**Summer Transfer Thread: News, Rumours and Speculation**

How can anyone knock Cesc? Seriously? He's 22 and already one of the best CMs in the world! He is only going to get better and better.
 
SMN said:
So City's front 6 next year (assuming they are playing a back 4) is going to have to picked from:

Midfield:

Elano
Stephen Ireland
Vincent Kompany
Nigel De Jong
Gareth Barry
Sean Wright-Phillips
Michael Johnson
Stylian Petrov

Strikers:
Robinho
Craig Bellamy
Roque Santa Cruz
Benjani
Caicedo
Carlos Tevez
Emmanuel Adebayor (potentially).

That is what i call a selection headache.
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will almost certainly see Benjani, Caicedo, Elano on loan or sold, SWP might not get many games at all, worthless cup outtings and the like, Johnson, sold, loaned or injured, hard to say at the moment. Kompany won't be fit for the start of the season and is shaping up more as a centreback than midfielder at the moment. Not entirely convinced Petrov has a future there either, brilliant on his day, form is sporadic at best and a little injury prone it seems. Bellamy also injured constantly.

Its likely to pan out as the front 2 between Santa Cruz, Ade, Bellamy tevez sometimes,

midfield between De Jong, Barry, Ireland, Robinho, Tevez, SWP, Petrov I would think, with the first 4/5 rotating mostly and the last two with smaller games/cups.

THey just are buying before selling which is sensible, also lots of teams are seemingly waiting on RM to be finished in the market before getting to work.


Barrys an attacking midfield, PEtrov(the villa one) and O'neill stated repeatedly that Petrov was adjusting to his new role as the holding midfielder and Barry was the one scoring and getting in the box. Theres only one team I know thats retarded enough to play two defensive midfielders(even though Alonso I would only loosely class as a defensive midfielder). No way City will play Kompany and De Jong at the same time except in the odd game. Barry also played the left loads pre Young and had loads of assists playing wide left and getting forward. However, Robinho played mostly wide left for City, Real and for Brazil, not sure why you think he'll be an out and out striker.
 
Tummy said:
Never long before Arsenal fans make him out to be the best player period. :D:rolleyes::p
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still find it funny players doubt him, more assists than Gerrard, Lampard, any other CM/AMC has managed in the league in years, and maybe the highest number of assists for any player ever in the premier league.... but theres players far better?

ALso without question the most impressive and important performances in the Spanish team in the Euro's, Spain were two different sides in that tourney, the barely scoring non Cesc side and the ripping teams to shreds with Cesc playing side.

that list of supposedly headache inducing selection is quite funny as Arsenals list wouldn't be much shorter.

Fab, Nasri, Song, Denilson, Diaby, Eboue, Rosicky, Ramsey, probably Wilshire, Traore

upfront, RVP, Eduardo, Ade, Bendtner, Arshavin, Theo

As Wilshire, Nasri can both play as withdrawn striker, we can sell Ade and really don't need a replacement.
 
drunkenmaster said:
still find it funny players doubt him, more assists than Gerrard, Lampard, any other CM/AMC has managed in the league in years, and maybe the highest number of assists for any player ever in the premier league.... but theres players far better?

ALso without question the most impressive and important performances in the Spanish team in the Euro's, Spain were two different sides in that tourney, the barely scoring non Cesc side and the ripping teams to shreds with Cesc playing side.

that list of supposedly headache inducing selection is quite funny as Arsenals list wouldn't be much shorter.

Fab, Nasri, Song, Denilson, Diaby, Eboue, Rosicky, Ramsey, probably Wilshire, Traore

upfront, RVP, Eduardo, Ade, Bendtner, Arshavin, Theo

As Wilshire, Nasri can both play as withdrawn striker, we can sell Ade and really don't need a replacement.
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You're comparing Arsenal's lineup to that of Man City's post-spend?
 
