Defensive midfielder

[ChicagoBlue]

I'm not slagging him, but if he is unfit and struggling at CB, surely he's going to struggle in centre midfield where he's not played?

I think we all need to cut the players a little slack. Many of them are playing through injuries, some of them clearly quite unfit to play on a normal basis, but they’re sacrificing for the club.

In a team that’s not quite clicking, yet relies on a team approach, it doesn’t take but one or two players to be under par for the cracks to show.

The defenders have not only been exposed by playing with injuries, but also by being left completely isolated by a virtually non-existent midfield with any defensive capabilities.

It’s one thing to be asked to play man to man at the back against a big strong rabbit when you’re fit, but it’s a completely different thing to be asked to do it when you’re not fit AND there is a phalanx of attacking midfielders pouring through the holes in your defensive midfield cover!

As for him playing DM, it’s clearly not his preferred position, and when he has been asked to step in, it’s usually been alongside Rodri, not instead of him.

It would be nice to play ONE LINE UP this season where every player is playing in their best/preferred position, they’re all fit, and subs are like for like, not a wholesale reshuffle of the team!!

 

[shevtheblue]

Agree with you completely. Our success in recent years has been built around tactics totally dependent on one person.

Rodri at his peak was undoubtedly the best player in his position in the world.
However the tactic of depending on one person is no longer sustainable.
Rodri himself complained about being overplayed before his injury.

We cannot be sure how Rodri will be when he returns so to wait to see how he will be is ridiculous.

In this transfer window we need two players who can play defensive midfield to allow for rotation even when Rodri comes back.

I think Pep will go to a double pivot formation for defensive midfield and no longer rely on one player only.

IMO if we don't address the hole in our midfield now our season is effectively over. I believe unless we take action in the transfer market there is no chance we will finish top 4/5. We definitely won't win the FA Cup and IF we get through to the next round of the CL we will exit it the next round.

In the words of Elvis " It's now or never " !!

Even before we got Rodri, when Fern was out or injured..we were always in trouble. We got Rodri in to work on him and build what he is now, but we really don't have time for that now. Bruno G is there, he understands the league and he can play 6 and 8 for us - it's a no brainer IMO. They'll want 100m+ obviously but it ticks a lot of boxes.

 

[Cobwebcat]

Even before we got Rodri, when Fern was out or injured..we were always in trouble. We got Rodri in to work on him and build what he is now, but we really don't have time for that now. Bruno G is there, he understands the league and he can play 6 and 8 for us - it's a no brainer IMO. They'll want 100m+ obviously but it ticks a lot of boxes.

Agree, we need an outstanding DM not a back up.

A very good DM is vital to this team and we can’t have this mess every time Rodders can’t play.

 

[Blue tiger]

The defenders have not only been exposed by playing with injuries, but also by being left completely isolated by a virtually non-existent midfield with any defensive capabilities.

It’s one thing to be asked to play man to man at the back against a big strong rabbit when you’re fit, but it’s a completely different thing to be asked to do it when you’re not fit AND there is a phalanx of attacking midfielders pouring through the holes in your defensive midfield cover!

As for him playing DM, it’s clearly not his preferred position, and when he has been asked to step in, it’s usually been alongside Rodri, not instead of him.

Agree with all of that mate which surely lends itself to my point that Stones and Akanji should not be flogged and asked to play midfield.

 

[Dribble]

Wouldnt mind him, just dont think they'll sell this window or he'll be a target come summer either.

Real have said internally that if they receive an offer of around £80m, they'll consider it for Tchouameni. He's got more than everything we need for now & for when Rodri's finally back & up to full strength.

With a player like Tchouameni, we also wouldn't need to rush Rodri back & throw him in the deep end. He could effectively take half a season getting his rhythm back & increasing his match fitness & sharpness without us being desperate for him to perform at the highest level in crucial matches.

This is essentially what Rodri was pleading for before his injury, & we owe it to him to ensure the success or failure of Manchester City doesn't solely rely on him playing.

It's time we stopped fuckin around with half these CDM's & utility hybrid players I've never heard of, & make a move for a baller who was technically outstanding at Monaco & is a physical beast.

