Dani Olmo

Bluemoon has risen said:
Spot on.

Look at the age profile of our squad:

Walker 34, Gundagon 34, KDB 33, Ortega 32, Ederson 31, Bernardo 30, Kovacic 30, Stones 30, Ake 29, Akanji 29, Grealish 29.

Then at the opposite end we have:

O'Reilly 19, Simpson-Pusey 19, Wright 19, Savinho 20, Lewis 20, Bobb 21, Doku 22, McAtee 22.

The only players in the sweet spot are:

Foden 24, Haaland 24, Nunes 26, Dias 27, Rodri 28.

Arguably 4 of our most important sit within that 23-28 age bracket aswell. It's a very imbalanced squad , and I think there's going to be some big changes over the next 2-3 seasons as most of those in the higher age bracket leave. Feels like the 115 verdict could be a seminal moment for us and could influence what we do in the market, but City need to make a statement signing at some point and sign 4 or 5 players that are the right fit for us and immediately improve our starting 11.
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You've neatly outlined the very poor squad planning which is contributing to the end of our dominance.
 
Bluemoon has risen said:
Spot on.

Look at the age profile of our squad:

Walker 34, Gundagon 34, KDB 33, Ortega 32, Ederson 31, Bernardo 30, Kovacic 30, Stones 30, Ake 29, Akanji 29, Grealish 29.

Then at the opposite end we have:

O'Reilly 19, Simpson-Pusey 19, Wright 19, Savinho 20, Lewis 20, Bobb 21, Doku 22, McAtee 22.

The only players in the sweet spot are:

Foden 24, Haaland 24, Nunes 26, Dias 27, Rodri 28.

Arguably 4 of our most important sit within that 23-28 age bracket aswell. It's a very imbalanced squad , and I think there's going to be some big changes over the next 2-3 seasons as most of those in the higher age bracket leave. Feels like the 115 verdict could be a seminal moment for us and could influence what we do in the market, but City need to make a statement signing at some point and sign 4 or 5 players that are the right fit for us and immediately improve our starting 11.
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You're right, but you've missed Gvardiol, and I'd argue that Akanji and Ake will be very good for us until they're 32, like Gundo and KDB were.

So that's 7 high quality outfield players (plus Nunes) at a good age.

Kova, Bernardo, and Grealish (if his heart is still in it) can help the transition over the next couple of years.

So we likely need three first team outfield players: a CM to play with Rodri, ahead of Kova, a RB and an AM/ winger to replace KDB.

I know KDB has been extraordinary, but I'm comfortable otherwise that we can bring in a quality CM and RB and be right up there again next season, injuries permitting.
 
Bluewonder said:
You're right, but you've missed Gvardiol, and I'd argue that Akanji and Ake will be very good for us until they're 32, like Gundo and KDB were.

So that's 7 high quality outfield players (plus Nunes) at a good age.

Kova, Bernardo, and Grealish (if his heart is still in it) can help the transition over the next couple of years.

So we likely need three first team outfield players: a CM to play with Rodri, ahead of Kova, a RB and an AM/ winger to replace KDB.

I know KDB has been extraordinary, but I'm comfortable otherwise that we can bring in a quality CM and RB and be right up there again next season, injuries permitting.
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Oops, you're right. An oversight with Gvardiol. He's currently 22 so in the younger age bracket, but next season will be in the 'sweet spot' with Doku.

I don't think all of those in the higher age bracket will leave in one go tbf as you do need experience, but I think Walker, KDB and Gundo are likely to leave. KDB and Gundo out of contract so we just need to make a ruthless decision with those two as tough as that is given the service they have given to us. Walker we need to sell, he's done. Some of the others are debatable. Stones suffering more and more injuries so worth thinking about. Ake the same but to a slightly lesser extent. Then you've got other players like Nunes and McAtee, who will probably not be happy with their overall game time who might want to leave. Will Ederson resists offers from Saudi again?

Some big decisions to be made over the next few years and with the squad as small as it is, we don't want it any lighter, so whoever leaves they need replacing and ideally we could do with adding 1 or 2 more for squad depth. It's why I'll be amazed if we don't add to the squad in January, because if we don't we've got ALOT to do in the summer.
 
Bluemoon has risen said:
Oops, you're right. An oversight with Gvardiol. He's currently 22 so in the younger age bracket, but next season will be in the 'sweet spot' with Doku.

