Our rival's squads next year - Man City

[bosnian_red]

Completely depends on how he develops. I'm not Fernando's biggest fan so between Yaya, Fernandinho and Delph he'll see plenty, especially as I think we'll line up 4-2-3-1 which suits Delph's game. (Silva centrally behind Aguero, Sterling and one more, with two holding midfielders). That said, I fully expect us to sign another midfielder and if we don't it's a weak area going into the season.

Yeah, at first I thought it would be like Sinclair, but city are surprisingly low on options in the middle.. Toure aging, Fernando shit, Fernandinho being good but you probably don't want him to be your main midfielder.. Interesting to see who you go for though, with Vidal gone to Bayern and Pogba unlikely to go to city.

 

[ShadesOfTomato]

Not hugely convinced by their transfer activity so far. Sterling is good but still very much potential and surely they could have done better than Delph?

 

[Americano]

Maybe they would buy Evans? He's home grown, right?

 

[TrustInJanuzaj]

Christ... You won't finish above city.

Why would you write us off so quickly when on paper our squad is far superior

 

[Manchester Dan]

Not hugely convinced by their transfer activity so far. Sterling is good but still very much potential and surely they could have done better than Delph?

When you look and say that we had to go out and buy at the very least a couple of home grown players to bolster the squad then Delph and Sterling are about as well as we could have done. Sterling is exactly what we were missing last year, and £8m for Delph is also great business, you just can't pick up HG players in the England squad for less than that anywhere, and he provides cover in the middle which we lost in Milner. Not to mention they're 20 and 25 in an otherwise ageing squad.

I think our business so far given the circumstances has been excellent - now it's about filling in the rest of the gaps without having to worry about the home grown tag. Let's see what the club come up with on these before you judge our business as a whole.

 

[Manchester Dan]

Why would you write us off so quickly when on paper our squad is far superior

If your squad is far superior then your manager must be terrible; you were 9 points off the pace from City last year. Unless it's not actually far superior. Which one are you taking?

 

[Pexbo]

If your squad is far superior then your manager must be terrible; you were 9 points off the pace from City last year. Unless it's not actually far superior. Which one are you taking?

We've just added 4 huge improvements.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

Christ... You won't finish above city.

It's not that huge a task. We were actually ahead of them last season before our capitulation towards the very end.

They're mainly superior in the striking position. Not much in the rest. I prefer our midfield.

 

[Manchester Dan]

We've just added 4 huge improvements.

You've only really strengthened in the middle of the park, which isn't enough to take your squad of last year into the realms of far superior this year to the City squad. You have one striker in Rooney at the moment, your centre backs are just as bad as ours (if you believe the stick they get on here), and you don't know what GK you're starting the season with. You have a LONG way to go this summer before your squad is far superior to any of the top 4.

 

[TrustInJanuzaj]

If your squad is far superior then your manager must be terrible; you were 9 points off the pace from City last year. Unless it's not actually far superior. Which one are you taking?

Well your squad is ageing and unless I'm mistaken your now a year on which means your players are yet another year older (who would have thought). We have just made 4 fantastic signings while you have over payed for Sterling who is a player that has done nothing to deserve that price tag and has never showed world class ability. Utd will add a further CB and Striker as well leaving us with a squad that beats you in every position bar Aguero and silva.

 

[Rolandofgilead]

If your squad is far superior then your manager must be terrible; you were 9 points off the pace from City last year. Unless it's not actually far superior. Which one are you taking?

We outplayed you with ten men at the council house and battered you at home. But that's not the point, the point is that we have added 4 quality additions with more to come (hopefully) and all being well we might actually start a season with at least one centre half fit.

 

[DatIrishFella]

Their new kit is pretty nice.

 

[Mciahel Goodman]

Aside from Silva and Aguero, City's squad is pretty average imo. Sterling has huge potential, but not world class as of yet. Toure is world class but is also in spiralling decline. Their squad is ageing and just really unimpressive -- I think they need to add a few players before August or they'll be in trouble (and I don't mean the likes of Delph).

