2022/23 Season

[kemm1]

This mess has been coming and was somewhat inevitable given the lack of investment over the past few seasons. I've posted several times about the need to rebuild the ageing squad. We haven't done enough in that regard and it is showing big time.

All of these should have been moved on by now.

Adrian
Gomez
Phillips
Milner
Henderson
Ox
Keita
Firmino

Some might seem harsh, but there is no room for sentiment if you want to win.

The "intensity" style of football we play (or used to play) is not suited to an ageing squad. Add in the ridiculous number of games we played last season. Add in a stupid amount of pre-season games (when City only played a couple) and it completes the recipe for disaster.

There are numerous other issues at play here too but if you stand still while others press on ahead of you then this is what happens I'm afraid.

[Rigadon]

This mess has been coming and was somewhat inevitable given the lack of investment over the past few seasons. I've posted several times about the need to rebuild the ageing squad. We haven't done enough in that regard and it is showing big time.

All of these should have been moved on by now.

Adrian
Gomez
Phillips
Milner
Henderson
Ox
Keita
Firmino

Some might seem harsh, but there is no room for sentiment if you want to win.

The "intensity" style of football we play (or used to play) is not suited to an ageing squad. Add in the ridiculous number of games we played last season. Add in a stupid amount of pre-season games (when City only played a couple) and it completes the recipe for disaster.

There are numerous other issues at play here too but if you stand still while others press on ahead of you then this is what happens I'm afraid.

[Paul12]

...I've posted several times about the need to rebuild the ageing squad. We haven't done enough in that regard....

All of these should have been moved on by now.

Adrian
Gomez
Phillips
Milner
Henderson
Ox
Keita
Firmino

But:
+ Adrian is third choice.
+ Gomez IS young.
+ Phillips has been kept only because of injuries to Matip and Konate.
+ You mention 4 midfielders but we also have Elliot, Carva and Jones...youngsters all. Next season with one purchase and no contract extensions we'll have four younger midfielders plus Fab, Thiago and Henderson. That sounds OK IF the youngsters are good enough.
+ Firmino started the season behind two relative youngsters (Jota and Nunez)

[SB]

A transition season at best is how I see it. Making the top 4 will be crucial in tempting high profile signings for next season.

[danperkins]

This mess has been coming and was somewhat inevitable given the lack of investment over the past few seasons. I've posted several times about the need to rebuild the ageing squad. We haven't done enough in that regard and it is showing big time.

All of these should have been moved on by now.

Adrian
Gomez
Phillips
Milner
Henderson
Ox
Keita
Firmino

Some might seem harsh, but there is no room for sentiment if you want to win.

The "intensity" style of football we play (or used to play) is not suited to an ageing squad. Add in the ridiculous number of games we played last season. Add in a stupid amount of pre-season games (when City only played a couple) and it completes the recipe for disaster.

There are numerous other issues at play here too but if you stand still while others press on ahead of you then this is what happens I'm afraid.

[Irishnev]

[ame="https://twitter.com/benbocsak/status/1568530814052229122"]https://twitter.com/benbocsak/status/1568530814052229122[/ame]

Elliott is a real conundrum - great going forward but perhaps occupies the space needed by Salah in attack. In addition he struggles with the defensive side, he’s been such a bright spark but maybe right sided 8 isn’t where he can help the team the most.

Klopp talks about reinventing the side - maybe 4-2-3-1 with a 10 would help? Bobby, Elliott, Carvalho could all play the role…

[danperkins]

https://twitter.com/benbocsak/status...30814052229122

Elliott is a real conundrum - great going forward but perhaps occupies the space needed by Salah in attack. In addition he struggles with the defensive side, he’s been such a bright spark but maybe right sided 8 isn’t where he can help the team the most.

Klopp talks about reinventing the side - maybe 4-2-3-1 with a 10 would help? Bobby, Elliott, Carvalho could all play the role…

I'm not surprised by those stats whatsoever. Looks a talent but his role in the side seems to be affecting Mo going forward and Trent defensively.

[Paul12]

...Looks a talent but his role in the side seems to be affecting Mo going forward and Trent defensively....

Just like Millie is at the end of his career and should only be playing cameos, Harv is at the beginning and should too be playing cameos only as he develops and learns.

[Cerbie]

Klopp talks about reinventing the side - maybe 4-2-3-1 with a 10 would help? Bobby, Elliott, Carvalho could all play the role…

Similar, I was thinking about 4-2-1-3, with Fab and Hendo/Milner/Arthur dropping back to cover the wing backs bombing forward to bolster the defence. Thiago as the AM. Maybe Elliot can be his understudy? Whatever, we need to create space on the right for Mo.

[wiw]

That's what we've been doing no? Just not very well Elliott is favouring the right channel but he's definitely more "10"

[Exiled_red]

This mess has been coming and was somewhat inevitable given the lack of investment over the past few seasons. I've posted several times about the need to rebuild the ageing squad. We haven't done enough in that regard and it is showing big time.

All of these should have been moved on by now.

Adrian
Gomez
Phillips
Milner
Henderson
Ox
Keita
Firmino

Some might seem harsh, but there is no room for sentiment if you want to win.

The "intensity" style of football we play (or used to play) is not suited to an ageing squad. Add in the ridiculous number of games we played last season. Add in a stupid amount of pre-season games (when City only played a couple) and it completes the recipe for disaster.

There are numerous other issues at play here too but if you stand still while others press on ahead of you then this is what happens I'm afraid.

I agree that players on that list haven't been performing but I think we have to be realistic. Gomez is a decent and fairly young CB, there aren't many better 4th choice CBs than him, Henderson is a good player to have as an experienced head in the dressing room so he isn't going anywhere (when you take Milner, Ox, Keita etc out of the squad there is little experience left).

The issue for me is that you need to have the squad continually evolving with probably 2 or 3 players in and a similar number out every year to keep things fresh, we really haven't been doing that, the players that have been moved on or look to be being moved on have probably stayed a year or two longer than they should have, I think that is something we need to get better at, of course the problem comes partly from not being able to bring in the players we want to when we want to.

[Big Dave]

I agree that players on that list haven't been performing but I think we have to be realistic. Gomez is a decent and fairly young CB, there aren't many better 4th choice CBs than him, Henderson is a good player to have as an experienced head in the dressing room so he isn't going anywhere (when you take Milner, Ox, Keita etc out of the squad there is little experience left).

The issue for me is that you need to have the squad continually evolving with probably 2 or 3 players in and a similar number out every year to keep things fresh, we really haven't been doing that, the players that have been moved on or look to be being moved on have probably stayed a year or two longer than they should have, I think that is something we need to get better at, of course the problem comes partly from not being able to bring in the players we want to when we want to.

Spot on

[Shaggy]

[ame]https://twitter.com/MirrorFootball/status/1569293905782251520[/ame]

[Rich]

[S-RED]

Arsenal vs PSV already cancelled for Thursday, so no way Chav game goes ahead