Houssem Aouar

[Tugay One Cup]

more than I’d like (300 ish?) I’m with you on that. With torres and Aouar coming in we could balance daves minutes out easily, give raz a bit of rest, drop Gundogan’s minutes significantly, increase Phil’s, ease in Aouar year one, and maintain Bernardo’s.

let form dictate 300-400m extra for each. Very easily doable. It takes significant pressure off Phil too. I’d rather him get 2500 than 3200-3500.

I can see where you're coming from but it's just an extra player for Phil to compete with. Not that the competition is a bad thing by any stretch but it's not exactly been a meritocracy so far. Too many times this season it's felt like Foden has finally arrived as a genuine first team option and then you fast forward a week and he's been benched for the sake of an experienced player who has had too many opportunities.

This is all without even considering that Fernandinho will more than likely go back into midfield as a rotation option once we bring in another centreback. In that case Gundogan will also probably be seeing more minutes as an eight rather than a six.

If Ilkay leaves then I'd want us to be all over this because the guy is quality but if he's staying then I wouldn't sweat it. The squad is absolutely stacked with talent.

 

[Craig]

I can see where you're coming from but it's just an extra player for Phil to compete with. Not that the competition is a bad thing by any stretch but it's not exactly been a meritocracy so far. Too many times this season it's felt like Foden has finally arrived as a genuine first team option and then you fast forward a week and he's been benched for the sake of an experienced player who has had too many opportunities.

This is all without even considering that Fernandinho will more than likely go back into midfield as a rotation option once we bring in another centreback. In that case Gundogan will also probably be seeing more minutes as an eight rather than a six.

If Ilkay leaves then I'd want us to be all over this because the guy is quality but if he's staying then I wouldn't sweat it. The squad is absolutely stacked with talent.

Yes exactly this. Whilst Pep mulls over the many things that went wrong during the season I hope he decides to start picking players on form in general. Not saying flog people to death but sometimes it’s one great game by someone then back on the bench. At times the constant switching has been ridiculous.

 

[ADegenerate]

I can see where you're coming from but it's just an extra player for Phil to compete with. Not that the competition is a bad thing by any stretch but it's not exactly been a meritocracy so far. Too many times this season it's felt like Foden has finally arrived as a genuine first team option and then you fast forward a week and he's been benched for the sake of an experienced player who has had too many opportunities.

This is all without even considering that Fernandinho will more than likely go back into midfield as a rotation option once we bring in another centreback. In that case Gundogan will also probably be seeing more minutes as an eight rather than a six.

If Ilkay leaves then I'd want us to be all over this because the guy is quality but if he's staying then I wouldn't sweat it. The squad is absolutely stacked with talent.

I don’t think we’re that far off on our assessments. I’m just looking at it in terms of filling the void for Dave and lowering Gundogans minutes. Unfortunately, it looks like Pep sees Phil as a sort of a utility player that he can slot centrally or wide so I just can’t see Phil picking up 2500 more minutes after already getting 1800 or Bernardo playing LCM while keeping that 3k minute mark. Somebody has to pick up that slack from dave/ilkay and if we don’t buy a midfielder then it’s gundogans by default for a minimum of 2500-3000 and frankly that’s very worrying.

We literally have Gundogan and Phil for that left side. Yikes. many could see Bernardo there, I really don’t.

 

[Maly]

Foden. Not that hard to work out.

Ha ha ha ha ha
Who did we buy Foden off?

What’s not hard to work out is that we try to have 2 players for each position. We always play with 3 in CM so 2 x 3 = 6
We currently have 5 with Kev, Bernardo, Phil, Gundogan & Rodri as I can’t see Fernandinho ever playing CM again for City. Not saying we’ll definitely sign Aouar, but I’ll be extremely surprised if we don’t sign another CM

 

[Tugay One Cup]

We literally have Gundogan and Phil for that left side. Yikes. many could see Bernardo there, I really don’t.

Really? Don't get me wrong, I still prefer him as a wide player but I'd honestly rather see him as a box to box player than seeing Gundogan in that static position. Plus, with three other wingers with virtually no previous injury problem, I could see Bernardo taking more minutes centrally anyway.

 

[Tugay One Cup]

Ha ha ha ha ha
Who did we buy Foden off?

What’s not hard to work out is that we try to have 2 players for each position. We always play with 3 in CM so 2 x 3 = 6
We currently have 5 with Kev, Bernardo, Phil, Gundogan & Rodri as I can’t see Fernandinho ever playing CM again for City. Not saying we’ll definitely sign Aouar, but I’ll be extremely surprised if we don’t sign another CM

I disagree. Unless we're shifting all three of Garcia, Otamendi and Stones then I think Fernandinho will be getting more time minutes as a midfielder again. People were already swearing he'd never play in midfield again for us last season until he got a few games there towards the end.

That would leave us with Fernandinho, Rodri, Gundogan, Foden, Bernardo and Kev all to play three spots between them.

This guy is really talented (can't believe someone said yesterday that he's not good enough for us) but he's available about a year before we need him.

Unless, of course, we're losing someone.

 

[i8rags]

Ha ha ha ha ha
Who did we buy Foden off?

What’s not hard to work out is that we try to have 2 players for each position. We always play with 3 in CM so 2 x 3 = 6
We currently have 5 with Kev, Bernardo, Phil, Gundogan & Rodri as I can’t see Fernandinho ever playing CM again for City. Not saying we’ll definitely sign Aouar, but I’ll be extremely surprised if we don’t sign another CM

Obviously we didn’t buy him ffs, I was showing that Phil was silvas replacement

 

[ADegenerate]

Really? Don't get me wrong, I still prefer him as a wide player but I'd honestly rather see him as a box to box player than seeing Gundogan in that static position. Plus, with three other wingers with virtually no previous injury problem, I could see Bernardo taking more minutes centrally anyway.

I’m not sure bud. Just making educated guesses based off of Peps selection history and my assessment of Bernardo. Definitely agree with you though.

I reckon 3 ATB is gonna be a major formation for us moving forward rather than our traditional 4-3-3, more 4-3-3 than 3 ATB, but I think it’ll be prominent. If it’s not, I just don’t trust Gundogan, Phil, and probably Bernardo playing on that Left side. I’d be much, much, happier with another midfield option.

why scout the guy for years if you aren’t gonna pull the trigger??? Makes no sense.

 

[oldius]

Foden. Not that hard to work out.

We bought Foden? Hold the back page!

 

[Tugay One Cup]

If it’s not, I just don’t trust Gundogan, Phil, and probably Bernardo playing on that Left side.

I guess that where we differ because, to me, that looks like the kind of depth virtually any club on the planet would kill for. Maybe I still see way more in Foden as a central midfielder than others do, including Pep, unfortunately. I just can't wrap my head around it.