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

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WallyA said:
I rate Mfuni, but too early imo, just turned 17.

Let him prove it at EDS level first.

My issue with your main CB list is you named 4 RCBs and 1 LCB.

Ake HAS to be included in that as the only genuine rotation option, or we sell him and buy someone who is fit and can.

Stones being able to play midfield means we can still give minutes in many spots, just need to be babied.

2 fullbacks should be a big priority in the summer, Lewis Id like to see converted into doing what Bernie does in midfield, control, pass simply, fight your duels.
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Mfuni's age is against him, of course, but he would be a third or fourth choice in that role behind Gvardiol, Ake and O'Reilly. If we buy another full-back like Kerkez, for example, then we accept that Gvardiol is now a LCB, which is probably his natural position. We also don't yet know how Hugo Viana intends to integrate the academy players.

I wonder if Pep's repeated comments about reliability hint at departures.

BTW, I watched a brilliant video about Rico the other day. It really showed his skill and movement in what it referred to as the 'half-space', which I would read as between the lines. I find it a shame that so many here don't appreciate him, or perhaps they are just a vocal minority.
 
oldius said:
Mfuni's age is against him, of course, but he would be a third or fourth choice in that role behind Gvardiol, Ake and O'Reilly. If we buy another full-back like Kerkez, for example, then we accept that Gvardiol is now a LCB, which is probably his natural position. We also don't yet know how Hugo Viana intends to integrate the academy players.

I wonder if Pep's repeated comments about reliability hint at departures.

BTW, I watched a brilliant video about Rico the other day. It really showed his skill and movement in what it referred to as the 'half-space', which I would read as between the lines. I find it a shame that so many here don't appreciate him, or perhaps they are just a vocal minority.
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Kerkez has got the scousers written all over him....he is there Robertson replacement - no way he comes to us over that lot - the rumours about him going there have been doing the rounds for quite a while.

The problem with Rico is as you say he is amazing in those half spaces.....its what he does (or more importantly doesnt do) when he gets himself free ...he hasnt got a decisive pass on him, he aint strong with running with the ball either.
He also isnt good enough to play fullback....ultimately his physicality is an issue as well as what he does with the ball when he has got the time to do something..
 
simon23 said:
Kerkez has got the scousers written all over him....he is there Robertson replacement - no way he comes to us over that lot - the rumours about him going there have been doing the rounds for quite a while.

The problem with Rico is as you say he is amazing in those half spaces.....its what he does (or more importantly doesnt do) when he gets himself free ...he hasnt got a decisive pass on him, he aint strong with running with the ball either.
He also isnt good enough to play fullback....ultimately his physicality is an issue as well as what he does with the ball when he has got the time to do something.
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I think he is better than you given him credit for and I think that will be very clear when the team is, once again, a properly functioning unit. I'm sure we all hope for that.
 
WallyA said:
I rate Mfuni, but too early imo, just turned 17.

Let him prove it at EDS level first.

My issue with your main CB list is you named 4 RCBs and 1 LCB.

Ake HAS to be included in that as the only genuine rotation option, or we sell him and buy someone who is fit and can.

Stones being able to play midfield means we can still give minutes in many spots, just need to be babied.

2 fullbacks should be a big priority in the summer, Lewis Id like to see converted into doing what Bernie does in midfield, control, pass simply, fight your duels.
Click to expand...
Ruben Dias won PL player of the season at LCB so you can easily count him as an option there too. I imagine with Reis wouldn't struggle there either due to his technical ability.

Mfuni is a top, top prospect and could easily give us 10-15 matches at LB and fill in as a back up for FA Cup and Carabao. Not that I think we'll go down that road.

But I do think Ake is on borrowed time due to his injury record.

I'd personally be happy with:

LB: O'Reilly, Mfuni, (Gvardiol with rotation)
LCB: Gvardiol, Dias
RCB: Stones, Akanji, Khusanov, Reis
RB: New RB, Nunes
 
Otamendi's Beard said:
Ruben Dias won PL player of the season at LCB so you can easily count him as an option there too. I imagine with Reis wouldn't struggle there either due to his technical ability.

