Is left back really a problem?

Yes Zin was excellent yesterday, and also last week. I admit I was one of his big critics because I thought he was not good enough for City. He has greatly improved and he contributes to us a lot with his quietness and his super accurate passes. But still I think if you look at the whole squad then of course we need a new striker because Aguero is leaving and I think we also need a new DM if Dino leaves but after that the other positions are pretty strong and there is not much to change or improve. The left-back position is still a position we can improve on with the right player, especially if Mendy is finally sent out. Mendes would be a great addition. WC potential.
 
Zin has made himself a go to and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him in the team for the final on merit.

That all said, I can’t help but think Pep would like another option there.

So if Mendy can be replaced a more traditional left back could be brought, for games where Pep wants to try this.

That said Pep also prefers a smaller squad and could feel with Ake, Cancelo also able to play there that we do not need to replace Mendy.
 
Semper aggressus said:
I think Zin and Cancelo with Mendy, Aké and even Laporte all have this position well covered.

Just spend everything on Haaland.
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The way we have moved to essentially having a back three means we have plenty enough options now. Zin's continued progression has changed the position, in more ways than one.

As Mendy showed on Saturday, he may be the weakest link, albeit in the arguably strongest club squad ever assembled, but he can still contribute. He is also very unlikely to move on during his contract so the squad doesn't have room for a new LB yet. You should never stop looking to improve your squad though, so when the time is right...
 
I said this at the towards the start of the season before we even went on our amazing title winning run with zinchenko at the center of it, I don't believe we will go for a left back.

Replacing mendy with a fit and readily available left back gives us one too many players to keep satisfied. The balance is as close to perfect as we are ever likely to get with the standard of our squad right now in defence that doesn't need to be tampered with.

Signing an authodox left back in the summer means him and Zinchenko rotate. So straight off the bat he plays less. Even assuming mendy is shipped out that means cancelo doesn't play left back which means less games for him and walker who fight it out for right back, laporte isn't an option there to pad out his game time anymore and neither is Ake which means both of them play less or the entire 4 CB's play less to try and satisfy everyone. That's a 6/7 players who aren't getting the same game time as previously, it will be impossible to satisfy all of them and we would lose several of them.

I said this months ago and I'll repeat it now, signing a left back would be detrimental to the squad and I don't believe we will.

I think the club will go and identify the top young prospects, pay good money for one maybe even a couple and have them play elsewhere for a few seasons so they're ready to come in when our current defence needs a refresh a few years down the line.
 
Fuzzy80 said:
Zin has made himself a go to and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him in the team for the final on merit.

That all said, I can’t help but think Pep would like another option there.

So if Mendy can be replaced a more traditional left back could be brought, for games where Pep wants to try this.

That said Pep also prefers a smaller squad and could feel with Ake, Cancelo also able to play there that we do not need to replace Mendy.
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I think we roll with Mendy again but I think its pretty clear what Pep wants.

Defensive fullbacks; Walker and Zinchenko
Attacking fullbacks; Cancelo and Mendy (the old Benji)

Depending on opposition decides which side we overload and which fullback comes in and makes the 3 in defence.

Cancelo loses a lot of his game when hes on the left, fine in 99% of games but you can't underestimate a proper left footer.
Ake is a good player also but not an attacking force so I think he is ultimately an emergency LB and backup CB.
 
I don’t think we will sign anyone now tbh. Zin has made that position his own and cancelo is decent enough cover. Don’t think it is a huge problem until Walker hangs up his boots and we need cancelo at RB more often. Mendes would make sense as he’s much younger, maybe not til next year unless we loan him back.
 
David Silva said:
I don’t think we will sign anyone now tbh
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Maybe that is why the club feels we can sign Nuno Mendes and loan him back for another year. Could be a smart decision, as he’s hugely talented.
I just want to remind folks that what’s not a problem one season can quickly change in the following one. Look at Liverpool this season.
 
Íf City believe Nuno Mendes is a generational level talent. I still think it would make sense to sign him. And perhaps loan him back to Sporting for a season if we can't shift Mendy this summer. i don't see Mendy having a long-term future with us.

But having Zinchenko as our first-choice LB is hardly a problem.
 
Gus Cruz said:
Maybe that is why the club feels we can sign Nuno Mendes and loan him back for another year. Could be a smart decision, as he’s hugely talented.
I just want to remind folks that what’s not a problem one season can quickly change in the following one. Look at Liverpool this season.
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Agreed, and we saw how Zin himself dropped off last year after a solid season in 18/19, so there is a risk.

However I do think he’s kicked on since then, & his issues last year really were amplified by our disastrous CB partnerships throughout the season. Hope he maintains his level now into future seasons.
 
Left back isn't a problem....Mendy is a problem

Need a more reliable option, but Zinch as first choice IS good enough, Cancelo is a decent back-up

But Mendy need to get the fuck out of the club
 
The answer to this is and has always been yes
Doesn’t mean this is the cause of all of our problems
But it means we become stronger by definitely putting it to bed without having weak options and improvisations
It’s amazing to see people change their minds on it depending on the game. Or think it will be fine next season because we managed it in this one
 
Defo need a left back to rotate with zin, someone with different qualities , nuno mendes seems a very good shout.
It’s best for everyone involved if Mendy can find a new club in the summer
 
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