Possible City squad for 2010/11
Next season sees the Premier League adopt new rules regarding squad sizes, and makes it’s worth having a look at what City’s squad might look like. These days a first choice 11 are rarely fit and available at the same time, so the importance of the squad is far greater, particularly when regularly playing mid-week.
With the Europa League to contend with, City could play 60 plus games in the season. No-one is going to play every game. 30 something games should be the optimum for any player, as Ferguson as shown with his squad rotation over recent years.
The new rules limit a squad to 25 senior players, with an unlimited number of U-21 players. Of the 25 seniors, 8 must be “home grown”. To qualify as home grown, a player must have spent 3 years playing in this country prior to being 21. For example, Shay Given and Stephen Ireland would therefore qualify.
Looking at the possible make-up of the squad gives a clearer insight on where Mancini might be looking to bring in new players, and who may be considered surplus to requirements.
Below is a speculative take on how it might look, with possible new signings. Players are listed in their primary positions, with their secondary ones in brackets.
Goalkeepers:
- Joe Hart (home grown).
- Shay Given (home grown).
- Stuart Taylor (home grown). Gunnar Nielsen could be an alternative.
Full backs:
- Pablo Zabaleta (also midfield, left-back).
- Wayne Bridge (home grown).
- New left back – David Luiz (also central defence).
- New right back – Leonardo Bonucci. This position may be occupied by Boateng or Micah Richards.
Central defenders:
- Vincent Kompany (also midfield).
- Joleon Lescott (home grown).
- Kolo Toure.
- Nedum Onuoha (home grown, also right-back).
- New central defender – Jerome Boateng (also right-back)
Central midfielders:
- Gareth Barry (home grown).
- Nigel de Jong.
- Michael Johnson (home grown).
- New defensive midfielder – Yaya Toure, Javi MartÃnez, Fernando Gago, Mathieu Flamini, Lassana Diarra.
Creative midfielders:
- Stephen Ireland (home grown).
- New creative midfielder – James Milner (home grown, also winger), Steven Gerrard (home grown), Marek Hamsek, Mesut Ozil, Yoann Gourcuff.
Wingers:
- Adam Johnson (home grown).
- Craig Bellamy (home grown).
- Shaun Wright-Phillips (home grown).
- New winger – David Silva, Angel Di Maria.
Strikers:
- Emmanuel Adebayor (If sold, then Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Gonzalo Higuin, Mario Balotelli (also winger)).
- Carlos Tevez.
- New striker to replace Santa Cruz – Edzin Dzeko.
Additional U-21 players:
- Vladimir Weiss (possible loanee).
- Dedryck Boyata (possible loanee).
- Alex Nimely.
- David Ball.
- Abdisalam Ibrahim.
- Gregory Cunningham.
- Andrew Tutte.
- Karl Moore.
- Ryan McGivern (possible loanee).
Resulting departures:
- Gunnar Nielsen or Stuart Taylor.
- David Gonzalez.
- Kelvin Etuhu (home grown).
- Micah Richards (home grown).
- Martin Petrov.
- Javier Garrido.
- Roque Santa Cruz.
- Patrick Vieira.
- Sylvinho.
- Javan Vidal (home grown).
- Robinho.
- Jo.
- Felipe Caicedo.
- Valeri Bojinov.
- Shaleum Logan (home grown).
- Benjani.
That’s 16 out and 7 in! Fitting the current players in with the positions we’re looking to strengthen throws up some interesting results.
For example, if we’re to sign Jerome Boateng and a new right back who’s strong in attacking, then it’s difficult to see how both Micah Richards and Nedum Onuoha can be accommodated. Particularly now that Zabaleta has established himself under Mancini.
Likewise, talk of both Bellamy and Wright-Phillips departing appears unlikely unless we bring in a host of wingers. Edzin Dzeko appears more likely to replace Santa Cruz as a target man than Adebayor.
There have been numerous creative players linked with City, but signing more than one may only be possible if Ireland departs, or if they can play down the flanks.
Talk of new contracts to Vieira and Sylvinho would complicate the squad even more as they’re unlikely to play regularly. Mancini likes to play two central midfielders with defensive qualities and could look to make a second addition. It will be interesting to see if Michael Johnson makes the 25 as one of four or five central midfielders.
It looks like we may see some signings this week, so I’ll look to update this list as and when they arrive.
- Who would be in your 25 senior players?
