The big clearout!

I wonder why we did not strengthen the full back positions in January? How can you hope to compete at the top level and be competitive in big matches when you play midfielders and wingers in the full back positions? We lack power in midfield. Teams like SPurs, Liverpool and Chelsea have some very powerful players in there and yet we have to take Fernandinho out of there and play him in defence

Last Summer I think everyone assumed that the first positions that we'd strengthen would be the full back positions but we strengthened elsewhere. I'm glad we brought in Stones, Sane and Jesus. It makes the coming window simpler because we have some very obvious priorities.

Having no recognised full-back also makes it easier for the club to win a transfer tug of war because we can guarantee the player a starting position. Are there players from our academy sides ready to make the step up? We have some glaring holes to fill this season in our squad and yet no young players have come through and filled them. We will be in the FA Youth Cup Final for the 3rd successive year, surely there are young players there who can make the step up?
 
With so many likely to leave City I wonder what impact that will have on those players. Have to assume they have not been told yet (I remember the drop in form towards the end of Kevin Keegans reign when he told certain players they would not be needed the next season).

Will those potentially affected be stimulated to attract buyers, will they be deflated to the point of not giving 100% during games or will they be resentful and actually disruptive?

We still must have 4th spot as our minimum objective in the PL in order to attract Peps new players for CL competition so it will be a balancing act I dont envy.
Hopefully our developing younger players may be part of the new plan so combined with Peps players he can get this year out of the way for yet another start.
 
BlueMedic said:
Wouldn't have any arguments against that - wasn't trying to predict the team/squad for next season per-say, was just trying to illustrate that we don't necessarily need to move 10 players out & bring 10 in to have a competitive squad next season. Bringing Garcia in is another good example of how that can be possible.

Agreed, wasn't trying to suggest or predict the team/line-up as it's next to impossible to suggest what next season will bring once all the changes have happened, was more just throwing names into our current formation to show who we could have available. You could replace Isco in my list of names with a DM & then you've got Fernando, Dinho & the new DM which is more than enough, with Silva/De Bruyne/Gundogan for the 2 positions ahead, with potentially Garcia/Zinchenko/Delph as back-ups to them three.

Ideally I think we'd bring in both a DM & a CM, but I believe we could still compete even with just one or the other coming in.
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I did agree with your fundamental thrust. Sorry for not making that clear.

That said, I have a fundamental issue is Pep's liking for a high line with one Pivot and full backs who can come inside to help out. I don't think it will ever work in the Prem against the better teams with sacks of pace. The other midfielders and wide players have to put in one hell of a shift to help out - even with pacey fullbacks! I guess we shall find out next season. It certainly isn't working this season and may cost us a top four place this season as a result.
 
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seen somewhere that we look to recoup 100m off selling players, be lucky to get half of that !
 
trevorriley said:
seen somewhere that we look to recoup 100m off selling players, be lucky to get half of that !
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Depends on who it is we are going to sell.

As fans i honestly think we need to brace ourselves for a shock or 2 this summer.
 
just watched Pep's press conference about player turn over he said and i quote we'll talk with the management and consult the bluemoon forum ;)
 
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