola somehow doesn't know he exists.

Does that sound like the guy who was making phonecalls to people like Boadu? The guy who's already been to see the u18s at Brentford on his day off?

No, of course not. Pep would have looked over hours of footage of Byrne, come to a conclusion about how good he was and how much he could use him, and then they would have sat down with Byrne to decide what he did this season.

The only way Jack could be unlucky is if Guardiola was not involved at all in he decision to loan him. And given everything we know about Pep's thoroughness and want for control, that seems very unlikely.

I'm not acting like anything. If Garcia had been offered a decent loan, he might well have decided to go. Therefore Pep wouldn't have seen him.

Simple.