Do you really think Kompany, Otamendi and Stones are good? You need a WC class CB at least.
Manchester City under Pep Guardiola | Pep on City v Liverpool ref: "He likes to be special"
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They will be fine, cept maybe Stones. Kompany and Otamendi if Kompany stays fit will be solid with 2 decent fullbacks imo and I don't think Pep will give up on Stones just yet (though I could be tempted.)
I mean even with terrible fullbacks we've only conceded 6 goals more than Chelsea, granted we've conceded 11 more than United and 13 or 14 than Spurs but when you consider the attacking way we play thats acceptable.
We've also only conceded 7 goals in 11 league games since the start of February when Pep decided to reign in the left back and play Navas at RB who has the energy to cover the ground.
In that time we've played Chelsea, Liverpool, yourselves, United.
In our last 12 games we've conceded 9 goals despite playing the entire top 6, all this with chopping and changing CB's because of injury. So I reckon we'll be fine.
By comparison since first of February when we started playing Navas and reigning in the other fullbacks when they play.
City played 11, conceded 7. // Goal Difference +13
Chelsea played 10, conceded 13 // GD +8
Liverpool played 11, conceded 14 // GD +4
Arsenal played 10, concede 16 // GD -3
Spurs played 11, conceded 6 // GD +18
Man United played 11 conceded 3 // +14
Those stats alone show that with fullbacks who can cover the ground our defence is not too bad in comparison to everyone bar Uniteds and much better than most suggest. Taking goal difference over the same period again only Spurs and United have bettered us. So I don't think defence is a major issue given our style of playing. Our fullbacks being unable to both attack and defend due to having peaked between 5-12 years ago is the issue. They can only do one or the other.
The issue we have is attacking fullbacks = too old to get back and players get exposed or
Defensive fullbacks = problem we had last night vs United, of unable to create the overloads to break down teams to park the bus without being caught on the counter.
Thats why I believe good fullbacks are the key to taking us up another level in both attack and defence and given his interview last night Pep pretty much said our fullbacks can only do either attack or defence but not both.
Its a myth thats been blown completely our of proportion that our CB's are poor. You put our CB's in Jose's system and they look top class. Put Bailly in our system before February with our fullbacks and he looks like Otter.
I agree that full backs are a far more pressing concern but City still need at least one centre back. Stones won't stop his dodgy passes from the back with Pep in charge and isn't a great defender anyway and Kompany has constant injury problems. That leaves Otamendi and Kolarov, one of which isn't really a centre back. If Kompany can somehow manage to play consistently it solves the problem but there's no way you can rely on that happening.
I know I'm hearing this wrong right? But at 1:38 it sounds like he says: "All of them are more than 33 and they have no talent."
Maybe it's just me.
Erm he does realise they didn't grow old overnight? He's stupid not replacing them last summer. It was clear as day whilst people were hyping City up with greatest squad ever to those that knew anything about football they had aging fullbacks.
Indeed. If you look at him when he was playing he didn't look like a future cue ball. I guess the stresses of management really do wear him down.
I think it's going to be tough for them in the next two seasons. You can't instantly buy the league anymore and I think the novelty of playing for Pep factor is likely to die off to a degree. They have as lot of core players to replace and I think given their ages almost at wholesale rate. 2 full backs, a goalie and center back is probably needed and that's not even getting into the midfield.
Exactly. What i meant is that Pep needs a ball-playing CB to play his favourite style of play.
I'm sure there will be links to Laporte again, that transfer looked inevitable last summer.
Or Bonucci.
Pep will stick by Stones as his ball playing cb, because he's stubborn. but I think he's learned in England defenders need to be good defenders first and foremost. If kompany fitness holds up and we dont move tosin on over his contract demands, the 5 cbs will be the 4 from this season and him. Pep may keep kola for his versatility till his contract runs out. All thus of course relies on vinny finishing the season alive and well
On another note if we are in for Sanchez like most papers speculate I think Kun may be the one shipped out to cover the expense. If not we'd have an interchangeable front 6 of sanchez, Jesus, sterling, Sane, kdb and aguero. I'd hate to be nolito trying to get game time.
