Jack Grealish

[balotelli's back pocket]

I have a feeling we aren't going to get a LB.

The Portuguese press are talking a lot about Nuno Mendes being signed and arriving a year later, and I can definitely see that happening and the forum losing their minds.

I just don't see us shifting Mendy, and Pep was very positive about him last week, especially about his attitude around the squad. Can easily see him being kept behind Zinchenko and Cancelo.

I agree. There just aren't the options out there. Best one is Mendes, but he's raw.

 

[tolmie's hairdoo]

I have a feeling we aren't going to get a LB.

The Portuguese press are talking a lot about Nuno Mendes being signed and arriving a year later, and I can definitely see that happening and the forum losing their minds.

I just don't see us shifting Mendy, and Pep was very positive about him last week, especially about his attitude around the squad. Can easily see him being kept behind Zinchenko and Cancelo.

Possibly mate, was only posting City's desire to do a left back.

As you say, we are stuck with Mendy and can only see him running down his deal into final year and us paying him to leave, or him leaving on a free.

 

[Stockport Blues]

We have the Douglas Luiz £25m clause this summer as additional leverage, which would bring his price down a bit.

All I know is Pep loves this kid to bits and sees him as the rotational alternative to Sterling and long term for De Bruyne.

City always have a lot of irons in the fire but Grealish talk has never really gone away.

I know Nedum Onuoha is also adamant this will happen.

Sadly, I am not hearing new encouragement on Messi, but that was always a stand alone.

Grealish and Haaland, added to new left back, teams might as well give us the points now.

Would that not leave us light at DM though?

 

[OB1]

I have a feeling we aren't going to get a LB.

The Portuguese press are talking a lot about Nuno Mendes being signed and arriving a year later, and I can definitely see that happening and the forum losing their minds.

I just don't see us shifting Mendy, and Pep was very positive about him last week, especially about his attitude around the squad. Can easily see him being kept behind Zinchenko and Cancelo.

I've come back round to the idea that we don't actually need to sign a left back; particularly with the way we are currently lining up with a three at the back when in possession or when the ball is in the opposing half, which is so much of the time.

In those circumstances, we have Zin, Mendy, Laporte, Ake and Cancelo who can play "LB".

Mendy is better than many give credit for, even if he is the weakest link in the squad - a squad that may be the best ever assembled by a club.

We can go again next year with our current set of defenders.

 

[nmc]

It's not going to be Jesus.

Who resurrected the thread about Jesus leaving !

 

[balotelli's back pocket]

Would that not leave us light at DM though?

I live in hope that Pep has been grooming Doyle for that role. I'd imagine Gundogan will play there too, as Foden drops back into midfield.

I'd all but given up on seeing Phil in midfield for the foreseeable but Pep is moving him there in games more and more. I think he's warming to it.

 

[WallyA]

I've come back round to the idea that we don't actually need to sign a left back; particularly with the way we are currently lining up with a three at the back when in possession or when the ball is in the opposing half, which is so much of the time.

In those circumstances, we have Zin, Mendy, Laporte, Ake and Cancelo who can play "LB".

Mendy is better than many give credit for, even if he is the weakest link in the squad - a squad that may be the best ever assembled by a club.

We can go again next year with our current set of defenders.

I think we have depth at LB for how our current LBs play.

But... If Pep wants them to be wide in the future (Gosens, or Mendes) because he wants his LW (Grealish) to come inside, then I can see him going for that.

In our current set up I don't see Grealish as a wide winger, I mean he can, but I think some of his qualities get diminished a bit (like Foden), but he could perhaps a midfield role similar to how Gundogan has been playing lately, where he can be central and have moments of playing off the striker.

 

[balotelli's back pocket]

Assuming Messi doesn't come off...

Rodri/Gundogan/Doyle
KDB/Bernardo Foden/Gundogan
Sterling/Mahrez Haaland/Jesus Grealish/Torres

It's a bit of a squeeze, to be honest. I could see one of Mahrez or Torres making way (the latter on loan), especially if Bernardo and Foden get minutes in the front 3 on occasion (as they surely will). I can't see how we start next season without Gundogan as a solid starter, either, considering Mr Whippy will probably end up pur top scorer from midfield.

 

[nmc]

Possibly mate, was only posting City's desire to do a left back.

As you say, we are stuck with Mendy and can only see him running down his deal into final year and us paying him to leave, or him leaving on a free.

What's the harm with waiting a year to get the Portuguese lad - if he is such a great prospect. Personally I'd throw the gauntlet down to Zinchenko and challenge him to to make the LB position his own.

 

[Gumzy97]

We have the Douglas Luiz £25m clause this summer as additional leverage, which would bring his price down a bit.

All I know is Pep loves this kid to bits and sees him as the rotational alternative to Sterling and long term for De Bruyne.

City always have a lot of irons in the fire but Grealish talk has never really gone away.

I know Nedum Onuoha is also adamant this will happen.

Sadly, I am not hearing new encouragement on Messi, but that was always a stand alone.

Grealish and Haaland, added to new left back, teams might as well give us the points now.

You cans see here why he might be the long term KDB replacement. KDB is top in assists but look whos third right now and probably would be up their with KDB with assists this season if Villa could finish more chances.