Houssem Aouar

[sky_blue]

Just listened to it now.

Sam Lee mentioned that he could speak to some sources in France that are close to Aouar's people or Lyon for that matter, but won't do that.

Well why doesn't he do that? Surely you would want to find out whether this story is true or not. The best sources will come close to Aouar's people and Lyon. Even if he got this information, doesn't mean he has to write an article about it until he has got confirmation from other sources close to City.

I just find Sam Lee all fart and no shit tbh. He seems to just pick up on things a bit too late when they have already been published. Look at The Guardian one for example which reported that City wanted Nathan Ake. They called it about 3 weeks before he signed. With it being The Guardian they will clearly have more contacts, more reputable/trusted sources.

He answered your question in the podcast. He doesn't talk to them because he doesn't trust them. He could have a 1 hr chat with Aouar's people and would still be no closer to the truth. That doesn't mean that everyone in Aouar's camp is a lying git, but it does emphasise the fact that with experience he's become aware that agents, players and clubs use journalists for their own means and don't exactly tell what's really going on. Unless you're a journalist and also happen to have a close relationship with Aouar's people, you're being fed a narrative, not the truth. So if he can't be sure that Aouar's people are telling god honest's truth, whatever that maybe, then that information is useless for him.

People can have different opinions on him, but in an industry that is plagued with charlatans who are willing to regurgitate baseless shite for 5 new followers on Twitter, I find his approach really refreshing.

 

[JoshH7611]

I have no problem with Rodri as a player, but I'm not a fan of the Busquets style role, full stop & I think it's kind of outdated.

I actually think Rodri has much more potential defensive power than that tbf, which often helps in this league.

But for me, a side full of quality ball players doesn't need a slow, ball manipulator, in there all the time & we have several who can do that, so we have no need to avoid signing something different, to see if we can evolve further.

Since the takeover, we have been lacking that player imo, always one short for every system played.

If I had an identikit player, it would be Colin Bell & if one existed & we had him, we would probably have won the CL even before Pep came imo.

As it stands, I don't think we would bid for that player if he was available & that attitude needs to change, round about now, imo.

Personally think the way we play is blinding your image of needing a DM with more athleticism and power than footballing IQ. We don't need an athletic DM if we played a certain way that doesn't expose us and move up and down the pitch as a team like we did in 17/18. The high line we play without our full backs tucking in centrally defensively leaves our DM exposed with one ball over our front defensive line. The inability from the likes Stones and Otamendi reading danger makes the DM look exposed. We don't have a sweeper sweeping like Liverpool do with Van Dijk. We play in a line and if we are changing our back 4 every week it cannot work without a stable back 4 who know each other inside and out.

That's just my opinion. Football isn't a game for athletes. We just need a good footballer sitting there who can read the game. Rodri has that and will improve, and personally I don't think he's the slowest. He's deceptively fast over a short distance for someone his size. Put 2 runners alongside him and 2 quick central Defenders who read the game and we have one of the best DMs in the world.

Take Bayern for example. Thiago isn't the quickest, but he has Goretzka alongside him doing the running. Alphonso Davies and Kimmich tuck in when needed and they have pace at the back with Boateng and Alaba - even when they play such a high line like us.

 

[Dax777]

You deserve a barrage for Aguero not being in bold lol

My question is what does your bench look like, no defenders? That's the problem I always run into when coming up with who we should sign. I end up with like Bernardo and Mendy not even on the bench and I just don't think it's realistic so I close the tab without posting and say 'sod it I'll just watch what the club does' ...until I'm back doing it in a day or 2.

I didn't want to do defenders coz that would have gotten me in real trouble. :)

But
Walker, Csncello, Mendy Reguilon
And 4 Centerbacks. 2 new and 2 from this season. Let's leave names alone here :)

As for starters, for me it's about sticking to our core character. We are a high pressing team with enefgy and superior technical ability.

The High Pressing and High Energy are a given. Those who don't have both can't be starters next season. Hence Aguero and Mahrez on the bench.
Typically bench
Aguero
Mahrez
Bernado
Cancelo
Camavinga
GK
Ake

Ake could be Stones, and Cancelo could be Mendy or Reguilon depending on game.

That's the squad

 

[Dax777]

Are you ready???

Here goes.

You cant just make up players, too easy for other posters to insult you lol.

Who the hell is Carnavinga?

Young

Are you ready???

Here goes.

You cant just make up players, too easy for other posters to insult you lol.

Who the hell is Carnavinga?

I must have spelled it that way incorrectly forever. Anyhow, he really is just a place holder for an athletic DM. A counter to what Rodri offers.

 

[christened at st marks]

Are you ready???

Here goes.

You cant just make up players, too easy for other posters to insult you lol.

Who the hell is CaMavinga?

 

[Silva_Spell]

I didn't want to do defenders coz that would have gotten me in real trouble. :)

But
Walker, Csncello, Mendy Reguilon
And 4 Centerbacks. 2 new and 2 from this season. Let's leave names alone here :)

As for starters, for me it's about sticking to our core character. We are a high pressing team with enefgy and superior technical ability.

The High Pressing and High Energy are a given. Those who don't have both can't be starters next season. Hence Aguero and Mahrez on the bench.
Typically bench
Aguero
Mahrez
Bernado
Cancelo
Camavinga
GK
Ake

Ake could be Stones, and Cancelo could be Mendy or Reguilon depending on game.

That's the squad

Torres in the stands?

 

[WallyA]

My joke went over your head.

 

[christened at st marks]

My joke went over your head.

They always do ;)

 

[Keeper!]

We should let Gundogan and Dihno go. Bring in Aouor and I suppose Carnavinga.
AM: Kevin, Aouor, Bernado, Foden
DM: Rodri, Carnavinga.
St: Gabby, Aguero
WLF: Sterling, Torres
WRF: Foden, Mahrez

It makes all the sense in the world.

Starters in bold.



Okay... Readying for the insult barrage :)

Did not know we had 2 Fodens ;)

Torres great signing but to me a long term one, next year will be a settling and getting to know the league country one.
Foden has to play in the middle for me, not out wide.

 

[Stoned Rose]

Personally think the way we play is blinding your image of needing a DM with more athleticism and power than footballing IQ. We don't need an athletic DM if we played a certain way that doesn't expose us and move up and down the pitch as a team like we did in 17/18. The high line we play without our full backs tucking in centrally defensively leaves our DM exposed with one ball over our front defensive line. The inability from the likes Stones and Otamendi reading danger makes the DM look exposed. We don't have a sweeper sweeping like Liverpool do with Van Dijk. We play in a line and if we are changing our back 4 every week it cannot work without a stable back 4 who know each other inside and out.

That's just my opinion. Football isn't a game for athletes. We just need a good footballer sitting there who can read the game. Rodri has that and will improve, and personally I don't think he's the slowest. He's deceptively fast over a short distance for someone his size. Put 2 runners alongside him and 2 quick central Defenders who read the game and we have one of the best DMs in the world.

Take Bayern for example. Thiago isn't the quickest, but he has Goretzka alongside him doing the running. Alphonso Davies and Kimmich tuck in when needed and they have pace at the back with Boateng and Alaba - even when they play such a high line like us.

"Football isnt a game for athletes".

Goes on to explain how slow players need fast players around them to make them half decent.