 

[Manchester Dan]

Well your squad is ageing and unless I'm mistaken your now a year on which means your players are yet another year older (who would have thought). We have just made 4 fantastic signings while you have over payed for Sterling who is a player that has done nothing to deserve that price tag and has never showed world class ability. Utd will add a further CB and Striker as well leaving us with a squad that beats you in every position bar Aguero and silva.

This is hilarious. So basically your squad is far superior once you've made a few more signings and if you class the likes of Depay as a fantastic signings and Sterling as a rubbish one. You're completely right.

 

[Rafateria]

Fun to do to a combined team based on the squads as they now stand, choose your own formation. Have to say mine surprised me .. especially the defence ... in that I didn't expect to put 6 City players in it. Note that age doesn't come into it, it may be that the City players would not be the best choice for a full season, but this is for a one-off match.

............................................... De Gea (Hart if he leaves)

Zabaleta ............... Kompany ............................ Demichelis ................ Clichy
(proven, classy).......................................... (under-rated IMO) ..... (Shaw still has it to prove)

.............................................. Schneiderlin

............................ Toure
.................................................................................... Silva


Di Maria .................................... Aguero ..................................... DePay


Bench
Hart, Shaw, Smalling, Schweinsteiger, Herrera, Sterling, Rooney
(Mata just misses out on the bench).


Darmian - I don't think anyone here has seen enough to say he will come into the PL and be better than Zabaleta.
Shaw - has had a lot of injuries and although this is a weak position in the team above Shaw is still a young lad and will need to prove this season he could be worthy of that LB slot.
Toure - ageing but is still a Tour de Force, especially going forward. Schweinsteiger or Herrera would replace him as required.
Smalling .. some will prefer him to Demichelis as Kompany's partner. Understandable.

 

[Manchester Dan]

We outplayed you with ten men at the council house and battered you at home. But that's not the point, the point is that we have added 4 quality additions with more to come (hopefully) and all being well we might actually start a season with at least one centre half fit.

Another way to look at that is you beat us at home after losing the last 4 head-to-heads on the bounce. If you want to view last season over 1 game instead of 38 then so be it. You only managed 62 goals last year, you need to sign a forward before even thinking about challenging for the title. I also think De Gea goes some way to masking the problems you have at the back too, just because he had an incredible season.

 

[antihenry]

Surprised they kept Pellegrini. The man doesn't belong in a top club. Perhaps they're waiting for Guardiola.

As for their team, they still have a very strong squad and they'll spend big this summer to address whatever problems they have, City will be a contender.

 

[TrustInJanuzaj]

Fun to do to a combined team based on the squads as they now stand, choose your own formation. Have to say mine surprised me .. especially the defence ... in that I didn't expect to put 6 City players in it. Note that age doesn't come into it, it may be that the City players would not be the best choice for a full season, but this is for a one-off match.

............................................... De Gea (Hart if he leaves)

Zabaleta ............... Kompany ............................ Demichelis ................ Clichy
(proven, classy).......................................... (under-rated IMO) ..... (Shaw still has it to prove)

.............................................. Schneiderlin

............................ Toure
.................................................................................... Silva


Di Maria .................................... Aguero ..................................... DePay


Bench
Hart, Shaw, Smalling, Schweinsteiger, Herrera, Sterling, Rooney
(Mata just misses out on the bench).


Darmian - I don't think anyone here has seen enough to say he will come into the PL and be better than Zabaleta.
Shaw - has had a lot of injuries and although this is a weak position in the team above Shaw is still a young lad and will need to prove this season he could be worthy of that LB slot.
Toure - ageing but is still a Tour de Force, especially going forward. Schweinsteiger or Herrera would replace him as required.
Smalling .. some will prefer him to Demichelis as Kompany's partner. Understandable.

