Gundogan

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Swansea? I'd pay for Kolarov to go so would take that deal.
You can add me to that crew. I'm not arsed' getting money for Kolarov. I'd pay him to 10 million to leave and reduce Pep's buying money by 10 million. It would be 10 million well spent.
 
Leftback. He really doesn't fit in at midfield. Did this calculation months ago, and came to that conclusion.

There must be something strange in the air for me to agree with you, but on this one I do!

Delph has got all of the physical tools to be a great left back. Naturally left footed, perfect size and build, fast, athletic, good in the tackle, decent passer of the ball, decent crosser of the ball.

He's looked dreadful at left wing, but I get the impression he's just been picked there and told to get on with it, no coaching or instruction whatsoever and he's looked like a fish out of water.

If Pep wanted to turn him in to a left back he could spend the time coaching and developing him, moulding him in to a Guardiola left back.

The role Guardiola expect from his full backs is more in line with a midfielder than a defender anyway. It's a very specific role that you don't see other manager's playing.

Even if we bought a specialist left back, they would still have to be coached and alter their game to suit Guardiola's system. No reason Delph couldn't be

Sounds interesting.

Genuine question: What does Pep look for in a LB?

I see your point about Delph being very athletic, good in a tackle, etc. But, he seems like a headless chicken in midfield which makes me think he isn't the most intelligent footballer (I know, dangerous assumption since Pellers was involved in his tactical play). Do you think having a more rigid role will allow him to do better?

Edit: Apologies for digressing from Gundogan
 
Lol. He is not that bad. I am more worried about his injury record than I am his talent.
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the sideways and backwards world of Fabian "I can't pass the ball forwards properly" Delph.
 
Sounds interesting.

Genuine question: What does Pep look for in a LB?

I see your point about Delph being very athletic, good in a tackle, etc. But, he seems like a headless chicken in midfield which makes me think he isn't the most intelligent footballer (I know, dangerous assumption since Pellers was involved in his tactical play). Do you think having a more rigid role will allow him to do better?

Edit: Apologies for digressing from Gundogan
Yes. I liken him to Valencia at United and Rose at Spurs. A lot of his headless chickeness, is a function of playing on a big team in his first year and not getting enough practice with them due to Injury.

As to your Pep question: I don't think he wants anything in particular from a fullback. What he cherishes is technique and possession. The lower you are in those abilities, the more likely you'd be funnelled father away from the Center or the team as a whole. Since I dont see us selling Delph after 1 year, especially seeing as he is homegrown, im more inclined to conclude his best bet is at LB.

But even better is that he has the tools to excel at it. He is aggressive, tackles well. Better ball skill than an average fullback, and quite a good crosser of the ball.

My only worry is that this leaves us with 2 backup leftbacks and no starter.
 
Not to worry, it simply means your understanding is getting better :p This is a good thing :)

I actually made the point about Delph playing left back a few months ago on here. Goes to show you that your "calculations" have a bit of a lag, and people who can actually watch a game and judge it with their own eyes can see things that stats can't tell you ;-)
 
Gustavo was a squad player who'd been marginalised by Javi Martinez. I'd also disagree that he's a better player than Fernando, personally I think he got away with murder due to his team-mates and the qaulity of most opposition and it showed for Brazil and after he left Bayern (as well as every time he played for Bayern against Gundogan et al).

Guardiola also made great use of Keita at Barca who is a far inferior version of Fernando.

Not sure I agree that Fernando is a better player than Gustavo. I think Javi Martinez was signed primarily to play centre half unless i'm mistaken. Take your point about Keita.

The midfield rebuild this summer for me is the cornerstone of what happens in the next three years so they have to get it spot on.
 
I actually made the point about Delph playing left back a few months ago on here. Goes to show you that your "calculations" have a bit of a lag, and people who can actually watch a game and judge it with their own eyes can see things that stats can't tell you ;-)
Touché. But I reckon your assertion was long after I broke the ice this. But don't rush to take credit. It's a longshot that might leave us flat on our face.

As for Gundogan, I reckon hell play the 4 or 8 position. With Fernando the 8, with Dihno the 4. DeBryune plays the 10 and in his absence or when he gets moved to the wings, I reckon Silva takes over the 10.

I'll state again, winger, or a scoring one at that, is our weakest position as of today.

Edit: This assumes the moving on of Kolarov...
 
Palace at home, oh well, that seals it. Even Rodwell managed a good game once.

Like Rodwell he's a core reason why we lost the league, because we should have bought better and we didn't, and we regretted it all season.

and now it's John Stones turn. You'd think we have Nigel Farage as DoF, not supposedly one of the world's best. Txiki "it's English and breathes so let's sign it, doesn't matter that it can't actually play football properly" Begiristain. Fully expect us to sign a bakewell tart after this.

Can't remember him having a bad game when playing centre mid. Perhaps you could give some examples to refresh my memory?

Had some awful games at left wing. He's never played there before. With zero coaching, I'd expect him to have awful games there. I blame the "manager" for that.

I have to admit, I've never seen Stones have a good game. He looks decent on the ball but doesn't look like a natural defender to me. Lot's of top clubs after him so must be something there, but I've not seen enough of him to judge properly. But Mourinho was after him last summer and he's not a bad judge of a defender, even if Txiki isn't.
 
There is a role for Delph! 17 foreign players spreads pretty thin over a full squad so we need English players to make up the numbers! Delph can do a job on the left of a midfield 3 if we play 433 or possibly at Left Back. Maybe not first choice but we need to make up the numbers somewhere. I am 100% convinced he is a better LB than Kolarov right now, he is also probably a better CB than Demi.

Pep likes to work with a 17 man squad including a second gk because he doesn't like to have to upset players and tell them they haven't made the match day squad, not including youth players obviously.
 
Pep likes to work with a 17 man squad including a second gk because he doesn't like to have to upset players and tell them they haven't made the match day squad, not including youth players obviously.
He's hardly gonna leave an empty spot on the bench
 
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