SMN said:
So City's front 6 next year (assuming they are playing a back 4) is going to have to picked from:

Midfield:

Elano
Stephen Ireland
Vincent Kompany
Nigel De Jong
Gareth Barry
Sean Wright-Phillips
Michael Johnson
Stylian Petrov

Strikers:
Robinho
Craig Bellamy
Roque Santa Cruz
Benjani
Caicedo
Carlos Tevez
Emmanuel Adebayor (potentially).

That is what i call a selection headache.
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Not really.
Kompany can play CB and is injured anyway, Petrov is nothing special and while a tremendous prospect I suspect Johnson will be overlooked. So I'd say in midfield you're looking at Barry, De Jong, Ireland and Elano/SWP.

Up front Benjani and Caicedo don't cut the mustard, while Bellamy is injury prone and 4th choice striker. So basically you have Robinho and Santa Cruz/Tevez up front depending on whether you want any height (Robinho and Tevez just doesn't feel right, especially as Robinho rarely seems to play through the middle). Then again Jo is missing off that list.

Yes obviously there are some permutations and the odd choice to make, but that's the same at any club with title ambitions, very few clubs have a first XI that picks itself for every match.

The other option of course would be for City to revert to a 3-5-2 formation, SWP has played wingback before and it should suit Bridge fine


....................Given
.....Richards...Dunne...Kompany
SWP.................................Bridge
.......Ireland...De Jong...Barry
.........Santa Cruz....Robinho
 
Last edited:
Franny Fabregas is a good player, still young and learning. He's 22, will gain experience and mature as a player over the next few years if Arsenal can keep him.

The way he's going, he will become a world class player, probably go down as a Arsenal great if he stays with them. He's not there yet. Thats all :)

Arsenal need a DM :p
Must really frustrate the fans, as thats the only thing missing.
 
HangTime said:
....................Given
.....Richards...Dunne...Kompany
SWP.................................Bridge
.......Ireland...De Jong...Barry
.........Santa Cruz....Robinho
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Given

Richards at right back
Dunne and Kompany in the middle.
Bridge on the left.

Barry and De Jong in the middle.
Ireland in the middle of those pair, playing a little more forward.

Tevez, Santa Cruz (Ade), Robby up front.

City are far too weak at the back to play a back three.
 
Tummy said:
Franny Fabregas is a good player, still young and learning. He's 22, will gain experience and mature as a player over the next few years if Arsenal can keep him.
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I wouldn't imagine Arsenal would swap him (willingly) for anyone. He may not be the best yet, but he has age on his side, and isn't far behind the best (Iniesta, mainly).

If the only person in the world consistently keeping him out of a team is Iniesta, I think that makes him world class.
 
[Cas];14472631 said:
I wouldn't imagine Arsenal would swap him (willingly) for anyone. He may not be the best yet, but he has age on his side, and isn't far behind the best (Iniesta, mainly).

If the only person in the world consistently keeping him out of a team is Iniesta, I think that makes him world class.
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I'd take Mark Beevers over them all. :D
 
Tummy said:
I think Manchester City have a lot of problems with keeping everyone happy and playing.

I don't see them challenging top four. They have good players, there are still better teams.
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I dont think it will be Mark Hughes' problem, the owners are not footballing people, they want glory and if they are not top at christmas I reckon he will be out of a job.
 
What everyone seems to be ignoring at the moment is that man city need to replace their manager.

Hughes is garbage and has no real experience of managing stars of this level or recorded success. If they aint top by xmas he will be the first to go
 
I don't think they have actually have a strong squad in all honesty. A good keeper, a couple of decent players, no defence and about 30 strikers, who are all average, and Robinho. And as stated above, a clueless manager!
 
I like Fabregas and I think people have forgotten how good he is due to a weird season in 08/09. Hopefully he'll prove me right an have a great season! If not, I'll admit I was wrong about him. I just think that he's pretty amazing for a 22 year old
 
I said it before but it's still true.

When are City going to start buying some players to defend? You know.... to do the opposite of what all the players they've bought so far. :p
 
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