Pivotal question. How do we best manage in defensive midfield?

[urban genie]

Pivitol question? Hardly we have strength on depth to cover and I expect to see the 3 at the back used some games which will support the DM role

 

[slicky202]

the club obviously tried to address this position this summer, and didn't (couldn't?), but i'd say there's not too much to worry about yet.

Fernandinho will require a bit more rotation, we need him pretty fit from Feb onwards, so perhaps we'll be seeing a bit more of Delph & Gundogan for league games (all 20 games against the bottom 10?).

this could be looked at again in the winter break though

I think delph will do a fabulous job there if he gets a chance, you know he’s going to work his dick off to keep his place in the squad. Lads had a taste of winning and I think he liked it

 

[Mancini Manus Domini]

Pivitol question? Hardly we have strength on depth to cover and I expect to see the 3 at the back used some games which will support the DM role

Would you expect to see 3 at the back in the first leg of a Champions League quarter final at Anfield?

 

[Marvin]

We could ration Fernandinho's game time especially in advance of CL fixtures and big games.

In most games we wont need a player in that role.

 

[Gorton_Tubster]

Fernandinho isnt suddenly shit/old tbh. When he needs a break though I expect Delph/Gundog/Zinchenko would play there. Not sure Gundog can do the tough tackling that Fern does though so I would expect Delph %100 to play in that hole

 

[dannyboy29]

Would you expect to see 3 at the back in the first leg of a Champions League quarter final at Anfield?

Most definitely I could. Walker and Mendy will keep their fullbacks pushed back to nullify that threat. A double pivot doesn't leave Dino on his own to beat the press. I would also back our back 3 to go man for man on there front 3 with support from Walker and Mendy. I would have Sane as one of the front 2 and let KDB or Silva slide balls through at will.

 

[schfc6]

How do we get to the business end of the Premier League and Champions League with one of our players playing at their best in this position?

Fernandinho, Gundogon or Zinchenko seem to be the obvious candidates.

Will Fernandinho retire from international football? Will we rotate from the Champions League group matches to Premier League games? Can we get Fernandinho to April and May fresh and in the form of his life?

Can Gundogon make the position his own?

How many Premier League games could Zinchenko realistically help out with? Is he only likely to get games in the cup?

Is there a left field option? With the addition of Mahrez and the emergence of Foden and Diaz could De Bruyne or Silva be converted to this role?

Finally there is John Stones. Was Pep serious about him when he said he could play there? Do we have enough cover at Centre Half if he could make the position his own?

We don't need to get to the business end of the season with what we have. There's another transfer window.
With it being such a short window this summer, I think it will be easier to deal in Jan than traditionally.

There's some very interesting possibilities in our league alone that won't be CL tied.
Will be interesting to see how Neves & the new kid at Fulham do, how N'didi progresses.

Don't think Lyon are in the CL, so the kid from there could remain an option. Not to mention a few we're monitoring in South America.

 

[Easy]

We need to manage Fern’s fitness. Keep him fresh for the important games.

In matches where we know we’ll have 70%+ possession, we can rotate Gundogan in. Ilkay is probably the better option anyway as he’ll recycle the ball well and make late runs in to the box. This could also mean Foden plays more. A midfield of De Bruyne-Gundogan-Foden would get the job done against Brighton at home for example imo.

Then Delph is another option to play there.

In emergency situations we could see Danilo or Stones play there.

 

[Heath Park]

We could ration Fernandinho's game time especially in advance of CL fixtures and big games.

In most games we wont need a player in that role.

Completely agree. Against Burnley, Newcastle, Watford etc. he can have a rest...

 

[Henkeman]

I think delph will do a fabulous job there if he gets a chance, you know he’s going to work his dick off to keep his place in the squad. Lads had a taste of winning and I think he liked it

Because he was largely at left back last season, he didn't do that role very often - but when he did, he did it well. I'm quite comfortable with Delph as the alternate in that position, I think he'll do a fine job.