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.

 

[Neville Kneville]

We have shitloads of games.

All of them will play shitloads of games (if they sign). They will not always all play in the same games. It's no problem whatsoever no matter how you look at it.

 

[ONTHERUNWITHTHAKSIN]

Would really like KDB and as for Yaya well IMO he knows age is catching him up and he's looking at getting into coaching.

KDB, Pogba and Sterling would be a mad transfer window which all major European clubs will look at with envy.

 

[GStar]

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.

I hope so, my main gripe was his insistence (at least via press conferences) that we are only concerned with how we set up, not our opponent. Imo, that was the source of our 442 and despite our players proving it did actually work at the highest level (Barca away 2nd half for example) they obviously weren't comfortable playing it regularly.

Pushing Yaya forward, I think makes sense for all of us, we get more out of him now he's 32 and we've seen even as recent as Swansea he's still capable of scoring plenty of goals.

 

[Neville Kneville]

Would really like KDB and as for Yaya well IMO he knows age is catching him up and he's looking at getting into coaching.

KDB, Pogba and Sterling would be a mad transfer window which all major European clubs will look at with envy.

Wouldn't surprise me if Yaya Toure is City's best midfield player next season tbh. He seems well rested & very keen, & if he's fit, he's miles better than the players we are signing, imo.

 

[ONTHERUNWITHTHAKSIN]

Wouldn't surprise me if Yaya Toure is City's best midfield player next season tbh. He seems well rested & very keen, & if he's fit, he's miles better than the players we are signing, imo.

Can see Yaya being used more as DM next year if we get Pogba as his presence would be crucial and not as we all know him being more effective further forward.

Different game next year if we sign the 3 of our main targets.

 

[TRUE BLUE NO1]

Sorry its google translate(French report).....don't know the source but wanted to post to thread....

http://www.foot-sur7.fr/246589-psg-transfert-kevin-de-bruyne-voudrait-venir-mais

PSG - Transfer: Kevin De Bruyne would come, but ... !

Kevin De Bruyne wants to join PSG woos to strengthen his midfield. Although Angel Di Maria is in the crosshairs of the Parisian leaders, the young Belgian was interested in the Parisian destination where it is high on his list of targets. Kevin De Bruyne, Wolfsburg holds the key to his transfer Kevin De Bruyne pleases the Paris Saint-Germain since its outbreak in the Bundesliga, the Wolfsburg side. According to the latest information released by RMC, it would be ready to join the PSG club which he had already spoken with his compatriot Eden Hazard, himself a former Parisian target. A source close to the matter says to the media: "Kevin, who speaks fluent French, would be to continue to Paris. He has already spoken with PSG Eden Hazard, but discussions with Wolfsburg would be very complicated. " It is true that Wolfsburg claimed a big check for the transfer of the player he had bought 21.5 million euros to Chelsea on 18 January 2014. A season later, the German club widely demanded more than € 50 million for its sale.

 

[GStar]

Can see Yaya being used more as DM next year if we get Pogba as his presence would be crucial and not as we all know him being more effective further forward.

Different game next year if we sign the 3 of our main targets.

I think it'll be the other way round, Pogba's defensive game is probably stronger than Yaya - he has the legs and the tenacity to play a more traditional box-to-box role.

Yaya is an elite deep lying playmaker - his range and accuracy of passing is fantastic, but as we've seen he lacks the motivation to track his man and do the less glamorous side of things.

I'd play Pogba deeper, with license to roam, knowing Fernandinho is his insurance with Yaya left to terrorise defences.

 

[@BluePhil8]

Would really like KDB and as for Yaya well IMO he knows age is catching him up and he's looking at getting into coaching.

KDB, Pogba and Sterling would be a mad transfer window which all major European clubs will look at with envy.

Basically we'd be signing the best 3 young players in Europe.

 

[supercity88]

Wouldn't surprise me if Yaya Toure is City's best midfield player next season tbh. He seems well rested & very keen, & if he's fit, he's miles better than the players we are signing, imo.

Totally agree. He's been told he's wanted and he's going to be playing in a refreshed side with a renewed desire to win trophies. I think he's going to be the same force he was the season before and if we sign Pogba the two of them will flourish next to each other. Yaya's the sort of player that will just love feeding off the ability of those around him and I think it's going to be an exciting season. We've now got Sterling as an extra outlet with pace and skill on the wing and with Silva and Aguero also on the pitch it's a lot for the opposition to deal with even before you potentially add Pogba and De Bruyne.

 

[onceabluealways]

It's a good discussion do we push Yaya forward or deeper. I think with the current squad he goes forward - if we get these three players hen I think he is better for the team in a deeper roll as the link between defence and Attacking players. He sits deeper without the need to keep bombing forward with ferna and pogba either side. So he sort of plays the roll Pirlo played for Juve.