The Squad planning thread

An average, ageing unbalanced squad.
Every squad is ageing. The average age of our squad is well…average!

Average age for PL squad 26.3

Average age of City squad 26.3

Aston Villa have an old squad.
Chelsea have a young squad.

 
End of day how many too teans have midfield players at fullback and left:right back and expect to get away with it every week . Nunes has done well but we need proper recognised players in right positions because atm we will not win anything playing like this .
We will not win anything playing regressive ball retention football that depends on the individual brilliance a few players to thrive...

This has zero to do with playing players out of position. Nunes is the best right back in the league this season on performance... We are not "getting away with it" because he is playing RB... He is doing better than anyone you can think of...

Our problem isn't Nunes or O'Reilly, rather it is our overall style of play. Its slow, sluggish, overemphasize ball retention m at the expense of everything else, and we have a middling press that wanes into nonexistence in the 2nd halves of games...


None of that has much to do with whether the player playing fullback once preferred to play a different position
 
Is it possible to slow the game down more? We need players who have the ability to move the ball forward with pace and control. Not to take 3 or 4 touches before turning round and passing back to our centre halves
This is a big misconception.

First of all, if a player takes 3 or 4 touches to control the ball, that player isnt a good controller.

Controlling the ball well doesnt mean you can't pass it well, look at Dokus last assist for Haaland.

Look at the key players in our system in midfield and attack, Bernie, Cherki, Doku.

And look at our 2nd half problem, teams overwhelm us and we simply cannot control the game even after going up 2-0, this is a big problem!

Cherki for example did great before his injury by drawing fouls from his control to kills Spurs momentum.
 
The recruitment for the last 12 months hasn't been bad, we now have a good second 11 and althought this sounds a little strange it is vital for next season. We do however still need an injection of quality into the first 11 (prime team to play against best opp) and no surprises that we need 1/2 CMs, RB and probably a RW. I do mean top quality not the squad buys
 
We will not win anything playing regressive ball retention football that depends on the individual brilliance a few players to thrive...

This has zero to do with playing players out of position. Nunes is the best right back in the league this season on performance... We are not "getting away with it" because he is playing RB... He is doing better than anyone you can think of...

Our problem isn't Nunes or O'Reilly, rather it is our overall style of play. Its slow, sluggish, overemphasize ball retention m at the expense of everything else, and we have a middling press that wanes into nonexistence in the 2nd halves of games...


None of that has much to do with whether the player playing fullback once preferred to play a different position

The issue has been, the lack of composure and brain dead Hollywood passes that our players make. Nunes is an adequate full back, but not in the world top ten right backs. Nico has a tremendous amount of potential, but is not in the world top ten left backs and neither is AN.
Our press is not existent, because of the what is behind the front five and who's is in the front five.
 
This is a big misconception.

First of all, if a player takes 3 or 4 touches to control the ball, that player isnt a good controller.

Controlling the ball well doesnt mean you can't pass it well, look at Dokus last assist for Haaland.

Look at the key players in our system in midfield and attack, Bernie, Cherki, Doku.

And look at our 2nd half problem, teams overwhelm us and we simply cannot control the game even after going up 2-0, this is a big problem!

Cherki for example did great before his injury by drawing fouls from his control to kills Spurs momentum.
You've inadvertently proved my point perfectly.

1 - I didn't say our players need 3 or 4 touches to control the ball. I said that players take 3 or 4 touches before playing the ball. This isn't a dig but how many times does Khusanov control the ball, roll his studs over it before passing it either into Rodri (who then lays it straight back) or rolls it square to Guehi.

2 - How many times have we seen a positive pass like Doku for Haaland this season? It doesn't happen often which is why when it does, it sticks in the mind.

3 - Our second half problem is teams work us out after 45 minutes, they change and we (Pep) doesn't react. Bringing Foden on with 5 minutes to go and even then, the commentary said that it was Silva requesting to come off rather than Pep making a positive change. And I'm still trying to work out what the benefit is of bringing on Marmoush after 93 minutes.
 
