afrodoc2:



In my opinion by signing Varane and Sancho we have closed the gap but they are still ahead. The reason why that DM is so important is because the kind of star players we have in attacking midfield makes it crucial for us to have someone who can play CDM alone.

It is a matter of personal opinion which is why i don't want to get too involved in this debate. It depends on how highly you rate each player.
When i look at Mata, James, Lingard, Dalot, Telles that is a large number of players that are just not up to the level we need right now IMO.

In saying this i am not hoping to protect Amaka. Everybody knows he is our weakest link but that does not mean i still can't believe City's squad is stronger.

Doc, rhe main issue is not whether City has a better squad or not, the issue is Pep can confidently put in a player and you wont notice it, Klopp played Elliot today, Tuchel played Chalobah 2 consecutive big games, there mustn't be like for like in quality before a manager make changes, fitness issues and form needs to be considered. Solskjaer can decide not to use Mata, Lingard and James as much, yet have plantiful options to call upon. That Pep made changes is not just a function of City's depth, it has something to do with Pep's tactical acumen. Ole has Sancho, Rashford, Martial, Greenwood and Cavani in attacking positions, there is enough embarrassment of talents to rotate freely, even Pogba can even play LW. He cant be complaining of lack of depth.

Nobody is saying we dont need a CDM, but can Ole get a solid 10/15 EPL games from Matic? Well spaced out to match his fitness? Mctoms or Fred can play there afterrall he knew his team strength before going into the season, Nobody will tell me that Ole earnestly needed another CDM and glazers refused to sign. Moreover we mustn't have 22 world class players to compete.

Can he get Mata to start 3/4 EPL games against very low opposition during the tight schedules to rest Bruno and co? Go and check the way Fergie uses his players in a season, Oshea, Fabio Brown Cleverly, Gibson, etc get games at the right time to ease off Vidic/Rio/Carrick/Fletcher, I remember clearly during 2008 and 2008 seasons G.Neviile is almost done but Fergie still start him in games, like 1 game per month or even 1 in 2 months. Saha returned from long term injury in 2008, Fergie found a role for him despite having many options in his position. Even he Ole himself returned from Injury in 2006, Fergie used him very sparingly but crucially due to his fitness and age, he scored some important goals. Ole will stick to a rule book, because he cant tactically tweak things, this is not a dig on him. This Utd team is as good as any team in the world the question is can the team be aplied properly?

patrickmuf:
What informed your rating?

Their quality and contribution in the last 2 years. And this is relative to the contribution of the top player for each position (who gets a 10).

In defense, we are better, in midfield, they edge it while we are better in attack...

This is wrong.

The only department where we're better is in defense. - CB and LB. And they're not far behind us there.

The gap is huge in midfield - They have way better quality squad depth at DM, CM and AM

In attack, they have the better quality squad depth but we're closer. (Just like the CB position)

Mrviktor:


So how do u fix the overload problem..

We know lingard is going to move on.. But then there is.

TIER 2
ELANGA.
CHONG.
AMAD.
JAMES.

TIER 1
GREENWOOD
RASHFORD
MARTIAL.
SANCHO


and only 2 can play.
Out of 8 players.

I think Chong, Amad and Lingard are going out either temporarily or permanent.

Chong may not even make it at senior level as a winger as his time in Birmingham city so far has seen him performing excellently in central midfield.

Elanga will contend with James for the backup LWF role (which i think he’ll come up tops long as he stays fit)

That leaves Rashford, James and Elanga which is a decent number of left wingers.

Patrickmuf you can bring your own ratings and the result will not change. City has the better quality squad depth than United does, especially in midfield.

And we've only closed the gap recently with the acquisition of Varane and Sancho.

TheLequte:


Their quality and contribution in the last 2 years. And this is relative to the contribution of the top player for each position (who gets a 10).



This is wrong.

The only department where we're better is in defense. - CB and LB. And they're not far behind us there.

The gap is huge in midfield - They have way better quality squad depth at DM, CM and AM

In attack, they have the better quality squad depth but we're closer. (Just like the CB position)

City have better Attackers than Man Utd? How? Nobody in City's attack is as good as Cavani. Sancho, Greenwood and Rashford are on Par with Mahrez, Sterling and Torress.

