Txiki Begiristain

[@BluePhil8]

It's just unprecedented how bad our defensive situation is.

Otamendi and Stones are the only 2 who should be here next year.

We literally need replacements for Kompany, Mangala, Zabaleta, Sagna, Clichy and Kolarov.

2 centre backs.
2 left backs.
2 right backs.

How has this happened. Where are we going to get 6 world class defenders from and how much is it going to fucking cost us!? Another £200m? It's fucking awful. We can't do this in a half arsed way. We need to be getting these 6 signings right but the only players who will fit our system like Laporte are going to be fucking hard to sign now everyone knows how desperate we are.

The midfield situation is getting worrying as well with us still playing Yaya and Fernando far too much.

But at least we have Sane, Sterling, De Bruyne and Gabriel Jesus. We are legitimately stocked in young attacking talent but the rest of the squad... shocking.

 

[GaudinoMotors]

I don't think we've bought well attacking wise at all. When Txiki arrived we had Balotelli, Dzeko, Tevez and Aguero. All 20-25 goal a season strikers. Now look at us.

Hopefully Jesus goes someway to rectifying that- but yep - incredible.

 

[burning blue soul]

It's just unprecedented how bad our defensive situation is.

Otamendi and Stones are the only 2 who should be here next year.

We literally need replacements for Kompany, Mangala, Zabaleta, Sagna, Clichy and Kolarov.

2 centre backs.
2 left backs.
2 right backs.

How has this happened. Where are we going to get 6 world class defenders from and how much is it going to fucking cost us!? Another £200m? It's fucking awful. We can't do this in a half arsed way. We need to be getting these 6 signings right but the only players who will fit our system like Laporte are going to be fucking hard to sign now everyone knows how desperate we are.

The midfield situation is getting worrying as well with us still playing Yaya and Fernando far too much.

But at least we have Sane, Sterling, De Bruyne and Gabriel Jesus. We are legitimately stocked in young attacking talent but the rest of the squad... shocking.

You might also want to add a goalkeeper or 2 to that list mate :/

 

[MeatHunterrr]

You might also want to add a goalkeeper or 2 to that list mate :/

and a central midfielder or 2...

 

[Prestwich_Blue]

Sad to say but I think the club has gone backwards in virtually every respect since him and Soriano came along.

 

[franksinatra]

I genuinely thought last summer would be different but it seems the squad has become even more imbalanced than before with the latest fad the aquisition of wide players.

The tranfer policy needs to be more considered. Lets try and some value in the market than continually overpaying and target positions we actually require improvement in. Lets look at the age profile in positions and also the physicality of the squad. We have suddenly gone from the 2012 side of having a number of physically imposing players to a very smsll side with little aerial threat.

We also need a little variation in our play offensively. Its become clear we have little presence upfront so teams are inviting us to hit it long and similarly are happy to defend deep and restrict space centrally, knowing if they do concede space outwide for crosses we have little presence in the box with players like Silva, Sterling, Sane, KDB having little aerial threat. The squad is too similar and we pose a lot less different questions as a consequence.

Also we have over 100 million pounds of players out on loan. Assets we are not getting the benefit from and probably supplememting a lot of their wages slso. If these players we cannot sell on then we ask to question the reasons why? Are the wages paid still too high, is this discouraging transfers? Do we need to look at a different profile of player rather than buying st the highest price and offering wages accordingly. Does the scouting system need revamping??

 

[burning blue soul]

With all the available stats at a DOF's fingertips these days, we really should not be struggling so bad with failed or under performing signings.
It's almost got to a stage of "football by numbers" for these people.
And where is the forward thinking for the older players being replaced? It's boggling my mind!!

 

[bugsyblue]

I don't think we've bought well attacking wise at all. When Txiki arrived we had Balotelli, Dzeko, Tevez and Aguero. All 20-25 goal a season strikers. Now look at us.

You don't think KDB, Sterling, Negredo etc were/are good buys? Well they are certainly better than our defensive ones.

 

[deafmanstevo]

Sad to say but I think the club has gone backwards in virtually every respect since him and Soriano came along.

Don't lose faith just yet, still early days regarding Pep, we are just going through a bad spell. We WILL turn it around .

 

[Bluewonder]

You don't think KDB, Sterling, Negredo etc were/are good buys? Well they are certainly better than our defensive ones.

They're reasonable for the money spent but both KDB and Sterling still have a lot to prove. Sterling needs to prove he can consistently deliver quality end product and KdB needs to prove he can play well away from the Etihad.