Thanks for responding.
do you think we’ll move for a first team centre-back, if Otamendi and Stones remain put? Very very very concerning if not. Above all else, it’s the one area we can’t manage anymore without reinvestment.
jack gaughan says the semedo and cancelo talks are ongoing tolm? Surely a top CB at least will come in?
I agree with Ezzy, we are morphing more towards three at the back.
Hopefully we can offload Otamendi and do think a centre half is out there for us.
My concern is there is no stand out figure for what we need, consistent with City also not locking someone down yet.
We really like Bastoni at Inter but they would rather sell us the other robot.
they are looking at trying to sign Samuel Umtiti(left footed)We really like Bastoni at Inter but they would rather sell us the other robot.
This is the ITK i trust. Probably the only 100% ITK on this forumStones is signing a new contract. Zin and Gundo are going nowhere and Otamendi is quite happy to sit tight and run his deal down next year and then move back to Spain or Argentina.
The transfer window is so tight this year, makes outgoings for us extremely problematic.
Wouldn't Upamecano or Konaté fit our profile perfectly? Young, good defenders with great feet and defensive capabilities. They also have outstanding physicality and speed which would help us a lot when we get countered. Great in the air as as well. Leipzig has played both 4ATB and 3ATB with a high line so they'll accustom quick to our style of play. Angelino is someone Leipzig really want to keep so it would be baffling if we didn't look for the option to secure either of them with Angelino + cash going the other wayI agree with Ezzy, we are morphing more towards three at the back.
Hopefully we can offload Otamendi and do think a centre half is out there for us.
My concern is there is no stand out figure for what we need, consistent with City also not locking someone down yet.
We really like Bastoni at Inter but they would rather sell us the other robot.
MCRJON is the only real ITK. He has not posted in ages though. Rest are hit and miss.This is the ITK i trust. Probably the only 100% ITK on this forum
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.
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.
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.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.
Calling those players "liabilities" is one of the most ridiculous things I've read all week.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.
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.
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.
I think this pile of schizophrenic BS speaks for itself
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 !
You might be new on here but you have done your homework, it is not just about money players need a career path :)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.