Khephren Thuram or Manu Kone

Elliot Anderson

I would sign Kone from Roma to replace Silva and Anderson to replace Kovacić.

City needs RB, LB, CB, 2 midfielders and right winger in the summer.

Savinho, Silva, Kovacić, Akanji, Lewis, Stones, Ake and for me Ait-Nouri to go.

Ait-Nouri was cheap, so we will recoup the money. He would flourish in back three system as a LB. He has no future here in the back 4. He simply can't defend.


Recoup the money, reinvest, sign strong, physical players who can also keep the ball well.

Txiki Begiristain has demolished this team after the treble. That's truth.
 
I think we have one of the most unbalanced midfields. Rest of the squad not so bad
At the beginning of the season i was hoping to see Rodri and Gonzalez in the middle and you'd think we'll be trying that soon, seeing they're nearly both fit.
 
I would keep Reijnders for the next season, but I would use him as a number 10.

I would also sell Savinho and replace him with a solid left-footed winger, who could be available on the market, like Pedro Neto whoever.

City's biggest problem is lack of defensive solidity in midfield. Lack of aggressive number 8. It's a problem since Pep's joined the club. This midfield is too soft for ages.

I would love to recruit Elliot Anderson and Manu Kone from AS Rome to replace Kovacić and Silva.
 
Honestly, most of these lists are ridiculous.

There comes a point where you have to stop buying players and train them.

I’d just get Anderson in the Summer and work with the players we have. In terms of value it’s the second best squad in the world behind Real Madrid.

We can’t sell most of the players we have due to their wages and we can’t buy many more for the same reason. We will get to the point where we have to repeat the Grealish scenario over and over. It’s not sustainable.

Stones and Bernardo will go for nothing at the end of the season.

These lists in and out are just wishful thinking.
 
Honestly, most of these lists are ridiculous.

There comes a point where you have to stop buying players and train them.

I’d just get Anderson in the Summer and work with the players we have. In terms of value it’s the second best squad in the world behind Real Madrid.

We can’t sell most of the players we have due to their wages and we can’t buy many more for the same reason. We will get to the point where we have to repeat the Grealish scenario over and over. It’s not sustainable.

Stones and Bernardo will go for nothing at the end of the season.

These lists in and out are just wishful thinking.
City needs 2 midfielders, RB, LB, CB and right winger. This squad is not good enough. What are you talking about? Complacency non stop. This team is not solid enough but you think one transfer a decent player from shit team will help us. LOL.
 
I would keep Reijnders for the next season, but I would use him as a number 10.

I would also sell Savinho and replace him with a solid left-footed winger, who could be available on the market, like Pedro Neto whoever.

City's biggest problem is lack of defensive solidity in midfield. Lack of aggressive number 8. It's a problem since Pep's joined the club. This midfield is too soft for ages.

I would love to recruit Elliot Anderson and Manu Kone from AS Rome to replace Kovacić and Silva.
Surely all this squad/transfer talk, imcomongs, outgoings, depends on who the Manager/Coach is next year, ie. who he fancies and doesn't etc
 
City needs 2 midfielders, RB, LB, CB and right winger. This squad is not good enough. What are you talking about? Complacency non stop. This team is not solid enough but you think one transfer a decent player from shit team will help us. LOL.
You think we need, and are getting, 6 players? What exactly are you going to do with this huge squad and where is the money coming from? Which teams are buying our mass clearance? Delusional.

We have just signed a Palace player and a Bournemouth player are they “shit” clubs too?
 
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The issue has been, the lack of composure and brain dead Hollywood passes that our players make. Nunes is an adequate full back, but not in the world top ten right backs. Nico has a tremendous amount of potential, but is not in the world top ten left backs and neither is AN.
Our press is not existent, because of the what is behind the front five and who's is in the front five.
yep, pressing has never been that bad and we just can´t get the ball back anymore, teams get past it easily. That half arsed pressing is making things even worse.
 

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