The Squad planning thread

[NQCitizen]

I think we've got to remember we're in year one of a rebuild.

Doku, Khus, Sav, O'Reilly, Nico G, Lewis aren't guys you replace with "proven options" who are 28 and are immediately surpassed by whoever left. Unless you're getting 21-23 year olds who are world class, the chances are the option already at the club might be the best long term option.

Constantly comparing them to established, seasoned players isn't realistic in terms of their progression or the makeup of the squad.

The key thing is to keep adding guys like Anderson / Wharton, to build a new generation that develop together. Getting the Bernardo/Kovacic/Stones replacements and a full back who can cover both sides seems like the 4 positions to prioritise. I'd definitely be keen on Camavinga if he became available.

 

[Sleeping_Easy]

I think we've got to remember we're in year one of a rebuild.

Doku, Khus, Sav, O'Reilly, Nico G, Lewis aren't guys you replace with "proven options" who are 28 and are immediately surpassed by whoever left. Unless you're getting 21-23 year olds who are world class, the chances are the option already at the club might be the best long term option.

Constantly comparing them to established, seasoned players isn't realistic in terms of their progression or the makeup of the squad.

The key thing is to keep adding guys like Anderson / Wharton, to build a new generation that develop together. Getting the Bernardo/Kovacic/Stones replacements and a full back who can cover both sides seems like the 4 positions to prioritise. I'd definitely be keen on Camavinga if he became available.

Bernardo -> Anderson
Kovacic -> Barely plays, Lewis can absorb his munites
Stones -> Guehi
Full back who can play boths sides -> Livramento

Easy this director of football lark. Where do I apply?

 

[TonyColemansbagofapples]

Bernardo -> Anderson
Kovacic -> Barely plays, Lewis can absorb his munites
Stones -> Guehi
Full back who can play boths sides -> Livramento

Easy this director of football lark. Where do I apply?

Don't bother. Livramento can barely cover Stones' minutes let alone both full backs.

 

[ScottSinclair]

Lennart Karl……no not him.

Strengths: pace, finishing, heading, dribbling, physicality, ball control, technique, agility, creativity

So he is the best player that has ever lived at 17

 

[FJRMCFC]

17/18
Kompany Stones Laporte Otamendi Mangala
18/19
Kompany Stones Laporte Otamendi
19/20
Fdinho Stones Laporte Otamendi Garcia
20/21
Dias Stones Laporte Ake Garcia
21/22
Dias Stones Laporte Ake
22/23
Dias Stones Laporte Ake Akanji
23/24
Dias Stones Gvardiol Ake Akanji
24/25
Dias Stones Gvardiol Ake Akanji Khusanov Reis
25/26
Dias Stones Gvardiol Ake Khusanov Alleyne

Stones and Ake are goners. Alleyne I think is a stop gap but will be interesting to see how he develops over next 6 months. I like Khusanov and Reis but the chances of them being trusted as the only 3rd/4th choices next season are slim. Guehi is prime aged, HG and experienced at elite international level play. No brainer.

26/27
Dias Gvardiol Guehi Khusanov Reis?

 

[Blue Bogey]

So he is the best player that has ever lived at 17

That would arguably be the late Pele.

 

[Sleeping_Easy]

Don't bother. Livramento can barely cover Stones' minutes let alone both full backs.

He's been fairly reliable for Newcastle till this recent knee injury. Admittedly he did suffer a cruciate injury earlier in his career so it could point to an underlying issue with the knee but all that stuff is checked in a medical anyway. If the club was interested in him in the summer they must be fairly happy with his availability

 

[bumbleblue]

Not a player for this January market but perhaps in the summer or next winter market City are closely monitoring a 17 yr old player with a buy out clause of €200m for any top clubs in Europe.

As you would imagine the player is already an international at youth level. The player is said to have visited the Etihad and campus in 2024. Manchester City are in a strong position and the fee will almost certainly not be €200m if City do sign him. Having seen videos of him I can see why City would be highly interested.

The player has been mentioned once on the transfer forum by another bluemooner as a player to watch.

Kees Smit

 

[WRicko]

Not a player for this January market but perhaps in the summer or next winter market City are closely monitoring a 17 yr old player with a buy out clause of €200m for any top clubs in Europe.

