John Stones

[Tevez City]

If we are going to spend 50million Pound, I hope we spend it on striker or attacking midfielder and not CB.

 

[Tugay One Cup]

If we are going to spend 50million Pound, I hope we spend it on striker or attacking midfielder and not CB.

Another attacking midfielder? Just what we need.

 

[Dax777]

How do you think with current players we compare with Euro elite?

If we add Stones, Sane & a couple of full backs can Pep take us to a level where we play Real etc & can give them more than a decent match? I realise it may take more than one season.

I think we compare pretty well if Gundogan gets healthy and stays healthy.

DeBryune, Gundogan and Silva are all close to WC. Add Aguero to that list and you have 4 guys who are pretty close. Granted, this assumes Silva is fully healthy and back to his old form (which frankly I'm not confident in) but even if Silva doesn't make it all the way back, we should still have 4 historically proveb top end players. Then we'd have 3 players with potential of joining that group in Sterling, Stones and Sane. I reckon AL three wouldn't make the jump their 1st season. Our role players are as good too. Nolito is an energetic all action player, so is Dihno and so is Nasri if he stays. These are the types of quality depth that makes a difference.

But, I believe our greatest leap, if it happens, will come from Peres and Zichencho flourishing at both fullback positions and giving us an edge most didn't see coming. And adding to the greatness of Pep's story :)

I think he has targeted those 2 for those positions. I expect both to start out as backups but be undisputed starters by mid season based on the offense they bring. Funny enough, I think Zichencho is light years ahead of Peres in that respect, even though Peres seems the higher rated one due to age and actually playing the position longer.

I'm not sure it's enough to overcome the top 3 of Madrid, Barca and Bayern), but we should be close enough that the tweaking will be easier to identify. Not to mention, I expect the gap between those 3 and the rest to tighten as Ronaldo and Messi age.

 

[Larry Stranger]

I would be of the opposite opinion. Pep "loves his midfield" and only buying gundogan who is currently injured will not nearly be enough.

I'm not going to disagree with you that he loves midfielders, however at Bayern he changed his approach at times. I've watched games where he fielded Costa and Vidal as his CM's with Coman and
Robben out wide. He tucked in his fullbacks to overload the midfield, but keep the wingers very wide. The opposition defence doesn't know how to press and usually one winger is in miles of space because of it and almost always available as an outlet. It's a different tactic than at Barca where he relied on the trio of Busquestes, Xavi and Iniesta along with Messi to break pressure. That's why I think he wants Stones. He needs a centerback who can hit those wingers out wide.

 

[Dax777]

I would be of the opposite opinion. Pep "loves his midfield" and only buying gundogan who is currently injured will not nearly be enough.

I think it's more a function of logistics than Pep not liking his midfield.

As of today you have Yaya Silva, Nasri, Dihno, Nando, DeBryune, Delph and Gundogan potentially all vying for 3 spots. Ideally you want 6, we've potentially got 8, and 4 for the 2 wing spots, so there isn't much spill over. As it stands now, we probably still have to move one out and still not bring any in. To being in a starting caliber player like Kroos the Spaniard at Bayern, we'd have to get rid of 2 players. We really can't carry more than 7 in that region but we currently have 8.

Hence why my sense is there wouldn't be any coming more coming in in that department.


Defensively though, Stones should improve our possession potential.

 

[FantasyIreland]

At least make an effort to stay on topic please,thank you.

 

[GeorgeHeslop'sTackle.]

Yes agreed no brainer

As to not arsed either way as long as Pep wants him then I will be happy to sign him.

If FFP wasn't an issue, then sure, I'd be all for it, Just think we're taking a hell of a risk, at that money, going by how badly he performed, for them, last season. Particularly as, in my opinion, (With FFP still a major issue), we are in more urgent need of strengthening elsewhere. - ie a strong younger version of yaya, in centre mid, to act as Merlin's minder, and stop him getting kicked from pillar to post every week, plus, with Zaba & Kolorov seemingly on their way out, two new proven fullbacks. But as you say... It's Pep's call, we've just got to back his judgment, I guess.

 

[Kompany is King]

I'm on your wavelength.

Not only do we have world class players in the likes of Aguero, De Bruyne, Silva & Kompany. We also have very exciting youngsters such as Iheanacho, Sterling & A.Garcia (high hopes for this lad).

Gundogan will take the league by storm. He looks a very intelligent & skilful player. A joy to watch. Nolito offers variety of play, international experience & a goal threat. Like most I don't know much about Zinchenko but he has had a challenging career yet been an outstanding talent throughout. Very interested to see this guy play.

Existing players will improve in a more structured team format. Youngsters will get a chance to impress

Possibly Stones, Sane & others to come too.

Pep effect. So very exciting times for us blues.

I think in a couple of years we will really test the elite.

I think we compare pretty well if Gundogan gets healthy and stays healthy.

DeBryune, Gundogan and Silva are all close to WC. Add Aguero to that list and you have 4 guys who are pretty close. Granted, this assumes Silva is fully healthy and back to his old form (which frankly I'm not confident in) but even if Silva doesn't make it all the way back, we should still have 4 historically proveb top end players. Then we'd have 3 players with potential of joining that group in Sterling, Stones and Sane. I reckon AL three wouldn't make the jump their 1st season. Our role players are as good too. Nolito is an energetic all action player, so is Dihno and so is Nasri if he stays. These are the types of quality depth that makes a difference.

But, I believe our greatest leap, if it happens, will come from Peres and Zichencho flourishing at both fullback positions and giving us an edge most didn't see coming. And adding to the greatness of Pep's story :)

I think he has targeted those 2 for those positions. I expect both to start out as backups but be undisputed starters by mid season based on the offense they bring. Funny enough, I think Zichencho is light years ahead of Peres in that respect, even though Peres seems the higher rated one due to age and actually playing the position longer.

I'm not sure it's enough to overcome the top 3 of Madrid, Barca and Bayern), but we should be close enough that the tweaking will be easier to identify. Not to mention, I expect the gap between those 3 and the rest to tighten as Ronaldo and Messi age.

 

[TRUE BLUE NO1]

Seems like we have been at this point for a while...

MCFC Info ‏@MCFClnfo 43s43 seconds ago
John Stones has told Everton he 'wants out' so that he can join Pep Guardiola at City. [The Sun]

MCFC Info ‏@MCFClnfo 47s47 seconds ago
City are wiling to offer £45m or even the option of a player swap if that works better for Everton. [The Sun]

 

[kaz7]