Summer Transfers

[Ezzy]

He not only wants fullbacks that can defend, but also be holding midfielders. This is also the problem with Walker. He's fine defensively, but can't do what Zichenko does in an inverted fullback role with the ball. Waker's not good at playing out from the back and when in the opponents half he's not good at moving the ball and distributing it into the front players. Then you have Zinchenko who can't defend and get back into position when we're being countered on. Players like Semedo and Alaba would be all around better in every aspect for an inverted fullback.
I think how we set up next season will hinge on what happens with Cancelo/Semedo. Probably more 3 at the back if Cancelo stays and more a back 4 if Semedo were to come.

Semedo is exactly the same type of full-back as Walker. Zinchenko not being fast is fine, that's not the problem with him. He Can't stay out wide like a full back if our play demands it(like when we can't go thru the middle) and of course he's also not a natural defender.

Cancelo Is the prototype of full-backs that Pep wants, the Dani Alves type. Cancelo just has to learn to play that Inverted Role, and once he does, he has the exact skill set required to succeed as a Pep Full-Back.

But of course it's not easy, especially when the team is so unbalanced and fragile.

 

[Larry Stranger]

Semedo is exactly the same type of full-back as Walker. Zinchenko not being fast is fine, that's not the problem with him. He Can't stay out wide like a full back if our play demands it(like when we can't go thru the middle) and of course he's also not a natural defender.

Cancelo Is the prototype of full-backs that Pep wants, the Dani Alves type. Cancelo just has to learn to play that Inverted Role, and once he does, he has the exact skill set required to succeed as a Pep Full-Back.

But of course it's not easy, especially when the team is so unbalanced and fragile.

Yes I don't mind if we kept Cancelo. He's probably the best on the ball, has speed to get back and just needs to learn how Pep wants him to play. I feel at times he just wanted to get forward when he wasn't supposed to and didn't have chemistry playing with the players yet. Have to disagree with Semedo. He's better than Walker on the ball.

 

[Bpughh]

Another year of Gundo, Stones, Ota and Zin makes all other signings and next season pointless, might as well fast forward a year because we aren't catching the Dippers with these liabilities in the squad, in fact the opposite.

Calling those players "liabilities" is one of the most ridiculous things I've read all week.

 

[richards30]

We need a top CB and a top LB in imo to keep pace with the dippers. Semedo for cancelo would be fine as well. Aouar in would mean gundogan drops to Rodri understudy which would suit him better and then we could grab some young project signings. Failure to significantly improve the defence again would be utterly brainless and we can’t rely on Eric staying injury free all season and Mendy can break at any point. Wide and up top is all good for the coming season but Almada would be nice! Personally would like:

semedo
Upamecano
Theo Hernandez
aouar
Almada

surely we potentially have players that Milan would be interested in to bring the Theo price down?. Can’t see the dippers spending in the window to be honest so we need if possible to respond and improve defensively!

 

[Andrew___K]

It's all fake news. Barcelona are desperate to make it look like He has a buyer. Pep has zero interest in Semedo what so ever.

Cancelo is going nowhere. Only change at RB is wether Couto Will go to Leeds or stay here as 3rd choice.

All the noise this summer is just Mendes trying to help Barcelona & Semedo(who's prob going to Juve). All of the reports are exclusively coming from Barca side for a reason.

Yes Pep wants Semedo. Pep has realized that full backs that can attack but can't defend are not what he needs anymore.

Spending the whole of last summer chasing Cancelo instead of Semedo is a mistake City are "Open to do a swap deal" or perhaps just cash deal, in order to rectify it.

But they are some big obstacles ahead. Semedo is Very much in demand.

Semedo is exactly the same type of full-back as Walker. [...] Cancelo Is the prototype of full-backs that Pep wants, the Dani Alves type. Cancelo just has to learn to play that Inverted Role, and once he does, he has the exact skill set required to succeed as a Pep Full-Back.

This is what Josep Guardiola Wants.

I think this pile of schizophrenic BS speaks for itself

 

[93.20blue]

Another year of Gundo, Stones, Ota and Zin makes all other signings and next season pointless, might as well fast forward a year because we aren't catching the Dippers with these liabilities in the squad, in fact the opposite.

