Douglas Luiz

[TRO]

9 minutes ago, M_Afro said:

Probably not. Jack is our only player who you could say with any certainty that they would have made a difference. Due to the non existence of a cf I think Ollie would have done a job too given the circumstances but I don’t think he would normally be considered City class.

I do think that Luiz has real growth in him though and the team is about balance. That’s where we are going wrong in my view. The balance of the midfield is not right. Put Luiz alongside Kante and I’m sure you would see a much improved Dougie.

Put me alongside Kante and I would look,.......................... poo, yeah, I get it.

seriously......players have to punch their own weight..Thats why he looks ok alongside Casemiro for Brazil....I have no axe to grind with Dougie, I just think we play him wrong and thats a shame for him.

Hourihane looked okish when playing with Jack......take Jack out and he looks lost.

That is the challenge moving forward, The Jack's of this world need quality alongside them, not keep carrying players......The sum of the parts is better, we just need to improve some of the parts.

I still think McGinn and Luiz are played in the wrong position....who have just done a job out of loyalty, due to us being short of dedicated players for that position....In the last 2 games Marv has shown some marked improvement, but is it good enough over a season?

We have seen what happens when you dispense with them in the Final Last Night, had Rodri or Fernandino played it could have been a different game....Pep got it wrong, and that is hard to say to such a great manager.

You can't pack your team out with attacking players anymore than packing them out with defensive players.....The balance is key in football.

[Hank Scorpio]

The issue with our Central midfield is that all the players we have are good at a few things but are equally poor in others so when we are playing just two of them invariably that leaves an issue on the pitch wether it be inability to pass, press, create or run. I guess that's why players such as Kante are so rare and sought after as he can do all equally well.

[Vive_La_Villa]

8 hours ago, TRO said:

We have seen what happens when you dispense with them in the Final Last Night, had Rodri or Fernandino played it could have been a different game....Pep got it wrong, and that is hard to say to such a great manager.

I agree with this. Was a very strange move by Pep. It’s not the first time he has tried to be a little bit too clever in big games and been punished for it. Why change something that got you to the final and just won you the league. Crazy.

Edited May 30, 2021 by Vive_La_Villa

[Jas10]

7 minutes ago, Pissflaps said:

The issue with our Central midfield is that all the players we have are good at a few things but are equally poor in others so when we are playing just two of them invariably that leaves an issue on the pitch wether it be inability to pass, press, create or run. I guess that's why players such as Kante are so rare and sought after as he can do all equally well.

I think, in a way, our midfielders appear to be much of a muchness. Jack of all trades rather than specialising or excelling in one particular area, other than Nakamba who is purely a destroyer but lacking in many other aspects.

We lack strength and the ability to dominate in there… needs addressing. And we must stop losing possession so cheaply & quickly.

[est1874]

I'd like to keep him. 

I wouldn't be distraught if we don't.

[zab6359]

Provided citeh don't invoke the buy back I reckon this guys will become a really good No 6 for us, he needs to develop in certain areas sure but he is a very good footballer we are fortunate to have him.

[mykeyb]

4 hours ago, Phil Silvers said:

Makes no sense for citeh to take him, especially if it's at 35m, they would have to keep him at that price and just try coach him to another level. They won't be able to sell him for a profit anytime soon at 35m.

I doubt City want him back but if we were prepared to accept 100 million for Grealish it would mean City could get him for 65 million and we would keep Dougie. All of a sudden that doesn't sound ND like a great deal does it.

[Phil Silvers]

5 minutes ago, mykeyb said:

I doubt City want him back but if we were prepared to accept 100 million for Grealish it would mean City could get him for 65 million and we would keep Dougie. All of a sudden that doesn't sound ND like a great deal does it.

Correct, ideally we keep them both and Dougie has time to mature in to the player he is meant to be. 

[Phil Silvers]

2 hours ago, Jas10 said:

I think, in a way, our midfielders appear to be much of a muchness. Jack of all trades rather than specialising or excelling in one particular area, other than Nakamba who is purely a destroyer but lacking in many other aspects.

We lack strength and the ability to dominate in there… needs addressing. And we must stop losing possession so cheaply & quickly.

This is it but as others have said, its an upgrade or extra drills and hope they do a Targett and kick on.

One of SJM or Dougie with the right CDM would improve us, but they don't click together very often so we need a new face in there with an improving Nakamba as back up the squad just gets stronger.

We should hear something on Thursday by all accounts as the maestro says Wednesdays are orf.

