Strength in Depth Myth

[CatMan]

We lack on-field leadership.
We have too many players who believe they're excused working.
We have a manager who cannot grasp the concept of 'if you can't win then don't lose'.

In short, success in sport is largely based on dedication and direction, not as Pellegrini and most of his players seem to believe, that just going out and hoping that some off the cuff inspiration might be enough.

I find it incredible and beyond any sane thinking that CFG are so dogmatically stupid in their business thinking that they're prepared to spunk this season down the drain before getting this mess sorted.

 

[Deleted member 58678]

5 of todays players in the actual starting team are squad players and should be on the bench, even that doubtful for one or two.. As for todays bench, at half time MP didnt make any changes when needing an attacking force to get two goals back, because he fukin couldnt..

They played with no striker so he could have gone three at the back, pushed Kolarov up the left wing and Sterling up higher with Bony/Iheanacho and played Navas as the right wing back.

He did nowt!

 

[Mr Ed (The Stables)]

As soon as we have Kompany and Aguero out for some reason the rest find it hard to cope without them. Have we as a club rectified this nope Tevez left and wasn't replaced and although we've thrown plenty of money at Centre halves they have all be found wanting when Kompany isn't available. Funnily enough all are superb when they partner Vinnie.

 

[Marvin]

Yes we have a big squad but when you break it down, we seriously lack in areas when certain players are missing, Harry Redknapp had it right when he said we look average when Hart, Kompany, Silva & Aguero are missing / not at the races - YES they are 4 world class players and I'm not expecting to have someone of a similar class as back up but the gulf in class between first team 11 and squad players is alarming

You are talking about our elite players.

No other team in the country has as many world class players as we do. Our problem is that most are injured or have been, and too much pressure rests on those that remain so their form starts to slide.

Toure used to be one of our stars, but he's no longer in that bracket. That's part of the problem as well. He has been a big part of our success in recent seasons, and his game has fallen off a cliff edge so much so that I am now relieved if he is not in the team

 

[ono]

Our strength in depth is non existent because the back up players don't have even vaguely similar characteristics or capabilities to the first choice players.

If Aguero isn't fit, Bony plays. Bony Is the polar opposite to Aguero. So do we alter our style to suit him? Nope. And that's the same for practically the full squad.

So that means when certain players are missing, we miss them more than we should.

We seem to have bought a squad of players to cover every different style of football, yet persevere with the exact same style week in week out regardless of the personnel available.

If you have a philosophy, you stick to it and you buy players who fit in to it, so when you have injuries, you can still play your game with less of an impact.

 

[Balti]

it's a myth and has been for a long time

money wasted and key positions not backed up where it was glaringly obvious for so long

for this club to be so reliant on on a small number of key players after all that money and all this time is quite frankly shocking

 

[Uncle Wally One Ball]

it's a myth and has been for a long time

money wasted and key positions not backed up where it was glaringly obvious for so long

for this club to be so reliant on on a small number of key players after all that money and all this time is quite frankly shocking

This is it all over. We neither have a big squad or a squad of immediate replacements, despite what commentators say. We all know this. We have a spine of a team, the same spine since 2010. I think we have become stuck between supplementing that team, or replacing it. We have failed at both, de Bruyne aside

 

[City_Sean]

We have a great squad. If we're lacking in one area it's CM, but when you're decimated with injuries, it's hard as you're unable to rotate.

 

[Terra Passenger]

We have a great squad. If we're lacking in one area it's CM,

I'd argue that we most need a decent backup striker (Iheanacho might well fit the bill, don't know why he isn't starting with Aguero injured).

 

[mosssideblue]

We have a great squad. If we're lacking in one area it's CM, but when you're decimated with injuries, it's hard as you're unable to rotate.

Sorry mate, I think we have more weaknesses than that. If Joe were to get injured, how many would say OK, we have Willy to step in so no worries there. Even though I like Bony, he isn't for us (our style does not suit him), Rightback is an area of concern, Leftback ditto. Yaya / Nasri are no longer dependable.