Rebuild

[DD]

To be honest, Txiki's philosophy that teams should be built in cycles has probably backfired. It's clear to anyone who watches us that there are number of people who aren't really good enough for where we want to be and there are also a number that are past their best.

When Pep looks at his squad, he'll see that he has a massive rebuilding job on his hands. Whilst I could say that Hart, Kompany, Fernandinho, De Bruyne, Aguero and Iheanacho are probably nice and safe, I would suspect each and every one of the others has a reason to worry.

I would say that it's highly unlikely that Otamendi, Delph and Sterling will move on either, purely because of the money we've spent on them, but Otamendi and Steling in particular have disappointed.

We desperately need a new left back and a commanding centre half. We need two midfielders who can dominate, chase back and take us forward, we need a decent wide player and we need another striker. They are minimum requirements if we are to get back to where we were in 2012 plus have a side ready to compete with the best in Europe.

Players who I feel are certs to be shown the door are Kolarov, Demichelis, Mangala, Navas, Fernando, Toure, Nasri and Bony, and Silva, Clichy, Zabaleta, Sagna and Caballero all must have question marks over them.

Pep has one hell of a task on his hands, especially if we fail to make the top four, because then the recruitment becomes that much harder.

 

[OB1]

Zabba's legs have gone, Kolarov was never up to it. In fact, that's the more suitable category to determine the rebuild. I lump Navas, Bony, Mangala and Fernando in this.

Yup; although I like Navas as a squad player and I think Pep will want and will use wingers. However, I'll say for the umpteenth time that only Sergio is "irreplaceable" (unless we get Messi - ho, ho - but even then, why would you ditch his pal?).

 

[BillyShears]

I don't think Zabba's leg have gone. He was never really quick. He'll go on and on. Kolarov is as good as ever though he does have the odd bad game, and when that happen it's really bad.

Wow you watched Zab play recently. He's a liability defensively. His warrior spirit gets him out of a lot of scrapes but fundamentally he doesn't back himself against most wingers with even a semblance of pace and is quick to stand off them. He's absolutely finished as a PL defender for a side with title aspirations.

 

[OB1]

Vice versa. I like Nasri by the way. Don't mind if Toure stays as a squad player.

Marv,

I have no sacred cows; see my post last post.

 

[OB1]

Wow you watched Zab play recently. He's a liability defensively. His warrior spirit gets him out of a lot of scrapes but fundamentally he doesn't back himself against most wingers with even a semblance of pace and is quick to stand off them. He's absolutely finished as a PL defender for a side with title aspirations.

Ship to Inter...

 

[01cravend]

Why would you want to sell Willy, Kolarov, Fernando or Navas.

Only players I'd be looking to let go are Bony and Toure. Mangala possibly, but he has another chance now to show what he can do.

Willy- hero penalty shootout aside, he's just not very good
Kolarov - doesn't have the pace(for a full back), nor the intelligence for a pep side
Fernando - same as Kolarov doesn't make up for lack of pace with intelligence. Also doesn't bring much to the table other than about one good performance in every 5 appearances.
Navas - Messi, Robben, Douglas Costa, Ribery, David Villa, Theirry Henry, Muller & Pedro, Pep likes his wingers to contribute goals.

 

[flb]

I'd give Zabba and Clichy the benefit of the doubt for another season at least, Zabba is better offensively than Sagna, he could be our version of what Lahm has become at Bayern, a player who can play right side of defence or midfield if he plays his much vaunted 3 at the back.

Is Gundogan going to play the pivot roll? Pep going off is Bayern set prefers to play with just the one?

2 fullbacks, 2 midfielders and by all accounts a new CB and we are good to go.Denayer,Garcia into the squad, perhaps Angelino?

 

[BillyShears]

Ship to Inter...

Think he'll get kept for sentimental value for the final year of his contract. Personally I'd like to see him go into coaching and stay at the club but I reckon he's going to want to keep playing.

 

[tolmie's hairdoo]

I don't think Zabba's leg have gone. He was never really quick. He'll go on and on. Kolarov is as good as ever though he does have the odd bad game, and when that happen it's really bad.

