It's difficult to say to be honest as we haven't been tactically set up well to get the best out of our players (the defence in particular). We do both need a fair bit of work though.

They do need work but what they have is a superstar manager players want to come play for and the money to buy them.

Of the current squad I rate these...

Hart
Kompany
Otamendi
Clichy
Fernandinho
Sterling
Aquero
KDB
Iheanacho

Which is more than what I rate from our squad.

Not Silva robb? Bear in mind he's been injured all season

comment by meltonblue (U10617)
posted 45 seconds ago
It's difficult to say to be honest as we haven't been tactically set up well to get the best out of our players (the defence in particular). We do both need a fair bit of work though.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Melton

You could argue the same for us too, Van Gaal has finally stumbled on a more balanced side, but some of his tactics and selections have been rank bad.

I think us and yourselves are so similar at the moment, but at least you're one step ahead in hiring a quality manager to replace an under performing one

Sorry Melton, I forgot him. Yeah, him too

Yeah agree with that Marlo, that to me was the biggest surgery we required and also why with some of the players, it's difficult to judge without seeing them under a different manager and set up.

I'd expect a replacement for Toure is our highest priority squad wise.

Melton,

as good as Silva is, do you think you need to sell/bench him to allow De Bruyne to play in his best position at #10 or can both play to their best in the same line up?

Sterling as well, I really wanted us to sign him last season, but it seems as if he has encountered a bit of a wobble and his development stalled. Would you put his form down to tactics or is it something completely different?

You're privileged to have Aguero, who is hands down the best striker in the prem for me.

Guardiola definitely has a fair bit of work to do to have a squad of players built to play his type of football, aggressive pressing.

I think they need new full backs on both sides, younger, quicker, more energy, Laporte is coming at centre half by the looks of things so that will give them a ball player (though of course he will need time to settle and return from injury).

Fernandinho is class in energy and drive but they need a midfield player who can pass the ball a lot better than the likes of Fernando and Delph.

Sterling and De Bruyne look fine in attacking midfield for Pep but I am not convinced Silva will have the fitness required, Navas will be an ok reserve/sub if kept.

Ihaenacho should kick on but Bony looks a goner and Aguero like Silva doesn't look fit enough for Pep to me.

Going to take a good while to get the players they will need, assuming Pep builds a similar sort of team to what he has before, stylistically.

Will be very interesting to see who stays and go's, who signs, and how quickly he can make an impact on the team.

We need a lot more work than City to reach the top I'd say as they have a lot more players of quality in attack.

They need work on their midfield and defence but they're getting in a top coach and have the funds to address this in the summer.

How do we replace Carrick?

I think in terms of importance, City have the same problem with Toure.

He's been a massive player for them.

comment by Darren The King Fletcher (U10026)
posted 3 minutes ago
We need a lot more work than City to reach the top I'd say as they have a lot more players of quality in attack.

They need work on their midfield and defence but they're getting in a top coach and have the funds to address this in the summer.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Their key players are all on the downward curve, Kompany and Silva due to fitness, Toure because he is now a lazy and ageing diva, Zabaleta has declined. I'd only say Aguero has shown anything like we expect from their star players, and Hart has had a solid season too to be fair.

They need to build the side around De Bruyne and Aguero in my opinion, and as you say, in an attacking sense, they are far more polished and the finished article than anything we can offer except Martial

comment by rosso - From the banks of the River Irwell (U17054)
posted 1 minute ago
How do we replace Carrick?

I think in terms of importance, City have the same problem with Toure.

He's been a massive player for them.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Pogba is the closest thing to Toure on the market, but I think he will have another year at Juve before moving to either Barca or Real.

Carrick is going to be so difficult to replace, and it looks as if we will have to do it sooner rather than later.

It's one of them, though. Sometimes one or two class players can massively lift the level of those around them.

There's no knowing how new signings will effect the team next season.

But purely on the basis of squad strength I think we have a lot more work to do, despite City needing quite a bit of restructuring themselves.

Yeah we really need to dig hard and find a suitable Carrick replacement, his dip in form has affected our midfield imo and it's led to Van Gaal playing players out of position because of it.

We also need to find a player that can deliver some leadership to the squad, we've got far too many pusssy's that won't dig their heels in when the going gets tough. It's easier said than done though.

