The Squad. A few thoughts.

[Blue Blood]

So we all hear about players coming in but who's going out!

What squad of players will we be left with come the start of the season, why are certain players staying and others going and how the hell are we gonna play tactically.

So here are my thoughts on the matter, it'll be interesting to see what others make of our current squad situation going forward.

Current Squad

1 GK Shay Given (vice-captain) KEEP : Current Number One at the club, one of the finest goalkeepers. No brainer.
2 DF Micah Richards KEEP : Academy boy, has all the raw tools to succeed at the highest level, still worth keeping.
3 DF Wayne Bridge KEEP : Pretty much our only decent LB.
4 DF Nedum Onuoha SELL : Wants to be a starter, won't get this at city. Made some pretty harsh comments at Mancini.
5 DF Pablo Zabaleta KEEP : Mental bastard, but can play mutiple positions, handy for a long campaign.
6 MF Michael Johnson KEEP : Quite franky we couldn't sell even if we wanted to. Also still has bags of potential.
7 MF Stephen Ireland SELL : Former player of the year, lost all form and his head, sadly needs to go.
8 MF Shaun Wright-Phillips SELL : A fan favourite but has lost much of the old form, also big contract demands an issue.
9 FW Valeri Bojinov SELL : Simply not good enough for us these days.
10 FW Robinho SELL : All the talent in the world, just barely ever uses it.
11 MF Adam Johnson KEEP : Star of the future. Pretty much certain to start most games.
12 GK Stuart Taylor RELEASED
14 FW Roque Santa Cruz SELL : Massively underachieved. He's had a good world cup though, time to move him on.
15 DF Javier Garrido SELL : Not good enough for where we are aiming.
16 FW Jô SELL : Utter waste of space.
17 DF Jérôme Boateng KEEP : Star of the future, probably will be a first choice defender next year.
18 MF Gareth Barry KEEP : Needs to up his game a bit next season but no doubting the guy has quality.
19 DF Joleon Lescott KEEP : Good CB and LB, perfect player to have in a long drawn out season.
20 FW Felipe Caicedo SELL : A beast of a man but sadly lacking in most other areas, no good enough.
21 MF David Silva KEEP : The maestro for next season.
24 MF Patrick Vieira KEEP : The old head. Can't see him playing anything but europa though.
25 FW Emmanuel Adebayor KEEP : Top class forward. Hopefully a season without injury and trouble will have him firing.
27 GK Joe Hart KEEP : England's number one. The goalkeeping future of MCFC.
28 DF Kolo Touré (captain) KEEP : Solid CB, could play RB too. Defo a keeper, not too sure about him as our captain though.
29 MF Kelvin Etuhu SELL : He can run but he can't cross. Not good enough.
30 DF Shaleum Logan SELL : Again not to city's new high standards.
32 FW Carlos Tévez KEEP : The main man. No explanation needed.
33 MF Vincent Kompany KEEP : The heart of our defense. Big Vince absolutely vital to us going forward.
34 MF Nigel de Jong KEEP : Nige is probably one of the best DM's in world football. A Bone crunching badass.
36 DF Javan Vidal SELL : Again not to standard.
37 GK Gunnar Nielsen SELL : No where close to the standard of Hart and Given.
39 FW Craig Bellamy KEEP : All heart. Gives everything, you can never have enough Craig Bellamys.
40 MF Vladimír Weiss LOAN : Could be good but needs more experience elsewhere.
44 DF Dedryck Boyata LOAN : Same as above.
45 DF Greg Cunningham SELL : Can't see him making the grade.
48 MF Abdisalam Ibrahim LOAN : Same as Weiss and Boyata.
52 FW Alex Nimely LOAN : Same as above.

Potential Signings

DF Aleksandar Kolarov
MF Yaya Touré
MF James Milner
FW Fernando Torres
FW Edin Dzeko


So after taking in who we are after and who i believe we will buy, keep and sell, here's what we are left with.

GK : GIVEN
GK : HART
LB : BRIDGE
LB : KOLAROV
CB : K. TOURE
CB : KOMPANY
CB : LESCOTT
CB : BOATENG
RB : RICHARDS
RB : ZABALETA
DM : VIEIRA
DM : DE JONG
DM : Y. TOURE
LM : SILVA
LM : BELLAMY
CM : M. JOHNSON
CM : BARRY
RM : MILNER
RM : A. JOHNSON
FW : ADEBAYOR
FW : TEVEZ

(Total of 21 players in the revised squad)

Now that team actually looks very very balanced don't you think. But how would you line it up? This is of course the most personal of preferences, but for me i'd roll it out like this;

4-2-2-2

ADEBAYOR TEVEZ
SILVA MILNER

DE JONG Y.TOURE

KOLAROV KOMPANY BOATENG K.TOURE

HART

That's my preference, as i think that formation can be very versatile, with the wingers tracking back when needed, also if things need stirring up you can always push Yaya up the park a bit into a more attacking role.

