Houssem Aouar

[domalino]

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.

Stop worrying about if Foden is going to play. He's getting picked to start crucial KO games vs. Real Madrid ahead of Mahrez and Bernardo, he's going to play.

Pep clearly thinks he's more of a front 3 player at the moment, just like Silva was at Valencia and Iniesta was at Barcelona until they were 23/24.

 

[ADegenerate]

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.

Same. Good spot to finish the discussion. Really hoping Phil gets the vast majority of games centrally where he can really develop and own the position permanently but I don’t *trust* that’s in peps plans.

Expecting him to play all over the place and Gundogan to continue getting massive minutes.
That’s the only reason I’m advocating for the signing.

cheers.

 

[Tugay One Cup]

Stop worrying about if Foden is going to play. He's getting picked to start crucial KO games vs. Real Madrid ahead of Mahrez and Bernardo, he's going to play.

Pep clearly thinks he's more of a front 3 player at the moment, just like Silva was at Valencia and Iniesta was at Barcelona until they were 23/24.

I doubt he'll be starting in front of Sterling and Torres. Plus, it's not even necessarily just a concern over Phil's minutes but I also want to see our intensity shoot right back up in the opponent's third. I don't see Auoar bringing that level up by much.

 

[simon23]

If we get this guy it will be very interesting to see where he plays and whom he is in competition with....it would be easy to presume that he would be in direct competition with Foden, Bernardo and even KDB......especially the first two.

But he seems to drift across midfield, playing on the right and left as well as centrally. He is good in very tight spaces, quick feet and drives forward with the ball at every opportunity. He could be that very useful link player between attack and defence. He looks comfortable both wide and centrally and although he isnt a classic winget int he sense that Torres is and Sane was he looks like he could play there.

My hope is tht he takes some of Gundogans playing time - he looks to have all his attributes and more.

 

[domalino]

I doubt he'll be starting in front of Sterling and Torres. Plus, it's not even necessarily just a concern over Phil's minutes but I also want to see our intensity shoot right back up in the opponent's third. I don't see Auoar bringing that level up by much.

Ah right, well if you dont see Aouar beinging intensity then you haven't watched him play and it makes sense why you don't want him in the squad.

No one who saw him all over our midfied like a rash both last week and last season or run circles around Juventus would be questioning if he brought intensity.

 

[simon23]

Same. Good spot to finish the discussion. Really hoping Phil gets the vast majority of games centrally where he can really develop and own the position permanently but I don’t *trust* that’s in peps plans.

Expecting him to play all over the place and Gundogan to continue getting massive minutes.
That’s the only reason I’m advocating for the signing.

cheers.

I think foden is best centrally to...possibly just behind the striker or at the top of the midfield at least. Im also sure he could do a job from deeper midfield as he is good at driving forward with the ball. I think he is wasted out wide tbh

 

[Tugay One Cup]

Ah right, well if you dont see Aouar beinging intensity then you haven't watched him play and it makes sense why you don't want him in the squad.

No one who saw him all over our midfied like a rash both last week and last season or run circles around Juventus would be questioning if he brought intensity.

Ah, don't do this Dom. Unless you're about to tell me you've been watching Ligue Un games frequently over the last few years then my guess is I've watched him about the same as you.

I'm not saying he's a late stage Yaya but if you think he presses with the speed and intensity of Foden and De Bruyne then I don't agree at all.

I'd also just like to point out how quickly your opinion changed over the span of three days.

Aouar is a great player, but he's just a young, slightly quicker Gundogan.

He can't be the only defensive midfielder, he's not a David Silva replacement IMO...not enough to justify buying him. He plays a position we don't have and we already have one player who doesn't fit in there.

What we need is a physical box to box midfielder like Pep had in Keita at Barcelona (and Yaya). Someone who can form a very solid defensively 2 in midfield with either Gundogan or Rodri.

I think Aouar is a Silva replacement. He dictates play in the way that Bernardo, KDB and Foden can't at present.

I hope he would mean the end of Gundogan because he should in theory provide everything Gundogan does but with added pace, aggression, and closer to the goal (like Silva).

Aouar-Rodri-KDB would be the midfield and I think it would be every bit as good as the centurions midfield in time, although the method of defending would be different - Rodri's all about pressing and making blocks/interceptions up the pitch, whereas Fern covered backwards in a more traditional English defensive midfielder way.

Auoar has the legs and willingness to run we lack from Dave this year and Gundogan always.

He's so clearly necessary I'm bemused a poster like you doesn't see it.

He instantly brings back the balance to the midfield that our successful seasons were built around. He dictates play, has the intelligent movement between lines and is a threat around the box like Silva, and yet his pressing and speed are far above what David's ever were.

It's obvious to everyone that what happened this season is our midfield broke. Silva couldn't run anymore, Bernardo and Foden can't control a game, so we had to go to the double pivot of Rodri and Gundogan. Which was a mess.

Aouar comes in and fixes it overnight. Job done, midfield fixed. Defence better protected, possession better controlled, attacks in transition quicker.

Not that there's anything wrong at all with changing your opinion but don't come at me like you haven't very recently had the same concerns.

 

[domalino]

Ah, don't do this Dom. Unless you're about to tell me you've been watching Ligue Un games frequently over the last few years then my guess is I've watched him about the same as you.

I'm not saying he's a late stage Yaya but if you think he presses with the speed and intensity of Foden and De Bruyne then I don't agree at all.

I'd also just like to point out how quickly your opinion changed over the span of three days.





Not that there's anything wrong at all with changing your opinion but don't come at me like you haven't very recently had the same concerns.

My concerns went away when I re wafched the game in Lyon last season and worked out he is the Silva replacement.

And when you work that out it all makes sense.

And I would still like a physical midfielder, that hasnt changed, but it would be at the expense of Fern, who's legs have gone, or Gundogan.

 

[Tugay One Cup]

My concerns went away when I re wafched the game in Lyon last season and worked out he is the Silva replacement.

And when you work that out it all makes sense.

Maybe I've just not got to that same point as you but I just don't see it so far. He's an upgrade on a similar player we have but if we're not losing that player then I think that's problematic.

 

[Sir peace frog]

i dont know why anyone would question this signing, he's quality and will give us the energy in the midfield we need, all this what about foden, well what about him, he has to earn his place like any other player, phil is a pro footballer ,he knows at a club like city he will have to fight for every minute on the pitch and if hes good enough he will get them, theres too much what about foden in every fucking transfer thread, phil looks quality ,he needs to go out and prove it in every training session that he can do all the jobs required, because from the looks of him that aouar can.