 

[Bluearmy]

This suggests a player would rather move to a Forest side that has just finished third after avoiding relegation the last two years over a City side that have come fifth after four titles on the bounce

I don’t believe that’s the case. In terms of stature, pull, salary, trophy opportunities etc City’s allure is barely dampened by one season out of the Champions League

The truly hungry, ambitious players we want will be MORE excited about being part of Pep’s rebuild, if anything

Again your at the extremes. No top player is going to Forest anyway…

The top top players are going to 6/7 clubs max. If one of those clubs falls out of the CL one year, then in all likelihood they will choose go to one of the remaining teams who are still in that competition. Its a huge draw. PSR will also compounding this issue as we are already seeing. Falling out of the CL next season will cause us issues for future seasons… To think otherwise is cloud cuckoo land thinking!!

 

[Bluearmy]

Agree, we need an outstanding DM not a back up.

A very good DM is vital to this team and we can’t have this mess every time Rodders can’t play.

The issue with that is, they know Rodri is back next season and wont come now to sit on the bench then….

 

[Manchester_lalala]

O'Reilly kept giving the ball away in a cameo against Ipswich when 6 nil up .

But he's from the academy so get em in .

Young players make mistakes, they need minutes to grow. Our current midfield isn’t fit for purpose against good sides. Oreilly or Wright would give us the legs we need.

 

[Eric Hitchmough]

The issue with that is, they know Rodri is back next season and wont come now to sit on the bench then….

Any player worth his salt should back his own ability and challenge Rodri for that starting spot.

Plus the fact, a post-ACL Rodri who turns 29 this year shouldn’t be playing 65 matches a season anymore. We learnt that lesson the hard way.

Whoever comes in will get his fair share of minutes.

 

[Bluearmy]

Any player worth his salt should back his own ability and challenge Rodri for that starting spot.

Plus the fact, a post-ACL Rodri who turns 29 this year shouldn’t be playing 65 matches a season anymore. We learnt that lesson the hard way.

Whoever comes in will get his fair share of minutes.

Not happening.

Someone like Luiz, Tchouameni, Guimaraes. Who can play in a couple of positions. Maybe??

 

[Cobwebcat]

The issue with that is, they know Rodri is back next season and wont come now to sit on the bench then….

Zubimendi is going to Arsenal and they have Rice.

Get the best

 

[Dribble]

The issue with that is, they know Rodri is back next season and wont come now to sit on the bench then….

Any player with that kind of mentality doesn't belong at City. We need players who try to be better than those around them & who aren't afraid of a challenge or having to prove themselves.

 

[King Jay]

guimaires or tonali would be perfect. Can play with or without Rodri. Newcastle really got the best midfield currently in the PL. one of them with Rodri and then with Bernardo + Kovacic/ Nunes as backup would be good. We won’t get rid of everyone anyways.

 

[Gaz (FMwkdsoul)]

Is zubi confirmed for arsenal, the mail article might have well been a rumour. nothing confirmed at all

 

[Stelea]

The issue with that is, they know Rodri is back next season and wont come now to sit on the bench then….

Could play next to him

 

[Gordyola]

Is zubi confirmed for arsenal, the mail article might have well been a rumour. nothing confirmed at all

Agreed terms with him apparently since he has a buy out then it should be simple Other clubs could step in and make a better off so nothing certain

 

[balotelli's back pocket]

Zubimendi is going to Arsenal and they have Rice.

Get the best

Rice isn't really a 6, though. He's played his best football in a double pivot or as a box to box midfielder.

 

[Sir Joe Aguero]

I’d much rather we drop serious money on Baleba tbh. You’d get 10 years out of him

Madrid distanced themselves from Kimmich in Marca yesterday.

Baleba could very easily be the next Wharton I.e a player who a year ago everyone said we need to spend 80mil on and he’s the next big thing only to be forgotten about a year later. Wonder who Brighton are looking at for when they sell him for a big profit.

 

[Shazza458]

Baleba could very easily be the next Wharton I.e a player who a year ago everyone said we need to spend 80mil on and he’s the next big thing only to be forgotten about a year later. Wonder who Brighton are looking at for when they sell him for a big profit.

Carlos Baleba is going to be one of the best. He’s so clear of a Wharton

 

[FromPollockToSilva]

Again your at the extremes. No top player is going to Forest anyway…

The top top players are going to 6/7 clubs max. If one of those clubs falls out of the CL one year, then in all likelihood they will choose go to one of the remaining teams who are still in that competition. Its a huge draw. PSR will also compounding this issue as we are already seeing. Falling out of the CL next season will cause us issues for future seasons… To think otherwise is cloud cuckoo land thinking!!

The last summer that we didn’t have Champions League football the following season, we signed Yaya, Silva, Kolarov, Balotelli, Milner and Boateng, three of whom left Champions League clubs to join us

Oh and Džeko in January