Also looking at the other players in the squad you could easily play an entirely different squad for the Europa campaign, easing many peoples worries over a long season's fatigue effect on the players.


Anyways that's my take on where i think things should be heading going into match 1 next season.

Feel free to copy paste and amend this to suit your ideas, it'll be interesting to see what you all think about how we are going to shape up going into our biggest season yet!

[ant london]

Take one off your list

Stuart Taylor has not had contract renewed

http://www.mcfc.co.uk/News/Team-news/20 ... ester-City?

[colonel_muck]

also we haven't signed yaya toure

[Blue Blood]

Ok chaps, it's finished!

Apologies about the early posting of it (fuck up on my part) lol.

[Mike J]

1 GK Shay Given KEEP :Top keeper, however he would now be my number 2. wheter he would be happy on the bench i very much doubt.
2 DF Micah Richards KEEP : i still have an awful lot of belief in micah, with the right coaching he could become a great centre back. where is that defender we saw under sven!!?.
3 DF Wayne Bridge KEEP : squad player at best. we need a better player before the start of the season
4 DF Nedum Onuoha SELL : Always liked him and think he is a good player. chances are going to be very limited so it'd be right to let him move on. real shame though, he is a blue
5 DF Pablo Zabaleta SELL: Cant stand him, yes he works hard but he cant pass and gives away ridiculous free kicks ALL the time
6 MF Michael Johnson KEEP : IF we can get him back to full fitness he will be a real asset. i really hope the lad comes back good.
7 MF Stephen Ireland KEEP : Fucking quality player when used correctly.
8 MF Shaun Wright-Phillips SELL : pains me to say it but i think he should go, lost his form completely, AJ is the future..
9 FW Valeri Bojinov KEEP : Would love for him to be given the chance to show what he can do. Highly doubt that will happen though.
10 FW Robinho DONT KNOW : Difficult one, he has ridiculous talent but doesnt want to use it in a blue shirt. if he sorted his head out then maybe keep him
11 MF Adam Johnson KEEP : Awesome player
14 FW Roque Santa Cruz SELL : I tried to back him all season, i stick to my guns that he has only started a few games. but better players can be brought in, he is always injured so we should cut our losses.
15 DF Javier Garrido SELL : he is toss.
16 FW Jô SELL : biggest waste of money in the clubs history.
17 DF Jérôme Boateng KEEP : obviously as he is new.
18 MF Gareth Barry KEEP : didnt look fit at the WC or for alot of last season. Very good player though
19 DF Joleon Lescott KEEP : Good defender, im sure he will have a better year
20 FW Felipe Caicedo SELL : rubbish.
21 MF David Silva KEEP : no explanation needed.
24 MF Patrick Vieira SELL : Would be the 1st out of the door if i was manager. dreadful.
25 FW Emmanuel Adebayor KEEP : Quality player.
27 GK Joe Hart KEEP : England's number one. The goalkeeping future of MCFC.
28 DF Kolo Touré (captain) KEEP : Squad player.
29 MF Kelvin Etuhu SELL : Championship player.
30 DF Shaleum Logan SELL : Lower league player.
32 FW Carlos Tévez KEEP : Legend.
33 MF Vincent Kompany KEEP : should be in the starting 11 every week.
34 MF Nigel de Jong KEEP : Hard as fuck, he will be important in the big games.
36 DF Javan Vidal SELL : Again not to standard.
37 GK Gunnar Nielsen SELL : No where close to the standard of Hart and Given.
39 FW Craig Bellamy KEEP : Great player, would be on of the 1st names on the team sheet.
40 MF Vladimír Weiss KEEP : SWP's replacement and backup for AJ, he needs to step up now.
44 DF Dedryck Boyata LOAN : .
45 DF Greg Cunningham SELL : crap.
48 MF Abdisalam Ibrahim LOAN : .
52 FW Alex Nimely LOAN : .

[Stevie irelands lost wig]

You don't seem to have had any credit so far BB but cheers for that. I'd agree with pretty much all your opinions, still think we should keep Bojinov though. Could become a beast of a player, showed what he was capable of in that friendly vs AC Milan last year.