Edited May 30, 2021 by Phil Silvers

[John]

6 hours ago, mykeyb said:

I fully expect Man City to use their buyback clause on Dougie and then use him as a makeweight in a deal for Jack.

Throw Foden in as well and we will think about it, before saying no! 

[zab6359]

23 minutes ago, mykeyb said:

I doubt City want him back but if we were prepared to accept 100 million for Grealish it would mean City could get him for 65 million and we would keep Dougie. All of a sudden that doesn't sound ND like a great deal does it.

Buy back clauses don't work like that.

[Jas10]

5 minutes ago, Phil Silvers said:

This is it but as others have said, its an upgrade or extra drills and hope they do a Targett and kick on.

One of SJM or Dougie with the right CDM would improve us, but they don't click together very often so we need a new face in there with an improving Nakamba as back up the squad just gets stronger.

We should he something on Thursday by all accounts as the maestro says Wednesdays are orf. 
 

I really hope that’s the case (they improve as Targett has), Doug was instrumental in helping us stay up the previous season… he clearly has a lot of talent & quality and huge potential…

I would say he has the most ability on the ball and is technically superior to our other midfielders, just needs to regain form and consistency (so does McGinn, let’s get him fit and sharp). His touch and passing ability is excellent. 

I’ve noticed he’s often exposed and put under pressure but sticks to the task manfully, he doesn’t get the help/support sometimes…

I just think it’s been such a massively disruptive and unique season that has had all kinds of effects on players and clubs… hopefully with some kind of normality restored we will see the best of  all our players….

Looking forward to see what Sanson offers next season too…

[Zhan_Zhuang]

Douglas Luiz is going to be some player in the near future, he's still learning. Be patient.

[Jas10]

7 minutes ago, Zhan_Zhuang said:

Douglas Luiz is going to be some player in the near future, he's still learning. Be patient.

 

[est1874]

6 hours ago, mykeyb said:

I fully expect Man City to use their buyback clause on Dougie and then use him as a makeweight in a deal for Jack.

Well, if our club's hierarchy falls for that kind of weak skullduggery, then we fully deserve a team without Jack Grealish, buttressed by Brazil's answer to Leandro Bacuna.

[Adam2003]

2 hours ago, est1874 said:

I'd like to keep him. 

I wouldn't be distraught if we don't.

Do you know, you posting this made me realise I feel like this about most of our players in a really good way - I think we could lose anyone (except Jack and Emi) and I wouldn’t be worried about a major effect on us, but that’s because I trust the system for the first time I can remember.

[jim]

1 hour ago, mykeyb said:

I doubt City want him back but if we were prepared to accept 100 million for Grealish it would mean City could get him for 65 million and we would keep Dougie. All of a sudden that doesn't sound ND like a great deal does it.

Eh? How do you work that one out. Citeh would have to pay us £35m for Doug if they wanted him. If Doug stays and they offered £100m for Grealish we would get the full fee.

[nick76]

9 minutes ago, jim said:

Eh? How do you work that one out. Citeh would have to pay us £35m for Doug if they wanted him. If Doug stays and they offered £100m for Grealish we would get the full fee.

I thought I had Sunday afternoon snooze eyes when I read that as well.  I think he forgot the money City would have to pay us for Dougie in the buy back, so it would only be the profit that would be the difference and not the full fee.

[VillaChris]

I think Man. City would just flip him if they really did activate the clause...sign him for 25m and then sell a week later for 40m so 15m profit to go towards FFP this summer or next. Modern football ladies and gentleman.

Be interested though which major club from abroad would be spending 40m on him, i mean I think he'd do well at somewhere like Barcelona who need to redevelop their central midfield a bit more but they're struggling financially and again can't see Juventus being able to afford him either until they offload high earners like Ramsey.

The Artur/Pjanic swop deal last summer shows anyway how the super league lot collude at times to find ways around FFP seeing as neither have even played much for their new clubs this season.

Bayern Munich aswell get plenty of loans from Real Madrid and Barcelona if they've got squad players not playing much so interested who's in Man. City's ear, PSG perhaps.

[useless]

47 minutes ago, useless said:

I'd be very surprised if they activated the buyback clause, even based on his best form for us he's not good enough to get in their team, as they have better and can sign better, and won't make much of a profit on him, certainly no one is going to pay £40m, £30m at the most but even that would surprise me.

He's a good player though and I hope we keep him, I feel some of the criticism has been harsh, if he was as bad at his job that some have made out then we wouldn't have done as well as we did, only six teams had a better defence than us in the league, you don't do that well if your DM isn't doing a good job.

 

Edited May 30, 2021 by useless