Andrew
30 May 2010 - 9:33 pm
And you expect Ireland to stay why exactly?
Andrew
30 May 2010 - 9:37 pm
And Bellamy for that matter?
Falastur
30 May 2010 - 9:42 pm
I’d find it unlikely that Stuart Taylor’s contract will be extended (it ends next month) but in fairness you compensated for it with Gunnar Nielsen.
Blue Days
30 May 2010 - 9:52 pm
Bellamy has his admirers amongst other managers, but I don’t see Daniel Levy or any other chairman willing to pay a sizeable fee (£8-10m) and possibly break their wage structure to give him what he’s on at City. Not for someone the wrong side of 30, whose knees can’t play twice a week, who will have little resale value.
The media love to speculate about Bellamy, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll move.
As for Ireland, he could go if he really wants to, but supposedly people at the club would prefer him to stay. Apparently he’s just off on a four week holiday, so nothing is likely to happen till after that. If Ireland does go, then it would free up another place, and the players we’re being linked with all look tempting!
The list is a subjective selection, and I’ve gone on the fact that in the past there’s always a lot more players supposedly set to leave than actually do. 16 out seemed like plenty!
Blue Tit
30 May 2010 - 11:27 pm
Not even remotely close to what is likely to happen – you’ve been reading too much rubbish in the press & just brought it all together
Micah Donaghy
31 May 2010 - 6:30 am
I think the interesting question is…what will become of Mr Barry? Mancini has said he wants to sign a midfielder who can score. If we sign another creative midfielder, and/or a defensive one, the pressure will increase on Gareth Barry, because, let’s face it he’s neither one nor t’other. He started well but has failed to be a game changer in any respect from the middle. He’s gone back into the “water carrier” mode he occupied for most of his previous career when not getting an England call-up. Just a thought…
Abhishek
31 May 2010 - 7:02 am
you have clearly taken 10-12 names which would have no chance of coming to city. city are a big club only “money”wise. if they are keeping their targets so high then i think they will be disappointed more often. If city want to become a superclub they need to adapt to a style of play and not rely on the big name players for their flair. with the kind of backroom staff at city it will be really difficult for city to win anything in the coming years. some comments and the players they are after are just laughable….be realistic guys…..
Blue Days
31 May 2010 - 10:12 am
Ashishek, granted some are unlikely, such as Gerrard who if he’s goes anywhere will likely end up at Real.
I’ve used the names which the more reliable media have said we’re looking at. The club are aiming high and may well have to take some second choices, but I’m optimistic we’ll see a few of these names sign up and quite possibly one or two others yet to be mentioned.
Abhishek
31 May 2010 - 10:59 am
to a certain extent i can agree that city are keeping their ambitions high. but clearly it seems too farfetched to expect players like di maria, ibrahimovic, david luiz, yaya toure to sign up who by the way are playing at the peak of their abilities. city are still rebuilding and i think it is going to take atleast 2 more yrs to really go for the title. tell me frankly how many city fans think that city is going to win the premier league next season? according to me, it seems that city do not have a plan in mind. they are just going after big names. i just dont want to see city go down the same path that leeds went.
poor little scousers
31 May 2010 - 2:40 pm
by adding that leeds united comment you have exposed your self as clueless
man city have set there sights at the very top of world football
there will be ups and downs on the way
we shall get some big players some we won’t
yes city pay over the odds for the marquee signings but once we get a few and start winning trophys then other players will want to sign for us and play along side the marquee signings
jackson
31 May 2010 - 4:35 pm
Man city will become champion for 5 consecutive years as from next year
Abhishek
31 May 2010 - 5:59 pm
which marquee signings are u talking about? do you know 5 players who will be in the city line up next season? i bet u dont know, that is the reality. there has to be some framework to attract big names and i think sadly man city dont have it at the moment. FYI torres, gerrard, even di maria ie 30mil+ are big names and not ozil, hamsik etc.
Dave
1 June 2010 - 12:51 pm
Is it just e but why are we being linked with attacking midfielders when we have one but we don’t use him because mancini is a defensive manager
man city fan
29 June 2010 - 12:56 pm
i can see yayatoure dejong barry in the starting line-up its just logical barry plays a leftback with an attacking mentality while dejong anchor man and boateng is on defensive minded >>>when city attack there are 4 players defending and i can see kompany covering the left back when barry is off to attack
given – boateng-toure-kompany-barry
dejong
a.johnson yayatoure bellamy
d.silva
tevez