Thiago Alcantara

[Dr Jacoby]

there gnna be some unhappy players at L'pool.

Their squad is packed with mids.

Milner, Fabinho, Keita, Wijnaldum, Shaqiri, Henderson, Chamberlain, Elliot, Wilson, etc

And to add Thiago....would spell the end for Milner, Shaqiri or Wignaldum.

Two of those are kids, Shaqiri is a forward and Wijnaldum may be off.

 

[Marvin]

Thiago or Auour to City doesn't make much sense to me when we can't get Foden and Bernardo on the pitch.

Next season Liverpool will face super-charged mass defences and will have problems opening teams like that up but how do you assimilate a passing midfielder into your side when your midfield play is based around manic pressing?

 

[dhruvblue]

Thank God our board doesn't go into transfer market with sole intention of not allowing other teams to sign players. Otherwise we would have ended with 50 players.

 

[Neville Kneville]

Thiago or Auour to City doesn't make much sense to me when we can't get Foden and Bernardo on the pitch.

Next season Liverpool will face super-charged mass defences and will have problems opening teams like that up but how do you assimilate a passing midfielder into your side when your midfield play is based around manic pressing?

Tbf Bayern are just Liverpool lite anyhow.

Hopefully they will start trying to pass the ball through midfield & lose it, as he 1-2s with Henderson, with the back 4 stood on the halfway line.

 

[Sir peace frog]

Tbf Bayern are just Liverpool lite anyhow.

Hopefully they will start trying to pass the ball through midfield & lose it, as he 1-2s with Henderson, with the back 4 stood on the halfway line.

henderson playing for city receiving the ball facing eddy with attackers all around him,

SHUDDER

 

[CenturyClub]

Nonsense.

Liverpool will be under a lot of scrutiny this coming season. Very different to defend a title, EVERY team wants to beat you, and are their players going to be as hungry for sucesss?

Lets hop they are not, will make our challenge a lot easier.

I am just telling it how i see it.

Look at their team and look at our team. We don't even know our best 11. How can you be favourites to win the league if you don't have a settled 11?

Lets start with Liverpool... They have the two of the best full backs in the league in Trent and Robertson, they have an immense goalkeeper, they have the best CB in the world in Van Dijk (very settled back 5) and they have one of the best forward lines in world football. They won the league at a canter last season with a pretty ordinary midfield. Now add Thiago to that very workmanlike, mobile central midfield and he will take them up another level. He is in the top 3 CM in world football, he really is an incredible footballer. Just imagine the vision of Thiago in that midfield to pick out passes for the likes of Salah and Mane... imagine Thiago feeding the balls in between the lines for Firmino to hold up with Salah and Mane running off him. I could not think of a more perfect signing for Liverpool to elevate them to another level. He can speed the play up when he decides to and he can slow it down when he decides to, he is an absolute gem of a player.

Then look at City... we don't have a recognised starter at LB who can provide consistent displays every week. We have brought in Ake and we are still to bring in another CB, hopefully Koulibaly. We will have a back 5 going into the season that isn't settled, that will need to play together a number of times to develop an understanding and a defensive structure.

As we have seen from recent comments, nobody seems to know what our best midfield 3 is. People are moaning about how slow Rodri is, how Gundogan lacks the dynamism that we are craving for. We all know now that Pep will play Gundogan 3/4 of the season and shoehorn the likes of Foden and Bernardo in wide areas, so once again we go into the new season with the same problems as before. Lack dynamism and energy in the middle of the park and are suspect against teams who hit us on the break quickly (i.e. Wolves and Man Utd). The first game v Wolves will be an early indicator of how the season will go for me, it will show us whether we have learned from past mistakes or not.

Personally i rate Rodri highly and i do feel that if we add more energy and dynamism in and around him, we will certainly get the best out of him. The way to improve is by using Bernardo and Foden more in the middle or acquiring Aouar to give us something we are seriously lacking. Gundo should NOT be playing anywhere on the field other than in the number 6 role. If we use him in the number 8 role we are asking for trouble.

