It's quiet... summer 2018.

[richards30]

I’d love us to be one of the first into the market with a couple of top class signings! Sends the message that we have improved again and will aim to be even better!

 

[OB1]

To answer your question, none of them...but that is not the point.

Ilky is a fantastic player, but unfortunately he doesn't have a role to fill at city...creatively he is not as good (and never will be) as David Silva or KDB....he is nowhere near their level and replacing either one of those two with Ilky sees a drop off in performance for the whole team.

Likewise he is not a defensive midfielder - he is the worst out of any of them defensively including silva, kdb, Ferna....replacing any of those 3 with Ilky sees a drop off in performance both creatively and defensively. Infact, defensively he is nearly as much as a liability as Yaya had been in the past.

We need to replace him with either a much more creative player (one at the level of Silva/KDB - highly unlikely)...or one who is better defensively.......this is the more likely option.

When the very sad say comes that Silva can play no more/leaves us we will have to find a replacement (unless Foden/Diaz can rise to the challenge - not impossible)

The one worrying think for next season for me is that Pep has already gone on record saying silva may not play as much.....we don't have anyone to play instead of him and when he doesn't play KDB suffers (and likewise the other way around).....Ilky isn't an able replacement in terms of creativity or control of a game/ability to influence a game.

I think you undersell Gundo and I think he can "improve": his road back from injury has been a very tough one and his confidence has room to grow back further (maybe a bit of Tai Chi would help).

As to Silva starting to play less, other possibilities exist internally from real young un's such as Diaz and Foden to the slightly older Bernardo. Also, if City pull off the minor miracle of stealing Hazard away from Chelsea, I think he could take on that role.

 

[Gabriel]

I've probably repeated this too many times but I'm not a fan of three 3 CB's either; however, I do like the virtual 3 at the back as I call it with 2 Cb's split wide and a DM in between. Even better is when we dominate so much that we essentially have two at the back.

Yes, can see the point when it is someone with the turn of Fernandinho or the insouciance of Toure, but not Stones/Kompany/Otamendi together.

 

[simon23]

I think you undersell Gundo and I think he can "improve": his road back from injury has been a very tough one and his confidence has room to grow back further (maybe a bit of Tai Chi would help).

As to Silva starting to play less, other possibilities exist internally from real young un's such as Diaz and Foden to the slightly older Bernardo. Also, if City pull off the minor miracle of stealing Hazard away from Chelsea, I think he could take on that role.

agreed with it all except about Ilky getting better....id rather have diaz in that role as a creative outlet than Ilky..TBH id forgotten (stupidly) about Bernardo......it was a bit disappointing that Pep never played him more centrally with both sterling and Sane either side of him as well (i.e. directly replacing one of KDB or David S. - it would have been nice to see this year but it never happened which i thought was a bit strange)

 

[mosssideblue]

If someone offers upwards of £50m, we'd probably be interested.

Again, why would we sell him?

Would we sell Kev for £150m or Sane for £90m

 

[silvasdreamyfringe]

Again, why would we sell him?

Would we sell Kev for £150m or Sane for £90m

I think ultimately although I like Gundogan and want him to stay; he is replaceable when compared with the two you mentioned.

 

[OB1]

agreed with it all except about Ilky getting better....id rather have diaz in that role as a creative outlet than Ilky..TBH id forgotten (stupidly) about Bernardo......it was a bit disappointing that Pep never played him more centrally with both sterling and Sane either side of him as well (i.e. directly replacing one of KDB or David S. - it would have been nice to see this year but it never happened which i thought was a bit strange)

Silva improved this season under Pep...

Gundogan has essentially now played his first season in English football / under Pep, as has Bernardo actually has; both will be better for that.

 

[oldius]

I must watch a different game to most, or perhaps I look for what a player can do rather than what he can't. Gundogan is a superb technical footballer who has awareness, vision, movement and control. He also seems to be an excellent squad member who is liked by the other players and the management team. Getting rid of him would seem to be stupid to me.

 

[mosssideblue]

I think ultimately although I like Gundogan and want him to stay; he is replaceable when compared with the two you mentioned.

This is about Otamendi :)

 

[MarsLlama]

Again, why would we sell him?

Would we sell Kev for £150m or Sane for £90m

If we do go and get Skriniar/De Light etc, we might decide that we have one CB too many, and Otamendi is more likely to leave than Stones, Laporte or Kompany