Is our squad stronger or weaker than last year?

[St.Pauli support]

I take it about 28% just don't want to jinx it... ;-p

 

[JGL07]

We only have two experienced fullbacks in the squad. That to me is a weakness and a bit daft.. But Pep will make do and mend.eg ( Stones or Laporte]....... but they won't play as wing backs. I really think it's bizarre that we've not bought a proper left back for two years.

City have often had a problem with Left Back.

Cliff Sear was in that position when I started watching. Time caught up with him and Vic Gomersall was not quite up to replacing him. City ended up using midfield players including Dave Connor, Stan Horne, and eventually Glyn Pardoe. City paid very big money to sign Arthur Mann from Hearts to solve the problem but Pardoe - an attacking midfielder - stayed in the team. He might have stayed there for longer but for George Best. In the end in came Willie Donachie who was there for ten years or more.

It is very similar now. Ben Mendy came in and looked good till his ACL injury but rubbish afterwards. Since then we have had a defensive midfielder - Fabian Delph - and an attacking midfielder - Oleks Zinchenko - filling in at Left Back. City won more trophies with Pardoe, Delph, and Zinchenko at number three than they have with a specialist Left Back playing.

 

[Dzeko9]

Last year we had really strong winger options, but this year Jesus and Sterling gone and nobody came, so wing position became weaker. But last year we had 0 strikers, this year we have 2 strikers. Striker position became much stronger than last year. Also Zinchenko gone and nobody comes to replace him yet. Left back position became weaker than last year. If we get Cucurella we are going to have stronger squad than last year. At the moment it's about the same.

 

[Kinkybyname]

atm, stronger first XI, weaker squad

 

[Frankie lad]

Mahrez who is a wizard now gets a decent run in more games as Raz has gone.
H also will get on the end of things as he showed last game = lots of goals.
Fern is spectacular but Phillips (hopefully) will in the long term (hopefully) be nearly as good(hopefully).
Zinc…he skipped past that villa left back with aplomb to feed Rod the last day..If we replace him(hopefully)we will be in a stronger position.

 

[tweety]

Pep has got it all in hand, believe in the world's best manager.

 

[Blue Theatre]

When you replace tried & tested winners, with younger potential ... you have to say the squad looks a little bit weaker / riskier currently.

But Alvarez has amazing potential, Grealish is getting into his stride, we have a few decent youngsters who may step up, we may yet add a left-back ... and we actually have a striker (and what a striker !) so we'll doubtless be as incredible / unstoppable as usual under Pep.

 

[Dr Jacoby]

Hard to make a case it’s stronger until a left back joins.

 

[Cobwebcat]

Stronger in quality weaker in quantity = About the same

If we sign a left back and don’t sell anyone else then I’ll change to stronger.

 

[Dazzle84]

Stronger. We've got a potential world class centre forward who is 6 foot 6 and full of muscles.