I'd suggest, if everyone is fit:
Ederson
Walker Kompany Otamendi Mendy
Fernandinho
B Silva de Bruyne Silva Sane
Aguero
But to be quite honest it's hard to know with Pep, I expect a lot of rotation as usual, but hopefully less so with the defence.
Manchester City 17/18 discussion | "If you're here for the Champions clap your hands" (#6505)
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) is joined by CEO Duncan Drasdo and Financial Director Andy Green from the Manchester United Supporters Trust for a special episode on all things behind the scenes at Old Trafford including a brief history of MUST and their aims today, views on INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe so far, and the Old Trafford regeneration.
I'd suggest, if everyone is fit:
Ederson
Walker Kompany Otamendi Mendy
Fernandinho
B Silva de Bruyne Silva Sane
Aguero
But to be quite honest it's hard to know with Pep, I expect a lot of rotation as usual, but hopefully less so with the defence.
You should watch the full highlights. We missed about 5 of them. I don't know whether to be concerned with the finishing or pleased we cut through Spurs with ease for 90 minutes.
Yeah, I seen it (just thought this was the most shocking one). It could have been like 7/8 - 0 and that's not an understatement.
Any City fans mind answering?
I think they're just putting him in the shop window, signing Bernardo Silva definitely put an end to any chances Nasri would have.
I'd say @Blind has summed it up really. I don't see Nasri staying, he had his chance to stay last year and didn't have the fight for it instead opting for a loan to Sevilla. We have Silva, De Bruyne and Silva all available in his best position, and if you believe the links we still ideally want Sanchez and a CB (with only two foreign spots left available in the squad).
He's looked sharp preseason though, and would make a good signing for a possession based side in the league. A team like Swansea could do much worse for £10m.
City makes Fantasy football a nightmare. Is Jesus not going to be favoured over Aguero?
Doubt it, the only 4 I'd say were more the guaranteed to start most league games would be Ederson (too expensive) Kompany (biscuits) KDB and Walker
i dont get, they have played thesame number of matches as you guys, 2 each before the game.
For Pep I think it's a make or break season... for some matches last season he seemed to have no clue. We should also take into consideration that the star players are ageing.
That team will struggle in midfield though it's far too attack minded, basically half the starting 11 are attackers and both your full backs will want to push forward too. I think it will struggle against a good quality 3 man midfield.
Top squad mind, no doubt you have a great team of players.
I hope not, I still prefer Aguero. But yeah, I'd avoid both on Fantasy Football for now to be fair. And Gabriel Jesus at 11m is a little expensive for my liking anyway.
Oh yeah, for sure. I don't really know how Pep intends to line up though. The team I propose is what I imagine will play most domestic games, as in spite of its imbalance it will overwhelm the majority of sides. Pep has said he will play 3 at the back sometimes, and in the big games I'd expect something like B. Silva to be dropped for Gundogan (if fit) or even Toure.
I also expect the pre-season line-up to feature at some points, in a kind of 3-3-3-1 formation, which I believe he used at Bayern at times?
Ederson
Kompany Stones Otamendi
Walker Fernandinho Mendy
Kdb Silva Sane
Aguero
Without Kompany I think you'll concede poor goals against better teams but there's just so much quality in the squad it's ridiculous. I thought Danilo and Sterling had the two best performances against Spurs and they're not even in the discussion for your strongest XI.
Without Kompany we won't win the league, unless Stones improves considerably or we sign another CB who can strike up a good partnership with Otamendi. To be fair Sterling will play a lot, but I anticipate Sane will get the nod more often because of his pace getting in behind.
People are looking at this the wrong way. The main problem for City is their attack not their defending. Their inability to finish from the chances they create was the biggest reason they had such an underwhelming season. Another goal scorer is a must.
Their ability to score creates tension throughout the teams structure and the mentality. With the team playing such a highline and still needing to create more chances and being more fatigued as the game goes on, they become more susceptible to counters as their defensive structure is weaker.
Sanchez would alleviate much of that issue which must be a reason Manchester City are campaigning so hard to acquire his services.
Even with Kompany there or dare I say Franco Baresi in the centre back position, they will suffer if they do not improve their conversion rate.
It would be better if people stopped thinking about attacking and defending as seperate functions, particularly in a team that wishes to execute an optimal position game.
Their ability to score creates tension throughout the teams structure and the mentality. With the team playing such a highline and still needing to create more chances and being more fatigued as the game goes on, they become more susceptible to counters as their defensive structure is weaker.
Sanchez would alleviate much of that issue which must be a reason Manchester City are campaigning so hard to acquire his services.
Even with Kompany there or dare I say Franco Baresi in the centre back position, they will suffer if they do not improve their conversion rate.
It would be better if people stopped thinking about attacking and defending as seperate functions, particularly in a team that wishes to execute an optimal position game.
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No Gundogan?
City have a ridiculous attack, at least on paper. I think they'll score shitloads of goals against the smaller teams. Their new fullbacks will make their attack even better.
Having said that, I think they don't have a good midfield, plus their defence mainly relies on Komapny being fit. Pep's style of play mean they will always be vulnerable to counter attacks, which I think a lot of teams will exploit. It'll be interesting to see how they line up against the big teams.
