It's Quiet Thread 15 - Txiki Blinders

[cjn]

C'mon Blues, we have players already that others can only dream about.

Let's not throw the baby out with the bathwater, eh?

We need two or three new faces at best, starting with the No.9 and then a midfielder better that Rodri.

Have we even been linked with new defensive midfielders?

 

[oakiecokie]

Have we even been linked with new defensive midfielders?

Jordan Henderson.

 

[hgblue]

Jordan Henderson.

Permanent ban incoming ;)

 

[Dr Jacoby]

C'mon Blues, we have players already that others can only dream about.

Let's not throw the baby out with the bathwater, eh?

We need two or three new faces at best, starting with the No.9 and then a midfielder better that Rodri.

Grealish isn’t a priority then?

 

[BamberBridgeBlue]

I’m absolutely a Bernardo Silva fan. Problem is he hasn’t been the same player since the Mendy tweet incident that some idiots determined to be vicariously offended made an issue of it. Pep admitted it affected Bernardo quite badly. Maybe that is also on his mind?

 

[EekC]

I’m absolutely a Bernardo Silva fan. Problem is he hasn’t been the same player since the Mendy tweet incident that some idiots determined to be vicariously offended made an issue of it. Pep admitted it affected Bernardo quite badly. Maybe that is also on his mind?

This is sarcasm, right?

 

[hgblue]

Feels like a lot of people underrate Bernie's contribution but one man who we can be sure doesn't is Pep.

I think someone earlier in the thread used the word knit and it applies to Bernie, hes one of those players who provides glue to the team, as does Gundo, and are often unsung compared to those whose numbers look more spectacular in the face of it.

If Bernie wants to leave to get more game time, or even be allowed to play with more freedom, then so be it but I do not see City trying to move him on and nor should they.

Here’s my question, let’s say we sign Grealish and Kane, what is Bernardo’s role in the starting eleven? Yes I know he’s a more than usual player to rotate and have around the squad but that may not be sufficient for him?

 

[OB1]

C'mon Blues, we have players already that others can only dream about.

Let's not throw the baby out with the bathwater, eh?

We need two or three new faces at best, starting with the No.9 and then a midfielder better that Rodri.

Correct.

A number 9 is essential: we are not going to keep playing with a false 9, that has just been an expedient this season. It's a useful option but a prolific striker who can stay fit and play week in week out is still the best way forward.

Grealish would be a nice addition to the squad but is not essential.

If we can improve on Rodri, I agree that is probably the most pressing concern.

A world class left back would be good if we can move Mendy on but I don't see that happening. We have plenty of LB options and Zin just keeps on improving.

 

[samuelyeboah]

Yes I am. This season, he was absolutely crucial in the way we set up and allowed the nine to work.

Absolutely crucial.

And I'm not even talking about the crucial goal that broke the deadlock against Villa at home or the man of the match display against them with ten men - which is the difference between four or five points right there.

He energy levels were incredible and filled so many gaps.

Pep was able to get the team back on track once he brought Foden and Bernie into the equation.

in my opinion no one player is responsible for dozens of points on their own. Not even ruben dias. The team prevailed and pissed the league so absolutely thoroughly, and the replacement of one player for a slightly worse player is not what makes the difference between finishing with 86 points or 70.

That's not to say that bernardo silva is not crucial. I am firmly in the camp of DO NOT ever sell him because he's a fantastic player. But if we had, idk, Jack Grealish instead of bernardo silva this season (assuming that's who his replacement would be) I don't buy the idea that we'd have suddenly dropped 12 more points over the course of a season. Whoever would have replaced him in this hypothetical would have inevitably scored a winning goal against a team too, would have given us a different dimension even if they didn't have bernardo's energy levels, and most likely would have finished with more goals & assists (not that I think it's really the factor here).

This point stretches beyond bernardo's contribution to the team, and more towards what you said about us losing the league without him. We are not talking about "what would happen if every single match a sunday league level player replaced silva", but what would happen if the guy who we are considering as his replacement would have.

For christ's sake, we won the league with 98 points without KDB.

 

[better dead than red]

He ain't exactly gonna come out with...."I thought Maureen was a ****"

No. But from the bits of Spurs All or Nothing I watched they seemed to get on well. Maureen treated Kane well and was respectful and complimentary to him. In turn, I didn't see Kane give off any "Oh, do fuck off!" body language during their interactions.