Do we really need to arguing this matter at all? Man City Squad Depth is far superior to ours. This is a fact, very clear for everyone to see.

If the Argument is on Liverpool or Chelsea Squad Depth, it's debatable, but Man City? Make una dey calm down abegi.

CapitalCee:


City have better Attackers than Man Utd? How? Nobody in City's attack is as good as Cavani. Sancho, Greenwood and Rashford are on Par with Mahrez, Sterling and Torress.

City has the better quality squad depth attack wise but we’re not far behind.

Full stop.

Do you disagree with the methods I used?

Some City players are average players, pep’s system makes those players look world class. We have bought more ready-made players in the last few years, yet, our fans/supporters are saying that City’s quality is higher. Also, we’ve signed lots of players in the last few years with most of them still around. Squad depth and quality are there, you guys are just trying to find an excuse for OGS, in case he doesn’t win anything.

It’s not fair on the owners and scouts spending and working respectively round the clock to bring in the players.

Oasis007:
Do we really need to arguing this matter at all? Man City Squad Depth is far superior to ours. This is a fact, very clear for everyone to see.

If the Argument is on Liverpool or Chelsea Squad Depth, it's debatable, but Man City? Make una dey calm down abegi.

You are just making a blanket comment without clear evidence to prove your point. Does Ole have enough quality to rotate around tight fixture? City's quality or depth doesn't invalidate that

TheLequte:


City has the better quality squad depth attack wise but we’re not far behind.

Full stop.

Do you disagree with the methods I used?

City might have overall better depth, not too far. But in attack we are superior, even considering Bruno is an attcking threat of world class proportion

nitrogen:
Some City players are average players, pep’s system makes those players look world class. We have bought more ready-made players in the last few years, yet, our fans/supporters are saying that City’s quality is higher. Also, we’ve signed lots of players in the last few years with most of them still around. Squad depth and quality are there, you guys are just trying to find an excuse for OGS, in case he doesn’t win anything.

It’s not fair on the owners and scouts spending and working respectively round the clock to bring in the players.

it's always a two way street when you make blanket conclusions like this.
like someone already pointed out, every debate here ends up on an Ole baseline which becomes boring.
conclusion can also be made from the other angle, which is you are trying to overrate the squad quality, should in case they win something then you can say the quality was responsible and OGS didn't do anything

CapitalCee:


City might have overall better depth, not too far. But in attack we are superior, even considering Bruno is an attcking threat of world class proportion

With the addition of Sancho I’m inclined to agree with your point. If we pick the best of the best, we’re better attack wise.

However if you think about quality squad depth, City just about edges United. And in the long run it’s quality squad depth that matters, not the starting XI.

Because if the best attacker of both teams gets injured, loses form or gets fatigued, we know who’s going to suffer more.

TheLequte:
Patrickmuf you can bring your own ratings and the result will not change. City has the better quality squad depth than United does, especially in midfield.

And we've only closed the gap recently with the acquisition of Varane and Sancho.

Is midfield the only area of the pitch? Defense and attack counts for nothing because we are better in those departments abi?

TheLequte:


With the addition of Sancho I’m inclined to agree with your point. If we pick the best of the best, we’re better attack wise.

However if you think about quality squad depth, City just about edges United. And in the long run it’s quality squad depth that matters, not the starting XI.

Because if the best attacker of both teams gets injured, loses form or gets fatigued, we know who’s going to suffer more.

Show us the respective 2nd teams like I did and let's see City's 2nd string attack compared to ours...Blanket statement shouldn't suffice but reality...

Capitalcee

The midfield is where the worry is.

There’s a reason no one is debating the gulf in quality between both teams in that department.

nitrogen:
Some City players are average players, pep’s system makes those players look world class. We have bought more ready-made players in the last few years, yet, our fans/supporters are saying that City’s quality is higher. Also, we’ve signed lots of players in the last few years with most of them still around. Squad depth and quality are there, you guys are just trying to find an excuse for OGS, in case he doesn’t win anything.

It’s not fair on the owners and scouts spending and working respectively round the clock to bring in the players.

Lmaooooo... mentioned earlier that this was the real root of all these claim about United and City being on par.