Mfuni is a top, top prospect and could easily give us 10-15 matches at LB and fill in as a back up for FA Cup and Carabao. Not that I think we'll go down that road.

But I do think Ake is on borrowed time due to his injury record.

I'd personally be happy with:

LB: O'Reilly, Mfuni, (Gvardiol with rotation)
LCB: Gvardiol, Dias
RCB: Stones, Akanji, Khusanov, Reis
RB: New RB, Nunes
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Dias isn’t the answer at LCB. His switch to RCB has coincided with our clean sheets returning.

Ake has missed games because of a stress fracture in his foot this season. If surgery has been successful, that shouldn’t be a problem moving forward.
 
Alan Harper's Tash said:
Dias isn’t the answer at LCB. His switch to RCB has coincided with our clean sheets returning.

Ake has missed games because of a stress fracture in his foot this season. If surgery has been successful, that shouldn’t be a problem moving forward.
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Absolutely. Gvardiol and Dias are the partnership to build on. Ake played with the fracture as well before surgery and can cover both LCB and LB.

Gvardiol-Dias
Ake-Khusanov

New left back in, O’Reilly can cover LB as well as Ake.
 
Otamendi's Beard said:
Ruben Dias won PL player of the season at LCB so you can easily count him as an option there too. I imagine with Reis wouldn't struggle there either due to his technical ability.

Mfuni is a top, top prospect and could easily give us 10-15 matches at LB and fill in as a back up for FA Cup and Carabao. Not that I think we'll go down that road.

But I do think Ake is on borrowed time due to his injury record.

I'd personally be happy with:

LB: O'Reilly, Mfuni, (Gvardiol with rotation)
LCB: Gvardiol, Dias
RCB: Stones, Akanji, Khusanov, Reis
RB: New RB, Nunes
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Do you remember who partnered Dias when he played LCB? John Stones.

Do you remember how we played then?
John Stones entered midfield to have Dias in the centre of a back 3, he always had an actual left footed CB next to him im Ake or Gvardiol.

This new system is with only 2 CB, he cant play LCB now, the angles dont work.
 
WallyA said:
Do you remember who partnered Dias when he played LCB? John Stones.

Do you remember how we played then?
John Stones entered midfield to have Dias in the centre of a back 3, he always had an actual left footed CB next to him im Ake or Gvardiol.

This new system is with only 2 CB, he cant play LCB now, the angles dont work.
Click to expand...
Dias has been poor this season looks like he's pulling a cart and passing has been poor .But on the plus side he's a leader .
 
birchwoodgingerste said:
Dias has been poor this season looks like he's pulling a cart and passing has been poor .But on the plus side he's a leader .
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His passing has never been a strength. Put him between gvardiol and khus and I think they cover his weakness and he organizes/leads
 
WallyA said:
Do you remember who partnered Dias when he played LCB? John Stones.

Do you remember how we played then?
John Stones entered midfield to have Dias in the centre of a back 3, he always had an actual left footed CB next to him im Ake or Gvardiol.

This new system is with only 2 CB, he cant play LCB now, the angles dont work.
Click to expand...
I remember very well - thanks for asking. Our greatest ever CB pairing is Dias and Stones. Way back when we Cancelo and Walker as full backs... Do you remember how we played then?

John Stones was not entering the midfield and Dias was LCB.

We adapt our tactics depending on the opposition. I don't know if you've noticed but Pep doesn't play the same system every match. Players need to be versatile and Dias is more than qualified.
 
Alan Harper's Tash said:
Dias isn’t the answer at LCB. His switch to RCB has coincided with our clean sheets returning.

Ake has missed games because of a stress fracture in his foot this season. If surgery has been successful, that shouldn’t be a problem moving forward.
Click to expand...
When everyone is fit, Dias plays over Ake at LCB every day of the week. As does Gvardiol now.

I can't see him being happy with that. Our summer activity will dictate what happens, but if we buy an LB I can see Ake moving on.
 
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