City in ADVANCED talks with Dzeko [merged]

[brite blu sky]

Whilst I can kind of understand people getting excited about him signing in time for the Arsenal game... who will he replace?

Tevez or Balotelli??

Balotelli might have a knock. Either of them could be subbed at 60mins onwards. Mancini could play Balotelli, and play Tevez off Dzeko and leave out someone from the midfield.. shock horror!

[Florida Blue]

Whilst I can kind of understand people getting excited about him signing in time for the Arsenal game... who will he replace?

Tevez or Balotelli??

Neither, play Dzeko with Jo.....

How about Mario and Carlos with Dzako in at 60 min for one of them?

[Blue Blood]

Whilst I can kind of understand people getting excited about him signing in time for the Arsenal game... who will he replace?

Tevez or Balotelli??

Neither, play Dzeko with Jo.....

How about Mario and Carlos with Dzako in at 60 min for one of them?

How about just Jo....?

[Florida Blue]

Whilst I can kind of understand people getting excited about him signing in time for the Arsenal game... who will he replace?

Tevez or Balotelli??

Neither, play Dzeko with Jo.....

How about Mario and Carlos with Dzako in at 60 min for one of them?

How about just Jo....?

Now that you mention it, Mancini has done some strange things this year, it would be inline.

[TheGOAT]

---------HART--------
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ZAB KOLO VINCE KOL
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--------DE JONG------
-----YAYA---BARRY---
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----TEVEZ--DZEKO----

WOW

[DoomMerchant]

Whilst I can kind of understand people getting excited about him signing in time for the Arsenal game... who will he replace?

Tevez or Balotelli??

I think he replaces Balo if he were to play in that match. I'd honestly tho rather see Balo and Tevez play together in that match to start. Wouldn't you?

cheers

[Sister of fu]

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ZAB KOLO VINCE KOL
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--------DE JONG------
-----YAYA---BARRY---
---------SILVA---------
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----TEVEZ--DZEKO----

WOW

Its shite being a City fan.................:-)

[Blue Blood]

---------HART--------
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ZAB KOLO VINCE KOL
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--------DE JONG------
-----YAYA---BARRY---
---------SILVA---------
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----TEVEZ--DZEKO----

WOW

Not bad... not quite the Pearce team of a few years ago but we are progressing well.... ;D

[Manx Blue]

Haven't we got a full 25 at the moment, or is it only 24? If its 25, someone will ned to be shipped out or "de-activated" before he can play

[King Kev]

Haven't we got a full 25 at the moment, or is it only 24? If its 25, someone will ned to be shipped out or "de-activated" before he can play

I don't think we need to worry about that. I am pretty sure we will be seeing some departures over the next few weeks that will free up some space in the squad.

I'm not claiming to be ITK, I just have a feeling..

[Swales4ever]

Whilst I can kind of understand people getting excited about him signing in time for the Arsenal game... who will he replace?

Tevez or Balotelli??

I have been said and felt since the preseason that the finished article will be 4-2-3-1 as follow:
2 holding mids out of NdJ - GB - YT - JM
3 roaming "playmakers" - mainly DS - CT - MB with AJ on the ramp for steady rotation
Dzeko playing as Ted has summed up above with the usual eloquence.
I'm not saying it will come "now" as Bob may still be living the "coward mood", nor that it will the fixed style for every game, but that will be the most used line up come next august. We have seen a "forced" taste of it in the second half against the Goluns.
Then, as it always had been with the Mancio's sides, it will always be a fluid matter, depending on oppositions and team form, with not rare switches to 4-3-3 and 4-4-2 diamond, but mark my words - that will be the formation that will bring the next League Title to CoMS.

[john@staustell]

Whilst I can kind of understand people getting excited about him signing in time for the Arsenal game... who will he replace?

Tevez or Balotelli??

Cant see him starting at Arsenal, unless Bobby has identified him as a specific terror to Arsenal's dodgy centre backs.

But if Mancini went into the second half of the season with only 2 top strikers we'd call him insane. Where are we if Balotelli is suspended and Tevez on another mission of some sort? Fucked that's what.

Mancini had a lot of strikers at Inter and it worked for them. As it is our 4th will be Jo FFS so you cant argue there's no room for Dzeko!!

[Im_Spartacus]

---------HART--------
------------------------
ZAB KOLO VINCE KOL
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--------DE JONG------
-----YAYA---BARRY---
---------SILVA---------
-------------------------
----TEVEZ--DZEKO----

WOW

All well and good, but that would be like an England team - square pegs in round holes, accommodating "names" rather than a system to play to. If we are gonna sign a big cunt to play up front, why on earth would you not have a player who can beat a man and cross it. That team would have exactly the same problems we faced with every other team who parked the bus at eastlands.

