So Matic should get a free run in the team despite being awful? No, we got to give someone else a go. Would rather Matic leave come summer than Andreas. Least if we tie down Andreas to a new contract we could sell him for a few bob. Give him the game imo.
Potential Matic Replacements
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So Matic should get a free run in the team despite being awful? No, we got to give someone else a go. Would rather Matic leave come summer than Andreas. Least if we tie down Andreas to a new contract we could sell him for a few bob. Give him the game imo.
Agreed, thing is even if the club scouts identify such a talent, the manager has to want him too. I don't see us signing a player for the 1st team the manager doesn't want to include in his plans.
The other issue is the amount of central midfielders we have in the squad: Herrera, Peirera, Fred, Pogba, Matic, Fellaini. 6 players for atmost 3 positions. The way I see it, ideally we'd have 4 centre-mids who are 1st team ready, with two young talents pushing them on.
(yes, S. McTominay does not count)
We are in so deep sh't it's unreal. Another player/place we have to deal with before we can hope for better performances, and who is there to have that kind of quality available? Miserable.
Thats Mourinho's call to make but I would still pick matic for that role over Pereira. Where I think pereira deserves a run is in one of the CM spots, particularly when Pogba is absent. I think he can offer more creativity than the alternatives.
Free run in the team despite being the worst player? Heard it all now.
Even with Sarri bringing him over he's not setting the league on fire and he's 26, not that young. About to hit his prime. He makes lots of accurate passes, he has that part down. Still working on the defending part. Matic is probably still ahead of him on that score
I think that the club should refrain giving Mourinho more money to buy more CMs. After all he had already spent 180m on Fred, Matic and Pogba + god knows how much money we paid to retain the big oaf no one seem to want to sign even as a free agent. If you ask me Mou should live with what he already has up until the rest of the season only to feck off if he doesn't make 4th place. If he doesn't like the situation, well, he can always resign.
do not speak ill of our lord and saviour in these dark times.
Busby had Charlton, SAF had Scholes, the special one has Fellaini, the priest among all young boys.
The Fred isn't ready yet to start full time in the EPL. Which is understandable and which I feel will change after the festive period. It bothers me more that the likes of fit again Herrera, McTominay and even Andreas are not being allowed to give Matic a rest.
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Ndombele is incredible. I was impressed by him dictating play from deep vs a City.
Aouar did most of the defending further forward
Knowing Mourinho he's probably looking to get Makelele or Essien on a short term contract.
I remember the huge excitement when out of the blue we signed two big prospects from Portugal in Nani and Anderson.
Ndombele and Aouar would rival that sort of excitement..
Ndombele and Aouar would rival that sort of excitement..
This is what we get for constantly buying an easy, short term fix. We’ve got so much deadwood in our squad it’s unreal. It’s going to take seasons just to shift them out and get replacements in never mind start competing again.
I will again mention it. Brozovic is the best holding midfielder in the world right now. I expect that City will buy him and then we will see how god he is. Pirlo/Kante in one player
Brozovic was a highly rated player ever since he burst onto the scene. Someone like a Brozovic along with Ndombele would be brilliant. City will end up signing Frenkie De Jong I feel.
Brozovic is Guardiola type of def midfielder. Runs a lot, good in tackle and great on the ball( played no10 until two seasons). So i am afraid that he will end there as replacement for Fernandinho. Great player. Hugely underrated in England
There have been about 10 names mentioned in this thread which have got the response 'City are going to buy him to replace Fernandinho'.
Whomever City get, we'll get one of the other 9.
Get Ndombele and Aouar. Sell Matic and Fellaini. Midfield sorted for the next 10 years
We need the mindset of a Poch to see the good in that double deal. Doubt Mourinho would want two young players on huge deals. That's why it's important we show him the door pronto..
Has a €60m buyout and he's only turned 26 this month but is very settled in Milan according to his agent.
Guardiola wanted Fred to replace Fernandinho last season. Unfortunately Mourinho won't even consider using him (or anyone else) in that position as long as Matic is fit.
Was this interest as strong as some are making it out to be?
I think so. Sam Lee is the most reliable journalist for City and he has said Guardiola wanted him as their next defensive midfielder.
Nah, he is from my city. Every casino, night club and pub knows Marcelo. He plays football because of money. Give him good money and good night life and he is happy
Neves at Wolves looks a player to me. Maybe Frenkie de Jong.
However a bit of me is a total optimist who chooses to believe in fairies and I hope that maybe after a prolonged rest Matic will pick up because I still think he's a player.
However a bit of me is a total optimist who chooses to believe in fairies and I hope that maybe after a prolonged rest Matic will pick up because I still think he's a player.
Yes. The felt Shaktar wanted too much money for him so they switched to Jorginho, then Chelsea left them with egg on their face last minute.
Alternatively, jorginho has a much better passing range and vision from deep an could open up a defense with a single pass.
Fred is more dynamic, but playmaking and creativity level is a tier below, so they wanted jorginho.
Shakhtar owner confirmed that City made bid but they rejected it as they were in CL round of 16. He also said they made around 50 million euros bid.
Adrien Rabiot, his contract runs out in the Summer, could try and get on the cheap in January or risk leaving it till the end of the season, but there are rumours of him going to Barcelona
I believe they cooled their interest once Sane was injured, last January, and turned attention to Mahrez.
Ruben Neves is a player, but unfortunately he is not 6ft, so Mourinho would never allow him to replace Matic.
Yeah I like him, think thats stretch but he's an effective player
1.80m (5ft11) is probably good enough. About the same height as Alonso, taller than Makelele, Cambiasso, Zanetti - Jose doesn't always need giants playing #6.
Theresa May will be out of a job soon
Just in the 3 seasons hes been here. Sadly we're talking about what he's doing now not 10 years ago for a different club
Mourinho is clearly a fan of physicality, and I don't think we'd see him select diminutive players like, for example, Verratti or Torreira as a #6 in one of his sides. That doesn't necessarily rule out Neves though; granted he's no Fellaini, but he's not exactly a physical pushover, either.
I doubt we'll ever really get to find out anyway, as Mourinho is unlikely to be given much of a transfer budget in January, and will surely be gone by the summer window.
How much would Ruben Neves cost if we tried to sign him in the summer from Wolves, rough estimate?
If we do proper groundwork, 50-60 mil should do. City signed EPL winner for 60m last summer
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