So, as it appears and without wishing to ‘jump the gun’, we might have signed both defensive midfielder Jorginho form S.S.C. Napoli and attacking winger / forward Riyad Mahrez from Leicester City by the end of next week.
And it has already, quite understandably, had fans both City and non-City alike asking just where do all of our midfielders fit in; what stars are more likely to see more bench time and will ‘the kids’ get a ‘look in’?
So, I thought I’d have a look at some likely formations from the midfield upwards and try to reason why the possible signing of both players isn’t such an over indulgence as it may first seem.
First of all, the list…
Kevin De Bruyne - Midfielder / Winger – Left /
Right / Centre
Fabian Delph - Defender / Midfielder – Left / Centre
Brahim Diaz - Midfielder – Centre
Fernandinho - Midfielder – Centre
Jorginho - Midfielder – Centre
Phil Foden - Midfielder
– Centre
Ilkay Gundogan - Midfielder
– Centre
Riyad Mahrez - Winger / Forward – Left / Right
/ Centre
Leroy Sane - Winger
/ Forward – Left / Right / Centre
Bernardo Silva - Midfielder
/ Winger – Left / Right / Centre
David Silva - Midfielder
– Centre
Raheem Sterling - Winger
/ Forward – Left / Right / Centre
Oleksandr Zinchenko - Def
/ Mid / Wing – Left / Centre
Quite some list, hey?
And
who are the other midfielders / wingers who have been on the fringes of the
first team radar in recent years or who have been purchased by the club whilst
either Manuel Pellegrini or Pep Guardiola have been in charge?
Luke Bratton - Midfielder – Centre
Anthony Caceres - Midfielder – Centre
Bersant Celina - Midfielder/ Winger – Left / Right / Centre
Aleix Garcia - Midfielder – Centre
Manu Garcia Alonso - Midfielder – Centre
Yangel Herrera - Midfielder – Centre
Douglas Luiz - Midfielder – Centre
Patrick Roberts - Winger / Forward – Right / Centre
I
wouldn’t blame you at all if you didn’t know most of those and if you click on
their hyperlinks then you can get to know ‘em; where they came from, where
they’ve been on loan and how they’ve been doing.
The formations
(Just from the midfield ‘up’, don’t forget,
and assuming all are fit & otherwise available)
One where we have to be more mindful of the oppo’s
attack.
Likely
1st line-up (a fluid 4-1-4-1):
Sane____________________________________Sterling
_____________D. Silva______De
Bruyne_____________
__________________Fernandinho___________________
Secondary
possibility (a fluid 4-1-4-1):
____________________Aguero____________________
___________________(or Jesus)___________________
Sane____________________________________B.
Silva
___________Gundogan______De
Bruyne____________
____________________Jorginho____________________
One where we really want to ‘have a go’ at the oppo – a
chance to stick a few goals past someone.
Likely
1st line-up (a fluid 4-4-1-1 / 4-5-1):
____________________Aguero____________________
___________________(or Jesus)___________________
____________________Sterling____________________
Sane____________________________________Mahrez
_____________D. Silva______De
Bruyne_____________
Secondary
possibility (a fluid 4-4-1-1 / 4-5-1):
____________________Aguero____________________
___________________(or Jesus)___________________
____________________Mahrez____________________
Sane____________________________________B.
Silva
_____________D. Silva______De
Bruyne_____________
Winners? Those who get to play most games?
I don’t think Leroy has much to worry
about, despite the fact that others can play & perform well on the left
flank. Kevin is an almost certainty until it comes time for a rest, of course,
and the same goes for David; although he might get some MORE welcome relief /
extra games out next season. Sergio & Gabriel have no worries at all (will
likely rotate with each other), especially as I think the signing of two in the
‘midfield department’ will signal Pep’s
intend to ‘go again’ with attacking flare from deep rather than bringing-in an
additional striker (despite paper-talk of Kylian Mbappe).
Rotated?
I think we’ll see Riyad, Raheem &
Bernardo all dipping in & out of the team; most playing on the right flank
with some getting a crack more centres, whether that be in the middle of the
park or ‘just behind’ one of the strikers. I think Ilkay will come into that
attacking/creative rotation too but, perhaps, to a lesser degree. Fernandinho
& Jorginho will swap over from time to time and I’m sure we’ll always have
one of those on the bench.
Losers?
Well, unless they’re going to be used as
left-back / left wing-back cover for Benjamin Mendy
(and don’t forget that we have Danilo)
then I can see Oleksandr & Fabian getting twitchy. I think we’ll see
Zinchenko go out on loan and press speculation aplenty about Delph (and I bet a
certain ex-City Manager who is now at West Ham United might be keeping an eye on that one). And as for the youngsters;
if we DO get both of these players and despite us fighting in 4 competitions,
then I can’t see Phil getting many more games than last season, which I
expected him to and I bet he thought so
too. I think we’ll see Brahim go out on loan.
Any more signings likely further back?
I think if Pep doesn’t believe that Angus Gunn is ready to be 1st-choice
back-up to Ederson then we’ll see another
keeper come in. I don’t expect to see Claudio Bravo
here for another season.
And I think likewise in the centre of
defence – if Guardiola doesn’t believe any of the EDS
lads are progressing enough to ‘step up’ if / when needed then I can see an
additional purchase there too; one who would be ready to step in if needed but
young enough to be patient and wait for his opportunity, which is likely to
come in the form of how long Vincent Kompany
has left. I think Nicholas Otamendi & Aymeric Laporte won’t have too much to worry about
should another talented central defender come in but I’m sure more raised
eyebrows will be show whenever John Stones’
name is mentioned.
Thanks, as always, for taking the time to
visit / read. I'm going away for a week on Saturday and so if there are any updates, I won't be able to Blog / comment.
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