Johnny Mars Bar
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We’ll know when the deals done when he’s been spotted carrying a suitcase full of £50 notes into the Ladbrokes in Audenshaw.
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Lucas Paquetá
- Thread starter Haaland94
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Gabriel
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Before everyone starts having an attack of the vapours over West Ham’s recent misfortunes and starts fretting about buying Paqueta, an interesting post from Knees Up Mother Brown:
“I find it interesting how the tone has changed since the Man City links resurfaced.
Things he is being pulled up now which have always been part of his game but went unmentioned.
The stats also paint a picture of a player being asked to do more. More passes per game than last season. More through balls attempted. More longer passes. He is being asked to play at about the limits of his ability in certain aspects. Asked to be the playmaker when it isn’t his best role.
We also saw how abject we were when he was missing. Other teams notice that as well and mark accordingly. We have no other creative force in the side other than slinging in crosses.
At £85m you can probably tweak and rebuild. Buy specialists rather than an all rounder. But make no mistake, Man City will play him as an 8 and he will be very, very good because he’ll have actual playmakers around him.”
“I find it interesting how the tone has changed since the Man City links resurfaced.
Things he is being pulled up now which have always been part of his game but went unmentioned.
The stats also paint a picture of a player being asked to do more. More passes per game than last season. More through balls attempted. More longer passes. He is being asked to play at about the limits of his ability in certain aspects. Asked to be the playmaker when it isn’t his best role.
We also saw how abject we were when he was missing. Other teams notice that as well and mark accordingly. We have no other creative force in the side other than slinging in crosses.
At £85m you can probably tweak and rebuild. Buy specialists rather than an all rounder. But make no mistake, Man City will play him as an 8 and he will be very, very good because he’ll have actual playmakers around him.”
Tevez City
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I would rather play Grealish in the middle and buy proper winger than spending 85m on Paqueta
OB1
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I would rather play Grealish in the middle and buy proper winger than spending 85m on Paqueta
I think Grealish playing inside would be very interesting. However, we need to strengthen midfield and may also have to do more than that if KDB and / or Bernie leave. Also, I’d be inclined to move on or loan out Nunes. So I’d be looking for more than one central midfielder and another winger or two. I think the squad needs to be a bit bigger.
Paqueta would be a great for for City and is one of the few who I think we could buy that has sufficient quality to be in our squad.
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Gaz (FMwkdsoul)
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Grealish more likely to be sold than played as an 8 for some reason.I would rather play Grealish in the middle and buy proper winger than spending 85m on Paqueta
You aren't spending anything. The question is are we a better side with the addition of Paqueta? The answer is yes, simple as...I would rather play Grealish in the middle and buy proper winger than spending 85m on Paqueta
blueparrot
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I start from,when Phillips and Cancelo come back, the squad is full. So who goes and who replaces them.I'd expect Phillips,Cancelo, Gomes out. Paqueta, a versatile DM, (Kimmich ?) , and a left back in.I think Grealish playing inside would be very interesting. However, we need to strengthen midfield and may also have to do more than that if KDB and / or Bernie leave. Also, I’d be inclined to move on or loan out Nunes. So I’d be looking for more than one central midfielder and another winger or two. I think the squad needs to be a bit bigger.
Paqueta would be a great for for City and is one of the few who I think we could buy that has sufficient quality to be in our squad.
After that it's a question of who else leaves,Bernardo think would need replacing with another wide player, but not sure he'll go. Ortega obviously a keeper, again would rather he stay.Not sure anyone else likely to leave this summer.
Gabriel
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When they come back they immediately go again. I would expect Gomez, Nunes, and maybe even Kovacic to leave, with Paqueta and Neves coming in permanently and perhaps Savio, too. Of course, any departures or move for Paqueta are going to be on hold until the allegations are dropped.I start from,when Phillips and Cancelo come back, the squad is full. So who goes and who replaces them.I'd expect Phillips,Cancelo, Gomes out. Paqueta, a versatile DM, (Kimmich ?) , and a left back in.
After that it's a question of who else leaves,Bernardo think would need replacing with another wide player, but not sure he'll go. Ortega obviously a keeper, again would rather he stay.Not sure anyone else likely to leave this summer.
blueparrot
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They may, but I'm not expecting Nunes or Kovacic to go.When they come back they immediately go again. I would expect Gomez, Nunes, and maybe even Kovacic to leave, with Paqueta and Neves coming in permanently and perhaps Savio, too. Of course, any departures or move for Paqueta are going to be on hold until the allegations are dropped.
TonyColemansbagofapples
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I'd be surprised if Kovacic or Nunes left
Gabriel
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I would expect the former to go and the latter perhaps, though I think much will depend on how smoothly other business goes.They may, but I'm not expecting Nunes or Kovacic to go.
