Squad Depth/Injuries mounting up

Since Mendy's injury we've played almost the exact same way all season no matter what personnel have been selected
We don't need a "curve ball"

In our squad, our three biggest issues were/are, Mangala (that one has been solved), Kompany being unreliable because of injury. And Toure because he's now not quick enough and doesn't suit our style of play
Diaz has to get more game time. He's certainly good enough
Gundogan has to take Fernandinho's place if Fern is injured or suspended
We’ve absolutely had curve balls. Playing against Aguero is pretty different ball game to coming up against Jesus, both have different qualities & pressure you in different ways. Same with playing Sterling as a false 9, or having Sané instead of Bernardo. A full-back would have to set-up & find triggers in a completely different manner if they were up against Sané’s pace, & dribbles to the byline compared to Bernardo’s early balls & more technical playstyle.

That’s both in a starting line-up sense & the impact it would provide off the bench. The newest curve-ball is now Laporte. Who even Pardew was talking about his obvious impact & different playstyle. Suddenly, you’re up against a whole new attacking threat with accurate as fuck long balls to runners in behind & can switch the play up to create overloads on one side with ease. Contrast that to playing against a Kompany or a Mangala.

Every manager pays attention to those things.
 
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I don’t care what you believe. He looks more than ready.
^^^ looks as good as the senior players, albeit over shorter periods. He'll be inconsistent but the lad has enough ability to be a useful asset to the team even on his worse days, just as Jesus, Sané and Sterling are.
 
Anyone know when Mendy, Delph or Jesus expected back in training?

Did we include Mendy in our Champions league squad for knockout round?
 
I don't believe the revised CL squad list has been released yet, CB.

When it is though I think it will give us the biggest update yet on Mendy's status. If he only has an outside chance of making it back in time for a semi-final or final if we get there, I don't think we're going to risk a spot, especially since we likely need one now for Zinchenko.
 
I don't believe the revised CL squad list has been released yet, CB.

When it is though I think it will give us the biggest update yet on Mendy's status. If he only has an outside chance of making it back in time for a semi-final or final if we get there, I don't think we're going to risk a spot, especially since we likely need one now for Zinchenko.

When’s the deadline for submitting CL squad, I thought it was today?
 
Hopefully Delph is back soon. Once he is, we could play Zinchenko further forward being that he's an attacking midfielder/winger. He's done very well at LB but I would love to see him get some minutes in his natural position.
 
I was a bit concerned with the lack of reinforcements and the depth of the squad but I have been impressed with Zinchenko and Diaz looked good last night too. I think we are covered but if Fernandinho or Aguero get injured or suspended for more than a game we may have problems, unless Jesus is about to return
 
I’d be very pleased to see Diaz get more game time. On paper, apart from Arsenal at Wembley, the games this month are not too bad. Need to get through and then by March should hopefully have Jesus and Sané back

Biggest issues for me are injuries to KDB and Aguero- would really like their game time to be managed better so both are ready for the bigger tests to come
 
The one main man at our disposal is Guardiola. He somehow finds away to get out of challenging situations. Bayern Munich had a terrible injury list in a season he was there and managed to get the team working harder than ever and created an unbreakable bond. I'm Sure he managed to beat a Klopp managed Dortmond at their place with half the team missing and then went on to win the title.
On the flip side, of some of the players missing. Zinchenko is gaining confidence with every passing game. B Silva is starting to find his feet with regular game time and Gundogan is getting back to the player he was when we signed him. We obviously have a weaker bench now and fingers crossed we don't get any more injuries in the next few games.
We seem to have a bit of luck on our side regarding cup draws etc... the gap we have created in the prem has also given us a big cushion and and room for manoeuvre.
Hopefully we can start March unscathed with a trophy in the bag and progression in the FA Cup not to mention avoiding defeat in Basle.
 
The one main man at our disposal is Guardiola. He somehow finds away to get out of challenging situations. Bayern Munich had a terrible injury list in a season he was there and managed to get the team working harder than ever and created an unbreakable bond. I'm Sure he managed to beat a Klopp managed Dortmond at their place with half the team missing and then went on to win the title.
On the flip side, of some of the players missing. Zinchenko is gaining confidence with every passing game. B Silva is starting to find his feet with regular game time and Gundogan is getting back to the player he was when we signed him. We obviously have a weaker bench now and fingers crossed we don't get any more injuries in the next few games.
We seem to have a bit of luck on our side regarding cup draws etc... the gap we have created in the prem has also given us a big cushion and and room for manoeuvre.
Hopefully we can start March unscathed with a trophy in the bag and progression in the FA Cup not to mention avoiding defeat in Basle.

What a good post. Brilliant and so right.
 
Having watched a compilation on horror tackles we've received this season, on the positive side we might have had another 3 players laid off for the season in different circumstances :(
 
The one main man at our disposal is Guardiola. He somehow finds away to get out of challenging situations. Bayern Munich had a terrible injury list in a season he was there and managed to get the team working harder than ever and created an unbreakable bond. I'm Sure he managed to beat a Klopp managed Dortmond at their place with half the team missing and then went on to win the title.
On the flip side, of some of the players missing. Zinchenko is gaining confidence with every passing game. B Silva is starting to find his feet with regular game time and Gundogan is getting back to the player he was when we signed him. We obviously have a weaker bench now and fingers crossed we don't get any more injuries in the next few games.
We seem to have a bit of luck on our side regarding cup draws etc... the gap we have created in the prem has also given us a big cushion and and room for manoeuvre.
Hopefully we can start March unscathed with a trophy in the bag and progression in the FA Cup not to mention avoiding defeat in Basle.
Ha, Dyche given a 'stern' talking to by the ref tomorrow after taking Pep out with a tommy gun. 'Say hello to my little friend' Dyche calls to his coaching staff whilst spraying the away bench with hot lead. 'Its all part of the English game. What do they expect' he emotes in the post match interview.
 
What if you could magically make one of the injured fit and healthy again instantly, but only one, which one of Mendy, Sane and Jesus would you want back?
 
Imagineif you were allowed to enter two teams in the Premier league. How well would this team do:
Bravo
Danillo Tosin Mangala Zinchenko
Delph Yaya
Gundogen Bernado Foden
Jesus
 
Always going to be a squad game, but the squad is only 21 or 22 players, when the injuries mount up then the players who haven't been playing regular need to step up to the plate and take the opportunity of making themselves indispensible. As for the academy lads, means they get nearer to first team experience in the minor competitions and again they need to show what they can do. There is always a positive in a negative. eg Delph and Zinchenko at left back after Mendys injury. As long as the players on the pitch are doing the business, names do not really matter except for D Silva IMO irreplaceable.
 
We looked fatigued today,even Kev wasn't his usual Olympian standard.....we desperately need to get players back,Delph and Jesus in particular.
 

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