Bye bye (Squad Cull with Poll)

[Alioune DVToure]

Realistically, we can expect to see a new full-back for each side arrive in the summer. That puts all four of the incumbents under threat. I've never been Clichy's biggest fan and Zabs looks half the player he was 18 months ago, so I can see those two being the ones shifted on. Kolarov carries a threat and Sagna has been pretty solid all season.

Mangala and Otamendi have played well together as of late, and the former in particular has come on a lot. I thought he was excellent last night.

Those calling for Nasri to be binned off are mad. We carry a much greater threat with him in the team/squad - especially against teams that are tough to break down.

[iwasthere2012]

I reckon you won't see an immediate clearout, but by the end if Pep's first year you will see anyone who can't pass a ball marginalized.
The likes of Fernando, Mangala and dare I say it Sterling, will be in the spotlight. If Pep can make anything of them I'll be impressed.
Sterling has been the biggest disappointment. For a kid with so much potential, he's a wimp and has no first touch. He's the one more than any of them that I want to see Pep do his magic on to prove me wrong.

Others will go for all the reasons mentioned by all of you. Age catching up. Some of them will be our favourite players, but life moves on.

[branny]

Kolarov can go. Only thing he ever did was score a few and that's stopped.

Apart from the other week when he scored arguably our best goal of the season..

Mase I get he is your fave player but he has to go mate he is fucking awful as a fullback.

I think he will go mate. We need a solid left-back that can defend and with Pep they'll need to attack as well when needed. As I've said above, I think both him and Clichy will go. We can do better than both.

This. Scores the odd screamer. Usually hits row z.

[john@staustell]

Mangala and Otamendi have played well together as of late, and the former in particular has come on a lot. I thought he was excellent last night.

Those calling for Nasri to be binned off are mad. We carry a much greater threat with him in the team/squad - especially against teams that are tough to break down.

I'm hoping in a way that Otamendi is resting a bit of a knock. Otherwise playing Kompany was another of those complacency 'oh we're only playing Newcastle lets give Vinny some playing time' decisions. Ota and the Mangler are just getting the hang of it and Kompany was absolutely dire.

I always said we missed Nasri.

[sheblue]

I don't believe there will be a massive cull, its not possible.
Can see four certs gone.
1. MDM, he was a good signing for the money but legs gone now.
2.YAYA probably will be gone on or before the day Pep arrives.
3. kolarov can go has a decent left foot but wont ever stick it out to try and block a cross, not really a left back.
4. Bony, just doesn't seem its ever going to work for him, not in the way we play and not the way Pep plays.
Fernando is the possible 5th.

Cant understand people wanting Nasri gone, still a fine footballer with a huge amount to give, can see Pep keeping him Navas and Silva.
Not so sure about Zabba, next season might be his last.

[nottsblue]

I don't believe there will be a massive cull, its not possible.
Can see four certs gone.
1. MDM, he was a good signing for the money but legs gone now.
2.YAYA probably will be gone on or before the day Pep arrives.
3. kolarov can go has a decent left foot but wont ever stick it out to try and block a cross, not really a left back.
4. Bony, just doesn't seem its ever going to work for him, not in the way we play and not the way Pep plays.
Fernando is the possible 5th.

Cant understand people wanting Nasri gone, still a fine footballer with a huge amount to give, can see Pep keeping him Navas and Silva.
Not so sure about Zabba, next season might be his last.

Tend to agree with this. I also don't think there will be a massive cull immediately. It would be too much disruption. The four mentioned are surely certainties to go. I think one or two possibly extra may go and it could be a name we weren't necessarily expecting

[PeterParker]

Navas can be a massive impact sub under Pep. Same as Ellen, who looks like he has hunger in coming back to the big level he was.

The rest can go, including Kompany.

