Exeter Blue I am here
Well-Known Member
In the plus column we have:
1. Aguero at his peak
2. Ya Ya looking sharper and hopefully more incentivised pre-season than last year.
3. Raheem Sterling
4. Spanish Dave in the form of his life
5. A fit Vinny
6. Linked to 5. VK could not possibly play worse than he did at times last season.
7. Increased pragmatism from Pellegrini at the end of last season.
8. Hopefully a couple more decent signings still to come.
9. Chelsea could not conceivably have as much luck as they did with injuries last season.
10. We won't waste half the season with two players (Dzeko and Toure) playing the game at walking speed.
11. Vitality and hunger that Iheanacho, Lopes and Denayer will bring to the squad.
In the minus column:
1. Over reliance on Aguero
2. Lack of other options up front. Our 3rd choice striker is an 18 year old with a grand total of zero PL starts to his name.
3. Lack of real defensive midfield quality.
4. Bar Toure, a real lack of height, athleticism and physicality right across the middle of the park. Silva, Nasri, Navas, Sterling, Lopes, even Fernandinho and Delph, there's no-one there taller than about 5ft 8'. Not necessarily an issue against the poorer teams, but as we saw against Madrid, we might look lightweight against some of the better sides. Losing Milner and Lampard, whatever their shortcomings, has reduced our solidity as well.
5. Shambolic defending at set pieces. The number of free headers we conceded from corners last year verged on the scandalous.
6. Arsenal and the rags likely to be much improved on last season.
7. Unaddressed concerns at left back.
8. Question mark over whether the manager will address any of last season's defensive shortcomings or not, and whether he will take greater account of how the opposition is likely to play in the big games.
Pogba would make a big difference, although I'm less convinced about the need for De Bruyne, but the most influential player for City next season is likely to be Pellegrini. If he gets it right we'll finish top, if he doesn't, even 4th will be a dogfight. He couldn't possibly get his team selections and formations as badly wrong as he did at Klanfield and the Swamp last season, but I'm not convinced we have sufficient defensive midfield quality and strength to overhaul Chelsea or the Arse at the moment, and nor am I convinced Pellers won't quickly revert to type, so 3rd.
1. Aguero at his peak
2. Ya Ya looking sharper and hopefully more incentivised pre-season than last year.
3. Raheem Sterling
4. Spanish Dave in the form of his life
5. A fit Vinny
6. Linked to 5. VK could not possibly play worse than he did at times last season.
7. Increased pragmatism from Pellegrini at the end of last season.
8. Hopefully a couple more decent signings still to come.
9. Chelsea could not conceivably have as much luck as they did with injuries last season.
10. We won't waste half the season with two players (Dzeko and Toure) playing the game at walking speed.
11. Vitality and hunger that Iheanacho, Lopes and Denayer will bring to the squad.
In the minus column:
1. Over reliance on Aguero
2. Lack of other options up front. Our 3rd choice striker is an 18 year old with a grand total of zero PL starts to his name.
3. Lack of real defensive midfield quality.
4. Bar Toure, a real lack of height, athleticism and physicality right across the middle of the park. Silva, Nasri, Navas, Sterling, Lopes, even Fernandinho and Delph, there's no-one there taller than about 5ft 8'. Not necessarily an issue against the poorer teams, but as we saw against Madrid, we might look lightweight against some of the better sides. Losing Milner and Lampard, whatever their shortcomings, has reduced our solidity as well.
5. Shambolic defending at set pieces. The number of free headers we conceded from corners last year verged on the scandalous.
6. Arsenal and the rags likely to be much improved on last season.
7. Unaddressed concerns at left back.
8. Question mark over whether the manager will address any of last season's defensive shortcomings or not, and whether he will take greater account of how the opposition is likely to play in the big games.
Pogba would make a big difference, although I'm less convinced about the need for De Bruyne, but the most influential player for City next season is likely to be Pellegrini. If he gets it right we'll finish top, if he doesn't, even 4th will be a dogfight. He couldn't possibly get his team selections and formations as badly wrong as he did at Klanfield and the Swamp last season, but I'm not convinced we have sufficient defensive midfield quality and strength to overhaul Chelsea or the Arse at the moment, and nor am I convinced Pellers won't quickly revert to type, so 3rd.
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