I don't think anyone will walk the league this season. Chelsea havent really upgraded (Morata is a downgrade on Costa). Arsenal's season will depend on wether they can retain Sanchez or not. Spurs have been very quiet this window. Liverpool will be Liverpool.
There will be huge pressure on Pep to deliver some trophy this season. He has been provided with all the players he has asked for.He might leave if he doesn't win anything.
Having said that, I think they don't have a good midfield, plus their defence mainly relies on Komapny being fit. Pep's style of play mean they will always be vulnerable to counter attacks, which I think a lot of teams will exploit. It'll be interesting to see how they line up against the big teams.
I don't think anyone will walk the league this season. Chelsea havent really upgraded (Morata is a downgrade on Costa). Arsenal's season will depend on wether they can retain Sanchez or not. Spurs have been very quiet this window. Liverpool will be Liverpool.
There will be huge pressure on Pep to deliver some trophy this season. He has been provided with all the players he has asked for.He might leave if he doesn't win anything.
They have great transition players but they are highly ineffecient. They created the most clear cut chances in the league last season and had the worst conversion rate of all the big teams.
They haven't bought any player that will alleviate the problem which is why a player like Sanchez is a must.
Jesus only started 8 games last season and scored 7 goals, he's clearly going to make a difference in his first full season, there's no reason why the rest of the team can't improve and chip in with significant contributions too. Sanchez would make them clear favourites for the title but they'll still score plenty without him.
I was stuck between including him or Bernardo Silva. Gundogan will in truth probably play more often that not to be fair, and especially the bigger games
What about Gundogan? Can he still have space at City?
Yep fully expecting him to feature plenty if he stays fit. If he manages that then our midfield options are great. It's only when we assume he's injured we are looking light. I'd love to see him pulling the strings behind Silva and De Bruyne.
He is the missing key in the midfield.
I'm a little worried about our squad options, to be honest. We have quality players but not enough of them, especially at centre-back and left midfield. Right now I'd say our options are:
We need another centre-back and another forward who can play on the left side. If we can get Inigo Martinez and Sanchez we'll be set.
We need another centre-back and another forward who can play on the left side. If we can get Inigo Martinez and Sanchez we'll be set.
Complaining about a lack of wingers/AMs? 
Yes, I am. We've got 6 players going for 8 positions. Gundogan, Sané and Silva have all had long spells out of the team over the last 12 months. If that happens again we'll be left very short.Complaining about a lack of wingers/AMs?
City are the favourites to win the league bit the question is can pep be pragmatic when the situation demands. I also think their new signings have been over exaggerated. There's no guarantee all their signings will be a hit.
Bernardo is a good player but against physical opponents he looks lost. He was totally invisible against juventus and looked hit and miss in confed cup for portugal. He is no david silva. David silva was a magician even when he was in his early 20s. Bernardo,on the other hand, looks an inconsistent player.
Jury is yet to be out on mendy. He is lovely while on the attack but defensively very vulnerable. Monaco had bakayako and fabinho to shield him but city are thin in midfield. Fernandiniho needs to have a blinder of a season for mendy to just go on attack
Walker is a good signing who will be a solid rb.
Danilo, not sure. But because there is less expectations from him I fell he will do well.
Ederson will be an upgrade on bravo but again jury is still to be out on him. One.mistake all hell could break lose.
Overall, they are great in the front but their middle and back is a concern but I still think they are the favourites for the title. Pep should win it but if he doesn't major questions will be asked.
Bernardo is a good player but against physical opponents he looks lost. He was totally invisible against juventus and looked hit and miss in confed cup for portugal. He is no david silva. David silva was a magician even when he was in his early 20s. Bernardo,on the other hand, looks an inconsistent player.
Jury is yet to be out on mendy. He is lovely while on the attack but defensively very vulnerable. Monaco had bakayako and fabinho to shield him but city are thin in midfield. Fernandiniho needs to have a blinder of a season for mendy to just go on attack
Walker is a good signing who will be a solid rb.
Danilo, not sure. But because there is less expectations from him I fell he will do well.
Ederson will be an upgrade on bravo but again jury is still to be out on him. One.mistake all hell could break lose.
Overall, they are great in the front but their middle and back is a concern but I still think they are the favourites for the title. Pep should win it but if he doesn't major questions will be asked.
Delph apparently being linked with Stoke for £12m (yes please). Quietly going about our selling business at the moment, if you believe transfermarkt then we've recouperated £63m this summer so far, on top of a shed load of surplus wages with the players released. The same site puts our net spend at £141m which is relatively reasonable given the problems we've addressed.
Well, until we blow it and sign Mbappe.
Well, until we blow it and sign Mbappe.
That's from Sep'16What is this???
Looks amazing
The new corporate tunnel club looks the dog's bollocks too. A shame that some long-standing season ticket holders got turfed out of their seats at as little as a week's notice to make way for it though.
As for on-field matters, I have to say that I'm more than happy with the business we've done so far. We've vastly upgraded the defensive side and the squad has been streamlined with more outgoings than incomings. Dare I say it, this might just be the season that we see one or two academy graduates get some decent game time.
How happy would you be if we did not make any more signings? It was interesting that Fernandinho said in an interview last night that he believes the club are looking to sign another LB. We still need a CB and, ideally, another forward. I hope we have a recall option on Maffeo and Aleix Garcia too.
Not a midfielder?
Yeah, I think so, but we've not been linked with any at all so I've given up hope on that position.