It's quiet 10, no apologies! (continued)

[Bluethemaway]

We will get better in the CL after gaining some experience in the competition.

 

[LoveCity]

Looks like United are closing in on Strootman now for £11million-ish. He's starting to dislodge De Jong from the Dutch team and is a great talent with an outstanding passing range (long and short passes).

Edit: But it would mean they won't go for Modric who is a better player at this point in time.

 

[Marvin]

Looks like United are closing in on Strootman now for £11million-ish. He's starting to dislodge De Jong from the Dutch team and is a great talent with an outstanding passing range (long and short passes).

Never heard of him. Think we have to accept that Utd are going to be a lot stronger next season. Their weakness in mdfield was so obvious that it's not hard for them to improve on what they have. It's harder for us to make improvements as individually our players are better. I'd like City to increase the numbers slightly with young talented players like Hoilett who would be prepared to sit on the bench or wait for their chance (I know he's off to Germany - but someone like him eg Moses)

 

[Stoned Rose]

I am goin to spring to the defence of Mancio on this one.

We may not have conceded many goals in the league because most teams didn't bother attacking us. They parked the bus and hoped to nick a goal. Most weren't good enough to do so and that's why we have a good defensive record in the premier league.

In europe however it was a different ball game. we were up against more clinical forwards and we also didn't dominate possession in midfield like we do in the league. Barry, Milner etc not quite so effective in this arena.

So as far as I am concerned get RVP if he wants to come and we offload a striker,but he is not the key. If Tevez and Edin want to stay we have a fearsome front 4 as it is.

To improve in europe we need a centre back who can play football. pique for example. Vince is great but he often hoofs it long and inacurately, while Joleon, well its just not his thing.

In midfield we do need someone a bit more cultured.

So if we signed Pique and Sneijder for example i think we'd be almost there as far as Europe is concerned.

Hart
Richards Kompany Pique Clichy
de Jong
Snejder Yaya Silva
Aguero Tevez

Pique? Are you fuckin mad? He's shite. Would get given a new arsehole on a wet wednesday in jan in this league.

If you want to look at areas where we can improve as a team, look at the defensive areas. Other posters are right. In the Premiership, teams don't get the ball and we don't get put under any pressure. In the Champions League we will, especially as we're not top seeded and are bound to have to play good teams in the group stages.

I didnt disagree that improving defence would be a great idea. I simply pointed out that Pique is not the man to do that. But then you knew that didn't you Marv? ;)

 

[hgblue]

Looks like United are closing in on Strootman now for £11million-ish. He's starting to dislodge De Jong from the Dutch team and is a great talent with an outstanding passing range (long and short passes).

Never heard of him. Think we have to accept that Utd are going to be a lot stronger next season. Their weakness in mdfield was so obvious that it's not hard for them to improve on what they have. It's harder for us to make improvements as individually our players are better. I'd like City to increase the numbers slightly with young talented players like Hoilett who would be prepared to sit on the bench or wait for their chance (I know he's off to Germany - but someone like him eg Moses)

Bale, Martinez and RVP. Job done.

 

[Marvin]

We will get better in the CL after gaining some experience in the competition.

Maybe, but we could be up against Barca or real Madrid this time. Margin for error is small. We also need some strength in depth. If we'd have beaten Sporting, would we still have been able to win our last 6 games as well as play in very very demanding European Quarter and Semis? Highly unlikely

We seem to be trying to buy star players, but maybe we'd be better off with younger players who have just proved themselves. Bayern etc usually hoover up the best young players each Summer. Think we should be doing that. As the transfer of Hazard showed. Top players are going to look at our squad and have second thoughts about where they are going to fit in.

 

[LoveCity]

It's harder for us to make improvements as individually our players are better.

I don't know, we can improve in areas they are strong. Our threat from out wide is lacking compared to their's, so if we sign Bale for instance we'd be improving in a United-strong area (wing), while if they sign Strootman or someone they'll be improving in a City-strong area (midfield). I still think there's plenty of room for improvement in our side, we sometimes have looked very languid going forward and short on ideas (never more evident than in that chain of away games where one single tactic from our opponents made us look clueless and poor), something a midfielder with vision (and a winger) would help solve. A young Pizarro type like Benat from Betis or Banega from Valencia could help us quite a bit.