Dribble
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I would hope the former would go, possibly as make-weight for Paqueta, & I wouldn't be averse to Kovacic being sold either.I would expect the former to go and the latter perhaps, though I think much will depend on how smoothly other business goes.
At best we could keep Kova as a Squad player if that doesn't impinge on our foreign player quota to the detriment of bringing in better.
I actually think we’d be more likely to keep Nunes over Kovacic. Nunes obviously younger and rumour has it that Kova could have an offer from Saudi in the summer.I would hope the former would go, possibly as make-weight for Paqueta, & I wouldn't be averse to Kovacic being sold either.
At best we could keep Kova as a Squad player if that doesn't impinge on our foreign player quota to the detriment of bringing in better.
Gabriel
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He's contracted through 2027 but I doubt his playing time would increase next season, especially if we signed Paqueta/Neves, and his staying then could also have an impact on the minutes Lewis receives. He's a soccer nomad who turns 30 next month, so he might be tempted by an offer from KSA, at which point we probably wouldn't stand in his way. I'm comfortable with him staying, but if other deals fall into place, I'm equally comfortable with him leaving.I would hope the former would go, possibly as make-weight for Paqueta, & I wouldn't be averse to Kovacic being sold either.
At best we could keep Kova as a Squad player if that doesn't impinge on our foreign player quota to the detriment of bringing in better.
Agreed - Kovacic was seemingly a stopgap and a very smart piece of business. I do seem to remember last summer thinking it was slightly odd we gave him a four year deal though, slightly excessive.He's contracted through 2027 but I doubt his playing time would increase next season, especially if we signed Paqueta/Neves, and his staying then could also have an impact on the minutes Lewis receives. He's a soccer nomad who turns 30 next month, so he might be tempted by an offer from KSA, at which point we probably wouldn't stand in his way. I'm comfortable with him staying, but if other deals fall into place, I'm equally comfortable with him leaving.
decmancity
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Helps for accounting purposes.Agreed - Kovacic was seemingly a stopgap and a very smart piece of business. I do seem to remember last summer thinking it was slightly odd we gave him a four year deal though, slightly excessive.
OB1
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I start from,when Phillips and Cancelo come back, the squad is full. So who goes and who replaces them.I'd expect Phillips,Cancelo, Gomes out. Paqueta, a versatile DM, (Kimmich ?) , and a left back in.
After that it's a question of who else leaves,Bernardo think would need replacing with another wide player, but not sure he'll go. Ortega obviously a keeper, again would rather he stay.Not sure anyone else likely to leave this summer.
I would not rule out any or all of Bernado, Walker and KDB leaving. I could also envisage any of Alvarez, Kova and Nunes going. This is in addtion to who you mentioned.
Obviously, I'm not expecting massive changes but even allowing for Phillips and Cancelo as squad members, I'd like to see one or two more in the squad. I know Pep does not favour that but maybe he needs persuading.
Regardless of any of the foregoing, I feel we need to make the squad a bit stronger, which wion't be easy if KDB and or Bernie goes but this season's squad is not as good as last season's and that the club cannot afford to let that become a trend.
Gabriel
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Which is it to be? :-)I would not rule out any or all of Bernado, Walker and KDB leaving. I could also envisage any of Alvarez, Kova and Nunes going. This is in addtion to who you mentioned.
Obviously, I'm not expecting massive changes but even allowing for Phillips and Cancelo as squad members, I'd like to see one or two more in the squad. I know Pep does not favour that but maybe he needs persuading.
Regardless of any of the foregoing, I feel we need to make the squad a bit stronger, which wion't be easy if KDB and or Bernie goes but this season's squad is not as good as last season's and that the club cannot afford to let that become a trend.
If this season’s squad is not as strong as last season’s squad, then heaven knows how bad it would be next season if that happened. We only need to add 2 dependable midfielders and maybe a winger. It should be last orders, however, for those that can’t be trusted to get on the park.
Dribble
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Kova is more use to City than Nunes. If we had to choose one to keep, it'd be Kova who will more likely accept a squad role.I actually think we’d be more likely to keep Nunes over Kovacic. Nunes obviously younger and rumour has it that Kova could have an offer from Saudi in the summer.
The age of Nunes means he'll be easier to shift. Their respective playing times indicates who Pep favours.
Dribble
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Which begs the question, what to do with Nunes who's had far less minutes & impact than Kovacic?He's contracted through 2027 but I doubt his playing time would increase next season, especially if we signed Paqueta/Neves, and his staying then could also have an impact on the minutes Lewis receives. He's a soccer nomad who turns 30 next month, so he might be tempted by an offer from KSA, at which point we probably wouldn't stand in his way. I'm comfortable with him staying, but if other deals fall into place, I'm equally comfortable with him leaving.
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