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Without necessarily naming names of potential targets, what positions do you think need strengthening for next season and the type of player required, based on our current first team and also to add strength in depth?

Keeper - assuming Given goes

Centre Half - Even if Boateng stays, we need a proper centre half. A vidic/Samba/Huth type to play next to Vince, win everything in the air and not be bullied by the big teams. Toure (if back) isn't that and neither is Lescott. Doubt Boateng is either.

Midfielder - a 25 year old Vieira. We're desperate for a decent box to box type, but a leader even more. In the spurs game, we were getting deeper and deeper till Paddy came on, dragged everyone 30 yards up the pitch and we suddenly controlled the game again.

Centre forward if Tevez goes

Giving Kolarov and Dzeko the benefit of first season doubt, I think that's it for the first team. The rest would be youth to replace some of the dross we get rid of to improve the squad and, perhaps, a 33 year old Vieira replacement, just in case.

huth?????? LOL

Lescott > Huth & Samba

GK
LB
CB
PLAYMAKER

Would be nice to have a winger who can cross a ball

citytilidie wrote:huth?????? LOL

Lescott > Huth & Samba

Didn't say he wasn't, but a different type of player. I think we miss a really commanding centre half, one who can bully centre forwards rather than the other way round and perhaps bag a few goals e.g. a Samba, although I would hope we could get one who could also play a bit. Think more a Terry/Vidic type, who'll put their head in amongst the boots to score/stop a goal.

left back - baines
david silva clone - nasri

I think Lescott has been brilliant to be honest- he and Kompany complement each other really well, and with all due respect to Kolo, him failing that drugs test was a real blessing in disguise as it turned out. I really believe those two are good enough to be our central defensive pairing for years to come- they're young, ambitious, strong and compliment each other really well. They have a good understanding with Joe too.

Micah is in fine form and barring injuries, should be our first choice right back next season and beyond. Zabaleta is fantastic for his attitude and versatility but Micah edges it for me. There'll be plenty of games for everyone though of course. Kolarov has been hit-and-miss, he shows great acceleration and gets into good positions, only to be selfish/wasteful with the ball at his feet. Defensively, he's been solid enough but prone to lapses in concentration and, at times, downright laziness. I think he has the raw materials though, and his height is an added bonus, and a rarity for a left-back. It's only his first season and I think we should trust him to improve and progress. When you consider how fucking diabolical Evra was at first, and where he is now, Kolarov deserves that chance.

Midfield wise, I wouldn't be making wholesale changes. de Jong is superb, Yaya offers a real threat going forward while being able to screen the defence if required, Barry is effective but I would hope and imagine, more of a squad player as we progress. I think ideally, we would have de Jong in front of the defence, Yaya behind the centre-forward, and someone between the two to offer both attacking and defensive qualities. Barry hasn't the pace to cover that kind of ground, but Milner does. I'd be interested to see if he could become that player we're crying out for with a solid run of games. Still think we could do with a big signing in that position though- Schweinsteiger would be marvellous if we could get him.

If Tevez stays put, we don't need to do a thing about strikers. Balotelli will strengthen, as will Dzeko with more direct service. Three main strikers for a team that generally only plays with one is more than enough- and then we could have Guidetti or perhaps Caicedo as backup, with Jo, Santa Cruz and Adebayor shipped out. As for wide players, Silva is in a class of his own. Johnson will fulfill one of two roles- as a mainstay in our time, on the proviso that his delivery improves dramatically, or as a lethal impact sub. I think two signings in the wide/attacking midfield roles would do- a young, hungry player to cover and learn from Silva, and a replacement for SWP assuming he moves on.

Overall, we've got a fantastic set-up, a strong squad, and our younger players and signings from last Summer will improve and grow. We don't need drastic overhauling- just two or three signings to compliment what we've got.

Colin the King wrote:I think Lescott has been brilliant to be honest- he and Kompany complement each other really well, and with all due respect to Kolo, him failing that drugs test was a real blessing in disguise as it turned out. I really believe those two are good enough to be our central defensive pairing for years to come- they're young, ambitious, strong and compliment each other really well. They have a good understanding with Joe too.

Micah is in fine form and barring injuries, should be our first choice right back next season and beyond. Zabaleta is fantastic for his attitude and versatility but Micah edges it for me. There'll be plenty of games for everyone though of course. Kolarov has been hit-and-miss, he shows great acceleration and gets into good positions, only to be selfish/wasteful with the ball at his feet. Defensively, he's been solid enough but prone to lapses in concentration and, at times, downright laziness. I think he has the raw materials though, and his height is an added bonus, and a rarity for a left-back. It's only his first season and I think we should trust him to improve and progress. When you consider how fucking diabolical Evra was at first, and where he is now, Kolarov deserves that chance.

Midfield wise, I wouldn't be making wholesale changes. de Jong is superb, Yaya offers a real threat going forward while being able to screen the defence if required, Barry is effective but I would hope and imagine, more of a squad player as we progress. I think ideally, we would have de Jong in front of the defence, Yaya behind the centre-forward, and someone between the two to offer both attacking and defensive qualities. Barry hasn't the pace to cover that kind of ground, but Milner does. I'd be interested to see if he could become that player we're crying out for with a solid run of games. Still think we could do with a big signing in that position though- Schweinsteiger would be marvellous if we could get him.

If Tevez stays put, we don't need to do a thing about strikers. Balotelli will strengthen, as will Dzeko with more direct service. Three main strikers for a team that generally only plays with one is more than enough- and then we could have Guidetti or perhaps Caicedo as backup, with Jo, Santa Cruz and Adebayor shipped out. As for wide players, Silva is in a class of his own. Johnson will fulfill one of two roles- as a mainstay in our time, on the proviso that his delivery improves dramatically, or as a lethal impact sub. I think two signings in the wide/attacking midfield roles would do- a young, hungry player to cover and learn from Silva, and a replacement for SWP assuming he moves on.

