Miralem Pjanic.

[Dribble]

For that team to lineup we would have to have 8 injuries simultaneously. You simply can't legislate for something as freak as that to occur, and even if you could, squad limitations prevent that.

I agree we needed proper cover for Sane but that isn't happening now, we've got Mahrez and between him Sane Sterling and Bernardo that's our 4 men for the two wide positions with KDB offering an additional alternative. We need a central midfielder desperately and thats about it. I'm not gundogans biggest fan but find me somebody better that will be willing to play understudy to silva and kdb

This isn't about 8 simultaneous injuries, this is about fatigue suspensions & loss of form too. We can't keep flogging the same players game in, game out for a full season in all 4 competitions we'll contest.

So with us needing a CM & LW, you & I are only one player apart. What you're effectively saying is don't get a Yaya replacement or don't bring in cover for Dinho. I don't believe it's a choice we need to make if we box clever now whilst we can.

 

[greasedupdeafguy]

class player but 100 million really? pmsl

 

[Dribble]

So, not so much 'need', as 'wouldn't it be fucking great' then

It all depends on the ambition of the person offering the opinion. I'm not confident at all that next season with be a carbon copy rerun of last season.

This is why I adopt the 'Take no chances' approach. If we did strengthen to this level the rest would be deflated before the first ball of the season was kicked.

 

[Banned Tosspot]

class player but 100 million really? pmsl

Probably with fees, add ons and wages that amount.

 

[IBlue]

Cast your mind back to last February. To keep up our assault on all 4 cups, we were dead on our feet at times. Our squad has deficiencies. We have no replacement for Yaya & no cover/eventual replacement for Dinho. We have no adequate cover for Silva & have no cover for Sane.

How have we got around this? Luckily trying to force square pegs into round holes worked for us last season, but it didn't work for us under Pellegrini. Are you so certain we'll get away with this again next season? I'm not so sure & now is the time where we don't have to risk finding out.

I understand your nervousness, however, for Sane, we have 4 wide options in Sane, Sterling, Mahrez and Bernardo. Also option of 3 at the back with Mendy giving width as Pep started last season. For Dinho, we have Delph, Gundogen and Stones can be played there at a push as a pivot, especially home games. For Silva and KDB we've got to trust Foden or move Bernardo plus Gundogen as last year. It's more than adequate and as I said buying 2 or 3 60m plus players for cover and rotation would be madness, a squad has to be adaptable

 

[IBlue]

For that team to lineup we would have to have 8 injuries simultaneously. You simply can't legislate for something as freak as that to occur, and even if you could, squad limitations prevent that.

I agree we needed proper cover for Sane but that isn't happening now, we've got Mahrez and between him Sane Sterling and Bernardo that's our 4 men for the two wide positions with KDB offering an additional alternative. We need a central midfielder desperately and thats about it. I'm not gundogans biggest fan but find me somebody better that will be willing to play understudy to silva and kdb

We have cover for Sane, we'd go for a 3 at the back and Mendy as WB. We started with that last year only this time we've addressed the left sided CB with Laporte

 

[SamBlue]

Probably with fees, add on and wages that amount.

Well if that is case, I would not mind driving to Turin to pick him up, fuel and snacks on me. He is far superior to Jorginho who is only 2 years younger , or anybody in our middle field apart from Kev and taking into consideration Pep said Merlin would play less in order to be at his prime. But I think that price tag is just a transfer fee.

 

[cookster]

Well if that is case, I would not mind driving to Turin to pick him up, fuel and snacks on me. He is far superior to Jorginho who is only 2 years younger , or anybody in our middle field apart from Kev and taking into consideration Pep said Merlin would play less in order to be at his prime. But I think that price tag is just a transfer fee.

Excellent player but he ain't far superior to Diniho and Silva, even if both are aging.

 

[FantasyIreland]

Well if that is case, I would not mind driving to Turin to pick him up, fuel and snacks on me. He is far superior to Jorginho who is only 2 years younger , or anybody in our middle field apart from Kev and taking into consideration Pep said Merlin would play less in order to be at his prime. But I think that price tag is just a transfer fee.

Jorginho may well be younger but that 'only 2 years' is the difference between entering his peak years and coming out the other side.I'm not saying this fella is past it but he doesn't offer the same value IMO.I just don't see this as an option,i don't think we have ever been in for him.

 

[Danamy]

Agreed: you have to assume that Pep is looking for a different kind of DMC to Kante.

Pep's objective is to have the ball and keep the ball. When they do lose it, everyone is part of winning back quickly. He doesn't want there to be a need to have one guy who is constantly breaking up the oppositions play / attacks. Keeping possession rather than regaining possession is the key.

Yeah but in Kante we'd have a player that'll do both.....anyway that's my Sunday morning big-up for Kante over with....