It's Quiet thread 14 - 'do one' edition

[Centurions]

Apparently he's a terrible defender and terrible going forward.

Sounds right up our street.

Corrected...

 

[domalino]

We need a left back,a centre forward and a defensive midfielder much more than this lad.

We aren't even deploying/utilising Foden or Bernardo to the best of their abilities,without adding to the issue.

This kid would solve our issues 10x more than any LB signing.

This side and our entire way of playing is about the midfield. We are missing David Silva of a few years ago. With Gundogan we keep hold of the ball but he doesn't play killler passes or press, with Foden we play killer passes but lack control, and with Fernandinho we lack killer passes and control but have another defender.

You get someone like Aouar in who will do the role Silva did on the ball, will press like a mad man, and we have the midfield balance back. His extra running compared to Silva will help us as well.

Get the front 5 pressing again and Rodri won't get bypassed, Fernandinho could play defensive mid, Gundogan could even play there 14 games in a row on the way to winning the league.

LB is a bullshit position, you can put anyone there if the rest of the team is sorted. Striker is a short term issue. Gabby and Aguero will be back after Leeds and Delap with 10 games under his belt will be a genuine addition to the squad.

 

[FantasyIreland]

This kid would solve our issues 10x more than any LB signing.

Say you're right,as it stands......how have you solved the left back issue? I know we ave Cancelo to return,but id sooner him at right back.

 

[twosips]

Anyone know if this source is reliable or is he just bullshitting us?

Nah there's no way City are gonna sign a big player now. Possibly a left back but that's it.

 

[Benarbia’s Backheel]

Say you're right,as it stands......how have you solved the left back issue? I know we ave Cancelo to return,but id sooner him at right back.

Ake.

 

[FantasyIreland]

Ake.

Better than Mendy and Zinchenko,for sure.

 

[domalino]

Say you're right,as it stands......how have you solved the left back issue? I know we ave Cancelo to return,but id sooner him at right back.

We got 198 points in 2 seasons without a left back. Pep won everything for 4 years with a CB filling in at LB at Barca.

Aké is a much better option at LB than Delph or Zinchenko. Cancelo can play there if you need a bit more attacking output.

Fernandinho could play the inverted LB role which would mean he's sitting next to Rodri 80% of the game and doing a bit of 1v1 defending out wide the rest of it - something he can do easily.

Sort out the midfield and everything else falls into place.

 

[twosips]

We got 198 points in 2 seasons without a left back. Pep won everything for 4 years with a CB filling in at LB at Barca.

Aké is a much better option at LB than Delph or Zinchenko. Cancelo can play there if you need a bit more attacking output.

Fernandinho could play the inverted LB role which would mean he's sitting next to Rodri 80% of the game and doing a bit of 1v1 defending out wide the rest of it - something he can do easily.

Sort out the midfield and everything else falls into place.

I do think we need a LB, but I also agree our current main problem is midfield balance. I was so disappointed by our midfield against Leicester. Not secure, no composure, giving the ball away cheaply...where have the triangles gone? There was nothing. Just KDB rushing forward and hitting crosses. Pep's great sides are all about the midfield. Ours currently has no balance at all. We need to find that as a matter of urgency. Aouar would solve that for me. He's potential Silva-esque. Gundogan but with dynamism.

 

[Del_Bosque]

Aouar and Thiago both available and we went for neither, but signed a winger who we probably didn't need

Crazy

 

[supercity88]

Having watched Liverpool last night, and against Chelsea we are simply a million miles away from them at the moment.

Whilst we were absolutely dominant domestically for 2 seasons, Liverpool have addressed their weaknesses, enhanced their squad and looked to develop all elements of their play. For example, their defensive work on opposition throw-ins, their corner and free kick routines and their addition of Thiago, Minamino and Jota to provide more quality in the squad. Thiago in particular is a great addition for them. Their full backs are vital to their attacking, with balls into the channels or chipped/crossed into the box and they run all game. Their central midfielders are runners. Providing the support and balance but not necessarily being hugely influential in creating chances. Thiago changes that and can remove some of the burden on the full backs/front three.

Whilst we finally scored from a corner, those little details that Liverpool have gone into still escape us. We have a lot of injuries but we really need to get back to a settled 11 with players being given a chance to learn their roles and gel.

Ultimately the first half v Wolves showed how good this City side can be. We can win the title playing like that. The pressing intensity, the balance it was all there. The personnel at the back didn't matter because the front 3 pressed, De Bruyne was too and Rodri/Ferny mopped anything else up. It was only through a lack of fitness that we fell away in the second half.

If we can get some more pace and energy in the middle, and if that player also has the qualities to pass and create then putting them in with Rodri and De Bruyne we'll instantly be title challengers again, regardless of the perceived issues at LB and up front. Aouar is the man we should be buying.

Ederson
Walker
Dias
Laporte
Mendy
Rodri
Aouar
De Bruyne
Foden
Sterling
Jesus

That's a team you can look to cement over a three-four year period and that could dominate again. Ake, Gundogan, Fernandinho, Doyle, Aguero, Torres, Mahrez, Cancelo, Bernardo all able to push for starting places or squad roles within that shape.

I don't get how no one at City has seen how desperate we are for energy in the middle of the park.