[Wonderwall]

this is the first team squad according to the OS and I have taken out Dzeko and Jovetic, I will put a poll up so people can vote on who will be gone this summer

Willy Caballero
Joe Hart
Richard Wright
Gael Clichy
Nicolas Otamendi
Martin Demichelis
Jason Denayer
Aleksandar Kolarov
Vincent Kompany
Eliaquim Mangala
Bacary Sagna
Pablo Zabaleta
Fabian Delph
Kevin De Bruyne
Fernando
Fernandinho
Jesus Navas
Samir Nasri
David Silva
Raheem Sterling
Yaya Toure
Bruno Zuculini
Sergio Aguero
Wilfried Bony
Kelechi Iheanacho

[branny]

I don't believe there will be a massive cull, its not possible.
Can see four certs gone.
1. MDM, he was a good signing for the money but legs gone now.
2.YAYA probably will be gone on or before the day Pep arrives.
3. kolarov can go has a decent left foot but wont ever stick it out to try and block a cross, not really a left back.
4. Bony, just doesn't seem its ever going to work for him, not in the way we play and not the way Pep plays.
Fernando is the possible 5th.

Cant understand people wanting Nasri gone, still a fine footballer with a huge amount to give, can see Pep keeping him Navas and Silva.
Not so sure about Zabba, next season might be his last.

Maybe not initially but i'll wager a bet that there's not many left when Pep's 3 year deal is up for renewal.

[Hazy2]

Not sure what to make of the Otter. never seen the things he does, like lie down and dive. He is not what I expected, and certainly not the usual Argentinian centre back who smashes everything and can also play. Same for Mango, both have so much to work on, it is staggering to think what we paid for them both.

[Ray78]

Caballero, either Clichy or Kolarov,Demichelis, Mangala (as much as I want him to be given at least one season under Guardiola we are lining up a replacement in Laporte),Denayer (he isn't playing regularly at Galatasaray and there aren't going to be many opportunities at city and we will get a good fee with him signing a new deal at the start of the season), Zaba (one of the surprise departures but injuries have caught up with him), Fernando (same as Mangala),Yaya and Bony.

[blues2win]

Rag alert. Someone voted for Sergio. Our leading goal scorer!

[freshie]

Which knobhead voted Aguero?

[Hazy2]

That would have been Bony.

[dave watson's perm]

Which knobhead voted Aguero?

My money is on Tarka and Phips

[Ray78]

Kun is one of the hardest players to replace.

[nottsblue]

Kun is one of the hardest players to replace.

I would think Yaya might actually be the hardest. Not the Yaya of this season, but the Yaya of old. A real powerhouse who dictated play, sprayed the ball like he was shelling peas and scored goals, lots of them. A proper big game player.

Not many of those in world football. Aguero would be expensive to replace, not necessarily difficult. Thirty goal a year forwards aren't as rare as the Yaya of old, they just cost a lot of money

[Wonderwall]

Kun is one of the hardest players to replace.

I would think Yaya might actually be the hardest. Not the Yaya of this season, but the Yaya of old. A real powerhouse who dictated play, sprayed the ball like he was shelling peas and scored goals, lots of them. A proper big game player.

Not many of those in world football. Aguero would be expensive to replace, not necessarily difficult. Thirty goal a year forwards aren't as rare as the Yaya of old, they just cost a lot of money

Yaya of old was a gem and I agree will be very difficult to replace if possible, only Pogba fits the bill and he will cost a few pennies.

[Alioune DVToure]

Does nobody else see KDB as the long-term replacement for 2011-14 era #10 Yaya? This is the role he's occupied since coming back from injury and he's done it masterfully.

[nottsblue]

Does nobody else see KDB as the long-term replacement for 2011-14 era #10 Yaya? This is the role he's occupied since coming back from injury and he's done it masterfully.

He is not as deep lying as Yaya could be. KDBs best work is in the final third. He doesn't influene games in midfield the way Yaya used to. In that final third though, he is a superstar in the making. I would see KDB as the replacement of Silva myself