Jeremy Doku

[Dribble]

The reason he only cost £20m was because he had suffered two career threatening injuries in three seasons and was prone to all kinds of injuries throughout his career up until then.

It was a gamble and the price reflected that.

Apparently he's been injury free for nearly 18 months & after a slow start to last season where he lost his starting place, he regained it in February after another player moved on, & by March he'd rediscovered his best form & also added 6 goals which helped Rennes finish 4th.

Out of all the young options available, I'd opt for this kid first, but I wouldn't be averse to Olisé either if Pep thinks he's improved enough since he left City.

Wirtz, Chiesa, Doku & Olisé with a top class left back would be an amazing window.

Unfortunately it'd see Gomez & Cole being loaned out & Laporte being sold. Alongside Dog & Mahrez out, it'd mean five out, seven in. As long as Walker & Bernardo remain, I reckon we'd be set for the season ahead.

The other thing I'd like to see is Grealish moved inside. It'd mean a gross spend of around £270m, with between £100 - £120m in receipts - £150 - £170m net less a LB.

 

[Ruzzles]

Apparently he's been injury free for nearly 18 months & after a slow start to last season where he lost his starting place, he regained it in February after another player moved on, & by March he'd rediscovered his best form & also added 6 goals which helped Rennes finish 4th.

Out of all the young options available, I'd opt for this kid first, but I wouldn't be averse to Olisé either if Pep thinks he's improved enough since he left City.

Wirtz, Chiesa, Doku & Olisé with a top class left back would be an amazing window.

Unfortunately it'd see Gomez & Cole being loaned out & Laporte being sold. Alongside Dog & Mahrez out, it'd mean five out, seven in. As long as Walker & Bernardo remain, I reckon we'd be set for the season ahead.

The other thing I'd like to see is Grealish moved inside. It'd mean a gross spend of around £270m, with between £100 - £120m in receipts - £150 - £170m net less a LB.

There's no left back coming. When will people finally drop it and accept it?

 

[Dribble]

There's no left back coming. When will people finally drop it and accept it?

I heard the same last week about Gvardiol.

 

[Ruzzles]

I heard the same last week about Gvardiol.

You mean the Gvardiol that can play LB?

 

[Dribble]

You mean the Gvardiol that can play LB?

Yes, the attacking overlapping box to box Pep said we were missing 4 months ago.

 

[JWCH-99]

Yes, the attacking overlapping box to box Pep said we were missing 4 months ago.

If u can find a quote where he specifically says an attacking overlapping box to box left back is what we will target then I’ve missed something. I think you are referring to him suggesting they need to be able to have the flexibility to play different ways and hence in the summer they will look to add in areas they are deficient.

In the mean time we went on and won a treble built on a solid af defence, which has 4 centre halves playing or 3 and walker. All top defenders who can play a little as well. If there was a lb that was anywhere near good enough defensively as he is going forward then I think they’d be tempted, but I don’t know who that would be. It’s clear that the current system is here to stay, which means we have 3 options at LB - Akanji (like at weekend, ake (like in champions league final) or Gvardiol.

 

[Dribble]

If u can find a quote where he specifically says an attacking overlapping box to box left back is what we will target then I’ve missed something. I think you are referring to him suggesting they need to be able to have the flexibility to play different ways and hence in the summer they will look to add in areas they are deficient.

In the mean time we went on and won a treble built on a solid af defence, which has 4 centre halves playing or 3 and walker. All top defenders who can play a little as well. If there was a lb that was anywhere near good enough defensively as he is going forward then I think they’d be tempted, but I don’t know who that would be. It’s clear that the current system is here to stay, which means we have 3 options at LB - Akanji (like at weekend, ake (like in champions league final) or Gvardiol.

Nope, the time Pep said we've opted for Stone's stepping into midfield because we lack a LB who can get up & down the pitch to attack & defend. This is a couple of weeks after Cancelo left. We adapted.

It's similar to us using a false 9 & fans claiming it was Pep's master plan. It wasn't. He utilised it until a forward became available at a price we could afford to replace Aguero. In the meantime, we adapted.

 

[JWCH-99]

Nope, the time Pep said we've opted for Stone's stepping into midfield because we lack a LB who can get up & down the pitch to attack & defend. This is a couple of weeks after Cancelo left. We adapted.

It's similar to us using a false 9 & fans claiming it was Pep's master plan. It wasn't. He utilised it until a forward became available at a price we could afford to replace Aguero. In the meantime, we adapted.

Fair play- but, maybe it’s an adaptation he’s grown to like more than the option of having a lb who is box to box? He said after the title win how nice it was having ‘proper defenders’- likewise when walker was fit he preferred to play Ake in champions league final. Like I said though I think the biggest thing is:
1. We’ve just bought the perfect hybrid cb/lb/midfield pivot player in Gvardiol
2. Who is out there that suits being good enough defensively while offering the attacking ability?

 

[Dribble]

Fair play- but, maybe it’s an adaptation he’s grown to like more than the option of having a lb who is box to box? He said after the title win how nice it was having ‘proper defenders’- likewise when walker was fit he preferred to play Ake in champions league final. Like I said though I think the biggest thing is:
1. We’ve just bought the perfect hybrid cb/lb/midfield pivot player in Gvardiol
2. Who is out there that suits being good enough defensively while offering the attacking ability?

We used Zinchenko & Cancelo as inverted LB's previously.

Aké played as a LB & supported the attack, as did Akanji yesterday. We haven't got a LB worth a wank, & Cancelo was conspicuous by his absence yesterday, albeit Pep said he was in Portugal attending to a personal matter.

Two days previously, it was being widely reported that Xavi wanted a proper RB & reports out of Spain were saying Cancelo was Barça's No1 choice if a deal could be reached.

Two days later, Cancelo is within gobbing distance of Barcelona "apparently" attending to a personal matter in Portugal? \0/

If we weren't in need of a LB, we'd be playing with 3 at the back, & neither Aké or Akanji would be touching the opposition touchline as they have been doing.

We need specialist players for a specialist position. We hoped Gomez would be the LB answer, but alas it's looking like that's not gonna be the case.

 

[JWCH-99]

We used Zinchenko & Cancelo as inverted LB's previously.

Aké played as a LB & supported the attack, as did Akanji yesterday. We haven't got a LB worth a wank, & Cancelo was conspicuous by his absence yesterday, albeit Pep said he was in Portugal attending to a personal matter.

Two days previously, it was being widely reported that Xavi wanted a proper RB & reports out of Spain were saying Cancelo was Barça's No1 choice if a deal could be reached.

Two days later, Cancelo is within gobbing distance of Barcelona "apparently" attending to a personal matter in Portugal? \0/

If we weren't in need of a LB, we'd be playing with 3 at the back, & neither Aké or Akanji would be touching the opposition touchline as they have been doing.

We need specialist players for a specialist position. We hoped Gomez would be the LB answer, but alas it's looking like that's not gonna be the case.

I think Gvardiol is the bridge in that gap- someone who can carry the ball (95% dribble success and most successful take-one in bundelsiga last year), while offering the stability he wants at the back and allowing stones to continue dropping into midfield.

Guess we will have to agree to disagree on this one. He plays ake and akanji lb imo as when stones steps into midfield it leaves 3 competent proper defenders and not two centre halves and another fullback. We literally do revert to 3 at the back in game and in possession. Ake and Akanji demonstrated last season they can play that type of lb to cb role comfortably. May not get dazzling attacking play out of them but it hardly worked out badly last year. They also offered a hell of a lot more than cancelo was defensively and prevented results like lpool Away being repeated.