He was not good enough at the time.Frimpong isn't a city reject, no more than Delap , Palmer, Lavia etc. are.
A young player moving onto another club, usually by mutual agreement with the player and the 2 clubs, is a normal transfer procedure.
When it comes to breaking up cou ters rodri has 5 yards in his head I also see gonzalez being the same they will have seen the danger and dealt with it before its lead to anything. We also have more pace at the back now to deal with these breaks.He certainly has some of the attributes we need. A glaring deficiency in our squad is the lack of pace in midfield, especially when tasked with running back to defend. However, I’d much rather save the not inconsiderable money it would take to bring him from Nottingham and sign Bouaddi from Lille instead, either in the winter or next summer.
That doesn't mean Delap and Frimpong are rejects.He was not good enough at the time.
I think we just perceive reject differently. For me it is just a player we deem not good enough for us. They could still be a very good top league player. I think Callum Doyle is similar example clearly a talented footballer but he will probably reach his peak at mid table PL side.That doesn't mean Delap and Frimpong are rejects.
Callum Doyle may well be sold this window but I doubt you could class him as a reject.
I recently re-watched the games against Real Madrid (23-24) and then Internazionale (24-25) and it was evident then that Rodri was already struggling to get back when we lost possession in the opponent’s half, and that was before he suffered his season-ending injury. That’s not criticism, merely acknowledging where we have a vulnerability. Gonzalez, for all his other attributes, is not quick. We’ve seen us lose possession in games and his first instinct is to grab the player and take the booking, because he knows he’s not catching them. Porto fans came on here and cautioned us about that side of his game, no pun intended. The new defenders might help, though there’s currently no guarantee they’ll all remain. Our squad is now much stronger, but every side has a weakness, and if the opposition deliberately sets the trap and dispossess us in front of its own box, it knows that 5 players running at pace will rapidly expose our defence.When it comes to breaking up cou ters rodri has 5 yards in his head I also see gonzalez being the same they will have seen the danger and dealt with it before its lead to anything. We also have more pace at the back now to deal with these breaks.
Still provides the extra cover needed for the season. We don't want a repeat of last season's situation. Even though it is limited he still looks like he can still do a job especially in the domestic cups.I'm not arguing he doesn't, necessarily. But the extra year of contract was triggered by the number of games he played last year. And what you argue would have been daft, to not play him in a season we had so many injuries to key players, because it means he can go for free this year.
Any part he may have this season has now changed with the addition of Reijnders and Gonzales, and some extent Cherki.
Squad spaces will ultimately be the diciding thing, but I would bet of it comes down to loaning out new 30m+ signings that can't be registerd in the CL vs letting Gundogan go on a free somewhere, he is gone mate.
True but I wouldn't expect any of the 3 teams above to play that way (defending deep and counter)I recently re-watched the games against Real Madrid (23-24) and then Internazionale (24-25) and it was evident then that Rodri was already struggling to get back when we lost possession in the opponent’s half, and that was before he suffered his season-ending injury. That’s not criticism, merely acknowledging where we have a vulnerability. Gonzalez, for all his other attributes, is not quick. We’ve seen us lose possession in games and his first instinct is to grab the player and take the booking, because he knows he’s not catching them. Porto fans came on here and cautioned us about that side of his game, no pun intended. The new defenders might help, though there’s currently no guarantee they’ll all remain. Our squad is now much stronger, but every side has a weakness, and if the opposition deliberately sets the trap and dispossess us in front of its own box, it knows that 5 players running at pace will rapidly expose our defence.
As I’ve said, we’ll be comparatively comfortable domestically, but in Europe, I expect Barcelona, PSG, and Real Madrid, teams blessed with multiple fast players, to expose that vulnerability. Our cause isn’t helped by the fact that we’ll likely face them after the domestic season has taken its toll.
Another point that is overlooked is this is professional football at the highest level. Clubs can, but often don't, keep a sick note or has been because of what they have done in the past. They are looking towards and building for the future.A point that is often overlooked is that many of the players slated for the departure gate on here (Ake, Akanji, Gundogan, Stones, Kovacic) are guys that have taken the injections and played through pain and injuries for us. They might just feel that the club owes them and that now they’re fit and well, they don’t want to be forced out.
If this turns out to be the case and they all stay, then the winter window is going to have been like Christmas Eve shopping as the bells chime five.
Always find olise and gittens interesting bring quoted. Olise was here a very short time and left as he was homesick. Gittens no one knew anything about - was certainly not the best in the academy at the time. But then look where people like Ndala and the lad that went to Ajax are nowI think we just perceive reject differently. For me it is just a player we deem not good enough for us. They could still be a very good top league player. I think Callum Doyle is similar example clearly a talented footballer but he will probably reach his peak at mid table PL side.
Lavia and Palmer clearly had the ability to play for us they were impatient or we were not trusting enough in them.