I don't think all of those in the higher age bracket will leave in one go tbf as you do need experience, but I think Walker, KDB and Gundo are likely to leave. KDB and Gundo out of contract so we just need to make a ruthless decision with those two as tough as that is given the service they have given to us. Walker we need to sell, he's done. Some of the others are debatable. Stones suffering more and more injuries so worth thinking about. Ake the same but to a slightly lesser extent. Then you've got other players like Nunes and McAtee, who will probably not be happy with their overall game time who might want to leave. Will Ederson resists offers from Saudi again?

Some big decisions to be made over the next few years and with the squad as small as it is, we don't want it any lighter, so whoever leaves they need replacing and ideally we could do with adding 1 or 2 more for squad depth. It's why I'll be amazed if we don't add to the squad in January, because if we don't we've got ALOT to do in the summer.
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I'd like to think the squad looks something like this next season:

Ortega/ new GK

Akanji, Dias, Ake, Gvardiol,

Rodri, new CM

Savio, Foden, new AM

Haaland

Subs:

Ortega / new GK
Doku
Kova
Grealish
New back-up striker
New RB
New CB
Lewis
Academy players to fill the bench

That means we lose Ederson, Stones, Gundo, KDB and Walker, bring in 2 or 3 new starters and a couple of rotation defenders.

This isn't a huge turnover of players and that pre-existing first XI spine is still strong.
 
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Kinkladze's crazy skills said:
Teams are not scared of our central midfield area with the constant short back and side passes and lack of dynamism, they know there's no incisive pass coming so are willing to let our current ones pass side to side.

It was the perfect way to put it when @Nightmare Walking said "no point in bringing the woman home if you are impotent", as there's not an ounce of creative endeavour in the middle.

The threat of a top threaded ball by Dani Olmo to either winger making a run would be enough to force teams to open up, these teams don't care about pressing our non creative CM's and are cramming their area full with so many players around Haaland, they'd think twice about committing so many in there if someone with Olmo's vision was picking out passes.

For a free it'd be a complete no brainer and for that nobody can really complain about it, so if he'd be willing to join we should be all over it and getting Gvardiol to twist his arm.

I wouldn't be surprised if he thought about rejoining RB Leipzig instead, while also demanding a low release clause to then allow him to rejoin Barca.

If he's had enough of Barca though and fancies joining us rather than stay there, we'd be batshit crazy not to go for it he'd definitely be an improvement on what we have.
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Dont disagreewith any of that.....

But we have creativity in Foden, Doku, Savihno and KDB (if he can get on the pitch) - the whole team are afraid at the moment. I was actually at my first game for 5 years vs Everton...Foden was getting into spaces inbetween the line a lot in the first half but not getting the ball when he should have been ..the passing out from the back and through the lines to foden was awful...slow, delayed and at times not happening....

If Dani Olmo cant defend from the front then we are just going to have the same issue as playing Gundo in there at present (not a couple of years ago).....every time we lose posession in the top 3rd players will just run past him leaving our back 2 or 3 totally exposed...we need someone in there to do the rodri role - continually recycle, pick up the second ball, get a foot in and stop the counters (as well as cerate)....Dani Olmo (and I aint sure he is all that to begin with for starters) aint stopping any of that....he can create of course Im not doubting that

You build a team from the core positions and solid base - Even pep does this....Gundo in his prime, rodri and even bernardo who is an absolute work horse despite his level of technical ability....plus ball playing defenders....He had Ferna when he arrived who became an even better player under Pep - but he already had the defensive base....Look at Busquets in his prime Barca team - often overlooked cause of the Xavi Inesta and Messi

Without that players like Olmo, foden or even KDB cannt thrive...
 
Bluewonder said:
You're right, but you've missed Gvardiol, and I'd argue that Akanji and Ake will be very good for us until they're 32, like Gundo and KDB were.

So that's 7 high quality outfield players (plus Nunes) at a good age.

Kova, Bernardo, and Grealish (if his heart is still in it) can help the transition over the next couple of years.

So we likely need three first team outfield players: a CM to play with Rodri, ahead of Kova, a RB and an AM/ winger to replace KDB.

I know KDB has been extraordinary, but I'm comfortable otherwise that we can bring in a quality CM and RB and be right up there again next season, injuries permitting.
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You also forgot Old Father Scott Carson

Not quite sure, where he sits in this discussion???!!!
 
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