This team is so far off reality it's funny. You've just picked big names even if they are undeserving of their place.

 

[Rafateria]

This team is so far off reality it's funny. You've just picked big names even if they are undeserving of their place.

Not true. But put your money where your mouth is and post yours so we can all have a laugh at that one too. N.B. I can see your bias from your posts so don't just post a United First XI.

 

[TrustInJanuzaj]

Not true. But put your money where your mouth is and post yours so we can all have a laugh at that one too. N.B. I can see your bias from your posts so don't just post a United First XI.

De gea
Zab Smalling Dema Shaw (clichy is garbage)

Bastion/carrick
Herrera Silva
Mata Young
Aguero

This team isn't just about picking the big names like you did, but instead playing the form players that actually have the biggest effect on games

 

[Rafateria]

De gea
Zab Smalling Dema Shaw (clichy is garbage)

Bastion/carrick
Herrera Silva
Mata Young
Aguero

This team isn't just about picking the big names like you did, but instead playing the form players that actually have the biggest effect on games

Form players ? The season hasn't started yet ! And if it's on your perceived 'form' then how do Schweinsteiger, Carrick & Shaw make your team if not just on reputation / bias ? All spent a substantial part of last season injured FFS ! Extremely hypocritical.

 

[TrustInJanuzaj]

Form players ? The season hasn't started yet ! And if it's on your perceived 'form' then how do Schweinsteiger, Carrick & Shaw make your team if not just on reputation / bias ? All spent a substantial part of last season injured FFS ! Extremely hypocritical.

Carrick was one of UTDs key men last season when fit and he is better than any holding player that city have currently. You claim I am being biased yet pick has been players such as Kompany and Toure who are not fit for their place any longer and leave out players like Herrera who are class. Then to top it off you pick Di Maria who was one of our weakest performers instead of playing young or mata who were brilliant last years. I agree that question marks are over schweinstiger but he's a World Cup Winner and known world class and until he does otherwise that's how he should be considered. Clichy on a good day is also considerably worse than shaw, blind or Rojo, I wouldn't have him near my Sunday team he's that poor and error prone. Even putting Depay in your team makes little sense as of now. I'm more excited than anyone over his arrival but he's proved nothing yet.

 

[Rafateria]

Then to top it off you pick Di Maria who was one of our weakest performers instead of playing young or mata who were brilliant last years. I agree that question marks are over schweinstiger but he's a World Cup Winner and known world class .........

Ha ha ha - oh dear. The unintentional irony displayed in those two sentences quoted.

Many people don't like Clichy, however I do, he's very pacey and offers something at both ends of the field. I said that is the weakest position in the team and due to the lack of other options I rate would be my pick. You're as entitled to a differing opinion as I am.

And did I say anywhere that you have to pick players on form ? That would be a resounding NO.

 

[TrustInJanuzaj]

Ha ha ha - oh dear. The unintentional irony displayed in those two sentences quoted.

Many people don't like Clichy, however I do, he's very pacey and offers something at both ends of the field. I said that is the weakest position in the team and due to the lack of other options I rate would be my pick. You're as entitled to a differing opinion as I am.

And did I say anywhere that you have to pick players on form ? That would be a resounding NO.

There is no irony in that because the point is Di Maria played a season last year in the prem and was not world class, whereas at the moment we have no actual game evidence Of bastian in the prem so it's completely different as we can only judge him on what we expect to happen. Clearly we just differ in the ratings of different players which I don't have a problem with. But my prediction is that without serious investment city will struggle next year and Utd are in a far stronger position with the quality added over the last two years. Fortunately for us both this will likely be decided next year and the season is only weeks away now.

 

[BobbyManc]

Surprised they kept Pellegrini. The man doesn't belong in a top club. Perhaps they're waiting for Guardiola.

As for their team, they still have a very strong squad and they'll spend big this summer to address whatever problems they have, City will be a contender.

