I know we agree on this but without wanting to just repeating myself (actually fuck it, I will just repeat myself), I just can't get my head around anyone thinking we don't need a centre back. We are strengthening other areas phenomenally, the odd person is saying that we don't need so many players for the three attacking positions but most people think it is fine to spend 50m on Sanchez in an area where we are looking pretty strong. But as soon as you get on to the subject of centre backs so many either think we are fine as we are or that we'd have to get rid of one to bring one in. Don't get me wrong, I'd be delighted to get shot of one of Kolarov, Otamendi or Stones (in that order) but it wouldn't worry me in the slightest if we just added a quality centre back to the squad. I can see it happening though that we spend fortunes all over the pitch but go into the season absolutely banking on Kompany staying fit all season and/or Stones to make this miraculous leap in progress in the next couple of months. We have spent a few years neglecting full back areas, we will just be shifting that squad imbalance on to another area.
Can't argue with any of these points, so I'll just add my 5 cents.
Taking into perspective the major transfers that are happening now, I think it's safe to say that CB position, as well as DM, will be strengthened sooner or later, the only questions are 'by whom' and 'when'. Guardiola isn't blind, he sees more than we do.
I guess the hesitation with new CBs is explained by a major change of transfer policy that is happening now but isn't fully acknowledged yet: we're not buying average squad players anymore, it's curtains for delphs, fernandos, negredos and dinhos (with all my respect to Fernandinho). It's either high class or nothing, it's the only way to get to the top when Madrid is buying Theo and Mbappe to be Marcelo's and Ronaldo's understudies. The 'concentration of capital' in football is becoming ridiculous, and until UEFA makes some sensible changes, we need to follow the same route, unfortunately.
Nev Knev suggests a Demichelis type of signing, which I strongly disagree. We're restricted with the number of foreign sport so heavily that any additional average player will become an immovable dross as soon as next summer. We need to either buy highest quality (ability or talent wise) that suits us, or not buy at all.
So, I'm okay with us going into season with the current, fairly poor set of defenders if it means that we'll get a couple of defensive 'starkids' in 1-2 seasons.
The only thing that worries me is that Pep often invests himself in his players too much, waits for too long when it's obvious that the the team is better off without the player. There are a number of examples - Hleb, Caceres, Chygrinsky, Ibra, Gotze, now Bravo. What I'd like to see is a bit more ruthlessness from Pep. Stones continues with blunders? Bench him, enough with the nannying. Otamendi slides on his ass after coach said he doesn't like it? Bench him too! Let Kolarov play! Joking ofc, but the majority is too kind to this pair anyway.
As for the opinion of posters thinking Stones and Ota have enough quality to compete with the best - well, Idk how to explain it. Maybe it's some kind of 'siege mentality' that forces to defend your club's players in any case. Everyone has opportunity to rewatch both Monaco games, refresh his memory and think what exactly City lacked last season.