Kalvin Phillips | Joins City on a 6-year deal

[DeBlueLou]

Would be funny if Phillips actually turns out to be Bernardo’s replacement.

Now thats depressing and highly unlikely

 

[dhruvblue]

Would be funny if Phillips actually turns out to be Bernardo’s replacement.

Both £60m as well

 

[Gumzy97]

I wonder if city are gonna switch next season to a 4-2-3-1. I don't think they want Phillips to be a bit part player. Cucurella and Walker/Cancelo pushed really high. Grealish behind Haaland. I guess we will find out but I can see a tactical change from pep again.

Agree, I think in the big games this is the formation we use Kalvin and Rodri their to protect the back four and win the ball back launching quick counters using Haaland as a target man to link up play when we break.

 

[Blue and true]

I wonder if city are gonna switch next season to a 4-2-3-1. I don't think they want Phillips to be a bit part player. Cucurella and Walker/Cancelo pushed really high. Grealish behind Haaland. I guess we will find out but I can see a tactical change from pep again.

Not a chance this is happening, in my opinion. Given Haaland will be the undisputed spearhead, that would leave three from:

- Mahrez
- Foden
- Grealish
- De Bruyne
- Gundogan
- Alvarez
- Bernardo

All that is not factoring in Jesus and Sterling; the likelihood is only one of the aforementioned will leave. So eight players to consistently rotate between three positions. There's not a chance we're sacrificing so much of our free-flowing style to accommodate Kalvin Phillips, of all players. The only way double pivot happens is if we acquire another world class midfielder to sit alongside Rodders. Phillips will never be that.

He'll be a bit part player at best.

 

[blueparrot]

There's is without doubt a tweak coming, based on players signed, players rumoured to be coming in and players rumoured to be off, Pep will switch it up
He changes little things most seasons anyway, but we might see a bit more than small changes
The fullbacks is what is interesting me, if Crucherella (SP) is brought in especially, as Haaland likes a cross as well, I saw someone post that Walker may miss out slightly more in favour of Cancello and I agree based on crossing ability
But who knows only Pep, it will be interesting to see what changes he makes to our set up

Where I agree is we’ll see more width from fullbacks next season, so there will be a tweak.I doubt it will greatly change how we play.
There seems to be an assumption because of his size, Haaland is some sort of target man number 9 , so I just watched his 62 Bundesliga goals and you can count on one hand the goals from traditional crosses. Nearly all his goals were from positions we already create , passing moves, through the middle and underlapping players playing flat balls into the 6 yard box, similar to when we played with Sterling Sane,and Aguero. Same as last season really but a lot went across the box because whichever the midfielder playing false 9 was on their heels.

 

[onceabluealways]

Leeds wanting Mactee, talk of him doing the job for them over the next ten years. Surely City would only let him go on loan or a buy back.

 

[Skip Donoghue]

Where I agree is we’ll see more width from fullbacks next season, so there will be a tweak.I doubt it will greatly change how we play.
There seems to be an assumption because of his size, Haaland is some sort of target man number 9 , so I just watched his 62 Bundesliga goals and you can count on one hand the goals from traditional crosses. Nearly all his goals were from positions we already create , passing moves, through the middle and underlapping players playing flat balls into the 6 yard box, similar to when we played with Sterling Sane,and Aguero. Same as last season really but a lot went across the box because whichever the midfielder playing false 9 was on their heels.

I agree, I'm not talking about crosses from outwide into the box I'm talking about those near post runs that Haaland makes, the fullbacks will be expected to contribute, we know Cancello is very good at this and I expect from what I've seen of the Brighton lad will be replecated on the other side

It will be interesting to see what Pep does as Haaland alone means something gas to change

 

[blueparrot]

I agree, I'm not talking about crosses from outwide into the box I'm talking about those near post runs that Haaland makes, the fullbacks will be expected to contribute, we know Cancello is very good at this and I expect from what I've seen of the Brighton lad will be replecated on the other side

It will be interesting to see what Pep does as Haaland alone means something gas to change

Yes, agree, but don’t think it’s very different to how Pep played with Aguero.

 

[urban genie]

View attachment 47342

Nowt funny about that.

Would be like replacing a Kawasaki Ninja H2/R with a childs push bike.

 

[Gumzy97]

It's exciting to see how we set up next season. But I do think it will be all about making Haaland get as many chances as possible, as he's a goal scoring machine.