Also linked with tielemans today. Would give us a midfield of silva, Fernandinho, gundogan. Tielemans, Alex garcia and I think Delph will stay over Fernando.
Have no clue who our fullbacks will be but I imagine 100m or so will be going there.
On another note if we are in for Sanchez like most papers speculate I think Kun may be the one shipped out to cover the expense. If not we'd have an interchangeable front 6 of sanchez, Jesus, sterling, Sane, kdb and aguero. I'd hate to be nolito trying to get game time.
Also linked with tielemans today. Would give us a midfield of silva, Fernandinho, gundogan. Tielemans, Alex garcia and I think Delph will stay over Fernando.
Have no clue who our fullbacks will be but I imagine 100m or so will be going there.
Not any available überfullbacks out there, is it? Really large quality gap from what is available and what say for example RM has.
I reckon you may go for that Hysaj fellow. Might even try for Aurier, and we both will probably be battling it out for Fabinho who pretty much is tailor made for Pep's "tuck in" tactic with his versabillity between FB and DM.
Fabinho is one and rumours today are Barca may be willing to move Alba on if they get their target though they are tempted to loan him to sweeten the deal. We're heavily linked with Bertrand and Walker too. Can't see Levy selling to us though.
Kompany is a fantastic centre back when he's fit but City need to replace him. Stones is Stones we all know about him and Otamendi wouldn't fill me with confidence if I was a City fan.
Like i have already said, they should get a WC ball-playing CB, plus a youngster on a cheap.
Does anyone reckon Pep will try and buy full-back/CM hybrids so he can play how he tried early on in the season?
Theres no available. Bonucci would cost about £50m and thats too much for a 30 year old even by City standards and there is no guarantee Laporte will be the real deal. The perfect CB for us would cost simply too much or isn't available. Pep will have to do there. Fullback is the key area he'll look to strengthen.
Fabinho is a cert. He'll be in for him without a doubt. Whether he'll choose us over others is another question but he's the ideal Pep RB/DLP. Dunno who could pull that role off at LeftBack, a cheeky bid for Blind maybe.
United to City and Mourinho to Pep transfer, very likely
If the rumours about Fabinho fancying a return to FB instead of DM is true I reckon you are in with a good shout for him. That being said I will be disappointed if we don't push for him as well, we need a DM and there aren't that many good ones out there.
Valencia not getting any younger either.
United to City and Mourinho to Pep transfer, very likely
If the rumours about Fabinho fancying a return to FB instead of DM is true I reckon you are in with a good shout for him. That being said I will be disappointed if we don't push for him as well, we need a DM and there aren't that many good ones out there.
Valencia not getting any younger either.
Strangely I think Blind suits Peps idea of a defender more than Joses and someone like Otamendi I could see thriving under Jose where he's not left exposed and can just focus on actual defending. Both possibly at the wrong clubs for their strengths.
Fabinho would be ideal for both clubs.
If we ended up with a back 4 of Fabinho--Kompany--Otamendi--Bertrand I'd be happy enough.
A midfield 3 of Fabinho, Herrera and Pogba sounds really tasty. Plenty of workrate, physique and talent on the ball. Would probably be the most balanced in the league.
I'd be perfectly happy to see us with a 25 man squad something like:
Bold are new signing's. Italic would be homegrown for Champs League.
GK: Oblak, Caballero, Gunn (anyone thats not Bravo)
RB: Fabinho, Maffeo
LB: Bertrand, Ricardo Rodriguez
CB: Kompany, Otamendi, Stones, Adarabioyo, Kolarov
MC: Fernandinho, Delph, Tielemans, Gundogan, Aleix Garcia, Silva
AMRL and C: KDB, Sterling, Sanchez, Sane,
FC: Aguero, Jesus, Iheanacho
HG at club would be Gunn, Adarabioyo, Garcia and I'm unsure on Kelechi.
HG in Nation: Bertrand, Stones, Delph, Sterling.