C'mon Marv, you are equating speed to legs have gone?

Zabba now can't get back in from his usual forays. His engine has been clocked. Kolarov can't get away with it just because he's had no real quality competition.

 

[OB1]

Think he'll get kept for sentimental value for the final year of his contract. Personally I'd like to see him go into coaching and stay at the club but I reckon he's going to want to keep playing.

No room for sentiment. Would love him to come back one day as a coach.

 

[Phil1]

C'mon Marv, you are equating speed to legs have gone?

Zabba now can't get back in from his usual forays. His engine has been clocked. Kolarov can't get away with it just because he's had no real quality competition.

If we're talking about bringing a new right back in who's good enough to slot straight in the first team then I see no reason why Zabaleta can't be the understudy. He's got plenty left in him to take up the slack whenever said new boy needs resting.

 

[OB1]

If we're talking about bringing a new right back in who's good enough to slot straight in the first team then I see no reason why Zabaleta can't be the understudy. He's got plenty left in him to take up the slack whenever said new boy needs resting.

Sagna is playing better than Zab and looks to be in better physical condition.

 

[Phil1]

Sagna is playing better than Zab and looks to be in better physical condition.

Sagna has been fit for a while and played enough games to build momentum. I'd like to see how Zabba is by the time August arrives because he's still the superior player in my mind.

 

[BillyShears]

Sagna is playing better than Zab and looks to be in better physical condition.

Defo. Has been one of our most consistent performers this season. He doesn't have the attacking quality that Zaba does for sure, but ultimately he's a much better defender which for me is more important right now.

 

[Deleted member 58678]

Left back, right back, proper box-to-box midfielder and a deep lying playmaker.

 

[Phil1]

Defo. Has been one of our most consistent performers this season. He doesn't have the attacking quality that Zaba does for sure, but ultimately he's a much better defender which for me is more important right now.

Right now, meaning until the end of the season I agree. I think Zabba has a lot more to offer a Guardiola team than Sagna moving forward though.

 

[BobKowalski]

There has to be some serious surgery to produce a Pep side.

What is a Pep side?

Seem to recall asking this about Pellers when he first pitched up...

 

[MCFCRICH]

I think Delph could play a pivotal part for City next year under Pep obviously depending on injuries,

I also think some players in the EDS will end up playing 10-15 games for us in all competitions the most likely is Manu Garcia for me.

I don't think the over haul will happen this summer i think he will have a clear idea of certain players who won't fit in but i think he will have to adapt his style and therefore give himself 6 months or so to decide on the other players he is unsure of, could potentially see the summer unfold as 1 in 1 out and that is dependent on how successful we are in the transfer market

There is going to be some surprises that's for sure.

 

[Lancet Fluke]

Depends what we are trying to achieve in the immediate future. I don't think we need a huge rebuild to dominate the Premier League next year just a two or three key signings in key areas and some decent management. To get near Barca's current standards clearly that would take some doing and we would need significant changes but even trying a rebuild in one or two windows would be a huge mistake IMO. Needs to be done over two or three years a bit more organically. I am still one (of the seemingly few) who feels that many of this squad still have a hell of a lot to give under proper guidance.

 

[BillyShears]

Depends what we are trying to achieve in the immediate future. I don't think we need a huge rebuild to dominate the Premier League next year just a two or three key signings in key areas and some decent management. To get near Barca's current standards clearly that would take some doing and we would need significant changes but even trying a rebuild in one or two windows would be a huge mistake IMO. Needs to be done over two or three years a bit more organically. I am still one (of the seemingly few) who feels that many of this squad still have a hell of a lot to give under proper guidance.

It started last summer and will finish in the summer of 2017. We brought in 3 'big' players last year. I expect minimum 5 this summer. With the remaining stalwarts being given one more year before it's a totally new squad. Remember, people have been criticising Txiki and the club for not signing a world class player since 2011 and criticising the club for still relying on Toure, Vinny, Hart, Kun, and Silva.