It’s surprising to see them struggle like that. Hopefully it will last, fingers crossed!
2 Likes
Always seemed a little suspicious that all of their poor form was down to just losing Rodri.
Not sure the shake up has produced players the calibre of what they had in the past. This change of keeper will improve them I feel but I don’t rate that backline, I just wonder if teams are more willing to have a go at them, maybe football is evolving and Man City haven’t evolved with it. Is Pep adaptable like Klopp was? Is that why he went for Ljinders. I guess we will see as the season progresses
We talk about Isak and Hugo but Trafford must feel rather downtrodden this morning.
3 Likes
I would think Trafford only came in as a backup anyway. I can’t imagine he was envisioned as a permanent 1st team starter for City.
There has been a notable drop in the quality of players they are reaching out for/ standard of their workings in the transfermarkt. All seems very last minute rather than part of a proper plan
Donnarumma isn’t bad with the ball at his feet. He isn’t ederson level though. But which keeper is ?
He’s fine playing out from the back but he’s by far a better keeper than ederson in all other aspects
This would rather be gutting for him. Had he stayed on at Burnley, there would be a case for him to make the England squad for the world cup even if he isn’t displacing Prickford as the #1.
I don’t think Tuchel will want to pick someone like Trafford who barely sees any game time in the domestic season now though.
1 Like
Not saying that English keeping stocks are good.
But the likes of Ramsdale , Pope and Trafford aren’t good enough to provide competition for Pickford (who’s an above average keeper at best).
England really need to look at their goalkeeping stocks. They’ve been low for a really long time.
4 Likes
Donnarumma IS bad with the ball at his feet though. He is the textbook example of the sort of player who loses out in a “my style is more important than the quality of player” philosophy that would see a manager force out a world class keeper because he doesnt allow them to play out from the back. See Hart’s exit from City and De Gea’s exit from United (admittedly both had experienced lapses in form that called their position into question as well).
2 Likes
Sounds like the brothers Pep are in for a frustrating season