Wouldn’t so much say liability’s but they are defiantly the weaknesses in our squad which have been exploited time and time again with the defenders in that list . gundogan is a very good holding midfielder on his own there but we have rodri who will play there so wouldn’t bother me if he went, Would love stones to reach his potential because he has all the talent, but the lad has too much going on in his personal life which has distracted him , I just feel he can be weak and there’s always a mistake in him . If stones and otamendi are playing in a back 3 next season we will struggle for top 4. We’re are 22 points behind Liverpool, As much as I hate saying it ,there back 4 is miles better than ours they have the 2 best full backs in the league , best cb and tbh there back ups gomes and matip are just as good as ota and stones . Our whole back line apart from Laporte needs serious investment to get close to the scousers 22 points is massive and A massive overhaul is needed and if them names above stay I kind of agree , might aswell forget next season !

 

[richards30]

I think this pile of schizophrenic BS speaks for itself

lol! Busted!

 

[simon23]

Wouldn’t so much say liability’s but they are defiantly the weaknesses in our squad which have been exploited time and time again with the defenders in that list . gundogan is a very good holding midfielder on his own there but we have rodri who will play there so wouldn’t bother me if he went, Would love stones to reach his potential because he has all the talent, but the lad has too much going on in his personal life which has distracted him , I just feel he can be weak and there’s always a mistake in him . If stones and otamendi are playing in a back 3 next season we will struggle for top 4. We’re are 22 points behind Liverpool, As much as I hate saying it ,there back 4 is miles better than ours they have the 2 best full backs in the league , best cb and tbh there back ups gomes and matip are just as good as ota and stones . Our whole back line apart from Laporte needs serious investment to get close to the scousers 22 points is massive and A massive overhaul is needed and if them names above stay I kind of agree , might aswell forget next season !

Agree with lots of that

Gundo is just not needed - nowhere near as good creatively as the other options and I think his defensive side is very weak.

Otto - should have gone a year ago

Zinchenko - feel sorry for this lad as he would get into 2/3's of the premierships first teams in his natural position but with the likes of Silvas x 2 KDB and Foden will he get his chance - maybe with David leaving Pep might look at playing Zinchenko further forward and keep him - he has earnt his chance but having rarely seen him there would he be good enough???

 

[salfordbluetrue]

I can see Muric getting another loan tbh, the poor lad's had a dreadful time at Forest but genuinely wouldn't mind him coming back and been given all the cup games. City obviously see something in him considering he got that bumper deal before his loan, maybe he'll just be here permanently as a backup? Steffen I agree would probably benefit from a loan spell - maybe to somewhere like Ajax if they sell Onana? And aye there's a lot of hype around Bazunu (the young Irish kid) and even Louie Moulden who had a stellar year in 18/19 in the u18s I believe. But you're right whoever it is has to outpace Ederson and well, that doesn't look likely by anyone right now.

You might be new on here but you have done your homework, it is not just about money players need a career path :)

 

[OliMCFC]

Few muddled thoughts and points below

RB - Cancelo/Semedo is interesting because it's well reported Pep's chased Cancelo for a while so considering he paid £60m for him (Yes we got 30 back for Danilo but it was technically two separate deals on paper), I don't think he'll want to get rid of him so quickly - especially with Walker not getting any younger & his personal life might become a distraction a la Stones. Couto is far too inexperienced to be chucked in, I hope he goes to Leeds on loan & gets acclimatised with far less pressure on him.

CB - I wish a lot of people on here would stop saying we're moving to 3ATB - because Pep and City will never ever buy players just for ONE formation. Pep has always wanted a variety of formations available to him, the standard 4-3-3, the 3-5-2 with Mendy & both strikers, the 4-2-3-1 we've seen a lot this year and the 4-4-2 press that system morphs into during games. We need CBs. Imo, 2. A quality 3rd choice and a starting partner for Laporte. I see Garcia staying as 4th choice, maybe Stones or Tosin stay too as that backup but we need a quality player - my preference is Upamecano but a few here saying Ruben Dias, which is who I thought we'd get last summer - decent release clause too which Txiki always appreciates.

Other sales - Otamendi has to go. The fee doesn't matter really, it's very much a thanks for the memories but time to go. I think at least 2 of the LBs (Mendy, Zinny, Angelino) have to go. I'd prefer to keep Mendy and bring in a starter allowing Mendy to really work on his fitness and reshape his technique. Zinny isn't good enough at LB and likely isn't at CM/CAM either to play there otherwise he would've by now. Angelino is good and there's obviously a talent there but he's not quite our level imo, but hey if he wants to fight for his spot then I'm not against it provided there's a starter joining.


Aouar is a real dream signing to me, he's young, cheapish, and good on the ball. I think he and Foden can get enough minutes between them, especially with Phil becoming a bit of an attacking utility man playing wide, CAM, LCM. Gundo should move to 6 and be a backup, as well as being a backup at 8 in say cup games or whatever. There's certain opponents his slower game is useful.