Overall, we've got a fantastic set-up, a strong squad, and our younger players and signings from last Summer will improve and grow. We don't need drastic overhauling- just two or three signings to compliment what we've got.

good shouts all around CTK...we likely will need a GK backup too i reckon unless Shay is comfy just fucking off for another year and not earning his keep, which would make me very happy, but i doubt that's likely.

whatever we do, we'd better find some bastards that can cross a ball...and take a free kick. it's horrific. And we won't see anything close to the best from Balo or Dzeko without that signing.

cheers

top striker if tev goes.
lb as a challenger for kolorov and zab
reserve attacking mid for silva
another mid for Vieira if he retires
reserve for shay if he goes
all the players we bring in have to be ready for the champs league we have to aim high

Schweinsteiger or Sneijder
Diego Milito. If Tevez stays, I think those two will link well. hes no spring chicken, but Tevez, Milito, Balotelli, Dzeko...bit of everything there
We are linked with Sanchez but as an earlier post stated, someone who can cross it. no point buying Dzeko if we arent supplying him.
Van der wiel at right back possibly. not seen enough but Micah and Zabba not sure, left backs not a clue. stick with Kolarov I think.

box-to-box/playmaking midfielder (or whatever you want to call it), basically a Sneijder, Schweinsteiger etc.

replacement for Tevez because whilst I do not doubt that Dzeko and Balotelli will come good, we need at least 3 top strikers imho

winger (alexis sanchez)

left back (coentrao)

CMF/AMF XAVI or SNIEDER and Nasri
LB Clichy or baines
Tevez leaves CF ETO

While I am not willing to 'write off' Kolarov, there is a need for proper competition for that spot without using Zabs as a fill in anywhere type guy.

Barry is a good 7/10 player in most sides, but I feel there are better on offer and we should be seeing him more as a squad player next season.

Johnson is my second biggest worry, he is so inconsistent that I have this nagging doubt he can make the step up next season, also a right sided player with a right foot wouldn't be the worst thing in the world.

Lastly, anyone who leaves from the first 11, such as Tevez will need to be replaced.

LB:Baines, Cissoko.
CM:Fabregas, Schneijder
RW:Sanchez, Messi(?)

Back up keeper
Leftback
MORE POSITIVE PLAYER TO REPLACE BARRY
World class striker should Tevez leave

We need a backup keeper if shay goes, then probably a left back, possibly a young one, so that if Kolarov doesn't improve we aren't forced to play him the whole season for lack of alternatives.

Another must is a backup for Silva, I'd go for Hazard, he's rumoured to be the next big thing, and he's Belgian like Komps and Boyata, that would help him settle imho.

If Tevez goes a top striker is needed and imho the only one who could be good enough is Eto'o, everyone else has faults that make them not a suitable replacement but the Cameroonian really has it all, pace, strength, long shot, ability to nick goals inside the box, and in the last two seasons he's showed also a good workrate at Inter, tracking back and helping the team. He's no Tevez on that aspect but he's not Balotelli or Ibrahimovic either.

LB
CB
Winger
another silva type player
striker (if carlos walks)

back up GK if Shay leaves.
no defensive req a la CtK. (look for a promising academy LB to bring on instead).

The only thing we really need that would make a big difference is someone to play with Silva. As good ball skills and quick thinking interplay ability while happy to stay deeper or cover. I'm thinking another Barca/Spanish player or equivalent that would basically be in competition with Barry, Milner and Yaya for a starting place. If that player was good enough it would push the whole lot of them to improve their all round game.. would give us amazing options and ability in Midfield and potentially transform the whole team to the next level.. ie shifting the ball forward faster through the mids.

no strikers req.

Better wide player, better left back, back up/ partner for Silva, top quality replacement for Jo/ back up for Tevez.

In addition, if Tevez goes, absolute world beater needed to replace him.

However well Balotelli played in the final, if we rely on him & Dzeko, we are gambling with the whole short term future of 'the project' & Bob's job. We have no need to do this at all. Sign the players, let them battle it out, sell the ones who fail. Do it now.

Guillem Balague on Twitter

When Harry Redknapp talks about huge signings for Manchester City he is talking about a potential 30m offer for Gareth Bale

Balague, not a bullshitter either, says we have a registered interest in Sergi Aguero whio apparently has informed Athletico he wants out. Could only see Aguero coming if Tevez was offski which is of course still highly likely.

Goaters 103 wrote:Guillem Balague on Twitter

When Harry Redknapp talks about huge signings for Manchester City he is talking about a potential 30m offer for Gareth Bale

Balague, not a bullshitter either, says we have a registered interest in Sergi Aguero whio apparently has informed Athletico he wants out. Could only see Aguero coming if Tevez was offski which is of course still highly likely.

You're probably right but if he was to come, I'd like to see him in addition to Tevez. Aguero misses too many chances to be classed with Tevez as a striker imo. However, he's a superb footballer. If we look at the way Bob set up with a more attacking attitude v Stoke, especially when AJ came on, a Premier League/Chump's Lg rotating front 6 of Tevez, Aguerro, Balotelli, Silva, Sanchez, Dzeko with AJ as competition, is pretty fucking competitive to me. Almost all interchangeable players who can switch positions, drop deep to help midfield. Stick Yaya & Nige behind 3 or four of those, fully fit & rested every week & you have a potential multi trophy winning outfit.