Please answer these points
Mahrez, does our team work better as a unit or as individuals? He is capable of individual brilliance every 5-10 games. He doesn't defend well, he doesn't pass to better placed players, its a trick and a blocked shot or cross. Yes 13 assists and 15 goals? looks great on paper but he slows down play and let's defenses settle.
Gundogan, is he good enough as a cdm? Is he good enough as OUR type of am? He is too weak in tackle and slow across the ground for a cdm. He, like mahrez slows play down too much for OUR type of am.
Rodri, does it hurt to have an alternative? I like rodri, but for fast transitioning teams we need a faster more mobile cdm. I'd like camavinga yet with the squad balance being as it is and the funds needed to fix it I'd go for douglas luiz.
Cancelo, is it worth keeping a player who doesn't play (pep trust issue maybe) or doesnt want to be here (if reports are to be trusted)? The lad we let go to celtic could have done what cancelo has done so far. I think he is a great rb and a perfect alternate to walker. Walker better defender cancelo better attacker. We could use the money to fix lb and use couto or an academy rb if not going to play regularly next season.
Also zinchenko, stones and nico need to be moved on. We need game changers for the bench and to push 1st teamers. Bernado for mahrez adds graft but same issues. Foden shouldn't have that much pressure on him plus he should be 1st team next year. Who else changes anything from the bench?
I just lost my massive reply but here goes again
Pep does not tolerate players who do not defend, and has picked him over Sane to the outrage of some because he works hard and defends better. and as you say 13 assists and 15 goals is great. Peps not obsessed with pace unlike some.
Besides who is going to buy him or replace him? Also seeing as we are getting a Sane replacement with bags of pace why do we have to sort out Mahrez ? Dont you think we are a better team with different types of wingers some that use pace some that cut in some use there skill some that shoot in the box some from outside.
I did not realise that Gundogan was first choice CAM or CDM Pep wants players who retain possession Mahrez and Gundogan do that. Gundogan is last choice CAM and last choice CDM to Rodri and Fernandiho.
Gundogan is a excellent professional who controls play has an excellent pass on him and can play several positions. Wasnt he Peps first buy and he trusts him a lot.
It rarely hurts to have alternatives to players especially for Pep who loves to change tactics and especially in midfield loves them, but we do have alternatives to Rodri Fernandiho and Gundogan plus some ITKs are saying we are getting Aouar or camavinga However we also have a lot of midfield options and do not want to have too many and cause friction through lack of game time this might be mitigated due to change in sub rules and Corona virus fixture congestion and perhaps winning champions league and playing extra games(club world cup) Also we have to use resources wisely helped by Monday ruling mind focus should be elsewhere before midfield.
Not sure about Douglas Luiz only really seen highlights looks goof but why are Villa so low in the table like some other clubs if there players are getting such rave revues, same as Norwich. Early on he was supposedly not working hard enough now thats not the case apparently but yet last time I watched him he seemed to be chasing three players and got nowhere near any of them and the opposition scored.
On Cancelo your right no point keeping a player who does not want to be here and is not trusted but we do not really know whats going on. Some players take time to adapt and Pep does not play them much first season. He is starting to play more and looks a quality player suited to Pep better going forward in some aspects better than Walker.Could be that Pep decided to play walker more due defensive issues.
I do not think we will get the fee we need for Cancelo, plus I do not think Couto is ready yet but could be involved according to reports. We have other priorities ahead of RB
Nico needs to move on yes not that he is as bad as people think.
I would give Stones another year see what happens with injuries, He is good enough to play 2nd 3rd or 4th choice RCB to whoever we buy. Fighting it out with Garcia and Fernandiho I do not think anyone will give us the fee we need for stones and we need home grown players and he is a lot better than people think but he might want to move I guess.
Zinchenko is again better than people think has excellent ability on the ball an excellent pass can play three positions though it seems not at city. He is an excellent professional. How many clubs have a decent lb let alone a decent back up its such a hard position. He was very good in our title winning seasons. Does he want to leave ? would we get the fee we deserve for him ? Who would replace him ?
I think he deserves a go at CDM like he plays for Ukraine,
We are three excellent LBs if we use the right system Mendy is coming into form but perhaps lack concentration would look better with another decent CB Aneglino would look amazing in a back three as he is proving in Germany, Again we wont get the fee we want for him Zincheko is a good all round footballer and lb could invert but lacks pace and height
Are you really criticising Bernardo based on this season after what he has done for us previously ?
Besides we do not change games by adding pace will (change with Sane replacement adding pace) we change games by changing tactics, roles, positions, players, formation, changing type of wingers which is something Mahrez and Bernado can do.
Also how would brining in a game change affect Foden would it not potentially stop him being in the first team which is what we both want.
What will we do with all the players we have on loan ? Are non of them capable of playing a role ?
The position people do not talk about much is goal we need a back and a third choice goalie keep spending elsewhere can causes issues here even tho it doesnt cost much especially with foreign spot situation etc