I think the defence you name is a given, but for the midfield / attack I think this is what we will be seeing - with Balotelli & Dzeko fighting it out to be the main striker & Tevez dropping off

---------De Jong--Toure-------
Milner-----Tevez---------Silva
------Dzeko/Balotelli----------

I think De Jong could, despite his excellent season miss out a fair bit at home in favour of an extra striker, as to be honest i'm not all that sure that we miss him, certainly not against the lower teams - we have had no problem at all dominating play and winning/keeping posession in most games we have played at home - it has just been putting the ball in the onion bag that's caused the problem, and I see him contribute zero towards that aim.

[Slim]

I am thinking still in a 4-3-3 but where Yaya has been playing the more advanced role, Tevez will slot in nicely playing off the shoulder of Dzeko. This does leave us with 2 spots for Yaya, Barry and De Jong, which is a nice problem to have but it becomes all about balance.

[brite blu sky]

I think De Jong could, despite his excellent season miss out a fair bit at home in favour of an extra striker, as to be honest i'm not all that sure that we miss him, certainly not against the lower teams - we have had no problem at all dominating play and winning/keeping posession in most games we have played at home - it has just been putting the ball in the onion bag that's caused the problem, and I see him contribute zero towards that aim.

While i agree that in some games we could do without Nige i would counter that he doesn't contribute to goal making. His was the lofted crossfield pass to AJ that set him off to get the penalty for the 4th. DeJong is looking more and more for the forward ball and is getting better at it, so while i am being a bit pedantic it is a bit harsh on Nige to suggest he does nothing towards the attacking threat.

Ultimately the whole thing is about balance and improvement.. not very long ago DeJong was getting slaughtered for never making a forward pass at all, now he is jinking players in the midfield and playing the ball out on a regular basis. By that gauge he could well continue to develop as the team does and improve again his all round game.

Besides we know damn well that Mancini will set the team up horses for courses depending on the opposition.

[Im_Spartacus]

I think De Jong could, despite his excellent season miss out a fair bit at home in favour of an extra striker, as to be honest i'm not all that sure that we miss him, certainly not against the lower teams - we have had no problem at all dominating play and winning/keeping posession in most games we have played at home - it has just been putting the ball in the onion bag that's caused the problem, and I see him contribute zero towards that aim.

While i agree that in some games we could do without Nige i would counter that he doesn't contribute to goal making. His was the lofted crossfield pass to AJ that set him off to get the penalty for the 4th. DeJong is looking more and more for the forward ball and is getting better at it, so while i am being a bit pedantic it is a bit harsh on Nige to suggest he does nothing towards the attacking threat.

Ultimately the whole thing is about balance and improvement.. not very long ago DeJong was getting slaughtered for never making a forward pass at all, now he is jinking players in the midfield and playing the ball out on a regular basis. By that gauge he could well continue to develop as the team does and improve again his all round game.

Besides we know damn well that Mancini will set the team up horses for courses depending on the opposition.

Yes, I probably was being a touch harsh

[CITYSTEVEDON]

what ever transfers in, i want them to be done before the leicester game, i dont want us to be fucking about with only a couple of days left in the window. DO THEM NOW CITY

[Tokyo Blue]

Is Dzeko any good? I have never seen him play.

[Im_Spartacus]

Is Dzeko any good? I have never seen him play.

I'd wager hardly anyone on here aside from those with a genuine knowledge and interest in German football has a clue. I'll admit I know very little about him except that he has a good scoring record and is a big bastard. Cue, "has a great touch for a big man" comments week after week, meaning he couldnt trap a bag of sand.

I've been happy with most of the signings the club have made recently, and if it is felt that he is an upgrade on Adebayor & RSC then i'm happy to trust the club's judgement

[Ted Hughes]

Is Dzeko any good? I have never seen him play.

I'd wager hardly anyone on here aside from those with a genuine knowledge and interest in German football has a clue. I'll admit I know very little about him except that he has a good scoring record and is a big bastard. Cue, "has a great touch for a big man" comments week after week, meaning he couldnt trap a bag of sand.

I've been happy with most of the signings the club have made recently, and if it is felt that he is an upgrade on Adebayor & RSC then i'm happy to trust the club's judgement

I don't think Dzeko will be looked on by commentators as a typical 'big man' as his touch is excellent. He's a very good footballer on the deck & can score with both feet.