Willock next to Partey could be worth a go I reckon. Willock, Partey, ESR in the middle. Saka and Pepe out wide. Auba down the middle. Lamptey, Gabriel, Saliba, Tierney.
Well you say that but Elneny and Willian get plenty of games. When you look at midfield, personally I would: Smith Rowe - 1st eleven. Saka - 1st eleven. Partey - 1st eleven Xhaka - Squad Willock - Sell/Squad (depends how much clubs are offering) Guendouzi - Squad Elneny - Sell Willian - Sell/Release Maitland Niles - Sell Odengaard - back to Real (probably) Ceballos - back to Real Bring in at least on TOP class CM.
When you look at potential incomings the first thing we are going to need to do is trim dowm the squad (particularly - if we dont get Europe) GKs: Leno - Keep Matt Ryan - Back to Brighton Runarsson - Depends on potential sell fee CB's: Luiz - Out Holding - Keep Mari - Keep Gabriel - Keep Saliba - Bring back into Squad Mavroponos - Bring back into Squad Fullbacks: Cedrick - Out Chambers - Out Bellerin - Depends on potential sell fee Tierney - Keep Midfield: Maitland Niles - Out Willock - Keep Elneny - Out Torreira - Out Guendouzi - Depends on potential sell fee. (only sell for high £) Odengaard - Back to Real M Ceballos - Back to Real M Partey - Keep Xhaka - Keep Saka - Keep Smith Rowe - Keep Forwards: Willian - Out Nketiah - Out Reiss Nelson - Out Lacazette - Depends on potential sell fee Balogun - Keep Pepe - Keep Martinelli - Keep Aubameyang - Keep As you can see the future of at least 50% of this squad is questionable. I think the best course of action is to trim right down and bring in individuals of a higher calibre. We need IMO: A new quality GK to challenge Leno/replace Ryan. A dynamic Box to Box midfielder. Leftback Backup 1st choice Right back. Possibly another striker.
ok now we know we ain’t in Europe what do we hope for transfers wise: Leno - Keep Matt Ryan - Sell Runarsson - Sell Luiz - Released Holding - Keep Mari - Keep Gabriel - Keep Saliba - Keep Mavroponos - Keep Cedrick - Sell Chambers - Keep Bellerin - Sell Tierney - Keep Maitland Niles - Sell Willock - Keep ? Elneny - Sell Torreira - Sell Guendouzi - Sell Odengaard - Buy Ceballos - Released Partey - Keep Xhaka - Sell Saka - Keep Smith Rowe - Keep Willian - Sell Nketiah - Sell Reiss Nelson - Loan Lacazette - Keep Balogun - Keep Pepe - Keep Martinelli - Keep Aubameyang - Keep We need GK CM Left FB Right FB what do we make of the Sterling and Mahrez rumours
I dont believe them. Well, maybe the mahrez one because hes turning 31. I just dont think we have a good record with signing players from rivals. I say rivals, but city arnt rivals anymore. Anyway, you know what i mean.
Don’t want Mahrez as he will want top wages, but not sure about Sterling either. Surely Saka is younger and better for us
I have to be honest would love Sterling at Arsenal. If you look at his total contributions over the last 2-3 seasons he's clearly a top player. Scores goals gets alot of assists plus he's just about to hit his prime. Mahrez is a good player but I cant see us signing them both. We dont have the space in the squad.
my fear if we get Sterling and then have Pepe in the other wing, is that Baka would be limited in playing time
Maybe but Saka can play basically everywhere LB,RB, RW, LW and AMF he would still get plenty of games.
I worry about players like Sterling joining. I just think the culture at Arsenal vs at City is so radically different. He would probably drop off and just start collecting his wages every week. Club needs a culture shift pronto.
Strong rumours that we're in for Cameroon and Ajax keeper Onana as a replacement for Leno. Remember seeing Onana in that brilliant Cl run Ajax had a couple of seasons ago and he looks like a unit. He can also play out from the back (which Leno can't). There's an issue with him facing a ban for a doping infringement, but he has less than a year on his contract at Ajax and we could pick him up for peanuts and then sell Leno on for £20m-£25m ? Which would be a great piece of business Thoughts ?
Looks like you have got Emi Buendia. He is one hell of a player - you will be pleased at what he can do and at 24 will only get better.
Looks like we didn't even go in for him given Villa have him signed up. Do think it was always a strange choice of position to be splurging £30m+ on when we already have ESR, Saka and Pepe who are beyond good enough to be the front three behind the striker. Would rather put that towards a RB, CB or CM.
He's quality for sure but yeah I agree. ESR needs to be prioritised - at 20 his ceiling is soo high. I think CM, RB and GK need to be the priorities.
Would have liked to have seen what Buendia could have done at Arsenal, but like you say we have players in that position already. And we should 100% be putting that £30m into another position for our squad.
