The Squad planning thread

bit more is needed for sure. Reijnders, Ait Nouri I am happy with, Cherki under Pep is a big risk imo, he aint one likes to be controlled and limited somewhat, he really needs to excel early on and provide regular assists so Pep will give him bit more freedom but can see frustration if he loses the balls and acts like nothing happened or doesnt track back like his life depends on it, ad he aint that type of player so far. off the ball he has to work hard, if he gets that can be a great asset.

more worried bout the likes of Bernardo, Gundo, Kova, Ake, Stones, Akanki, Dias, Ederson hitting their prime or close to it again. its unlikely and we should not have as many players who are unlikely to hit their prime or past their prime. especially if at times 4/5/6 of them will start together.

younger ones like Bobb, Savinho, Doku really need to come to life and deliver. we need delivery from the wings, times are over we can say yes 4 goals, and 3 assist is a great season in the PL from a winger. its bullshit. Salah or Saka does that in a one maybe two GREAT games.

Foden coming back to form is also needed, bit more optimistic on this one than with the wingers.
Rodri hitting his prime form also needed, but this will take time...

overall bit too many question marks and hopes round certain players.

we lost lot of creativity with KDB, even over the hill he was our main creator last season.others need to step up.
 
---------------------Ederson-------------------------
-------Akanji--------Ruben--------Guardiol--------
--------------Bernie-----------Rodri------------------
--------------Foden-----------Reijnders--------------
Matheus------------Haaland-----------------Aït-Nouri

I think right now this is our best 11.
Stable, balanced, etc.

Against Al Hilal it was noticeable that we lack the pace and strength of Kyle Walker during transitions and especially during counter-attacks, therefore we need more defenders to cover those zones faster. It's either that or Pep should make Khusanov as a regular starter as he is closer to Walker with pace and strength. With Khusanov I think we can play 4-3-3 but otherwise 5 defenders (3cb + 2 wingbacks) is a must..

4 players in the middle are our best midfielders, but I think there will be competition between Cherki and Foden, Bernie and Kova. Gundo and Nico will also provide some cover during rotations.

I don't rate Savio or Doku to be good enough as a starters, therefore Matheus / Ait-Nouri wingbacks offer us more. They help us in defence more and are productive in attack, as we can use Matheus's pace and Ait-Nouri's technique to provide assists for Haaland.

TBH I would also love Jack to stay and try this system once more:

---------------------Ederson-------------------------
-------Khusa--------Ruben--------Guardiol--------
--------------Akanji-----------Rodri------------------
--------------Foden-----------Reijnders--------------
Bernie-------------Haaland------------------Grealish
 
If you think of the number of players to leave over the next two seasons then its clear we're only part way through the rebuild.

Sold:
Ederson
Ortega
Akanji
Stones
Ake
Wilson-Esbrand
Kabore
Phillips
Nunes
Kovacic
Gundogan
Bernardo?
McAtee
Grealish

Loans for:
Reis
Nypan
Echeverri
O'Reilly?

Thats 18 players either sold or loaned out over that time and it only includes the ones from the first team squad and not all the EDS lads. Next season will feel like the start of a new phase but I don't expect it to be firing at its best till 26/27. Lets hope for some pep magic next year to get the new players/system up and running sharpish so we can challenge for the league

Here's the list I used btw: https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/manchester-city/startseite/verein/281
 
---------------------Ederson-------------------------
-------Akanji--------Ruben--------Guardiol--------
--------------Bernie-----------Rodri------------------
--------------Foden-----------Reijnders--------------
Matheus------------Haaland-----------------Aït-Nouri

I think right now this is our best 11.
Stable, balanced, etc.

Against Al Hilal it was noticeable that we lack the pace and strength of Kyle Walker during transitions and especially during counter-attacks, therefore we need more defenders to cover those zones faster. It's either that or Pep should make Khusanov as a regular starter as he is closer to Walker with pace and strength. With Khusanov I think we can play 4-3-3 but otherwise 5 defenders (3cb + 2 wingbacks) is a must..

4 players in the middle are our best midfielders, but I think there will be competition between Cherki and Foden, Bernie and Kova. Gundo and Nico will also provide some cover during rotations.

I don't rate Savio or Doku to be good enough as a starters, therefore Matheus / Ait-Nouri wingbacks offer us more. They help us in defence more and are productive in attack, as we can use Matheus's pace and Ait-Nouri's technique to provide assists for Haaland.

TBH I would also love Jack to stay and try this system once more:

---------------------Ederson-------------------------
-------Khusa--------Ruben--------Guardiol--------
--------------Akanji-----------Rodri------------------
--------------Foden-----------Reijnders--------------
Bernie-------------Haaland------------------Grealish

Fuck balance, i want fun! lol

Ederson/Trafford
Khusanov (Livramento hopefully though)
Dias
Gvardiol
Ait Nouri
Rodri
Reijnders
Foden
Marmoush
Cherki
Haaland
 
If you want to plan, you have to look at what failed last year. First was the age of the team, the pace of the team and the height, City almost reverted back to when Pep walked in, then there was Rodri`s injury with no back up, it caused a ripple effect, and with so many players out, it certainly caused us to lose the PL, Nico G came in and probably helped stopping the ripple. Next the entire left hand side of defense was a total disaster, even championship players took the piss, a teenage AM came and improved the position, and since then we have signed a quality LWB. Then there is the disaster of having your biggest most experienced best footballers, fastest and competent CB`s out injured, nothing yet has been done about this huge failing, we did bring in 3 young CB`s but they are unlikely to see any game time at CB and our 3 out injured are likely to stay out injured leaving only 2 reserve CB`s playing, with 2 of the experienced players on 1 year contracts, now is the time to buy, Van de Ven being a player that would improve City, but so would Branthwaite for differing reasons.
 
I think we're likely to see a completely different 11 each match for months till he finds something he likes, only likely fixed players are Gvardiol, Nouri, Reinjders, Haaland imo, Rodri depending on how his fitness is.
 
I think we're likely to see a completely different 11 each match for months till he finds something he likes, only likely fixed players are Gvardiol, Nouri, Reinjders, Haaland imo, Rodri depending on how his fitness is.
Saying that,

I would like to see this lineup:

-----------------Trafford------------------
Nunes---Khus----Gvardiol----Ait-Nouri
------------Rodri---Reinjders------------
--Foden-------Cherki-------Marmoush--
----------------Haaland--------------------

And in possession:

-------------------Trafford---------------------
-------Khus--------Rodri-------Gvardiol-------
------Foden-----Reinjders------Cherki-------
Nunes----Haaland--Marmoush----Ait-Nouri
 
Saying that,

I would like to see this lineup:

-----------------Trafford------------------
Nunes---Khus----Gvardiol----Ait-Nouri
------------Rodri---Reinjders------------
--Foden-------Cherki-------Marmoush--
----------------Haaland--------------------

And in possession:

-------------------Trafford---------------------
-------Khus--------Rodri-------Gvardiol-------
------Foden-----Reinjders------Cherki-------
Nunes----Haaland--Marmoush----Ait-Nouri

Like this line-up. Nunes / right-back only big question mark. In all other positions, we have good amount of depth and quality off the bench
 
I think we're likely to see a completely different 11 each match for months till he finds something he likes, only likely fixed players are Gvardiol, Reinjders, Haaland imo, Rodri depending on how his fitness is.
Yup. Don’t think Nouri is an undisputed starter but the other 4 should be. Honestly k can’t see Doku on the bench either. He is just a major threat despite not being an absolute scorer.
 

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