Is our squad stronger or weaker than last year?

[trevorriley]

Purely on paper with individual stats we should be stronger.

But it’s a Pep-team. He makes his teams tick like a machine. The parts need to fit to get the other parts and therefore the whole machine going. And smoothly running. Some parts need to be replaced by parts either better or younger. When replaced the machine needs fine tuning again. No one better than Pep to do that.

Let’s just be patient and see how the machine works when it’s completely fine tuned. Not the first time we start slowly.

exactly, its a pep team..

i bet our bank balance sheet is stronger too

 

[JGL07]

Very good point, but if Walker and Cancelo both got seriously injured. ( which given the amount of games they play now ii is possible] we would just have Stones and Ake as full backs. But your you are right we've adjusted really well and i guess quality players can adapt
Bill Leivers at left back would have been interesting!

Bill used to be a right back before he moved to centre half later in his career.

 

[lunebleu]

Bill used to be a right back before he moved to centre half later in his career.

i think you/we have forgotten Gael Clichy and Kolorov on the left back recent list.

 

[lunebleu]

And the best of all Berti.

 

[JGL07]

i think you/we have forgotten Gael Clichy and Kolorov on the left back recent list.

When they were around, City were well served at Left Back. I did like Kolorov and wish he had stayed for another season at least.

 

[Georgian Maestro]

Assuming we get Cucurella my only concern is the lack of an adequate replacement for Sterling.

 

[PabloZabeleta]

Stronger, 100%.

The window isn't finished yet, but purely down to Haaland we are stronger than last season. The strikerless game worked well for us but there were definite moments where it tripped us up, and we were getting worked out. There were a few too many moments where there was nobody to run on, and nobody to pick up some "easy" chances we had after a lot of work getting to that point. Haaland is a lethal goalscorer, he's a beast, and he will change our focus, which is what we needed/need.

Phillips is one of the most exciting midfield options we could have signed, certainly from within the league, he's got creativity pouring out of his veins, already plays the game how he'll be expected to for us, and he's been a pillar for Bielsa and Marsch at Leeds, as well as for Southgate. The national team always looks better with him playing. His best years are still in front of him, with any luck this season should be one of 'em, he'll link well with our growing England contingent.

I'll like to see how Ortega does, whether he pushes and pressures Ederson and gets game time himself. I was happy with Steffen but I don't know much about Ortega, Pep will do and he clearly sees him as an upgrade, that's good enough for me.

We've got three new attacking options, time will tell on Kayke and Alvarez, again as with Ortega it's a case of trusting the mastermind that is Pep on some new blood that most of us probably won't know a whole lot about yet.

I recon one more signing comes before the window closes. Hopefully a winger.

 

[citymad]

Purely on paper with individual stats we should be stronger.

But it’s a Pep-team. He makes his teams tick like a machine. The parts need to fit to get the other parts and therefore the whole machine going. And smoothly running. Some parts need to be replaced by parts either better or younger. When replaced the machine needs fine tuning again. No one better than Pep to do that.

Let’s just be patient and see how the machine works when it’s completely fine tuned. Not the first time we start slowly.

Blimey I'm about to take my car in for an oil change after reading that:)

 

[Chris B]

GK - Same
RB - Same
CBs - Same
LB - Slightly Weaker (no offence to zinny - but we're only slightly weaker until Cucurella)
DM - Stronger
CMs - Same
LW - Stronger (Grealish improvement incoming!)
RW - ?! Sterling was big for us despite the hate (he didn't play on the right as much as I would have liked!), I think this is up for debate
CF - Whats a word for fucking x10000 better?

Agree with this apart from one bit: Slightly stronger at goalkeeper I suspect, surely the reason for bringing the new guy in is that he’ll be better under pressure than Zack proved to be.

 

[Cobwebcat]

Changed my vote from stronger to weaker (missed out the same) The squad is just too small in a World Cup year despite the undoubted quality.

Letting McAtee go after promoting him to the fist team squad was the final straw. Great for the lad but he was an extra body for us.