 

[Neville Kneville]

We will get better in the CL after gaining some experience in the competition.

Maybe, but we could be up against Barca or real Madrid this time. Margin for error is small. We also need some strength in depth. If we'd have beaten Sporting, would we still have been able to win our last 6 games as well as play in very very demanding European Quarter and Semis? Highly unlikely

We seem to be trying to buy star players, but maybe we'd be better off with younger players who have just proved themselves. Bayern etc usually hoover up the best young players each Summer. Think we should be doing that. As the transfer of Hazard showed. Top players are going to look at our squad and have second thoughts about where they are going to fit in.

If we signed the 4 highest rated defenders in the world, it would be no guarantee of winning the Champion's League or of beating Barcelona but it may well ensure that we don't win the Premier League, as that league is different and many players struggle in it, Luiz being the lastest to have his pants pulled down in public.

Plenty of people on the net saying we should dump Lescott and replace him with Luiz thius time last season. Well if we had done, we wouldn't be Champions & imo the same goes for so called 'ball playing' defenders like Piquet.

Chelsea won it by defending as a team, not because they have a better back 4, they don't. Ours is way way better.

I agree we need backup.

 

[Ray78]

I am going to get attacked here but can Wesley Sneijder play deep? Or can Nasri be converted to play deeper?

Scratch that it looks like we are linked to Marco Verratti potentially a very good signing.

 

[Marvin]

It's harder for us to make improvements as individually our players are better.

I don't know, we can improve in areas they are strong. Our threat from out wide is lacking compared to their's, so if we sign Bale for instance we'd be improving in a United-strong area (wing), while if they sign Strootman or someone they'll be improving in a City-strong area (midfield). I still think there's plenty of room for improvement in our side, we sometimes have looked very languid going forward and short on ideas (never more evident than in that chain of away games where one single tactic from our opponents made us look clueless and poor), something a midfielder with vision (and a winger) would help solve. A young Pizarro type like Benat from Betis or Banega from Valencia could help us quite a bit.

I don't know these players, but agree in general that we can improve. So far the players targeted seem to be in areas where we are very strong (hazard and RVP). I'd prefer us to look at wingers, and defensive players. I also think players like Savic, AJ, the younger players on the periphery of our 1st team may improve and get more opportunities next season.

 

[rastus]

so there was only a champions league played last season?

We literally DOMINATED the EPL. and we risked losing it because of the defense.

the same defense that led us out of the CL and EL

I think this individual should be banned.

You first

 

[Sleeping_Easy]

Just thought after seeing how people hope us to line up next season, i'd stick mine in here.


. Hart
Richards Kompany Lescott Clichy

Yaya Martinez

Silva/Nasri Nasri/bale

Aguero RVP

Barry and De jong will get plenty of games rotating with Martinez/yaya. Martinez can also cover the CB roles along with kolo as savic goes out on loan. Nasri Silva and Bale can rotate the three AM positions. RVP Aguero and Balotelli can split the striker roles, not really sure about Dzeko and tevez.

 

[reddishblue]

How about a cheeky bid for Sanchez?

 

[CITYROBBO]

It's harder for us to make improvements as individually our players are better

Agree in a sense but i honestly believe is so much more to come from our players our team can only get stronger and thats without signing anyone. The sprit of winning the league that will have given us money cant buy.. I really think as a team unit no matter who united sign we will finish at least 10 points above them if we add a winger defender to that breaking the record number of premier league points should be the goal for the season.

 

[Ray78]

How about a cheeky bid for Sanchez?

Nope he had his chance. It was bad enough last season when we tried to sign him.

 

[Marvin]

Just thought after seeing how people hope us to line up next season, i'd stick mine in here.


