goat boy
Well-Known Member
Re: Team for the opening day of next season
Right I'm bored, so I'm going to chime into this thread with a post of such distinct and immediately evident quality, that a moderator will be overcome with emotion, immediately lock the thread, print it out and hand it to Gary Cook personally, calling it 'the mandate for Manchester City, advocated and prepared by the fans.'
;)
Well, maybe much of that won't happen, but I've been thinking about this at some length, it's Good Friday, I've precisely fuck all else to do. So that's right, you bastards, I'm going to reason with you.
So, starting from the top. The team manager and chief backroom staff. Keep 'em all, for now. The watch word here is consistency, which, at the end of the day, is what we haven't got right now. Quality, yes, players, yes, ability to mainatin a level of form from one match to the next, no. Why is this? I'll argue it down with anyone that it's actually because there is nothing, historically, consistent about City at the moment, with the exception of the fans. We have a new board, new chief exec, new marketing people, new manager, new coaches, and perhaps most importantly, lots of new players. Think about it. Between Hughes and Sven there must be about 20 1st team players at City who were either still in the youth ranks or playing somewhere else 2 years ago today. Those players generally get games, now, over the dregs of the Pearce era, with the exception of a couple of important youngsters and Dunnie. Ball, Hamann, Vassell, Mills are the only senior players left from 2007, are no longer a feature and will soon be gone. In the context of a football team, I must impress upon you that learning the functions and skills of your coleagues, under the pressure of a match situation, and (specifically) adapting your game to create a cohesive system takes TIME. Even 2 years isn't enough to let you adapt, when everything around you is in a constant state of flux.
Anyway, that's my feelings on that. This isn't a Hughes in/ Hughes out thread, so let's just say that the above set of opinions is relevant because it informs my further assumptions about tactics, and will have a bareing on my arguements with regard to specific players and postions.
So, then. Tactics. I assume Hughes will stay. I assume also, that rather than the 4-4-2 formation my less bright brethren seem to yearn for, we'll stick with the 4-3-3. Or to be more precise, either of these set ups, which are based on said but have the odd subtle difference. Both systems use attacking full backs to provide width, and are reasonably proven in the modern PL if applied correctly.
Formation 1: The Benitez Bomb
-------- GK --------
RB -- CB -- CB -- LB
--- DM ------ DM ---
- AMR - AMC - AML -
-------- TS --------
The above is akin to how we regularly lay, right now. Kompany, De Jong, Zabaleta are selected in the two DM positions, with SWP/ SI/ Binho in front. TS means target striker, which we ain't really got, apart from the oft crocked and generally bobbins Benjani. Rafa has Torres. It's also not a million miles removed from the attacking diamond formation baconface prefers.
Formation 2: No way, Jose.
-------- GK --------
RB -- CB -- CB -- LB
-------- DM --------
---- CM ----- CM ---
- AMR -------- AML -
-------- TS --------
Does fortune favour the brave? It does if your reputation preceeds you, and you only ever have to play sides that are expecting to get beat. You need central midfield box to box players with reasonable postional sense and tackling ability to pull this off, to assist your DM sweeper and also to assist your front line. De Jong is our Makelele. But Mourinho had Didier Dogba. We beat Portsmouth 6-0 using this formation
Now then. Select one of the above, depending on who we are playing, and how our form is.
With those two formations, we can analyse the strength of the squad in each position. The defence is fairly straightforward, as a back four is a back four. Likewise the three-pronged attack The midfield is a bit more involved because we have 5 or 6 different roles, depending on how eaxctly we set up our team on a given matchday.
So, position by position, let's have a look-
GK. We're fine. Given, Hart, Schmeichel. Schmeichel wants away, I say let him go. He'll need to be replaced with someone who is willing to be a 3rd choice keeper, though.
RB. Richards, Zabaleta, Onouha. Not a problem position imo.
LB. Bridge, Garrido, Ball. Ball will go. Garrido may go back to Spain. McGivern also has a shout for 2nd choice, but perhaps for him it's too early to expect that much. We need another useful, PL experienced option at LB, 30's age ideal.