We have rarely got it wrong when shipping out young players (rejecting). The only time I feel we lost out is when they wanted/forced the move Lavia, Palmer, Brahim Diaz, olise, gittens, and sancho.
Gittens was one we wanted to keep and really talented.Always find olise and gittens interesting bring quoted. Olise was here a very short time and left as he was homesick. Gittens no one knew anything about - was certainly not the best in the academy at the time. But then look where people like Ndala and the lad that went to Ajax are now
Rogers is in that bracket too
He will be going to Liverpool I thinkMarc Guehi on free next year ? To replace our home grown CB ?
To replace Konate who will walk on a free.He will be going to Liverpool I think
I think the idea we need legs in midfield to combat counter attacks is not the way we will go. Pep has signed Phillips not worked out he also signed Nunes whos been made a fullback. Pep likes midfielders comfortable on the ball clever players who can read a game smell the danger and deal with it early. I can't really remember 1 of his teams that had a pacey central midfield it's always been about control have 70% of the ball and it will give you a better chance of winning the game. Can't see him signing a headless chicken just because he can get back quickly if he has no positional sense and is no good at keeping the ball.I recently re-watched the games against Real Madrid (23-24) and then Internazionale (24-25) and it was evident then that Rodri was already struggling to get back when we lost possession in the opponent’s half, and that was before he suffered his season-ending injury. That’s not criticism, merely acknowledging where we have a vulnerability. Gonzalez, for all his other attributes, is not quick. We’ve seen us lose possession in games and his first instinct is to grab the player and take the booking, because he knows he’s not catching them. Porto fans came on here and cautioned us about that side of his game, no pun intended. The new defenders might help, though there’s currently no guarantee they’ll all remain. Our squad is now much stronger, but every side has a weakness, and if the opposition deliberately sets the trap and dispossess us in front of its own box, it knows that 5 players running at pace will rapidly expose our defence.
As I’ve said, we’ll be comparatively comfortable domestically, but in Europe, I expect Barcelona, PSG, and Real Madrid, teams blessed with multiple fast players, to expose that vulnerability. Our cause isn’t helped by the fact that we’ll likely face them after the domestic season has taken its toll.
A glaring deficiency in our squad is the lack of pace in midfield, especially when tasked with running back to defend.
I'm not calling for an athletic headless chicken (who would?), and Guardiola had Fernandinho in that position, who was no slouch. What I'm looking for is someone similar, someone with a little defensive control but who can also get back quickly and still play high-level football. Such players are incredibly rare. A few on here, myself included, have long championed Ayyoub Bouaddi at Lille. Still only 17 but ridiculously talented and blessed with all the attributes I'm talking about. If you have the time, try and watch some of his games/work.I think the idea we need legs in midfield to combat counter attacks is not the way we will go. Pep has signed Phillips not worked out he also signed Nunes whos been made a fullback. Pep likes midfielders comfortable on the ball clever players who can read a game smell the danger and deal with it early. I can't really remember 1 of his teams that had a pacey central midfield it's always been about control have 70% of the ball and it will give you a better chance of winning the game. Can't see him signing a headless chicken just because he can get back quickly if he has no positional sense and is no good at keeping the ball.
I don't disagree with that, but if you go back and watch the actual games I mentioned, not just the scorelines, you'll see that we were repeatedly caught up the middle and could have conceded more. Internazionale, who were themselves later creaking and dismantled by PSG, repeatedly broke on us in that way.We conceded 5 goals in 13 CL games in 22/23 with "slow" Rodri and Gundo in the middle, 2 goals in 4 games vs. Bayern and Real.
The obsession with pace in midfield shows lack of understanding. Two of the greatest teams in the last 30 years, Pep's Barca 9-11and City 22-24, were "slow" in midfield.
The idea that defending against counters is mainly about running back quickly is utterly simplistic. Yes, we could do with fast runners, but there's so much more to defending, the obsession with pace is getting annoying.
That’s what I think but just a thought.He will be going to Liverpool I think
I don't disagree with that, but if you go back and watch the actual games I mentioned, not just the scorelines, you'll see that we were repeatedly caught up the middle and could have conceded more. Internazionale, who were themselves later creaking and dismantled by PSG, repeatedly broke on us in that way.
It's not an obsession to point out where we still have weaknesses. All teams have them. Recognising them and adding the appropriate pieces means you eliminate them, neutralise the opponent's threat, and make your chances of winning even greater.
I would have thought that what happened last season and the number of times teams ran through us is a better guide to what the squad needs, rather than how good the side was in the treble and four in a row years.We conceded 5 goals in 13 CL games in 22/23 with "slow" Rodri and Gundo in the middle, 2 goals in 4 games vs. Bayern and Real.
The obsession with pace in midfield shows lack of understanding. Two of the greatest teams in the last 30 years, Pep's Barca 9-11and City 22-24, were "slow" in midfield.
The idea that defending against counters is mainly about running back quickly is utterly simplistic. Yes, we could do with fast runners, but there's so much more to defending, the obsession with pace is getting annoying.