I think you could add DeBruyne,to Silva and Nasri to play central, so one more would do.
Well, Brazil just got kicked out of Copa America, so Fernandinho will have a full pre-season after allI think this a risky strategy given there is little pre-season due to international tournaments. Can't be dropping points whilst experimenting. Champs league qualifier also. The left back Rodriguez, like Kante, is a no brainer, surely?
He wasn't with them anyway.Well, Brazil just got kicked out of Copa America, so Fernandinho will have a full pre-season after all
You're right, he could probably do a job.
But, this is my point. Other teams have specific experienced designated midfielders. De Bruyne and Silva have never really played centre midfield for anyone, let alone in the Premier League.
Nearly all top managers ask for two player for each position. 4 full backs, 4 centre halves etc. so if you're playing 433 as expected, surely logic would dictate 6 designated central midfielders?
Personally I think if we start 433 then De Bruyne would play centrally with Gundogan and Fernandinho. On top of that we have Silva, Nasri, Fernando, Delph, Bryne, A.Garcia, M.Garcia and possibly one or two more youngsters who could easily fill in as and when we require. I think you'll see a lot of younger players in the domestic cup competitions.
I imagine we'll utilise more youngsters.
De Bruyne has never played centre mid for anyone that I know of.
If we going into a Premier League season with that pool of players for centre mid we'll really struggle to win the league.
Every top teamin Europe is heavy with established midfielders.
Look at the international squads, other than England, every team has 6 or 7 established centre mids.
City have as many number 10's as centre mids.
When Pep's Bayern tore us apart they had no striker a 6 midfielders.
What happens if Gundogan who is currently injured or Fernamdinho who is 32 next season get injured?
Delph or Fernando can do a job, but not very well. As for experimenting with youth or players out of position, that's fine but not ideally due to 1 or 2 injuries.
Your inclusion of De Bruyne in our strongest midfield three pretty much highlights our glaring weakness.
For all his qualities, he give the ball away cheaply, isn't over good a winning the ball back, isn't over physical and the key factor, he's never played there.
We should have at least 3 established top quality starters. We have two. We need at least one more. I personally believe Delph or Fernando should be improved on too.
If we line up against Europe's elite with your suggested midfield we'd get battered. In my opinion anyway.
Why are you so bothered by a player never having played in a certain position before? Lahm had never played central midfield before, Mascerano had never played centre back before, Alaba has never played centre midfield before, Fabregas had never played up front before; Need I continue?
As for how I think we'll line up, I personally think it'll be 3-6-1/3-4-3 the majority of the time, depending on the opposition with Gundogan, Fernandinho, De Bruyne and Silva taking up the 4 central midfield/attacking midfield positions. Nasri could easily play in that midfield, Fernando could easily give us a defensive option in there, Delph is nowhere near as bad as some like to make out on here and any younger players will be surrounded by more experience. I'd like one more all round midfielder in the Gundogan/Fernandinho but I don't think it'll be as bad as you're trying to make out if we don't.
I didn't think I would be called on this really. I thought it would be pretty obvious.
Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern, Juve PSG all line up with three top level centre mids every week. With more in reserve.
Barcelona start with Busquets, Iniesta and Rakitic So there's three at that level already. Mascherano is a top quality highly experience alternative to Busquets. In addition to those 4 World class centre mids. They have Roberto, Vidal whom have both played for Spain. That's 6 international centre mids.
Real Madrid, Isco, Modric & Kroos start in centre mid nearly every week. So there's 3. They then have Casemiro & Kovacic, two more established internationals.
Juventus, Pogba, Marchisio & Khedira are all top level international,stars. Hernanes, Pereyra, Sturaro are all international centre midfielders too.
PSG, Verratiti, Motta, Matuidi, are all experienced internationals. Rabiot and other internations in reserve.
I could go on, you think Gundogan, Fernandinho, Fernando, Delph and another are good enough? Comparable? I don't.
We play in the hardest league, we are employing a manager that relies heavily on midfield.
I think we need six centre midfielders. Three or 4 at the Gundogan/Fernandinho standard. 2 more at a higher level than Fernando & Delph.
Perhaps Delph and Fernando can improve sufficiently under Pep. I think they're a little too limited personally.
We currently have 4 international centre backs and are looking at two more. By all accounts are leading the race for both.
Yet we have Fernandinho who's form could plummet at anytime due to his age. Gundogan who has suffered some ludicrous bad luck recently with injuries. Who's also new to the league.
Fernando and Delph, whom for me are frankly not good enough as immediate back up. The gulf in class between Gundogan & Fernandinho is alarming.
Now hopefully under Pep Nasri and Silva could play deeper and more like traditional midfielders.
But for me, we need Gundogan, Fernandinho and two more of that standard if we want to compete at the very highest level.
I imagine we'll utilise more youngsters.
De Bruyne has never played centre mid for anyone that I know of.
If we going into a Premier League season with that pool of players for centre mid we'll really struggle to win the league.
Every top teamin Europe is heavy with established midfielders.
Look at the international squads, other than England, every team has 6 or 7 established centre mids.
City have as many number 10's as centre mids.
When Pep's Bayern tore us apart they had no striker a 6 midfielders.
What happens if Gundogan who is currently injured or Fernamdinho who is 32 next season get injured?
Delph or Fernando can do a job, but not very well. As for experimenting with youth or players out of position, that's fine but not ideally due to 1 or 2 injuries.
Your inclusion of De Bruyne in our strongest midfield three pretty much highlights our glaring weakness.
For all his qualities, he give the ball away cheaply, isn't over good a winning the ball back, isn't over physical and the key factor, he's never played there.
We should have at least 3 established top quality starters. We have two. We need at least one more. I personally believe Delph or Fernando should be improved on too.
If we line up against Europe's elite with your suggested midfield we'd get battered. In my opinion anyway.