“We have to improve that but if the solution was to play long balls, that would be easy. Four or five times building up we made clear chances.”
, Pep Guardiola – 07/08/2016.
Pre-Season Friendlies Player Round Up
Class Is Permanent; Aguero (8), De Bruyne (7), Fernandinho (7)
Young Guns; Iheanacho (6.5), Angelino (6.5), Gunn (6.5), Adarabioyo (6), A.Garcia (6), Barker (6), Zinchenko (5.5), Maffeo (5.5), Denayer (5), Celina (5), Bytqyi (5)
Solid Showing; Nolito (6.5), Silva (6), Toure (6), Navas (6), Sterling (5.5), Otamendi (5.5), Sagna (5.5), Delph (5.5)
Much More To Prove; Zabaleta (5), Fernando (5), Clichy (5), Kolorov (4.5), Cabellero (4.5), Hart (4.5), Mangala (4.5), Bony (4)
So City's stop/start pre-Season is over, and while the transfer-market chapter of the story has progressed well;
Ilkay Gundogan [Borussia Dortmund, £21m], Nolito [Celta Vigo, £13.8m], Oleksandr Zinchenko [FK Ufa, undisclosed], Aaron Mooy [Melbourne City, free], Leroy Sane [Schalke, £37m], Gabriel Jesus [Palmeiras, £27m], Marlos Moreno [Atletico Nacional, £4.75m]
bringing an intriguing mix of established Champions League level quality, with youthful attacking exuberance (all for the price of Paul Pogba's right thigh). The performances on the field have shown that the Pep revolution may be some time in the making.
The makings of something new and exciting are undoubtedly there. The work ethic is evident; focused pressing, and a willingness to retreat to an established solid formation as required. The technical intricacy, married to an intense pace of passing possession, was also evident, and at its best a joy to watch. But unfortunately, the City defensive self destruct button, has been brought out again and polished ready for a new season. Mostly, it has to be said, this is understandable. The defense has been a solid choice of experimental partnerships, and youth players. The fact the youth players have for the most part shown up their experienced colleagues is a concern, but you have to hope that for Sunderland, the experimentation will make way for some more conservative choices. At least until some confidence returns to the side in the defensive third.
The biggest worry is that none of the keepers (and Angus Gunn was otherwise excellent) have learnt distribution in the closed confines of the short passing game. I remain bewildered that Joe cannot think to pick the ball up and throw it, when he has such a range an accuracy on his throw, rather than rely on the two left feet he possesses to kick it out. At one stage (I think it was the Dortmund game) it was commented that 65% of the keepers distribution had been to an opposition player, and this is clearly a priority for next week. Fingers crossed.
@l0ngwayfr0mh0me