[ant london]

36 DF Javan Vidal SELL : Again not to standard.

so much so......we just gave him a 12 month contract extension

http://www.mcfc.co.uk/News/Team-news/20 ... s-new-deal?

[lets all have a disco]

36 DF Javan Vidal SELL : Again not to standard.

so much so......we just gave him a 12 month contract extension

http://www.mcfc.co.uk/News/Team-news/20 ... s-new-deal?

And Zabs is on a long contract aswell.

[Bojinov's left foot]

Interesting read, thanks.

YaYa signing will be a key signing, fingers crossed it happens soon..

Mancini has this summer to stamp his authority on the team and the way we play. IMO we are in for a hugely succesful season.

[ashton287]

k toure at right back, yeah because he's rapid isnt he

[saulman]

So after taking in who we are after and who i believe we will buy, keep and sell, here's what we are left with.

GK : GIVEN
GK : HART
LB : BRIDGE
LB : KOLAROV
CB : K. TOURE
CB : KOMPANY
CB : LESCOTT
CB : BOATENG
RB : RICHARDS
RB : ZABALETA
DM : VIEIRA
DM : DE JONG
DM : Y. TOURE
LM : SILVA
LM : BELLAMY
CM : M. JOHNSON
CM : BARRY
RM : MILNER
RM : A. JOHNSON
FW : ADEBAYOR
FW : TEVEZ

(Total of 21 players in the revised squad)

Excellent opening post. I agree mostly with what you say on the buy/sell issue and it leaves us with a squad that leaves you rubbing your eyes in disbelief.
I think that the right back position looks a little shakey with Richards and Zabbs; If Richards can rediscover his previous form then it's not an issue, but if he can't, I'd move for someone better.
We're also lacking a creative central midfielder if Ireland is on his way and with Johnsons problems........, I think we should be looking for an Elano type passer of the ball that can unlock defenses and change games.

Other than that, I happy as fuck.

[Mark (Blue Army)]

So after taking in who we are after and who i believe we will buy, keep and sell, here's what we are left with.

GK : GIVEN
GK : HART
LB : BRIDGE
LB : KOLAROV
CB : K. TOURE
CB : KOMPANY
CB : LESCOTT
CB : BOATENG
RB : RICHARDS
RB : ZABALETA
DM : VIEIRA
DM : DE JONG
DM : Y. TOURE
LM : SILVA
LM : BELLAMY
CM : M. JOHNSON
CM : BARRY
RM : MILNER
RM : A. JOHNSON
FW : ADEBAYOR
FW : TEVEZ

(Total of 21 players in the revised squad)

I have to say i agree with that squad for next season, plus it leaves room for any other signings we might want to bring in. The total is 25 players isn't it?

[Kyle]

Great post mate. I think the only difference I would have is to keep swp and onouha (may be biased there, I really like the guy) as well as signing or keeping one more striker as we need at least one bench striker. Caicedo?

[Cityfan]

think you need at least four self developed players in your squad and we only have two in that squad, may need to keep two of SWP ireland Onouha and Weiss.

[Crossie]

In that list of 21 players youve got 2 strikers and A Johnson on the right wing, and M Johnson as 1 of 2 CM's although he's played 4 games in 2 years?

Im worried that if we sell SWP, we're relying on Jonno to be our width. Dont think he'll last a full European season and looks abit small, his style of play invites fouls, which lead to injuries and niggles and loss of form. Petrov's already gone too.

Silva likes to come inside, not really a winger, Bellers, not a winger or a striker, Milner if he comes, got his good reputation by moving into the centre of mid, SWP - classic winger, oh but he cant cross.

Its not all a bad thing, but it might just limit us in some games, where we need some width against teams who might stick 5 in the middle to stop us playing through them.

[Vhero]

So after taking in who we are after and who i believe we will buy, keep and sell, here's what we are left with.

GK : GIVEN
GK : HART
LB : BRIDGE
LB : KOLAROV
CB : K. TOURE
CB : KOMPANY
CB : LESCOTT
CB : BOATENG
RB : RICHARDS
RB : ZABALETA
DM : VIEIRA
DM : DE JONG
DM : Y. TOURE
LM : SILVA
LM : BELLAMY
CM : M. JOHNSON
CM : BARRY
RM : MILNER
RM : A. JOHNSON
FW : ADEBAYOR
FW : TEVEZ

(Total of 21 players in the revised squad)

I have to say i agree with that squad for next season, plus it leaves room for any other signings we might want to bring in. The total is 25 players isn't it?

Yeah but we should add another keeper to that list as 2 keepers is not enough if 1 got injured we would be in the same boat as last season.