It's Quiet 17 - Glory Thread

[Gaz (FMwkdsoul)]

Or we could have shot ourselves in the foot titles-wise long before then. It's no coincidence that fans are shitting themselves because of our small squad.

We've Aké, Laporté Jack & Kalvin out & already we're looking stretched. Once we get to three games per week, then what?

I honestly believe that another senior LB & a top class winger is all we need to complete this season's squad & to give us adequate competition/cover for the season ahead.

We were a Kyle Walker injury away from a second successive CL final appearance imo. It's at crucial times like those, when bypassing moments like now, when we can change things, that makes our small squad policy seems crazy to many of us.

We'd be complaining the guys on the bench aren't getting enough minutes instead.. :)

 

[Keeper!]

But in reality we were better AFTER going to the bench. Gundo and Alvarez were excellent and Gomez and Palmer did not look a bit out of place. Add Grealish, Laporte, Phillips and Ake plus Ortega and that becomes an excellent bench on any given day. Would I have a problem with adding 2 players? Not at all, but a roster with 17 full internationals can't be considered light.
Our major vulnerability lies in potential injuries, but many of our guys are irreplaceable so a bad run of injuries would be difficult to overcome as it would for any team, us in 2019-20, Liverpool in 2020-21. Let's hope this doesn't happen and we can reassess after the WC in the January window. It would be quite a stretch to believe this squad won't keep or set the pace in the Prem until then or get out of the group in the CL.

January is never a good time to buy and as we have seen players signing for us often need time to get up to speed with the managers way of playing.

 

[halfcenturyup]

A spending pot reserved for the new manager (Luis Enrique) coming in next season.

Boo to Boo or Boo-urns.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

January is never a good time to buy and as we have seen players signing for us often need time to get up to speed with the managers way of playing.

No, but we aren’t phobic of using it should we need.

It'd likely to have to be a release clause purchase though.

 

[hammersmithlad]

The break for the World Cup will inevitably have influenced our thinking, in my view, given the two month pause and the chance to work on deals or get players fit if we do get hit by injuries.

I also think that top players will be much more open than usual to moving in January. This will either be wanting to capitalise on the back of a good World Cup, or wanting a new challenge where currently they may have opted to stay put, not wanting to jeopardise potentially sitting on the bench at City ahead of a World Cup.

Obviously a bit of a risky strategy and the bench looked very thin on Saturday. But keeping our powder dry and having the pick of players in January could provide a huge boost to us at the business-end of the season.

Whilst I understand the benefits of a small squad going into a season without many variables (I personally think Pep has simply stated he prefers working with a small squad for PR purposes, as what manager doesn't like working with as many resources available to him or her) I do think its unwise not to air on the side of caution going into a unprecedented season where a winter World Cup takes place & inevitably further injuries will be picked up. Whats worked to our benefit in previous seasons is our squad depth, whilst others may have a competitive first 11 the injuries & fatigue take their toll during the 'business end of the season' & do not have the depth to compete at the same level.

I disagree with top players being more open to move in January. Usually its the top players who are more settled during this time & are less likely to move due to relocating family etc within a short time frame compared to the summer window. Its more likely to be the 'desperate' players who want a Jan move or the WC starlets who play a blinder during this particular month & artificially inflate their profile & transfer fee. I would have hoped City's scouting board is more adept at recruitment than waiting for someone to perform for one month during a World Cup & only then striking to acquire where it then naturally becomes a seller's market. James Rodriguez & Andrey Arshavin spring to mind after having successful high profile tournaments.

 

[Dribble]

We'd be complaining the guys on the bench aren't getting enough minutes instead.. :)

I'm glad you raised this point. Last season Pep became notorious for not making substitutions & rinsing out our meagre best 14 in most games when fit & available.

Could this be because Pep had a lack of faith in Sterling, Jesus, Zinchenko, Aké, Gundog, Fernandinho & the EDS on the bench for not being good enough to make a significant uplift to our best 11, & we'd stand more chance of turning a defeat into a draw, or a draw into victory sticking with the main players Pep trusted most, even if they were in need of a rest?

It's not to say the players listed aren't capable, but toward the end of last season, none of them would have made our strongest 11, & all would've left in the summer if the Chavs had met our Aké valuation & reported interest in Gundog was more concrete.

However I believe both Gundog & Aké have played themselves firmly into Pep's main plan for this season & I'm happy both are still here.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

I'm glad you raised this point. Last season Pep became notorious for not making substitutions & rinsing out our meagre best 14 in most games when fit & available.

Could this be because Pep had a lack of faith in Sterling, Jesus, Zinchenko, Aké, Gundog, Fernandinho & the EDS on the bench for not being good enough to make a significant uplift to our best 11, & we'd stand more chance of turning a defeat into a draw, or a draw into victory sticking with the main players Pep trusted most, even if they were in need of a rest?

It's not to say the players listed aren't capable, but toward the end of last season, none of them would have made our strongest 11, & all would've left in the summer if the Chavs had met our Aké valuation & reported interest in Gundog was more concrete.

However I believe both Gundog & Aké have played themselves firmly into Pep's main plan for this season & I'm happy both are still here.

Pep hates making subs when the game is still “open”.

He believes he has given the players enough information for them to work out the way to break through in any situation.

If we’re winning by 3+, subs will be made aplenty.

 

[blueparrot]

This would be your "pet theory " then, yeah? :)

My pet theory is we won't buy again this window and it will be a well thought out plan by the club, what that plan is I wouldn't know.So no not really a theory.

 

[Dribble]

Pep hates making subs when the game is still “open”.

He believes he has given the players enough information for them to work out the way to break through in any situation.

If we’re winning by 3+, subs will be made aplenty.

So not a lack of game-changing trust in our senior squad members last season?

On Saturday Pep went to make early second half changes at 0-2 down. I'm pretty sure Bernardo was for the hook. He'd been pretty quiet up until then & I noticed him looking over at the bench as Gundog & Alvarez were warming up.

He immediately picked up his performance pace & 3-4 minutes later scored our first. Pep held back with the substitutions & Bernardo just got better & better & was dictating our comeback.

I reckon the certainty of him staying at City & sensing he was about to be substituted was the boot up the arse he needed to properly kick-start his season.

 

[JewelZee]

January is never a good time to buy and as we have seen players signing for us often need time to get up to speed with the managers way of playing.

Agree, its not optimal but I'm sure if there's a need we'll make the necessary moves to get someone in who could fit in and help rather quickly.