The are we allowed the "it's quiet" thread yet? thread.

[Phil1]

Just a thought, but considering our stances on Zab, Kolarov and Yaya, are we trying to force them to hand in a transfer request before they can leave to limit loyalty payments?

If we are fucking Zaba about for a couple of quid in loyalty payments then the club should hang their heads in shame.

Not that I believe that to be the case.

 

[KennyG]

If we don't strike now, the Pep factor will be diluted. With the new TV money and the signings happening at Trafford. It is unnerving but we wait and see how the land lies in a month

 

[SWP's back]

The exception that disproves the rule, eh? Trouble is no-one else has Messi, Iniesta, Suarez and Busquets at their disposal......

Not sure why you mention Suarez as he wasn't always there when they were playing with a nimble three from the start.

And Busquets and Iniesta haven't really got anything to do with needing a 'good in the air' No 9.

You may also have a think at which manager made that style work originally.

 

[IanBishopsHaircut]

and the signings happening at Trafford.

The fuck are you on about?

 

[crystal_mais]

The reason we are no longer throwing cash at players is this sort of situation, where players are happy to sit tight when they know we need to get rid..

We had to throw money at players to get them here before - now we are trying to encourage them with things other than cash..

We will get Stones and Sane done in my opinion. Yaya, Nasri, Bony, Kolarov digging their heels in doesn't help us much

 

[simon23]

Why aren't the two ferns enough ?

The last thing we need is more physicality. We need technical quality to add to Gundo which will either come from a signing or from Alex Garcia.

We don't need another striker if we get Sane. We won't be desperate for another center half when we get Stones.

Full back position is the only one I'm curious and a bit apprehensive about. Everything else seems right. Especially Pep at the wheel.

I love the addition of gundongan - absolute quality player

Agree to that Im curious about he full backs....i think we def need to replace Kolorov (whom Ive never rated) and Zabba (who i love but it would be a risk i think)

You are clearly very confident on Sane's ability (And Kelechis) to fill in if there was a major injury to Kun. Im not at present (and Bony is shit and Pep will be a true magician if he can get bony to play the way he will need him to play!)

I rate Kelechi but he is not at the level yet to carry us for any long period of time and Sane is a winger who is being muted to have a future rile as a centre forward but again is inexperienced......the only other real goal threat we then have is KDB (who granted could easily way in 15 goals.

Silva's one weakness is his goal scoring....he has improved since he joined us but he is not a goal scorer.......none of the midfielders are besides Yaya and I think those days could be gone as well

Nolito may weigh in with 10-12 (but me and you differ greatly on him and Ill leave that one there)

IF in he case of a long term injury to Kun it would be huge pressure on Sane and Kelechi (and sterling - who again his finishing needs a great deal of work)

 

[OB1]

Gundogan is indeed the pick, he's a world class CM which we got for a steal. The comment about fitness holds true with any player and, as has been discussed before, there is no additional reason for concern with Gundogan in this regard.

The assumption Vinny will be out injured isn't unreasonable, but it's clear that he's, pardon the pun, on his last legs on this issue. Stay fit and the place is his, fail in this regard and Pep will move him on. A lack of leadership only exists because players like Otamendi failed to turn up last season, but I'm confident Pep won't allow a similar situation to develop due to a shift in focus.

The midfield being fairly lightweight isn't a valid argument. You know who else has a lightweight midfield? Barcelona. See also, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and other world class teams. Fernandinho alone is more than enough here in that regard, but Pep's game doesn't necessitate physicality in the middle of the park.

We only need one top quality striker and many would argue that at this point Kelechi is more than promise and has proven he can deliver at the highest level. If we haven't got full confidence in Kun, and we should, then there's no reason Iheanacho can't provide a suitable backup with the firepower that exists elsewhere in the squad also.

Using examples of games last season isn't indicative of how things will play out under Pep.

The transfer window is only open 13 days, nobody is suggesting we are finished, not by a long shot, but to suggest the signings we have made already, all of whom have been handpicked by Pep, are disappointing is ridiculous and frankly naive in the extreme. I'm not suggesting you agree with that, but that was certainly the crux of the argument I responded to.

Those lightweight midfields you refer to do not have to cope with the Premier League week in week out. I am a big proponent of technical skill over physicality but Exeter Dinosaur does have a point that you cannot ignore that aspect of English football; at least not until Pep or someone proves that you can win the league by just playing the beautiful game.

On the subject of strikers, I agree with El Dinosaur that Nacho is still just a prospect; albeit a mighty fine one but one that we cannot assume we can rely on solely to cover for Aguero. Also, there is no reason to assume that we will consistently play with a false nine. There's also though no guarantee that we will get rid of Bony, who I could still see providing a different option and doing a decent job for Pep as a squad player. I do though think we will end up with plenty of options to deal with absences of Aguero be it from the midfield ranks or forwards. Oh and in the unlikely event that we signed Suarez, I would see him and Aguero playing regularly together but one of them would be shifted wide a la (say) David Villa at Barca.

Bottom line is we need to see how this window pans out and not jump to any conclusions because no one outside the people responsible seems to really know what is going on.

 

[KennyG]

The fuck are you on about?

They've had the better window so far. It is ok to say that isn't it?

 

[Akiva]

Those lightweight midfields you refer to do not have to cope with the Premier League week in week out. I am a big proponent of technical skill over physicality but Exeter Dinosaur does have a point that you cannot ignore that aspect of English football; at least not until Pep or someone proves that you can win the league by just playing the beautiful game.

On the subject of strikers, I agree with El Dinosaur that Nacho is still just a prospect; albeit a mighty fine one but one that we cannot assume we can rely on solely to cover for Aguero. Also, there is no reason to assume that we will consistently play with a false nine. There's also though no guarantee that we will get rid of Bony, who I could still see providing a different option and doing a decent job for Pep as a squad player. I do though think we will end up with plenty of options to deal with absences of Aguero be it from the midfield ranks or forwards. Oh and in the unlikely event that we signed Suarez, I would see him and Aguero playing regularly together but one of them would be shifted wide a la (say) David Villa at Barca.

Bottom line is we need to see how this window pans out and not jump to any conclusions because no one outside the people responsible seems to really know what is going on.

That may be so, but, as has been pointed out, we have the two Ferns who have more than enough toughness in the middle of the park.
The element of physicality is important, granted, but let's not kid ourselves. Pep, by his own admission, came to see if his game would triumph here as it did in Spain and Germany. Certainly he will make changes and tweaks, but ultimately it will still be his style and system.

I'm not the highest on Kelechi, but the whole premise of the argument is that Aguero WILL get injured for a short period and Kelechi won't be good enough to cover. I feel that's pretty insulting, especially given Pep can make situations work without a number 9 at all.

I agree with your last part though.

 

[g180aj]

I'm fucked. For a change, I just stayed tried my luck with some hot woman for a change. She told me her son is signing for city, Spanish, or South American.

Probably garre.