Marlo,

Both can play, as Silva played his best for us when has drifting in from the wings under Mancini, but in order for them both to play, there has to be stamina in the two central midfielders, which is why Toure has been the wrong answer this season. Personally, if playing Silva and De Bruyne, I would go for a 433 rather than a 4231.

It will be whether Silva still has it in him though, his ankles have been gone all season and its going to take a fair bit to get over.

In terms of Sterling, he actually started off very well (which is why he made the CL team of the group stages), but the way Pellegrini has used him effectively neuters anything he was good at. I'm expecting Guardiola to suit him more given how he uses his wingers. Coupled with that, he's clearly low on confidence.

Going to be interesting to see what happens in the summer.

comment by Darren The King Fletcher (U10026)
posted 45 seconds ago
It's one of them, though. Sometimes one or two class players can massively lift the level of those around them.

There's no knowing how new signings will effect the team next season.

But purely on the basis of squad strength I think we have a lot more work to do, despite City needing quite a bit of restructuring themselves.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Dazza, as you alluded to, they need to focus on their defence and midfield whereas we need to strengthen midfield and attack.

4 quality players for both teams that can slot straight into the first team, would see us both improve ten fold in my opinion.

Would see us in a better position to wrestle the title from Leicester. Never thought I would ever type a sentence like that.

I may have a quid on all twenty teams next season, just incase someone like Watford decide to do a Leicester

"But purely on the basis of squad strength I think we have a lot more work to do, despite City needing quite a bit of restructuring themselves."

Yeah, I think you need a bit more too to be honest. I think you need a few more first teamers than we do, whereas our squad depth and a couple of positions need work.

Marlo,

Whoever ends up fifth, thats who I'd bet on for the league next year.

Thing is, in Aguero, KDB and to a lesser extent Silva and Kompany City already have the star players. These are the ones that are gold dust. There are plenty of £20m players that can fill holes in a squad but those special players are few and far between.

comment by meltonblue (U10617)
posted 26 seconds ago
Marlo,

Both can play, as Silva played his best for us when has drifting in from the wings under Mancini, but in order for them both to play, there has to be stamina in the two central midfielders, which is why Toure has been the wrong answer this season. Personally, if playing Silva and De Bruyne, I would go for a 433 rather than a 4231.

It will be whether Silva still has it in him though, his ankles have been gone all season and its going to take a fair bit to get over.

In terms of Sterling, he actually started off very well (which is why he made the CL team of the group stages), but the way Pellegrini has used him effectively neuters anything he was good at. I'm expecting Guardiola to suit him more given how he uses his wingers. Coupled with that, he's clearly low on confidence.

Going to be interesting to see what happens in the summer.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Absolutely. Interested to hear your opinions on your tactics as I haven't caught many of your matches this season, basing it purely on the very little I have seen and read

I personally don't like 4-2-3-1 as it's very predictable. You know the midfielders in the two won't offer much coming forward and you know that most of the creative influence will be burdened by the no10.

I prefer a 4-3-3 with a central midfielder that prefers to sit deep and shield, reycyling possession whilst the two just infront have licence to support the forwards (usually taking turns). I like the forwards to be interchangeable and have the ability to run the channels, go wide, and offer a threat in behind.

We can offer that with Martial and Rashford, but could do with a player to compliment that style, and it is why I'm not massive on us signing Zlatan.

I think a 4-3-3 could suit your players more too

Marlo, yeah true. Depends who buys best in that case.

Though I still think the game changer will be the coaches. Even if we get the quality required I still don't have faith in Van Gaal to get them to perform if he's still here. I don't have that same feeling with Pep and City. I think they'll walk it next season, to be honest. They really should have done this season despite their weaknesses in the squad, Pellegrini has massively mismanaged them this season, moreso than Van Gaal has with us.

Melts, I think we need a similar amount of first teamers, to be honest. Though as I mentioned before, depends on who the players are. One or two really quality players could raise the level of either side and lessen the need for more first team players to come in.

comment by meltonblue (U10617)
posted 5 minutes ago
Marlo,

Whoever ends up fifth, thats who I'd bet on for the league next year.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

You're wasting your money if you're hoping we can win the league next season mate

Said this earlier, if City keep De Bruyne fit next season they will walk the league. Especially if they don't qualify for the CL.

Just looking at the names Robb gave in his post and or shows how much their most important creative player has been forgotten about. David Silva has never been fully fit and firing at any stage for City this season. And he is a big miss for them