mgp
Well-Known Member
And the next stop for the Mourinho traveling circus is... Roma!
It Could Get A Bit Messi In Here - The Football Thread.
- Thread starter Joe Mac
- Start date
wokeupnew
Well-Known Member
David Squires on … Manchester United protests, a famed stud and the Glazers
Our cartoonist on how Rock of Gibraltar has a lot to answer for after supporter discontent boiled over spectacularly at Old Trafford
www.theguardian.com
mgp
Well-Known Member
Agreed completely. I thought PSG, even without Mbappe, would make things interesting. I was wrong... granted the weather didn't help.
I read someone on my twitter timeline say "PSG-City is fun because it basically boils down to: If you have infinite money, should you spend it all on fullbacks [obviously an exaggeration] or none at all." The reason Man City is in the position they are in this year is because of how smartly they have spent their absurd budget. OK, Pep gets a nod too.
mgp
Well-Known Member
That's true, and the Pep nod was tongue-in-cheek. What I was trying to get at is that not all clubs build their roster around the manager's game plan, rather than buying shiny new toys and then trying to figure out how to get the best out of them.
wokeupnew
Well-Known Member
Pep is a really good manager with really good players. He makes anyone look like a star in his systems and he's fortunate to have the best players to play in them. Sane and Sterling were unbelievable in 17/18 look at them now. Sane is slumping at Bayern and Sterling looks to be out the door. John Stones is the second best CB this season, behind Dias, who for most of his career has been average to slightly above average. City fans wouldn't have batted an eye if he moved on last summer. Zinchenko who also was supposed to be out the door and never meant to be their starting LB, is unplayable right now.
Its Sane’s first full season back off a bad knee injury. I’d be shocked if he doesn’t return stronger than ever, that boy is seriously talented. Pep would have kept him If he didn’t push to leave. Is Stering’s contract still a bit off a mess? Otherwise I’m sure Pep would want to keep him, his form has dipped in the second half of the season but he’s young enough and good enough that he’ll come back.
I agree with you on Stones but I think as much as Pep it’s also Dias. He’s such a leader, warrior and organiser back there that it lets Stones do what he’s best at (Passing out from the back, sweeping) whilst drilling him at what he’s weak at (concentration, positioning). it’s mad because Laporte is a serious centre half talent too and he can’t get in the side!
I think next season will be more interesting than that. City don’t appear to be making noises in the market about a centre forward and they’ll badly need one when Aguero goes. If the race is closer than this year you need those ruthless moments, this year has been a procession.
Add to that Van Dijk being back, Chelsea being a centre forward away from being a very impressive side and us potentially continuing to improve if we strengthen in the right areas. City will be right up there but I’m cautiously optimistic for things to tighten up and the end of 90-100 point title wins.
wokeupnew
Well-Known Member
I don't doubt that Sterling and Sane will both end up having good careers since they're still young. But I don't see them reaching those highs of that one season again.
City wanted to buy Harry Winks last summer and many Spurs fans didn't want him to go. He'd turn into a world beater in City's system, I'm sure of that, when he's been shit this season. Place anyone in Pep's system and they'd excel.
I dunno I think Sterling had 3 or 4 seasons in the 20s goals wise. He’ll be back there again, his movement is too good.
Nearly anyone. I think you need to be sufficiently pliant as a character. He doesn’t seem to do well with strong characters. See Yaya (I know they’ve had their differences but omitting him from the list of city greats was cold), Zlatan and Eto’o in particular.
I hope so. It would be really boring if the EPL turned into the Bundesliga where everyone is playing only for Champions League behind City. 2019 was really exciting as it was a proper title chase unlike 2020 and this season. I like that Chelsea and United are getting good again as it makes the EPL much more enjoyable.
My worry with Liverpool is FSG won't spend if there's no Champions League. We're going to need a Wijnaldum replacement, a proper replacement for Joe Gomez, and one of either Firmino or Mane seem destined to take off (speculation on my part but both have been subpar). I'd imagine they'll cut their losses on Keita. If there's no Champions League, I think guys are naturally going to want to look elsewhere. Mo Salah is always going to be a target for the Spanish clubs. Maybe they will all stick around but I could see FSG trying to sell off some pieces.
Skacel
Well-Known Member
It's a side of City that you don't usually see in the EPL. I actually enjoyed watching them last night as they were facing a team that were trying to have a go. A lot of the EPL games seem like they are barely tested and never get out of second gear.
It looks like Wijnaldum is off alright. Mainly because it’s a Bosman. I thought you’d agreed a deal for a centre half from Leipzig too?
I can’t see you selling any of the rest. Due to current financial restrictions I don’t see Keita being a priority for anyone and equally although they’re not old I can’t see the top sides paying the money it’d take to prise away Mane or Salah given their age and the opportunity to sign considerably younger superstars for similar money.
Liverpool also have the advantage of history and prestige that means alongside United they’re the English club that can hold non-homegrown stars for a year or two longer than other clubs whilst out of the Champions League. Plus the Klopp factor, players want to play for him.
There won’t be huge squad flux this summer for anyone in my opinion. It’ll all be about off loading and bringing in the right 2 or 3 in the more constrained market.
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