He won what Mourinho did last season in his first season in English football, and did it all with City playing beautiful football, scoring 39 more league goals in the process. He has the highest win ratio in Madrid's history (skewed stat but still shows he deserved more time there) and got a record points tally with them at the time, but no one could have toppled Barca that season. Don't get me wrong, Mourinho has proven he is a better manager overall, there is no debate over that, but the persistent dismissal of Pellegrini's ability as a manager is daft.

 

[NM]

We haven't had a better squad than city for the past two years... I wouldn't say we do this year either until we are half way into the season.

The transfer window isn't closed yet either. I would say their signings have gone down in quality to what they used to buy though.

 

[BobbyManc]

Fun to do to a combined team based on the squads as they now stand, choose your own formation. Have to say mine surprised me .. especially the defence ... in that I didn't expect to put 6 City players in it. Note that age doesn't come into it, it may be that the City players would not be the best choice for a full season, but this is for a one-off match.

............................................... De Gea (Hart if he leaves)

Zabaleta ............... Kompany ............................ Demichelis ................ Clichy
(proven, classy).......................................... (under-rated IMO) ..... (Shaw still has it to prove)

.............................................. Schneiderlin

............................ Toure
.................................................................................... Silva


Di Maria .................................... Aguero ..................................... DePay


Bench
Hart, Shaw, Smalling, Schweinsteiger, Herrera, Sterling, Rooney
(Mata just misses out on the bench).


Darmian - I don't think anyone here has seen enough to say he will come into the PL and be better than Zabaleta.
Shaw - has had a lot of injuries and although this is a weak position in the team above Shaw is still a young lad and will need to prove this season he could be worthy of that LB slot.
Toure - ageing but is still a Tour de Force, especially going forward. Schweinsteiger or Herrera would replace him as required.
Smalling .. some will prefer him to Demichelis as Kompany's partner. Understandable.

Hard to do combined XI's given both sides have big names who underperformed last season. Purely on ability I'd go:

De Gea
Zabaleta Kompany Demichelis Clichy
Toure Schweinsteger
Mata Di Maria Silva
Aguero

The LCB and LB spot are the most interchangeable really for Smalling and Shaw respectively, no worth in arguing over them. I'd say De Gea, Zabaleta, Silva and Aguero are the only players who you'd simply have to put in any combined XI.

 

[Glanville95]

de Gea
Zabaleta - Kompany - Smalling - Shaw
Schweinsteiger
Schneiderlin - Y. Toure
di Maria - Aguero - Silva
​

I'm biased, but in the sense of towards myself, as that team is far more accurate than the two above.

Kompany is perhaps a contentious decision, in which case I'd pick Demichelis. Also, Herrera could displace someone. Toure is still a great player though. In any case, it's quite an even split, because that's where the squads stand in reality. We aren't 'far superior' squadwise, but I must admit I do prefer ours. City's is still quite a thin squad with the impending departures of Jovetic and Dzeko.

EDIT: I'm not referring to yours Bobby. That's a decent one.

 

[SkeppyRed]

Hard to do combined XI's given both sides have big names who underperformed last season. Purely on ability I'd go:

De Gea
Zabaleta Kompany Demichelis Clichy
Toure Schweinsteger
Mata Di Maria Silva
Aguero

The LCB and LB spot are the most interchangeable really for Smalling and Shaw respectively, no worth in arguing over them. I'd say De Gea, Zabaleta, Silva and Aguero are the only players who you'd simply have to put in any combined XI.

Can't disagree with that tbh, though having witnessed Zabaleta, Demichellis and Clichy get made to look like fools by Young and Fellaini in the last derby, as well as Kompany's form in the last 12-18 months, im not sure that's a great indicator of quality in either sides defence.

 

[BobbyManc]

Can't disagree with that tbh, though having witnessed Zabaleta, Demichellis and Clichy get made to look like fools by Young and Fellaini in the last derby, as well as Kompany's form in the last 12-18 months, im not sure that's a great indicator of quality in either sides defence.

