Read the other day we’ve only signed 1 left back in 9 years and he did his cruciate after 3 weeks
Compare that to the amount of wingers we’ve signed and it’s crazy
Not sure its accurate if you include all the players who have turned out at LB, Delph and Zinch among others have done shifts in title winning teams.
But LB is always difficult. It's the most specialised outfield position. We have been unlucky with Mendy and his injury. Should have got Lucas Digne when he was cheap.
This reminds me of Arsenal under Arsene Wenger.Spot on, you start to wonder how much Pep is having to do with transfers, or if he's getting players he actually wants. Stones, Mendy, Rodri and Mahrez haven't particularly improved since arriving (I'd excuse Cancelo as he's hardly played). It seems to be like Watford, players arrive and the coach is told that's what he's got, get on with it. The incestuous relationship Pep has with the Ferran Soriano and Txiki Begiristain is all nice and cosy but I don't see helping matters with the inadequacy of the squad.
Pep inherited the best players in the squad, Kompany, Fernandinho, Silva, Aguero, KDB, Sterling, Yaya. Now this group have started to break up the replacements have been poor/cheaper options and it's not worked. Other than Gundogun I can't remember any reference to us signing a player because that's who Pep wanted. Of course credit has to be given for getting players like Sane, Bernie Silva, Walker and Jesus, but we've had really poor transfer windows for 2 seasons now, maybe more I'd love to know if it was the board saying to Pep we can't replace Kompany, or Pep thinking he could convert Fernandinho into and centre half. The board seem to under instruction to buy average cheaper players.
We should have been buying Sergio's replacement this season, he's in his final year, more injury prone than ever, but I fear we will wait until next summer or even the summer after, and buy average again.
Not sure on that, we obviously have to play a left back.
None of Zinchenko, Delph, Laporte Walker or Cancelo were signed to play there (or have ever played there before?) but all have had to under Pep
Surely that's a sign of bad recruitment in that position?
Seems like we always try and "get away with it"
I would have thought we would be linked to Lucas Digne. He's a decent young left back and was on loan from PSG to Roma last year. Roma and PSG have not yet agreed terms to make it permanent so he is as available as it gets.
When he played Danilo looked good to me. Not sure if he didn't settle but I was suprised when we let him go and splurged a load on Cancelo who still doesn't feel like his City career has started yet.And the RB's we sign, Walker has proved his worth, but Danilo and Cancelo crazy, lazy poor buys.
To be fair he wanted out, but considering his contract/fee he was nothing special.When he played Danilo looked good to me. Not sure if he didn't settle but I was suprised when we let him go and splurged a load on Cancelo who still doesn't feel like his City career has started yet.
Not sure on that, we obviously have to play a left back.
None of Zinchenko, Delph, Laporte Walker or Cancelo were signed to play there (or have ever played there before?) but all have had to under Pep
Surely that's a sign of bad recruitment in that position?
Seems like we always try and "get away with it"
Those missing player in your second paragraph sums up our current predicament superbly.The 198 points years boasted a squad that included Kompany, Sane, David Silva, Otamendi, Mangala, Danilo, Delph and a peak Fernandinho. Since then we've only signed Ake, Cancelo, Rodri and Torres. And brought through Foden and Garcia.
Compared to the 198 squad we started last night without Aguero, Jesus, Sane, Silva, Silva, Gundogan, Kompany, Laporte, Stones, Otamendi, Mangala, Zinchenko, Danilo, Delph. Thats a major dip in quality, transition years?
I ignored keepers as the maine man is still there.