• CanadianBirdo@fediverser.communick.devB
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    1 year ago

    If Man City can stay afloat until KDB comes back, it’s GG as their only slight weakness right now is attacking creativity. Also, unlike the majority of other top 10 teams, Man City has pretty good depth, besides CDM. Spurs, Arsenal, Liverpool to some extent, Villa, and Brighton are all one or two knocks away from slipping.

    • JinxLB@fediverser.communick.devB
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      1 year ago

      The better part of KDB’s career is over as far as I’m concerned. Recurring hamstring injury at 32… he won’t be able to string together enough games to have any meaningful impact at city ever again. It’s over for him unfortunately.

      • Mr_Rockmore@fediverser.communick.devB
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        1 year ago

        Lol this is such a bold take. I’m inclined to agree that he’s now going to be on a decline but ‘any meaningful impact’ is frankly a ridiculous thing to say, he will definitely be back this season and contributing to whichever of the remaining 3 comps City end up winning.

        • JinxLB@fediverser.communick.devB
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          1 year ago

          More than I think he’s given credit for. While he has incredible passing range and vision, he’s at his best when receiving the ball in space and charging forward at speed, holding off defenders, passing at full speed. Free roaming, finding the space between lines, quick on transition. Not necessarily agility, but absolutely power and strength. While he probably could get away with sitting deeper and picking out passes, that’s not at all what makes him the best midfielder in the world.

          • rolloj@fediverser.communick.devB
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            1 year ago

            100%, always shows who spends too much time playing fifa.

            Players like kdb are dump trucks in fifa but he’s always been extremely balanced and strong. Not the fastest acceleration ever but his speed is actually great, agility not bad either.

            He would still offer a lot without physicals, but that would be a very different player to the best kdb we’ve seen.

          • I--Pathfinder--I@fediverser.communick.devB
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            1 year ago

            Yeah I think of the second match against Arsenal last year, and the way he charged forward dominantly and scored a few goals and bagged an assist. unrelated but that game was on my birthday and city ending arsenals title hopes was pretty nice present (as much as i don’t like city).

          • LevynX@fediverser.communick.devB
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            1 year ago

            Yup, he’s not the Pirlo type who sits deep and launches passes. Of course he could always adapt his game to suit his physical abilities, but I feel like a CDM in Pep’s system needs a different skillset.

      • CanadianBirdo@fediverser.communick.devB
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        1 year ago

        It’s hard to say though because he’s much more of a technical player with superb passes and ridiculous vision. I don’t think he’ll be close to the same peak as last year, but simply feeding Haaland or Alverez a couple good balls could send Man City flying.

    • Brandaman@fediverser.communick.devB
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      1 year ago

      Brighton have already taken some injuries and look to be falling off.

      I actually disagree about Arsenal though… I think our depth is pretty good this season. The only caveat to that is multiple defensive injuries, as Tomiyasu is kinda backup for LB, CB, and RB.

      • CanadianBirdo@fediverser.communick.devB
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        1 year ago

        I think having Rice and Havertz both boost your depth by a great amount. I also think your defensive depth is slightly better than Spurs defensive depth as Tomiyasu is good quality, just stretched thin in the amount of spots he has to cover for. For us, we have decent fullback depth, but essentially zero CB depth.

        I think for any team to be title contenders to Man City though, a fair bit of luck will be 100% required in terms of injuries, though Man City do have some visible weaknesses in their midfield depth a bit.

        • Brandaman@fediverser.communick.devB
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          1 year ago

          Yeah - the biggest issue in years past has been when Partey has been injured, we’ve had no backup. Now we can choose between Rice and Partey, or both.

          Kiwior is forgotten about often in defence and has looked pretty solid at both LB and CB, and Timber should be back about March.

          We’ll see - pointless trying to predict it to be honest lol, it always ends up different

    • conanomatic@fediverser.communick.devB
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      1 year ago

      Ehh, if anyone is 1-2 injuries from being fucked it’s city. City really doesn’t have any where as much depth as they used to. All the players are incredible, but like if rodri gets injured they’re completely fucked. And they have almost no full back coverage either

    • shockzz123@fediverser.communick.devB
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      1 year ago

      Meh, we’ve had Jesus out for a time, Saka was out for the City game (and playing through injury for a bit), Martinelli only returned to starting yesterday (which was actually the first time we’ve started Gabi/Jesus/Saka all season), Trossard in and out the team because of injuries, Zinny missed the start of the season, Gabriel didn’t even play the first two games, Partey missing until the City game, Timber out for months, Saliba playing through injury…and yet we’re still in a good position and unbeaten in the league.

      Our depth is good. Mostly.

    • LevynX@fediverser.communick.devB
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      1 year ago

      Yeah, depth is what decides titles. That stretch of games starting December to February will decimate teams without proper depth and that’s usually where City will go on their 15 win streak and secure the league.

    • OrdoAmplexus@fediverser.communick.devB
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      1 year ago

      We already had that knock, with Solly March out injured, Lamptey injured, Estupinan injured, our fullback situation is fucked. Don’t forget Enciso injured either.

    • Chemical-Oil-9336@fediverser.communick.devB
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      1 year ago

      Liverpool has good depth. Nunez, Salah, Gakpo, Jota, Diaz for attacking options is fantastic. MacAllister, Szobo, Jones, Gravenberch, Elliott, Endo + Thiago, Bajcetic in midfield is okayish. Great 2 options with others needed to prove themselves. Vvd, Konate, Matip, Trent, Gomez, Robertson, Tsimikas is okayish for defense. More question about quality but already had Trent out, Gakpo out, VVd out and are having good season