Gundogan

[Maxi]

Pep likes youth.

A. Garcia could be a strong possibility. I think he has a big future for us.

I hope so.

 

[Dax777]

Gundogan has not played that role before though, Klopp didn't use that kind of player in his team at all and had Bender/Kehl do most of the defensive work, meanwhile Tuchel has Weigl who plays that part for his team while Gundogan has a license to go forward. Just because he's played deeper in a midfield two doesn't mean he's actually played the role of a defensive player focusing on pinpoint distribution and keeping control of the game's tempo, although he's decent defensively he's always been partnered with a defensive-minded player so that he can also go forward where he's at his best, a mild case of what Pellegrini did with the Yaya and Fernandinho midfield.

Obviously Pep often plays players out of their natural position and makes it work, on top of those you mentioned there's also Messi as a false nine, Fabregas as a false nine and even as a winger once, Javi Martinez, Alaba and Kimmich as centerbacks, the list goes on and on. However that specific role is of such great importance that I can't imagine him bringing in someone who's not naturally going to fill in seamlessly, when you also consider that Gundogan will miss preseason and won't have time to adapt to a role he's never played I just can't see it. Despite having great all around midfielders like Kroos and Schweinsteiger at Bayern Pep brought in an aging Alonso instead, you need to have the right instincts and football intelligence to be able to play like that, it's not something that can simply be taught.

To me sticking Gundogan down there just doesn't make sense, why would you limit a player that can make a run like this and link up play in the box like this in a desperate attempt to make him play a way he's never done before when he's got so much more to offer? We might aswell make Fernandinho play the role if we're looking to convert a player away from his natural role, even though he's not ideal he's at least better suited towards it than Gundogan.

Also, let's not talk about getting players like Pogba and Isco when we haven't been linked to them from reliable sources at all this window, we can't assume transfers like those will happen.

Hmmm! I think we are in the semantics realm now. Even with Kehl and Bender, Gundogan was still the deepest CM. In my view that's the DM. That Bendtner and Kehl were more aggressive, didn't change who was playing where. This season Weigl was actually often the deepest CM, which makes him the DM.

If your issue is that we require a tackler in that role, then that's different. W' have a philosophical difference then in how we view things forganizationthink we do. I think we need someone who can orchestrate from deep. I think and believe Gundogan is that guy. I think Silva/Nasri/DeBryune can run the other 2 positions comfortably.

You may ask, but where is the ball tackler? And I'd respond, it will come from better organization and not from one guy.

 

[ADegenerate]

Hmmm! I think we are in the semantics realm now. Even with Kehl and Bender, Gundogan was still the deepest CM. In my view that's the DM. That Bendtner and Kehl were more aggressive, didn't change who was playing where. This season Weigl was actually often the deepest CM, which makes him the DM.

If your issue is that we require a tackler in that role, then that's different. W' have a philosophical difference then in how we view things forganizationthink we do. I think we need someone who can orchestrate from deep. I think and believe Gundogan is that guy. I think Silva/Nasri/DeBryune can run the other 2 positions comfortably.

You may ask, but where is the ball tackler? And I'd respond, it will come from better organization and not from one guy.

Otamendi will tackle anybody/everybody from anywhere/everywhere.

 

[Pharsyde]

Otamendi will tackle anybody/everybody from anywhere/everywhere.

^ This

 

[Guardiola's Disciple]

My issue with him is his injury record. But if Pep feels we should still get him, we shouldn't be denying him.

 

[MeatHunterrr]

City Watch ‎@City_Watch
Ilkay Gundogan is likely to announce he will be joining Manchester City soon, despite his injury. [Ruhr Nachrichten]

 

[abu13]

City Watch ‎@City_Watch
Ilkay Gundogan is likely to announce he will be joining Manchester City soon, despite his injury. [Ruhr Nachrichten]

I should think so, it isn't his jaw thats injured is it :)

 

[Lkzerinho]

"

Plane Trackers at the ready

 

[MeatHunterrr]

£20m + bonuses for crocked player bit hefty price imo

 

[Kompany is King]

Great player. Bring it on.