Moving on to the forward positions... Aguero is coming back from a pretty bad injury, will he last a full season? Will Jesus be good enough to lead the line 3/4 of the season?

There are so many question marks over this City side at the moment and that is partly because we are rebuilding again after losing big characters in the dressing room.

Another thing... you put De Bruyne in that Liverpool midfield and they would piss the league every season. It would not even be close. This is because they are more complete than us in other areas. They have a better structure than us. A settled starting 11, every single player knows their job inside out. I love Pep, but sometimes i find he has square pegs in round holes. Playing midfielders at left back and CM out wide, this sort of stuff needs to stop if we are to progress.

To finish off, if i was a betting man, i would bet Liverpool for the league. Hate me all you want, call me a doom merchant all you want, but that is just my opinion. Liverpool as a team are in their prime now, City as a team are waning now and are in the process of a pretty big rebuild. We need to seriously put our foot on the accelerator and do all we can in this market to rescue that title back to the Etihad.

 

[Neville Kneville]

I am just telling it how i see it.

Look at their team and look at our team. We don't even know our best 11. How can you be favourites to win the league if you don't have a settled 11?

Lets start with Liverpool... They have the two of the best full backs in the league in Trent and Robertson, they have an immense goalkeeper, they have the best CB in the world in Van Dijk (very settled back 5) and they have one of the best forward lines in world football. They won the league at a canter last season with a pretty ordinary midfield. Now add Thiago to that very workmanlike, mobile central midfield and he will take them up another level. He is in the top 3 CM in world football, he really is an incredible footballer. Just imagine the vision of Thiago in that midfield to pick out passes for the likes of Salah and Mane... imagine Thiago feeding the balls in between the lines for Firmino to hold up with Salah and Mane running off him. I could not think of a more perfect signing for Liverpool to elevate them to another level. He can speed the play up when he decides to and he can slow it down when he decides to, he is an absolute gem of a player.

Then look at City... we don't have a recognised starter at LB who can provide consistent displays every week. We have brought in Ake and we are still to bring in another CB, hopefully Koulibaly. We will have a back 5 going into the season that isn't settled, that will need to play together a number of times to develop an understanding and a defensive structure.

As we have seen from recent comments, nobody seems to know what our best midfield 3 is. People are moaning about how slow Rodri is, how Gundogan lacks the dynamism that we are craving for. We all know now that Pep will play Gundogan 3/4 of the season and shoehorn the likes of Foden and Bernardo in wide areas, so once again we go into the new season with the same problems as before. Lack dynamism and energy in the middle of the park and are suspect against teams who hit us on the break quickly (i.e. Wolves and Man Utd). The first game v Wolves will be an early indicator of how the season will go for me, it will show us whether we have learned from past mistakes or not.

Personally i rate Rodri highly and i do feel that if we add more energy and dynamism in and around him, we will certainly get the best out of him. The way to improve is by using Bernardo and Foden more in the middle or acquiring Aouar to give us something we are seriously lacking. Gundo should NOT be playing anywhere on the field other than in the number 6 role. If we use him in the number 8 role we are asking for trouble.

Moving on to the forward positions... Aguero is coming back from a pretty bad injury, will he last a full season? Will Jesus be good enough to lead the line 3/4 of the season?

There are so many question marks over this City side at the moment and that is partly because we are rebuilding again after losing big characters in the dressing room.

Another thing... you put De Bruyne in that Liverpool midfield and they would piss the league every season. It would not even be close. This is because they are more complete than us in other areas. They have a better structure than us. A settled starting 11, every single player knows their job inside out. I love Pep, but sometimes i find he has square pegs in round holes. Playing midfielders at left back and CM out wide, this sort of stuff needs to stop if we are to progress.

To finish off, if i was a betting man, i would bet Liverpool for the league. Hate me all you want, call me a doom merchant all you want, but that is just my opinion. Liverpool as a team are in their prime now, City as a team are waning now and are in the process of a pretty big rebuild. We need to seriously put our foot on the accelerator and do all we can in this market to rescue that title back to the Etihad.

They also play a style of football which ought to be less difficult to combat, than ours, if the other teams put the same kind of effort into stopping it.