. Hart
Richards Kompany Lescott Clichy

Yaya Martinez

Silva/Nasri Nasri/bale

Aguero RVP

Barry and De jong will get plenty of games rotating with Martinez/yaya. Martinez can also cover the CB roles along with kolo as savic goes out on loan. Nasri Silva and Bale can rotate the three AM positions. RVP Aguero and Balotelli can split the striker roles, not really sure about Dzeko and tevez.

As we finished last season. I think any changes up front will go on hold now that Tevez has committed to City. If we bought another forward, we'd have an unhappy player on our hands again

I'm sure a player will crop up between now and the start of the season, but I have no idea now. I'd be happy just to see us strengthen the back up so that we can have cover, and compete in the Cups. With Tevez on side that will be like a new signing. Also be interesting to see how Mario does in the euros

 

[reddishblue]

How about a cheeky bid for Sanchez?

Nope he had his chance. It was bad enough last season when we tried to sign him.

Rather have him than Hazard for example. Speed and more width is required imo and we will not get the best out of Dzeko until we do, who I believe we should without a doubt keep.

 

[BlueBilly]

I am goin to spring to the defence of Mancio on this one.

We may not have conceded many goals in the league because most teams didn't bother attacking us. They parked the bus and hoped to nick a goal. Most weren't good enough to do so and that's why we have a good defensive record in the premier league.

In europe however it was a different ball game. we were up against more clinical forwards and we also didn't dominate possession in midfield like we do in the league. Barry, Milner etc not quite so effective in this arena.

So as far as I am concerned get RVP if he wants to come and we offload a striker,but he is not the key. If Tevez and Edin want to stay we have a fearsome front 4 as it is.

To improve in europe we need a centre back who can play football. pique for example. Vince is great but he often hoofs it long and inacurately, while Joleon, well its just not his thing.

In midfield we do need someone a bit more cultured.

So if we signed Pique and Sneijder for example i think we'd be almost there as far as Europe is concerned.

Hart
Richards Kompany Pique Clichy
de Jong
Snejder Yaya Silva
Aguero Tevez

Pique? Are you fuckin mad? He's shite. Would get given a new arsehole on a wet wednesday in jan in this league.

Haha! Lescott is infinitely better than Pique! He's won shit loads of silverware but only because the teams he plays for never have to defend. He's a good passer so fits in at Barca and Spain, but towards the end of the season Mascherano displaced him and as soon as a better centre back comes along he'll be right out of the Spain squad.

Champions League semi, Pique subbed off after 30 minutes after getting tortured by Drogba. Even in Barca's side he's good for at least one shocking mistake a game. The single most overrated player in world football, bar none, he's atrocious. I'd love to see him in the Premier League, because his reputation would be ruined in weeks.

Oh, and Sneijder's just had a crap season and is unbelievably lazy, some people think Johnson doesn't track back, there'd be no patience with him. The very definition of a luxury player.

I'd rather have Savic and Weiss in my starting XI (no disrespect to either) than Pique and Sneijder.

Sorry for the rant, I just find it hilarious that anyone rates Pique. I don't like to give him credit, but there's a reason Ferguson let him go.

Edit: Just noticed the Kompany comment. Kompany is one of the best ball playing centre backs in world football, however sometimes the situation requires hoofing the ball out. Never take chances when you're defending in your own box.

 

[Ray78]

How about a cheeky bid for Sanchez?

Nope he had his chance. It was bad enough last season when we tried to sign him.

Rather have him than Hazard for example. Speed and more width is required imo and we will not get the best out of Dzeko until we do, who I believe we should without a doubt keep.

Hypothetically yes, but reality is that we don't have a chance unless he has been made available. I don't want another saga like last time.

 

[robbieh]

Just goin to defend myself on this one. People who are saying Pique is crap obviously have formed their opinions from a couple of dodgy games against Drogba, who lets be frank scares the hell out of most centre backs.

Lescott better than Gerard P. Maybe in the PL. But I did qualify my statement by selecting Pique for european games where Lescotts extremely poor distribution is not doing us any favours.