Alonso

It’s funny isn’t it, we all get wedded to a replacement and make a case in our own minds so we can have some belief for next season. First it was Xabi and when he said he was staying put we then moved onto finding the positives for Amorim. Now that seems to have fallen away and the “brave not popular” quotes from ornstein and we all go into a negative spin thinking of the worst realistic options ranging from mourinho, frank, Howe etc but mine is Southgate, it’s gonna be him I know it

Agreed…so Gareth Southgate, he’d be a brave and unpopular choice!!

Gary O’Neil

Think at sporting he has mainly played with a destroyer type as one of the 2 central midfielders with palinha, ugarte and this season hjulmand with the other one license to get forward a bit more. Not sure if Trent could do that destroyer type or want to either. But maybe this is something Amorim could tweak/adapt to

If it’s 3-4-3 there are a few gaps in the team but nothing too drastic alisson konate virg LCB bradley Mac DM robbo salah diaz nunez Yes there are a few players who at first glance don’t have obvious positions (most notably Trent) but there are plenty of players who fit into the system and would only require some tweaks and a few extra players. It could also benefit others who are on the fringes too and who knows what Amorim could get out of the current crop but if a new manager comes in you’d expect him to impart his methods and not try and adapt to some hybrid approach from a previous legendary manager unless it was what he thinks best.

Diaz and Amorim have the same agent.

Fingers crossed, having been disappointed by Xabi staying put I’m now all in on Amorim and I don’t think I could take another switch to convincing myself of another manager!!

Seems a few reports out there distancing Amorim as the new manager and suggesting Niko Kovac is the new favourite.

Given we need to sell to buy more often than not then I think he has to be sold this summer. He has 1 year left on his deal so it’d be negligent to let him go for free when we could get a decent fee for him now and I can’t see us giving him a new deal at 400k+ a week to prolong his stay. That’s the business take on it I think.

Don’t forget the 100m+ they’ll be paying for Trent too!

Yeah still pretty tight although sporting have a game in hand so if they win that it’s 7 clear with 6 to play.

Premier League are considering abolishing points deductions and introducing a 'luxury tax'. They believe that should clubs wish to 'have a go' and have the money to do so, they should not face a punishment that could relegate them. So basically paving the way to fine city as opposed to relegate them. Bonus for Newcastle too. Just splash the cash and pay a few extra million in fines. Sounds splendid

Opens up a load of scary alternatives this…potter, Gerrard, Howe, Southgate

I’d hope konate is back in training as he played for France mid-week!!

This content is not viewable to guests.

This content is not viewable to guests.

This content is not viewable to guests.

After the city game I’d say we could wrap him in cotton wool for the next two games. Definitely not needed to play any part v Prague and if he really needs a further rest he could just be (un)used sub v utd on Sunday in the fa cup.

Salah, endo szobozlai all taking part in training today. Didn’t spot danns though.

Might be something like this then if there’s no one coming back from injury Kelleher Bradley konate virg robbo Elliot Mac Clark Diaz danns Gakpo

Can’t even risk kelleher in this, as troublesome/scary as it would be stick Adrian in (or a ressie).

Just seen the players walking around whilst sky were interviewing mcateer and no sign of them. Nyoni, danns, McConnell and Clark were there along with a couple of others I didn’t recognise so imagine if they’re included it suggests salah Nunez and szobozlai are out.

Yes Bayern have an aging team but given how all decent players and threats to Bayern’s dominance seem to end up being bought by them, then Xabi would probably have the pick of his leverkusen players to take with him.

If Xabi comes in and he if he replicates his leverkusen formation (two big assumptions so far!!) then the squad would look something like this Alisson Kelleher Konate virg Gomez VDB quansah bradley Trent mac allister robbo Bajcetic gravenberch Beck Clark McConnell Tsmikas Salah Szobozlai Jones Elliot Diaz Gakpo Carvalho doak Gordon Jota Nunez Some Players don’t quite fit the formation and there are a few gaps that would need extra depth as well as being over stocked with the two behind the striker

Apparently the next Busquets!! Played under Xabi for the b team and Xabi is one of his idols. Few trends linked to him