 

[CenturyClub]

They also play a style of football which ought to be less difficult to combat, than ours, if the other teams put the same kind of effort into stopping it.

They don't play the suicidal high line that we do. They are a bit more cautious defensively than us.

 

[chickaroon]

Liverpool's midfield's job is to win the ball back quickly and the release their front three on oppositions defence. They are all athletic, strong and work their socks off. Thiago could upset their midfield, expecially when they meet a pressing team, like us. I do, however, think, Gundagon although an excellent player is wrong for us. Rodri and Gundagon together just slow us down. I am hoping to see rhe best of Rodri next season. He is only 23 and will get better. Just needs the right players around him.

 

[CenturyClub]

Liverpool's midfield's job is to win the ball back quickly and the release their front three on oppositions defence. They are all athletic, strong and work their socks off. Thiago could upset their midfield, expecially when they meet a pressing team, like us. I do, however, think, Gundagon although an excellent player is wrong for us. Rodri and Gundagon together just slow us down. I am hoping to see rhe best of Rodri next season. He is only 23 and will get better. Just needs the right players around him.

You have seen how Thiago plays in a very quick, physical side like Bayern, quite a similar set up to Liverpool's team. If Liverpool sign him he will slot in effortlessly.

Liverpool will sing and dance to his tune and he will speed up and slow down the play whenever he wants. Mane and Salah will be rubbing their hands together if he joins.

Exceptional footballer.

 

[Neville Kneville]

They don't play the suicidal high line that we do. They are a bit more cautious defensively than us.

We have always carried a player or two at the back, but this repeated suicidal offside crap, has conicided with Garcia being brought in.

We ought to easily be able to get back to playing a high line, without relying on Russian Roulette offsides to do most of our defending.

The PL has gone to so much trouble working on ways to nullify us, but fall for every single one of Liverpool's tricks.

I would expect their fullbacks to get less of a free ride next season, fot a start.

 

[RayCTID]

He isn't exceptional if he is contstantly on the treatment table. There is a good reason why Bayern are letting him go.

 

[chickaroon]

I am just telling it how i see it.

Look at their team and look at our team. We don't even know our best 11. How can you be favourites to win the league if you don't have a settled 11?

Lets start with Liverpool... They have the two of the best full backs in the league in Trent and Robertson, they have an immense goalkeeper, they have the best CB in the world in Van Dijk (very settled back 5) and they have one of the best forward lines in world football. They won the league at a canter last season with a pretty ordinary midfield. Now add Thiago to that very workmanlike, mobile central midfield and he will take them up another level. He is in the top 3 CM in world football, he really is an incredible footballer. Just imagine the vision of Thiago in that midfield to pick out passes for the likes of Salah and Mane... imagine Thiago feeding the balls in between the lines for Firmino to hold up with Salah and Mane running off him. I could not think of a more perfect signing for Liverpool to elevate them to another level. He can speed the play up when he decides to and he can slow it down when he decides to, he is an absolute gem of a player.

Then look at City... we don't have a recognised starter at LB who can provide consistent displays every week. We have brought in Ake and we are still to bring in another CB, hopefully Koulibaly. We will have a back 5 going into the season that isn't settled, that will need to play together a number of times to develop an understanding and a defensive structure.

As we have seen from recent comments, nobody seems to know what our best midfield 3 is. People are moaning about how slow Rodri is, how Gundogan lacks the dynamism that we are craving for. We all know now that Pep will play Gundogan 3/4 of the season and shoehorn the likes of Foden and Bernardo in wide areas, so once again we go into the new season with the same problems as before. Lack dynamism and energy in the middle of the park and are suspect against teams who hit us on the break quickly (i.e. Wolves and Man Utd). The first game v Wolves will be an early indicator of how the season will go for me, it will show us whether we have learned from past mistakes or not.

Personally i rate Rodri highly and i do feel that if we add more energy and dynamism in and around him, we will certainly get the best out of him. The way to improve is by using Bernardo and Foden more in the middle or acquiring Aouar to give us something we are seriously lacking. Gundo should NOT be playing anywhere on the field other than in the number 6 role. If we use him in the number 8 role we are asking for trouble.