Demichelis and Clichy are nothing special but Zabaleta is still an excellent RB. He dipped last season slightly but nothing to give me any concern and he looked sharp for Argentina at the Copa America. Still though, your point stands, both defences aren't looking great at the minute, although I'd expect you to sign a big name and at least one of Kompany/Mangala/Denayer to have a good season next year.

 

[antihenry]

He won what Mourinho did last season in his first season in English football, and did it all with City playing beautiful football, scoring 39 more league goals in the process. He has the highest win ratio in Madrid's history (skewed stat but still shows he deserved more time there) and got a record points tally with them at the time, but no one could have toppled Barca that season. Don't get me wrong, Mourinho has proven he is a better manager overall, there is no debate over that, but the persistent dismissal of Pellegrini's ability as a manager is daft.

He won the title by default. It was Chelsea's second team defensive performance of the season at Anfield that derailed Liverpool which had looked unstoppable until then. City were dead and buried by then and everyone thought Liverpool were about to win the title, especially since Chelsea had nothing to play for at that point. Pellegrini got lucky.

 

[Theafonis]

He won the title by default. It was Chelsea's second team defensive performance of the season at Anfield that derailed Liverpool which had looked unstoppable until then. City were dead and buried by then and everyone thought Liverpool were about to win the title, especially since Chelsea had nothing to play for at that point. Pellegrini got lucky.

You can't deny the fact that they did play good football though. Credit to Pellegrini for that.

 

[antihenry]

You can't deny the fact that they did play good football though. Credit to Pellegrini for that.

We played entertaining football under Ranieri. Doesn't make him a great manager.

 

[prarek]

I thought they were going to spend big insane amounts of money this season tbh so im a bit surprised by their transfer activities so far(apart from Sterling).

 

[AltiUn]

Hard to do combined XI's given both sides have big names who underperformed last season. Purely on ability I'd go:

De Gea
Zabaleta Kompany Demichelis Clichy
Toure Schweinsteger
Mata Di Maria Silva
Aguero

The LCB and LB spot are the most interchangeable really for Smalling and Shaw respectively, no worth in arguing over them. I'd say De Gea, Zabaleta, Silva and Aguero are the only players who you'd simply have to put in any combined XI.

That team would piss the league by about 30 points.

 

[BobbyManc]

He won the title by default. It was Chelsea's second team defensive performance of the season at Anfield that derailed Liverpool which had looked unstoppable until then. City were dead and buried by then and everyone thought Liverpool were about to win the title, especially since Chelsea had nothing to play for at that point. Pellegrini got lucky.

And last season you won the title by default, everyone else was shit.

 

[antihenry]

And last season you won the title by default, everyone else was shit.

We won the title because we were the best team in the country, we didn't need anybody's help. You only did because we stopped Liverpool.

 

[united_99]

We won the title because we were the best team in the country, we didn't need anybody's help. You only did because we stopped Liverpool.

That's a bit ridiculous really as the league is won over a season and not just because of a single game.

 

[Lawman]

Demichelis and Clichy are nothing special but Zabaleta is still an excellent RB. He dipped last season slightly but nothing to give me any concern and he looked sharp for Argentina at the Copa America. Still though, your point stands, both defences aren't looking great at the minute, although I'd expect you to sign a big name and at least one of Kompany/Mangala/Denayer to have a good season next year.

Zabaleta is quality and along with Coleman and Ivanovic the best right back in the league. Think both your left backs are suspect but as for Demichelis I think he's your best centre back and would have him at United in a minute. Kompany has had more than a dip. It would be interesting to see if he improves or still haphazard like the last couple of seasons. Think both Manchester teams have centre halfs that could be brilliant or this season could be when the fans finally cement their opinions on them (Kompany/Smalling)

 

[Lawman]

We won the title because we were the best team in the country, we didn't need anybody's help. You only did because we stopped Liverpool.

?? Really, lol come on you don't believe that.