It's Quiet - a new dawn

[City_Sean]

looks like douglas costa could be available from Bayern, should we be interested?

If we can't get Sanchez then yes, absolutely.

 

[SPIDERBOY]

I've been told they are after Weigl for that dm role. Is that who you heard? Hope either of our sources are right because I really want us to get Fabinho.

I'll say it's Blaise Matuidi.

 

[BillyShears]

Well they do want a massive fee for him so of course they going to say that.

Err, no. The coaches don't get the money the owners do, and the coaches stop getting to work with a player who they've developed and who they rate. Plus this wasn't a conversation to a newspaper journalist. It was one of their youth coaches on a podcast about GK's talking about GK's including Pickford.

 

[Andrew___K]

We've played that formation (when Gundogan was fit) multiple times this season, eg. Everton at home.

Hope you do understand why that was a one-off experiment - we lack quality CM personnell for such setups. Besides, there's a serious difference between playing Sane/Sterling and all-rounder like Alves who was a great defender and usually had CR7 for breakfast in his prime.
Your note about Gundo's importance is spot on though. We need to bring in 8's with similar qualities as we''ll soon be left with only 1 press-resistant CM in 31 yo Silva as Yaya leaves. Can't see us seriously relying on Gundogan after his injuries. I mean, we can hope for the best, but relying on him in advance would be a huge mistake, he's basically our midfield Kompany.
With all the fuss about fullbacks I don't see a problem with them to be that big, as there are plenty of options on the market and we'll definitely address it soon. I reckon midfield as much more of a headache. Press-resistant mids is probably the main prerequisite of successful 'positional play', their introduction would ease the pressure on defence enormously and allow to use total pressing that Pep has abandoned due to our personnell deficiencies.

 

[Blue Hefner]

Im not sure our midfield is as desperate as some are making out. We've got Silva / KDB / Dinho / Gundogan and I hope from next season more regularly Aleix Garcia. I also have a hunch that Delph will get at least another year here. That is 6 players who prefer playing centrally and give a decent blend of attacking / sitting & holding.

Unless something drastically better comes up - I cant see us doing much business in the central midfield area.

Fullbacks (x2 minimum for straight into first team), a keeper (Replace Willy - End of Contract and dont think Pep will give up on Bravo) and a new Winger for me (Replace Navas). Maybe a new Centre Back depending on Kompany's fitness issues over the last 18 months and any long term prognosis.

There are nowhere near enough goals in that lot and the way Fern has played this season, he'll be lucky to be on the bench next season

 

[Jalfraag]

Hope you do understand why that was a one-off experiment - we lack quality CM personnell for such setups. Besides, there's a serious difference between playing Sane/Sterling and all-rounder like Alves who was a great defender and usually had CR7 for breakfast in his prime.
Your note about Gundo's importance is spot on though. We need to bring in 8's with similar qualities as we''ll soon be left with only 1 press-resistant CM in 31 yo Silva as Yaya leaves. Can't see us seriously relying on Gundogan after his injuries. I mean, we can hope for the best, but relying on him in advance would be a huge mistake, he's basically our midfield Kompany.
With all the fuss about fullbacks I don't see a problem with them to be that big, as there are plenty of options on the market and we'll definitely address it soon. I reckon midfield as much more of a headache. Press-resistant mids is probably the main prerequisite of successful 'positional play', their introduction would ease the pressure on defence enormously and allow to use total pressing that Pep has abandoned due to our personnell deficiencies.

It's "tranny" or "ladyboy" on here. That term is cringe worthy.

 

[Zin 'messiah' Zimmer]

My point is that we are signing the talent,our scouts are doing their jobs.

The trouble with the players you describe is they rightly want first team football,and thats not always something we could guarantee given their lack of experience.They would sooner go to a club where they are afforded game time and they can prove themselves capable in a less pressured environment,usually a mid table type team........ unfortunately that means even though we pick up a far more polished product further down the line,we have generally paid over the odds for that privilege.

I think we're ignoring the point somewhat, regardless if the talent is being picked up, improving etc, there is still a transitional problem. I was with an ex player on Sunday who hit the nail on the head to a degree, his stance was that no manager is going to give these kids a chance unless they're already at the level required, not because the lack of potential but because results dictate weather they keep there job or not.....

Let's see if pep can be as good as his word and get promoting, personally though i can't see it, you listen to the consensus of the fans and it's 'buy, buy, buy', we want ready made success and that means spending, I hope I'm wrong and we see some of this talent being developed in the 1st team squad!

 

[Andrew___K]

It's "tranny" or "ladyboy" on here. That term is cringe worthy.

Haha, let it be Tranny :)

 

[FantasyIreland]

I think we're ignoring the point somewhat, regardless if the talent is being picked up, improving etc, there is still a transitional problem. I was with an ex player on Sunday who hit the nail on the head to a degree, his stance was that no manager is going to give these kids a chance unless they're already at the level required, not because the lack of potential but because results dictate weather they keep there job or not.....

Let's see if pep can be as good as his word and get promoting, personally though i can't see it, you listen to the consensus of the fans and it's 'buy, buy, buy', we want ready made success and that means spending, I hope I'm wrong and we see some of this talent being developed in the 1st team squad!

Yep,i agree,you probably did a better job of explaining.

 

[domalino]

I think we're ignoring the point somewhat, regardless if the talent is being picked up, improving etc, there is still a transitional problem. I was with an ex player on Sunday who hit the nail on the head to a degree, his stance was that no manager is going to give these kids a chance unless they're already at the level required, not because the lack of potential but because results dictate weather they keep there job or not.....

Let's see if pep can be as good as his word and get promoting, personally though i can't see it, you listen to the consensus of the fans and it's 'buy, buy, buy', we want ready made success and that means spending, I hope I'm wrong and we see some of this talent being developed in the 1st team squad!

The problem with that is Guardiola's job will never be as secure as it is this season.

My biggest gripe with his youth policy to date is that he's stopped players taking loans, only to say midway through the season that he can't trust the kids without them having played in front of big crowds in professional games. So why has he stopped Gunn and/or Tosin going on loan then? None of them have played a single minute since the January window either, so he could have loaned Gunn & Garcia then too.

According to Henry Winter Maffeo was loaned out after the United game because he played well, but they thought he was caught out of position far too often...so he sent him to his brother's club where he plays as a wingback in a 343 - is that going to help him have better defensive positioning?

A balance can be struck between promoting the kids and buying. RB is the perfect example, we can buy a brilliant first choice RB and have someone like Maffeo come in as understudy, I've just reached the point with Guardiola where he is going to have to start delivering on the academy side or people are going to lose faith in that side of his reputation quite quickly, starting with the kids in the u16's and u18's who are being asked to sign new deals.