Current First XI and formation with no injuries Dec 2025

ChicagoBlue

Well-Known Member
Joined
10 Jan 2009
Messages
21,841
Cat, meet pigeons!

…………….….Donnarumma
Khusanov……..…Dias……….Gvardiol
……………..Rodri……..Bernardo
Reijnders…Cherki…Foden...Doku
…………….…….Haaland


Feel bad leaving out Nunes, O’Reilly, and Stones, but I feel like these are our best players and their best positions in the team.
 
Sudden realisation - our best team isn't that strong.

That formation is only good for weak opposition, against a decent side our right hand side would be murdered and with only Doku and Bernardo protecting the left.
Not sure what role in that side Reijenders is playing either.
 
So our current first formation is one that we've never ever played (unless you're shoehorning Bernardo in at left back when they've got the ball ala Arsenal away the other year where unsurprisingly he got found out defensively), sums up where we are at the minute I suppose
 
Cat, meet pigeons!

…………….….Donnarumma
Khusanov……..…Dias……….Gvardiol
……………..Rodri……..Bernardo
Reijnders…Cherki…Foden...Doku
…………….…….Haaland


Feel bad leaving out Nunes, O’Reilly, and Stones, but I feel like these are our best players and their best positions in the team.
Is this what is called "engagement farming" these days?

As much as we want Khusanov to succeed, what's he done to demonstrate he's deserving of a starting place in our strongest 11? We've never played three at the back, and if we can ignore that derby at home (shudder) then Nunes is our best right back option right now. Hopefully we address that in January or next summer.

Since the Wolves game, over three months ago, Reijnders has underwhelmed. I think Cherki has shown flashes but at this stage can't be considered one of our best 11.

I'd go with:

Donnarumma
Back four of Nunes-Dias-Gvardiol-O'Reilly
Rodri and Nico holding the midfield
Narrow three of Marmoush-Foden-Doku
Haaland up top

Right wing is a watch-out for me as neither Bobb or Savinho have impressed. Get Marmoush in there and Nunes providing the width from full back. But we need to address that side in the transfer market.
 
  • Like
Reactions: CC1
Our current best 11 and formation is the one we’ve played of late up until the Leverkusen game where it was different.

Donna, Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly, Nico G, Bernardo, Foden, a right winger, Doku, Haaland.

Our issues stem from the right wing imo. All our play is via Doku on the left. Doku can’t play every three days at the same level, when he drops out we need Marmoush to be bang on it.

On the right, Cherki plays well in certain games where Nunes can provide the width, but this doesn’t work against every team hence Savinho, but Savinho is naff.

Priorities for me:

We need a pacey right winger who can score and beat a man and beat packed defences.

We need a Bernardo type player, who for me has gone under the radar as one of our most important players this season, and towards the end of last season once the system changed. When he plays, he drops deep to receive the ball, allowing the fullbacks to bomb on, he can take the ball in any situation or nook and cranny and keep it, which Reinjders can’t do.

If you look at the heatmap of Bernardo vs Reinjders you start to see why we win when Bernardo plays.

Other than that I think we need a centre half to replace at least Ake, and a right back to rotate with Nunes.

Don’t have to do it all at once but one or two in January, with Rodri returning and we’ll be in a much strong position.
 
Cat, meet pigeons!

…………….….Donnarumma
Khusanov……..…Dias……….Gvardiol
……………..Rodri……..Bernardo
Reijnders…Cherki…Foden...Doku
…………….…….Haaland


Feel bad leaving out Nunes, O’Reilly, and Stones, but I feel like these are our best players and their best positions in the team.
Gonzaelz is in our strongest XI - all day and every day. Nico O'Reilly also is one of the first names on the team sheet.

Reijnders doesnt belong anywhere near our strongest XI. Hes flat track bullied Wolves and then disappeared.
 
Cat, meet pigeons!

…………….….Donnarumma
Khusanov……..…Dias……….Gvardiol
……………..Rodri……..Bernardo
Reijnders…Cherki…Foden...Doku
…………….…….Haaland


Feel bad leaving out Nunes, O’Reilly, and Stones, but I feel like these are our best players and their best positions in the team.
Reijnders has done little to justify a claim in the starting eleven. Cherki has a bit to prove as well that he can cope with the physicality and speed of the Premier League. I have to go with:

Donna

Nunes
Dias
Guardiol
O'Reilly

Rodri
Gonzales
Phil
Bernie
Doku
Haaland

Bernie/Doku/Foden interchange in the middle/wide
 
Reijnders has done little to justify a claim in the starting eleven. Cherki has a bit to prove as well that he can cope with the physicality and speed of the Premier League. I have to go with:

Donna

Nunes
Dias
Guardiol
O'Reilly

Rodri
Gonzales
Phil
Bernie
Doku
Haaland

Bernie/Doku/Foden interchange in the middle/wide
I think that is likely what we’ll see once Rodri is back up to speed. Nico G and Bernardo won’t lose their place, the right winger will.
 
Cat, meet pigeons!

