De Bruyne?

[supercity88]

I worry where they'll fit him in, as somebody on here said earlier, we've already got one luxury player with Nasri.

I don't know if people have regularly seen De Bruyne play but he'd certainly be a better player than Nasri and I don't really understand the term luxury player. He's got the potential to add the creativity that we often only get from Silva.

 

[NQCitizen]

Counter attack.

Exactly. Said it in the Pogba thread but I don't think Yaya and him can play in the same team without someone behind them, a Fern no doubt.

Which raises the question of where that'd put De Bruyne and Silva? Wide of a front three?

De Bruyne I'm desperate for but not sure Pogba makes sense tactically for us right now unless Yaya accepts a reduced role and Pogba can adequately replace him - imo we'd lack a deep lying playmaker.

 

[Braggster]

Exactly. Said it in the Pogba thread but I don't think Yaya and him can play in the same team without someone behind them, a Fern no doubt.

Which raises the question of where that'd put De Bruyne and Silva? Wide of a front three?

De Bruyne I'm desperate for but not sure Pogba makes sense tactically for us right now unless Yaya accepts a reduced role and Pogba can adequately replace him - imo we'd lack a deep lying playmaker.

We want Pogba [and De Bruyne] for the long term, not just next season. If it means having to rotate or use workarounds to fit Pog + Yaya into the squad next season, I'm sure we'll do that. We have to bear in mind that Yaya is now over 30. Ok, tactically, we might've preferred to buy Pogba in the same season Yaya left, but Pogba is (possibly....) available NOW. And he probably wouldn't be available next season. So we need to buy him now as it's probably our only chance.

If buying Pogba means Yaya has to sit on the bench in some big games, that's just life and the reality of being an ageing footballer.

 

[NQCitizen]

We want Pogba [and De Bruyne] for the long term, not just next season. If it means having to rotate or use workarounds to fit Pog + Yaya into the squad next season, I'm sure we'll do that. We have to bear in mind that Yaya is now over 30. Ok, tactically, we might've preferred to buy Pogba in the same season Yaya left, but Pogba is (possibly....) available NOW. And he probably wouldn't be available next season. So we need to buy him now as it's probably our only chance.

If buying Pogba means Yaya has to sit on the bench in some big games, that's just life and the reality of being an ageing footballer.

No I completely agree with regards to a long term intention, I just think people expecting Yaya and Pogba to instantly hit it off are in for a shock.

It's a nice idea but what are the odds of Yaya getting stroppy or Mino trying to move Pogba on next summer anyway?

 

[Braggster]

No I completely agree with regards to a long term intention, I just think people expecting Yaya and Pogba to instantly hit it off are in for a shock.

It's a nice idea but what are the odds of Yaya getting stroppy or Mino trying to move Pogba on next summer anyway?

Good question. I think it is quite likely Yaya might get stroppy, though he's obviously been persuaded to stay this summer and perhaps at his age would prefer a more disciplined role where he is primarily there for his passing, as a deep-lying creator managing the tempo of the side.

But I wouldn't worry too much about Pogba moving on in a year's time - he/Mino would have no leverage in terms of the contract (still 4+ years left), he would be on huge money, and City simply wouldn't sell, to anyone, unless we got a really, really huge sum. I think Barca/Mino maybe could bully us into selling, but I think it would take a combination of HUGE money (unlikely) and an element of leverage with the contract, i.e. 2 or fewer years remaining.

To me a player like De Bruyne would add so much to our options that we should try to buy him regardless (assuming the deal makes sense, of course).

 

[GStar]

Pogba------Fernanhinho
------------Yaya--------
Sterling-Aguero-Silva​

Yaya---------Fernanhino
------------Pogba--------
KDB-Aguero-Silva​

Yaya---------Pogba
------------KDB--------
Navas-Aguero-Sterling​

I think it'll not only work, but give us flexibility to compete against a range of styles.

Pellegrini just has to acknowledge that this season ;)

 

[domalino]

No I completely agree with regards to a long term intention, I just think people expecting Yaya and Pogba to instantly hit it off are in for a shock.

It's a nice idea but what are the odds of Yaya getting stroppy or Mino trying to move Pogba on next summer anyway?

Yaya is 32 and clearly not as fit enough to play his role twice a week for an entire season. He knows his career is reaching an end and if he gets disgruntled and decides he wants to leave to somewhere like Inter next summer, on half his wages, then I don't think that should be a problem for us. He'll be 33 then, and we'll have a ready made replacement in Pogba.

 

[NQCitizen]

Pogba------Fernanhinho
------------Yaya--------
Sterling-Aguero-Silva​

Yaya---------Fernanhino
------------Pogba--------
KDB-Aguero-Silva​

Yaya---------Pogba
------------KDB--------
Navas-Aguero-Sterling​

I think it'll not only work, but give us flexibility to compete against a range of styles.

Pellegrini just has to acknowledge that this season ;)

But Silva and KDB are better CAMs than Yaya and Pogba.

 

[domalino]

Pogba------Fernanhinho
------------Yaya--------
Sterling-Aguero-Silva​

Yaya---------Fernanhino
------------Pogba--------
KDB-Aguero-Silva​

Yaya---------Pogba
------------KDB--------
Navas-Aguero-Sterling​

I think it'll not only work, but give us flexibility to compete against a range of styles.

Pellegrini just has to acknowledge that this season ;)

I think Pellegrini has already acknowledged the 3 man midfield, we played Lampard-Yaya-Fernandinho in the last 6 games of last season, and won all of them.

 

[GStar]

But Silva and KDB are better CAMs than Yaya and Pogba.

Exactly, even more flexibility/options.