Didn’t take long to spout it.

If Afrodoc didn’t halt the claim of McTom being on par with Rodri, you guys would have ridden on that too. Continue twisting stuff to fit.

ChristineC:
it's always a two way street when you make blanket conclusions like this.
like someone already pointed out, every debate here ends up on an Ole baseline which becomes boring.
conclusion can also be made from the other angle, which is you are trying to overrate the squad quality, should in case they win something then you can say the quality was responsible and OGS didn't do anything

Lol He is trying to overrated the squad quality just so he doesn't give prop to Ole...Isn't that line a pointer that you're for Ole?

Kindly rate our defense, midfield and attack compared to City...

GloryIsaac:


Lmaooooo... mentioned earlier that this was the real root of all these claim about United and City being on par.

Didn’t take long to spout it. Continue.

Oga you have thus far not shown us how City are better than United...

Defense?

Midfield?

Attack?

ChristineC:
it's always a two way street when you make blanket conclusions like this.
like someone already pointed out, every debate here ends up on an Ole baseline which becomes boring.
conclusion can also be made from the other angle, which is you are trying to overrate the squad quality, should in case they win something then you can say the quality was responsible and OGS didn't do anything

patrickmuf:
Oga you have thus far not shown us how City are better than United...

Defense?

Midfield?

Attack?

If you still can’t see the point, Good luck.

patrickmuf:
Show us the respective 2nd teams like I did and let's see City's 2nd string attack compared to ours...Blanket statement shouldn't suffice but reality...

That’s not a blanket statement. That’s reality.

Comparing either team’s first or second team is erroneous. That’s why I said you don’t get it.

Why would you play your “second team” alone when your first team players are also available?

No manager fields their second team alone. They only do so in special situations- like if the opposition is of very lower quality or some other reason.

What they usually do is make few changes so that there isn’t too much drop in quality.

I seriously don’t get the idea of comparing first or second team alone. It’s so very erroneous and doesn’t even compare the quality between both teams.

GloryIsaac:


Lmaooooo... mentioned earlier that this was the real root of all these claim about United and City being on par.

Didn’t take long to spout it.

If Afrodoc didn’t halt the claim of McTom being on par with Rodri, you guys would have ridden on that too. Continue twisting stuff to fit.

You can't take the boy from his toys, can you ?

Na Sancho and varane acquisition cause this nonsence Sha.

KingAlabi:

You can't take the boy from his toys, can you ?

These guys legit almost made it seem like McTom can match Rodri... like as if we all don’t watch football. Like, I kept wondering how on earth McTom is on par with Rodri.

If Doc didn’t trash it immediately, they would have ridden on it. That alone shows the dishonesty in their perspective.

Even Bruno Fernandes is now like any squad player.. Magnifico in the mud

Sancho and Varane have hardly kicked a ball... but anything to add weight to their argument

patrickmuf:
Is midfield the only area of the pitch? Defense and attack counts for nothing because we are better in those departments abi?

In defense, we are ahead but they are not far behind. In attack they are ahead but we are close behind.

You can say we’re “close to each other” in attack and defense but that midfield, we are way behind them. It’s clear for all to see.

GloryIsaac:


These guys legit almost made it seem like McTom can match Rodri... like as if we all don’t watch football. Like, I kept wondering how on earth McTom is on par with Rodri.

If Doc didn’t trash it immediately, they would have ridden on it. That alone shows the dishonesty in their perspective.

Even Bruno Fernandes is now like any squad player.. Magnifico in the mud

Lolz

E get some arguments that are not worth going into, nobody in that team can do what Bruno does from that AM role, nobody!!!!!!!!!.
An injury to him won't necessarily spell doom, but the drop in quality will be world-class.

For the McT and Rodri debate, na who no know ball go talk that rubbish, even current matic (except on his day) isn't better than Rodri.

patrickmuf:
Lol He is trying to overrated the squad quality just so he doesn't give prop to Ole...Isn't that line a pointer that you're for Ole?

Kindly rate our defense, midfield and attack compared to City...

you either didn't understand my comment or didn't want to understand it.
anyways, the board has given the manager another bite, let's see how fervently he masticates this time.