…………….….Donnarumma
Khusanov……..…Dias……….Gvardiol
……………..Rodri……..Bernardo
Reijnders…Cherki…Foden...Doku
…………….…….Haaland


Feel bad leaving out Nunes, O’Reilly, and Stones, but I feel like these are our best players and their best positions in the team.
O'Reilly has to be involved. I was impressed with Stones vs Leverkusen. They are two of our best players. I am not sure about Khusanov. I feel he will be a central defender in 1-2 seasons but at the moment I would not play him.

City are a little vulnerable away from home. We are not making the most from good chances and the midfield does no dominate.

Arsenal are going to run away with the title unless we can start winning home and away. It is possible. If we could add Rodri to this squad, I think that's all we'd need. But can we? His rehab is likely to be a long process.
 
Says a lot when most have to include Bernie

And the most it dies highlight is how shite our transfers and policy are
 
Donnarumma

Nunes
Dias
Gvardiol
O'Reilly

Rodri
Nico

Cherki
Foden
Doku

Haaland

Is our best XI imo

Though I wouldn't mind seeing

Donnarumma

Khusanov
Dias
Gvardiol

Nico/Bernardo
Rodri
O'Reilly

Foden
Cherki

Marmoush
Haaland
 
Cat, meet pigeons!

…………….….Donnarumma
Khusanov……..…Dias……….Gvardiol
……………..Rodri……..Bernardo
Reijnders…Cherki…Foden...Doku
…………….…….Haaland


Feel bad leaving out Nunes, O’Reilly, and Stones, but I feel like these are our best players and their best positions in the team.
Khusanov is no where near Nunes level yet. Rodri is a totally unknown quantity even if fit. So Gonzalez has to play. It's a toss up between Stones and Gvardiol at centre back. Reijnders is totally off it at the moment.
 
Khusanov is no where near Nunes level yet. Rodri is a totally unknown quantity even if fit. So Gonzalez has to play. It's a toss up between Stones and Gvardiol at centre back. Reijnders is totally off it at the moment.
Khusanov looks like a very strong central defender in the making but I also prefer Nunes at right back for the moment unless we are up against powerful left-sided forwards e.g., Vinicius. Mbappe etc. Khusanov is one for the future imo.

Two City players stood out in the 2nd half vs Leverkusen: Stones and O'Reilly. They are very good players.

Ultimately, I think that we are going to struggle in the big away games unless we can control midfield and that is going to depend on Rodri. He has been so important for us for 2-3 seasons now. Pep said last weekend that he was close to a return but I have not seem him back in training yet. We may have to wait until the New Year and by then Arsenal might be over the horizon. There is still a very long way to go in this season. The immediate job is to put the Leverkusen defeat out of our system.

Before the international week, most City fans were very positive. Then came Newcastle which was a very tight game. It was too for Arsenal. They got over the line at the death. We could have done so too. It was genuinely close. However we are unconvincing away from home. I don't see City being able to put a long winning run together until Rodri returns. We give teams chances at the moment.
 
Says a lot when most have to include Bernie

And the most it dies highlight is how shite our transfers and policy are
We are 3rd after rebuilding. It's not a total write-off. Leverkusen was on Pep and we should ignore the result when it features a 2nd XI. Newcastle was very close.

Add a fit Rodri to what we have, and it's all systems go imo.
 
Our current best 11 and formation is the one we’ve played of late up until the Leverkusen game where it was different.

Donna, Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly, Nico G, Bernardo, Foden, a right winger, Doku, Haaland.

Our issues stem from the right wing imo. All our play is via Doku on the left. Doku can’t play every three days at the same level, when he drops out we need Marmoush to be bang on it.

On the right, Cherki plays well in certain games where Nunes can provide the width, but this doesn’t work against every team hence Savinho, but Savinho is naff.

Priorities for me:

We need a pacey right winger who can score and beat a man and beat packed defences.

We need a Bernardo type player, who for me has gone under the radar as one of our most important players this season, and towards the end of last season once the system changed. When he plays, he drops deep to receive the ball, allowing the fullbacks to bomb on, he can take the ball in any situation or nook and cranny and keep it, which Reinjders can’t do.

If you look at the heatmap of Bernardo vs Reinjders you start to see why we win when Bernardo plays.

Other than that I think we need a centre half to replace at least Ake, and a right back to rotate with Nunes.

Don’t have to do it all at once but one or two in January, with Rodri returning and we’ll be in a much strong position.
I think we need to replace both Ake and Dias but I'm not sure how much agreement I'll get with the second.
 
Why does Gvardiol continually get a free pass? I’m not Dias’s biggest fan either, by the way, but this feller doesn’t seem to be getting any better. Continually gives the ball away, often in highly dangerous positions, wears lead boots which stops him jumping and, worst of all, is passionless and seemingly unable to tackle. And he’s not been booked (mind you, only CH booked is Khusanov and he was playing RB). Worst of all though, why he didn’t take Martinelli down at the Emirates. Red card for sure but 3 points almost guaranteed.
 

Don't have an account? Register now and see fewer ads!

SIGN UP
Back
Top