Moving on to the forward positions... Aguero is coming back from a pretty bad injury, will he last a full season? Will Jesus be good enough to lead the line 3/4 of the season?

There are so many question marks over this City side at the moment and that is partly because we are rebuilding again after losing big characters in the dressing room.

Another thing... you put De Bruyne in that Liverpool midfield and they would piss the league every season. It would not even be close. This is because they are more complete than us in other areas. They have a better structure than us. A settled starting 11, every single player knows their job inside out. I love Pep, but sometimes i find he has square pegs in round holes. Playing midfielders at left back and CM out wide, this sort of stuff needs to stop if we are to progress.

To finish off, if i was a betting man, i would bet Liverpool for the league. Hate me all you want, call me a doom merchant all you want, but that is just my opinion. Liverpool as a team are in their prime now, City as a team are waning now and are in the process of a pretty big rebuild. We need to seriously put our foot on the accelerator and do all we can in this market to rescue that title back to the Etihad.

As much as it hurts I agree to all rhe above. Well said

 

[decmancity]

You have seen how Thiago plays in a very quick, physical side like Bayern, quite a similar set up to Liverpool's team. If Liverpool sign him he will slot in effortlessly.

Liverpool will sing and dance to his tune and he will speed up and slow down the play whenever he wants. Mane and Salah will be rubbing their hands together if he joins.

Exceptional footballer.

We get it, you love Thiago and the dippers are the greatest team to ever walk the planet.

With their so called settled back 5, best front 3, best CB and best full backs they didnt even get 100 points, dumped out of the carabao, fa cup and champions league. Fantastic.

 

[CenturyClub]

He isn't exceptional if he is contstantly on the treatment table. There is a good reason why Bayern are letting him go.

Bayern are absolutely desperate to keep hold of him and some bundesliga experts have stated that he is irreplaceable for them for the job he does for the team. He had injury troubles in his earlier days at Bayern, but he has started to shake them off now, a bit like Gundogan for us.

We should be all over him if we can't get Aouar.

 

[sboroMCFC]

I love Thiago and think we would be a fantastic addition. He's got experience at the very top level, is young enough to give us a good few years and wouldn't break the bank to buy.

 

[CenturyClub]

We get it, you love Thiago and the dippers are the greatest team to ever walk the planet.

With their so called settled back 5, best front 3, best CB and best full backs they didnt even get 100 points, dumped out of the carabao, fa cup and champions league. Fantastic.

1. This is a forum.

2. People are entitled to have opinions on this forum that are different to others.

You could have just said, you don't agree with me, that is fine... that is what a forum is for, it divides opinions... but to spout that i love the Dippers and think they are the greatest team to ever walk the planet is a pretty immature response.

People can constructively debate without leading to childish replies.

 

[CenturyClub]

As much as it hurts I agree to all rhe above. Well said

People might not like the response, i get that, but honesty is the best policy.

If we don't have the ability to self reflect and be brutally honest, how do we expect to ever move forward?

I hope Pep makes the changes required and we are absolutely fired up for the new season. We can't go into the season making the same mistakes as last season, something has got to give.

 

[TFC]

As much as it hurts I agree to all rhe above. Well said

Reluctantly, me too. Agree that although the first game, the Wolves game will tell us a lot.

 

[decmancity]

1. This is a forum.

2. People are entitled to have opinions on this forum that are different to others.

You could have just said, you don't agree with me, that is fine... that is what a forum is for, it divides opinions... but to spout that i love the Dippers and think they are the greatest team to ever walk the planet is a pretty immature response.

People can constructively debate without leading to childish replies.

I haven't stopped you or anyone from having an opinion. You wrote a huge piece about how good the dippers are and how they have everything better than us and if you were to bet on it you would pick them. I responded with they aren't that good and used their performances across 3 cup competitions to prove that.

You keep repeating yourself about how good Thiago is and if he goes to the dippers its game over. I suggest going over to RAWK and you can join the wankfest over there. Thiago isn't coming to City, not even sure why this thread is still open.