It’s Quiet 20 - What is the Wirtz that could happen?

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thegoatsthegoat said:
I think it does hamper our wingers though, no full back overlapping meaning they are doubled up and easy to mark against. Obviously overall we have still had success, it doesn't mean that actual full backs won't work either. It has been an even greater unbalance that last year and this year we have been happy with a proper right back and not on the other side. I would think that if we are happy with it being centre halves at full back, it needs to be both.
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That's a valid point that I do agree with but isn't the same as saying it hasn't worked
 
Cobwebcat said:
A lot of our players have come in for individual criticism. There are calls for many of our players to leave.

What are the chances that so many have instantly turned rubbish, have got too old, too young, too slow, cannot read the game anymore, have given up, are gutless and don’t care?

Isn’t it more likely that there is a problem with the system? When Rodri got injured Pep said it was his job to find a solution and, if he failed, we would look to go into the market.

The City squad is built to play a certain way.

If you have a flat battery you don’t immediately scrap your car because the rest of the car must be crap. It’s missing a vital part and when that is replaced the car will work just fine.

The point is, although it’s not all down to missing Rodri, a lot of it is. We have seen enough evidence now.

Our signings so far are intelligent and Cambiaso is another one which will help.

Assuming we get Cambiaso what else do we need? Let’s see whose contract is running out this year. KDB and Gundo.

I would argue KDB still has another season left in him. That leaves two issues replacing Gundo and having another DM that is as near to how Rodri plays as we can get.

I don’t buy the theory that another brilliant DM will not come because of Rodri. The top players back themselves.

We have a great squad and it’s folly to want to bin players like Rico who were brilliant in a functioning team.

A top class (and I mean top class) DM and a CM should be enough to get us going again.

City have admitted that they should have refreshed the squad and replaced departing players but they failed to see how much we would miss Rodri and brought Gundo back instead of replacing him. By the way I thought Gundo coming back was a great idea at the time.

So don’t give up on these players because we are two midfielders away from being very good again. There is still a chance we might get at least one of the two this window but, if we don’t, we will get them in the Summer and all learn from our mistakes.

In the meantime we have players playing through the pain barrier. Let’s get behind them.
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Teams aren't putting 10 men behind the ball & are now defending further up the field, which makes it easier to close down our defenders when on the ball. Whether this is down to just losing Rodri, I don't know
 
foggy1974 said:
Teams aren't putting 10 men behind the ball & are now defending further up the field, which makes it easier to close down our defenders when on the ball. Whether this is down to just losing Rodri, I don't know
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Fear factor gone maybe, as a kid I recall United going months unbeaten at home , now it’s hours
 
blueparrot said:
Yes right it’s never worked not playing traditional full backs has it.
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I'm talking now, we now have a midfielder in Nunes asking to play right back which anyone can see he's not comfortable in. Gvardiol on the left isn't faring much better. Areas that need addressing
 
CC1 said:
How long has it not been working for? Just the last few months during an injury decimation of the squad maybe?
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I still don't think Gvardiol is the answer at left full back. Looks good going forward but goes missing too often when he needs to defend. Both sides need addressing in the summer unless Cambiasso signs in the next week
 
Fordyboy46 said:
I still don't think Gvardiol is the answer at left full back. Looks good going forward but goes missing too often when he needs to defend. Both sides need addressing in the summer unless Cambiasso signs in the next week
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Think he'll be the long term LB just hung out to dry right now. Playing 24/7, asked to cover LCB in a 3, be a LB and support the LW while having no cover from a CM or LW who can press/mark.

Get a better rotation option for him though.
 
blueparrot said:
Yes right it’s never worked not playing traditional full backs has it.
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Personally, I think our recent success came about despite our lack of real full backs, not because.

Pep has repeatedly said he values squad harmony, & the best way to achieve that is through players getting enough game time. Our lack of FB's has seemed more of mend & make do with an elite squad of versatile players.

My hope is that we don't try & turn Khusanov & Gvardiol into permanent FB's, ahead of actually grooming or signing specialist overlapping FB's.

At times against Paris, I had no idea where half the team were supposed to be positioned, & it looked like the team didn't know either, hence PSG ripping us to shreds, & making us looking like a team from the walking football league.
 
bluetonium said:
Anyone else hearing whispers about Morgan Rogers and Jack Grealish swap? Seems a bit too unrealistic to me, he's not been at villa all that long and isn't exactly proven yet.
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No but I was in the Aston Arms when we are at Villa and there were 2 Villa blokes (decent lads) who were adamant that Jack was going back there in this window or the summer. Claimed to be ITK on the matter, but ITK’s are a bit like Santa and the Easter Bunny, good fun but don’t exist (based on some of the posts in this forum I apologise if I’ve ruined any of this for our younger posters)
 
Fordyboy46 said:
I still don't think Gvardiol is the answer at left full back. Looks good going forward but goes missing too often when he needs to defend. Both sides need addressing in the summer unless Cambiasso signs in the next week
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You try defend with savio and doku in front of you and the midfield running back with their tongues out 30 yards away .
 
Fordyboy46 said:
I still don't think Gvardiol is the answer at left full back. Looks good going forward but goes missing too often when he needs to defend. Both sides need addressing in the summer unless Cambiasso signs in the next week
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Agree. He’s at it long enough now and is still a complete positional liability off the ball. So easy to get behind him.

On the ball he’s fabulous.
 
Twisted-wheel said:
Next one to go for is Barcola, what a player this guy is and going to be. Ripped us a new one this lad
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Might have to wait till pep goes, stories are the kid doesnt like how rigid Luis Enrique is with his position/tactics.

The former OL forward is increasingly out of kilter with what Luis Enrique is instructing him to do and he is increasingly frustrated with his manager’s tactical instructions. This is causing tension between the player and his manager.

The frustration with Luis Enrique’s rigid tactical instructions could even scupper Barcola’s touted extension at PSG. According to Foot Mercato, talks over an extension to the current deal, which runs until 2028, were started a few weeks ago, however, those talks are now on standby.
 
BringBackSwales said:
No but I was in the Aston Arms when we are at Villa and there were 2 Villa blokes (decent lads) who were adamant that Jack was going back there in this window or the summer. Claimed to be ITK on the matter, but ITK’s are a bit like Santa and the Easter Bunny, good fun but don’t exist (based on some of the posts in this forum I apologise if I’ve ruined any of this for our younger posters)
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Pretty much what I have heard, villa fans think he's destined to go back there and I think they suggested Rogers as the most likely swap due to his city connection and an easy way to get round the fee. Maybe if they make champions league and we don't, it could happen I suppose.
 
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