We'd have no bother complying with rules and regulations and even though it'd cost the best part of £200m its achievable imho, as our wage bill will be losing Yaya, Zabba, Sagna, Clichy, Fernando, Navas, Bony, Nasri, Nolito providing all could be moved on. We'd likely get transfer fee's for Fernando, Bony, Nolito and Nasri who should bring in a combined £50m which would be a hit on what we paid but thems the break.
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Fabinho doesn't strike me as a Pep signing, especially not as a right back. I can see him being very interested in Mendy though.
Rumour has it we're already sizing him up, some believe its possibly a done deal already. I think he's perfect to play inverted fullback come midfielder that Pep couldn't do this year because our current fullbacks were terrible at it.
Someone who's equally good at fullback and midfielder, surely that's the ideal Pep guy?
And what about Guardiola's comments about Michael Carrick?! He said Carrick is one of the best midfielders he ever saw and that he's the only United player that would fit his former Barca side lol Carrick's contract runs out this summer so my wild guess is there will be talks.. Guardiola praises a lot also Jack Wilshere.. I am curious if he wants to have more English/British players in the squad. You all know the core at his previous teams was from the local players.. There are rumours about Dele Alli too and Kyle Walker would be great solution for the right back..
Laporte?
He looks good but for all we know he could turn into another Stones in the premier league. It'd be another £40m risk but I'd be happy to see him come.
I don't think he'd be an upgrade on Fernandinho in the holding role (Pep quite likes Fernandinho too), better with the ball but I think he'd be much less suited to the high press. There is also the fact he's very loyal to United.
Carrick isn't going to go to City. He's already said that after United that's probably it for him. There's no way he's going to leave us and join our bitter neighbours and rivals.
Anyone spending more than 25- 30m on a keeper that isn't Neuer, Courtois, De Gea, and possibly Oblak, is a tool. Who on earth valued Ederson at 60m euros, and were they sober?
People expecting City to spend 200-300m ish are going to be very disappointed IMO. And half the names linked wont go there, guarantee it
People expecting City to spend 200-300m ish are going to be very disappointed IMO. And half the names linked wont go there, guarantee it
Guardiola to Middlesbrough: "happy new year".
I assume this is because he plans to heavily spend. Results are a must next season.
Don't see where they would play really. They are not breaking up that attack, and you can't afford youngsters in defence with the gung-ho way Guardiola sets up his defence.
Then why not play them more this year,i swear like those younger ones arent worth enough to get chance and play CB or LB instead of Kolarov for example.
What he said about to the gap between the two levels is absolutely correct.
Wilson looked like Messi at Reserve level.
Wilson looked like Messi at Reserve level.
Explain what is gung-ho for you?
I cannot understand why there is so many resistance to introduce B teams in England, even in Portugal they have been reintroduced 5 years ago and our results at youth levels improved a lot.
Ok it doesn't solve all the problems but I agree with him, I don't know the level at where this kids in England are playing, but it is not the same thing having 18/19/20 and be playing against more experienced players in lower divisions than playing against reserve teams where they have similar ages.
There is a lot more fully professional clubs in England than there is anywhere else. It would be unfair to knock clubs out the league system for reserve clubs.
City are still frontrunners to win next season, especially since City can write blank checks and the Pep factor....
They get the brazilian GK, Grimaldo at LB and aurier at RB, and sanchez or isco.
Problem for Pep is the midfield. There isn't a huge market available for Pep. With Gundogan consistently injury record and yaya off the books. Pep going to need 2 new guys at least in the midfield. Also, I wouldnt be surprised if KDB got sold this summer or the next
They get the brazilian GK, Grimaldo at LB and aurier at RB, and sanchez or isco.
Problem for Pep is the midfield. There isn't a huge market available for Pep. With Gundogan consistently injury record and yaya off the books. Pep going to need 2 new guys at least in the midfield. Also, I wouldnt be surprised if KDB got sold this summer or the next
Keeping trying the same thing for decades and hoping to change is somewhat stupid in my opinion.
People have been saying City are the front runners every year for about half a decade now.