As you would imagine the player is already an international at youth level. The player is said to have visited the Etihad and campus in 2024. Manchester City are in a strong position and the fee will almost certainly not be €200m if City do sign him. Having seen videos of him I can see why City would be highly interested.

The player has been mentioned once on the transfer forum by another bluemooner as a player to watch.

Who ?

 

[Blue Bogey]

Who ?

Ask Kun.

Failing that keep an eye on this thread over the next months if there is any more updates. PSG and Madrid were said to be interested but City are leading on him.

 

[NQCitizen]

Bernardo -> Anderson
Kovacic -> Barely plays, Lewis can absorb his munites
Stones -> Guehi
Full back who can play boths sides -> Livramento

Easy this director of football lark. Where do I apply?

I think Kovacic's importance prior to this season shouldn't be underestimated. Think we'll look back and appreciate him a lot more than we do now.

I like Guehi for availability right now, but do wonder if there's a better CB out there for us in the summer.

Shame Livramento is so injury prone because he think he's a quality player. I wouldn't mind picking up one of Real / Barca's odd one's out in the summer, Fermin, Tchouameni, Camavinga whoever finds themselves weirdly out of favour.

 

[WallyA]

Wonder would the club go with just Alleyne and Vitor Reis to replace Ake and Stones? Leaves us 5 CBs with Khus Dias Josko

I am less and less confident in Guehi and think your right.

Tbf for next season, 5 CBs for 2 spots is great depth. Would still need RB cover, and push Lewis to midfield.

And if we properly reinforce midfield with Anderson, Nico G can fill CB in a crisis.

 

[Xhavenjoe]

Who ?

You're obviously not going to get a straight answer.

 

[WRicko]

Ask Kun.

Failing that keep an eye on this thread over the next months if there is any more updates. PSG and Madrid were said to be interested but City are leading on him.

View attachment 180273

Who

Ask Kun.

Failing that keep an eye on this thread over the next months if there is any more updates. PSG and Madrid were said to be interested but City are leading on him.

View attachment 180273

if you won’t give a straight answer your clearly a wum / fake ITK I am not even asking for details what you know just a name of an actual player who actually exists

 

[Sleeping_Easy]

Don't bother. Livramento can barely cover Stones' minutes let alone both full backs.

I take back what I said… he’s out injured again

 

[LongsightM13]

Who

if you won’t give a straight answer your clearly a wum / fake ITK I am not even asking for details what you know just a name of an actual player who actually exists

Attention seeking

 

[Ken92]

17/18
Kompany Stones Laporte Otamendi Mangala
18/19
Kompany Stones Laporte Otamendi
19/20
Fdinho Stones Laporte Otamendi Garcia
20/21
Dias Stones Laporte Ake Garcia
21/22
Dias Stones Laporte Ake
22/23
Dias Stones Laporte Ake Akanji
23/24
Dias Stones Gvardiol Ake Akanji
24/25
Dias Stones Gvardiol Ake Akanji Khusanov Reis
25/26
Dias Stones Gvardiol Ake Khusanov Alleyne

Stones and Ake are goners. Alleyne I think is a stop gap but will be interesting to see how he develops over next 6 months. I like Khusanov and Reis but the chances of them being trusted as the only 3rd/4th choices next season are slim. Guehi is prime aged, HG and experienced at elite international level play. No brainer.

26/27
Dias Gvardiol Guehi Khusanov Reis?

I think Reis is ready from next season ,he is playing pretty well in a bad team and plays every game in La Liga. He is gaining great experience in a pretty good league.

 

[dragonman98]

Said it before, but… keep copping Cobham, or ex Cobham, i don’t know how they did but they keep spawning out quality defenders. Ake, James, Livramento, Guehi, Hall (like this game today). If Guehi doesn’t want to come then try asking Acheampong.

 

[Gabriel]

I think Reis is ready from next season ,he is playing pretty well in a bad team and plays every game in La Liga. He is gaining great experience in a pretty good league.

Agreed. Reis will take a season to assimilate fully anyway, so farming him out again would just be delaying that.

 

[Xhavenjoe]

Agreed. Reis will take a season to assimilate fully anyway, so farming him out again would just be delaying that.

If we bring in Guehi, or another CB, we'll have at least Dias, Khusanov, Gvardiol, new CB at start of next season. I'm guessing Alleyne will now remain at City for the rest of the season and if he continues with his current form, he will be ahead of Reis in the picking order.
Its not a bad problem to have