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After last night I finally thought to myself this summer (or even January) we should be looking into replacing Yaya. What he has done for the club cannot be denied and I am not doubting what he can still give however I feel at his current age and the way he plays his position could be given to another player that would make us stronger right now. He very rarely tracks back leaving more pressure on the back line, very rarely breaks a sweat to get forward meaning any fast breaks don't involve him and I feel that as great of a player he is thanks to age and the way we now play he just does not fit into the way we play right now and it's going to get even harder for him under Guardiola if he does come. last night was a perfect example of that we couldnt get forward quick enough so Leicester managed to constantly get 11 men into their box before we got the ball to the box thanks to players like Yaya slowing most of our attacks down. I am not blaming Yaya entirely for this nor am I actually blaming the player as I don't believe its the players fault as he's always played 1 way and in the past when we played under Mancini and played possessive none quick football it worked and in spades.

My thoughts is, hes not getting any older now, on massive wages and doesn't fit into a system we need to play to break down teams like Leicester not to mention playing him actually weakens our defence as we could play a player instead who is willing to track back as even Aguero tracks back at times. Like I said this is not a shot at the player just the way he plays over the way we play right now and probably will be going into the future.

Vhero wrote:
My thoughts is, hes not getting any older now,

:) welcome back mate!

Pogba is the obvious choice. However I'd like to see us go for Koke. He won't cost us the £80 million that Pog would cost - and I still don't know the reason we didn't get him when he left the rags. But Koke is still young, he's got a engine, and he likes to spread the ball about.

We already have started, as Mase has mentioned Pogba is our target and has been for some time now. I do like Koke too from what I've seen, seems to have a good blend of graft and guile, seems ideally suited to the PL ( although I've thought that of others before that haven't worked out ).

@Mase, don't know if there's any truth to this but I heard Mancini put a block on the move for Pogba because he wanted Rodwell.

Pogba is a marquee signing for next summer without a doubt. I thought he was excellent against us at the etihad this season.

Wonderwall wrote:Pogba is a marquee signing for next summer without a doubt. I thought he was excellent against us at the etihad this season.

I'll tell you this , Pellegrini has zero input on who will come in from now till the summer......as sure as eggs are eggs , whoever the next manager is going to be, he would have already been in talks as to who he wants in etc.

Foreverinbluedreams wrote:We already have started, as Mase has mentioned Pogba is our target and has been for some time now. I do like Koke too from what I've seen, seems to have a good blend of graft and guile, seems ideally suited to the PL ( although I've thought that of others before that haven't worked out ).

@Mase, don't know if there's any truth to this but I heard Mancini put a block on the move for Pogba because he wanted Rodwell.

I forgot Rodwell 'played' for us! So much potential, but you've got to look at what he's done since moving...nothing.

Like you say; Koke puts himself about but also has a nice touch and guile. Would love him here.

Wonderwall wrote:Pogba is a marquee signing for next summer without a doubt. I thought he was excellent against us at the etihad this season.

If Juventus want £80m, then pay them. Simple as. He is the player to rule our midfield for the best part of the next decade. It's not as if we haven't the money, clout, balls, prestige or whatever else you need to sign top quality

yaya needs to be a sub now come on after 75 mins to give us another choice but NOT PLAY HIM ALL GAME he has no legs now, that showed yesterday

I'm sure Pogba will go to Barca.

Wonderwall wrote:Pogba is a marquee signing for next summer without a doubt. I thought he was excellent against us at the etihad this season.

He's got (a younger) Yaya's ability to bully people off the ball with his presence. I love that.

stevefromdonny wrote:yaya needs to be a sub now come on after 75 mins to give us another choice but NOT PLAY HIM ALL GAME he has no legs now, that showed yesterday

Anyone who would rather have Delph or Fernando in our midfield must be pissed or stupid.

All excellent points above and as much as I would love to have Pogba come to us in the summer it is far from certain. Apart form Koke, the only other decent central midfielder who ticks all if not most of the boxes is Thiago Alcantara of Bayern or Marco Verratti of PSG.

Apart from those I am struggling to think of too many more that could do the job and are reasonably young. Any other ideas, lads?

I agree that Yaya is now in the latter stages of his time with us. Pogba is the obvious choice as replacement & I've heard Koke mentioned before, although I have to bow to others as far as he's concerned as I haven't seen a lot of him.

Alcantara is an interesting call. Was it Guardiola who took him to Bayern? If Pep is rocking up at The Etihad in the summer they could come hand in hand. Bayern would want there piece of flesh though wouldn't they?

Mase wrote:I'm sure Pogba will go to Barca.

Be inclined to agree, wasn't he holding out for a transfer to barca in 2016.

ColinBell8 wrote:I agree that Yaya is now in the latter stages of his time with us. Pogba is the obvious choice as replacement & I've heard Koke mentioned before, although I have to bow to others as far as he's concerned as I haven't seen a lot of him.

Alcantara is an interesting call. Was it Guardiola who took him to Bayern? If Pep is rocking up at The Etihad in the summer they could come hand in hand. Bayern would want there piece of flesh though wouldn't they?

I think it was Pep who took him to Bayern mate and we would have to pay the money whatever the target is and costs. Sure as eggs is eggs, we definitely need that energy and vigour to be put in place for next season as we don't currently possess it.

I hear you. Seems we've been trying for two close seasons to find his replacement.

Pogba has been the primary target, and arguably Barkley was considered an option as well before his major injury in 2014.

2 close seasons ago we had FFP restrictions impeding our interest in Pogba (I think he might be here already without FFP restrictions).

Last summer, Barca came calling for him, and Juve was asking for an insane fee on top of it (£100+ mil), and it wasn't clear at all he'd even sign here due to Barca's interest if we met the price anyway.

I think Thiago is more likely, if Pep comes, but his injury record would be a concern.

No more players with injury records!! We will have to build a hospital and close the academy!!!

sheblue wrote:No more players with injury records!! We will have to build a hospital and close the academy!!!

There's already a hospital of sorts on the campus, the Manchester Institute of Health and Performance, not sure if it's opened yet?

Piccsnumberoneblue wrote:

stevefromdonny wrote:yaya needs to be a sub now come on after 75 mins to give us another choice but NOT PLAY HIM ALL GAME he has no legs now, that showed yesterday

Anyone who would rather have Delph or Fernando in our midfield must be pissed or stupid.

to be honest, I would rather be in the team then watch yaya walk all game, delph is younger and what I have seen he goes from one pen area to the other. and he wouldn't slow down the play as yaya does

Mase wrote:

Vhero wrote:
My thoughts is, hes not getting any older now,

:) welcome back mate!

Pogba is the obvious choice. However I'd like to see us go for Koke. He won't cost us the £80 million that Pog would cost - and I still don't know the reason we didn't get him when he left the rags. But Koke is still young, he's got a engine, and he likes to spread the ball about.

Crap! You saw that! I meant younger obviously hahaha. Koke would be a good shout but hes not done enough at top level like in the champions league like Pogba has yet. then again thats why he would be cheaper. Do we want more potential or do we want marquee and build up our own potential through the campus like Barca do? I think the answer is obvious.