CB (x 2). Dunne, Onouha, Kompany, Richards. Two of the players in this list I'd prefer to have in the team elsewhere. Reinforcements urgently required, as a priority position to fix. I'd go over the odds for Lescott, as he has PL experience, and has a left foot so might negate the need to get in another LB. Dunne will remain important, as will Onouha, but another experienced, hard tackling CB could also be helpful. Mee to go on loan.
DM (x 1 or 2). De Jong, Zabaleta, Kompany. Personally I think we need another Vinny Kompany type player in here, to give us more options when Vinny can't play. Valencia might not part with Villa or Silva, but they might part with Raul Albiol. Go get him! Gelson, sorry mate, you're out. Likewise Didi.
CM (x 0 or 2). Johnson, Ireland, Elano. Still our biggest problem postion imo. Any of these players would be more or less fine as half of this pairing but any two together looks decidely ropey. FFS buy Gareth Barry or similar quality 'midfield general' type immediately. £20m. Shut up Gary, just get on with it.
AMC. Ireland, Elano, Robinho. Not a problem position imo
AMR. SWP, Bellamy, Etuhu. As above. Etuhu to go, Weiss to go on loan.
AML. Robinho, Petrov, Sturridge. Not a problem position imo.
TS. Benjani, Caicedo, Bellamy, Sturridge. We need a tall, powerful yet mobile striker in the Torres/ Drogba mould to make these formations work. It's exactly what we havent got. Lose Benjani. Loan Caicedo out for 12 months. Buy RSC, buy Benzema.
--
In the above, we can remove some fat from the squad, and improve (hopefully markedly) without adding too many new faces to the equation. I'd set a limit of 5 new players (which is more than I'd like tbh) and purchase the following:
Joleon Lescott
Raul Albiol
Gareth Barry
RSC
Karim Benzema
I'd expect English players to settle into things more quickly and will be better able to integrate without a language barrier. Likewise RSC, who won't even have to move house, and will be back working for a manager he likes.
Special dispensation would be granted (exclusive of the above limit) for Franc Ribery or Ricardo Kaka, on general principles.
I commend my plan to thee...
Right I'm bored, so I'm going to chime into this thread with a post of such distinct and immediately evident quality, that a moderator will be overcome with emotion, immediately lock the thread, print it out and hand it to Gary Cook personally, calling it 'the mandate for Manchester City, advocated and prepared by the fans.'
;)
Well, maybe much of that won't happen, but I've been thinking about this at some length, it's Good Friday, I've precisely fuck all else to do. So that's right, you bastards, I'm going to reason with you.
So, starting from the top. The team manager and chief backroom staff. Keep 'em all, for now. The watch word here is consistency, which, at the end of the day, is what we haven't got right now. Quality, yes, players, yes, ability to mainatin a level of form from one match to the next, no. Why is this? I'll argue it down with anyone that it's actually because there is nothing, historically, consistent about City at the moment, with the exception of the fans. We have a new board, new chief exec, new marketing people, new manager, new coaches, and perhaps most importantly, lots of new players. Think about it. Between Hughes and Sven there must be about 20 1st team players at City who were either still in the youth ranks or playing somewhere else 2 years ago today. Those players generally get games, now, over the dregs of the Pearce era, with the exception of a couple of important youngsters and Dunnie. Ball, Hamann, Vassell, Mills are the only senior players left from 2007, are no longer a feature and will soon be gone. In the context of a football team, I must impress upon you that learning the functions and skills of your coleagues, under the pressure of a match situation, and (specifically) adapting your game to create a cohesive system takes TIME. Even 2 years isn't enough to let you adapt, when everything around you is in a constant state of flux.
Anyway, that's my feelings on that. This isn't a Hughes in/ Hughes out thread, so let's just say that the above set of opinions is relevant because it informs my further assumptions about tactics, and will have a bareing on my arguements with regard to specific players and postions.
So, then. Tactics. I assume Hughes will stay. I assume also, that rather than the 4-4-2 formation my less bright brethren seem to yearn for, we'll stick with the 4-3-3. Or to be more precise, either of these set ups, which are based on said but have the odd subtle difference. Both systems use attacking full backs to provide width, and are reasonably proven in the modern PL if applied correctly.
