Manchester City: Claudio Bravo and defence to go, Raheem Sterling to stay
GOALKEEPERS
Claudio Bravo -- GO
Should everything really fall apart for Guardiola this season, this will be the decision that defines him. Signed at least partly for his ability to start attacks with his feet, his shot-stopping (a fairly basic requirement for a keeper) has been so bad that the negatives far outweigh any ball-playing positives.
Willy Caballero - STAY
A perfectly competent back-up to a main goalkeeper, but not better. Worth keeping around as a No. 2, but only as that.
DEFENDERS
Bacary Sagna - WAIT
Undoubtedly past his best, as many of City's defenders are, but could be worth keeping due to his versatility. He can play across the backline and has plenty of experience but, if youngster Pablo Maffeo's development continues as planned, Sagna might be usurped anyway.
Vincent Kompany -- WAIT
By some distance still City's best defender, but Kompany's fitness just cannot be relied upon. He's completed 90 minutes just once this season, and appeared in just over third of City's games last term. If City had significantly better alternatives it would probably be time to cut him loose; alas, they don't.
Pablo Zabaleta -- STAY
Similar to Sagna, City's second longest-serving player (after Kompany) has seen better days, but still has some life in him. Guardiola has experimented with playing Zabaleta as a midfielder this season, and, while he's no Philipp Lahm, it's a move that could extend his usefulness.
Aleksandar Kolarov -- GO
It's remarkable that Kolarov, who has now been at City for six-and-a-half years, has survived this long and won two Premier League titles. Perhaps more remarkable that he's now playing as a centre-back. Surely, at some point, somebody could/should have discovered a better alternative.
Gael Clichy -- GO
While Sagna and Zabaleta might get some clemency, Clichy is surely no longer a viable option for a serious title-challenging side. The 31-year-old has veered close to being a liability, if not actually being one in recent weeks, and is causing more problems than he solves.
John Stones -- STAY
These are still early days in the City career of Stones, and his ability is clear. It would be foolish in the extreme to give up on the £50m man now, before he has had the chance to smooth off his rough edges and achieve his potential.
Nicolas Otamendi -- GO
It seems surreal that for quite a long time, City faced a scrap to get Otamendi, a defender wanted by several clubs a couple of summers ago. They might be regretting making the effort now, given his inability to resist diving recklessly into tackles when a more considered option would suffice.
MIDFIELDERS
Fernando -- GO
With some defensive midfielders, frequent anonymity means they're underrated, but for Fernando it broadly means that his lack of quality isn't noticed quite as much. City can, and should, do better.
Fernandinho -- STAY
One of the few unqualified successes of Txiki Begiristain's purchases, Fernandinho is among the best at his job in the Premier League, even if this season has seen a few disciplinary issues. If he wasn't needed so much in midfield, he'd be a better option than most of their defenders.
Ilkay Gundogan -- STAY
Desperately unlucky with injuries, Gundogan has shown glimpses of how good he can be, but his fitness has curtailed his first season at City, just as it did his last at Borussia Dortmund.
Fabian Delph -- WAIT
Alas, the prophecies of those who suggested that another young English player would not be a success have broadly proved true. Still, Delph is a perfectly decent midfielder, and might be worth keeping around as a squad option.
Yaya Toure -- WAIT
In the summer it looked as if there was no way back for Yaya Toure after his agent's dislike of Guardiola impinged on his career. Now, he's back, and while he's not the magnificent Toure of old, he still has a role. Whether that role should continue beyond this season is another matter.
Kevin De Bruyne -- STAY
An outrageous talent, De Bruyne is up there with the best players in the league, and one that City should build their plans around for years to come.
Leroy Sane -- STAY
Still just 21, Sane's start to his Manchester City career has been a little sluggish, but he has showed enough to suggest he's certainly worth persisting with.
Jesus Navas -- GO
Wednesday was the third anniversary of Jesus Navas's last league goal for City, and it's just over a year since he got one in any competition. When Manuel Pellegrini left in the summer it seemed obvious that one of his favourites would be edged out, but there he remains, still firing crosses into the shins of full-backs.
David Silva - STAY
By his lofty standards, Silva suffered a slump last season but has looked back to his best this term, poking, probing and gently pulling apart defences with his vision and one of the most sublime touches the Premier League has seen.
Raheem Sterling -- STAY
A curious player in that when he's on form, confident and thinking clearly, he can be devastating, but when the opposite is true he can be dithering and uncertain. Still a man to keep, though.
FORWARDS
Nolito -- WAIT
Decent without being outstanding, it's tricky to assess what Nolito's real strengths are. Not devastatingly quick; a good but not brilliant finisher; a reasonable passer without being Xavi. Still, being pretty good at most things is better than many manage.
Sergio Aguero -- STAY
While there are nagging questions about his relationship with Guardiola, the manager should do his utmost to work out any problems he might have with the man who has scored 154 goals in 230 appearances for City.
Kelechi Iheanacho -- STAY
Maybe not a reliable starter just yet, but this season Iheanacho has scored a goal every 123 minutes, having made only nine starts. More than a handy back-up, at least.
No comments:
Post a Comment