Formation 1: The Benitez Bomb
-------- GK --------
RB -- CB -- CB -- LB
--- DM ------ DM ---
- AMR - AMC - AML -
-------- TS --------
The above is akin to how we regularly lay, right now. Kompany, De Jong, Zabaleta are selected in the two DM positions, with SWP/ SI/ Binho in front. TS means target striker, which we ain't really got, apart from the oft crocked and generally bobbins Benjani. Rafa has Torres. It's also not a million miles removed from the attacking diamond formation baconface prefers.
Formation 2: No way, Jose.
-------- GK --------
RB -- CB -- CB -- LB
-------- DM --------
---- CM ----- CM ---
- AMR -------- AML -
-------- TS --------
Does fortune favour the brave? It does if your reputation preceeds you, and you only ever have to play sides that are expecting to get beat. You need central midfield box to box players with reasonable postional sense and tackling ability to pull this off, to assist your DM sweeper and also to assist your front line. De Jong is our Makelele. But Mourinho had Didier Dogba. We beat Portsmouth 6-0 using this formation
Now then. Select one of the above, depending on who we are playing, and how our form is.
With those two formations, we can analyse the strength of the squad in each position. The defence is fairly straightforward, as a back four is a back four. Likewise the three-pronged attack The midfield is a bit more involved because we have 5 or 6 different roles, depending on how eaxctly we set up our team on a given matchday.
So, position by position, let's have a look-
GK. We're fine. Given, Hart, Schmeichel. Schmeichel wants away, I say let him go. He'll need to be replaced with someone who is willing to be a 3rd choice keeper, though.
RB. Richards, Zabaleta, Onouha. Not a problem position imo.
LB. Bridge, Garrido, Ball. Ball will go. Garrido may go back to Spain. McGivern also has a shout for 2nd choice, but perhaps for him it's too early to expect that much. We need another useful, PL experienced option at LB, 30's age ideal.
CB (x 2). Dunne, Onouha, Kompany, Richards. Two of the players in this list I'd prefer to have in the team elsewhere. Reinforcements urgently required, as a priority position to fix. I'd go over the odds for Lescott, as he has PL experience, and has a left foot so might negate the need to get in another LB. Dunne will remain important, as will Onouha, but another experienced, hard tackling CB could also be helpful. Mee to go on loan.
DM (x 1 or 2). De Jong, Zabaleta, Kompany. Personally I think we need another Vinny Kompany type player in here, to give us more options when Vinny can't play. Valencia might not part with Villa or Silva, but they might part with Raul Albiol. Go get him! Gelson, sorry mate, you're out. Likewise Didi.
CM (x 0 or 2). Johnson, Ireland, Elano. Still our biggest problem postion imo. Any of these players would be more or less fine as half of this pairing but any two together looks decidely ropey. FFS buy Gareth Barry or similar quality 'midfield general' type immediately. £20m. Shut up Gary, just get on with it.
AMC. Ireland, Elano, Robinho. Not a problem position imo
AMR. SWP, Bellamy, Etuhu. As above. Etuhu to go, Weiss to go on loan.
AML. Robinho, Petrov, Sturridge. Not a problem position imo.
TS. Benjani, Caicedo, Bellamy, Sturridge. We need a tall, powerful yet mobile striker in the Torres/ Drogba mould to make these formations work. It's exactly what we havent got. Lose Benjani. Loan Caicedo out for 12 months. Buy RSC, buy Benzema.
--
In the above, we can remove some fat from the squad, and improve (hopefully markedly) without adding too many new faces to the equation. I'd set a limit of 5 new players (which is more than I'd like tbh) and purchase the following:
Joleon Lescott
Raul Albiol
Gareth Barry
RSC
Karim Benzema
I'd expect English players to settle into things more quickly and will be better able to integrate without a language barrier. Likewise RSC, who won't even have to move house, and will be back working for a manager he likes.
Special dispensation would be granted (exclusive of the above limit) for Franc Ribery or Ricardo Kaka, on general principles.
I commend my plan to thee...