[Waller is my hero]

For years, Man City dominated with their winning formula: total possession and a strong midfield supporting a top striker. But last season, that formula started to show cracks, especially against teams that used powerful, direct wingers. It forced Pep to rethink his approach.

In response, he adapted by bringing in strong, accurate wingers who could exploit the wide areas, even if it meant giving up some possession. The results spoke for themselves, their form improved significantly after the shift.

Now, we’re seeing a broader trend: teams are focusing on dynamic wingers who can change games. That’s why introducing Markanday into our own possession-based system could mark a major shift in how we approach matches.

What do others think, am I on the right track or way off the mark?

[jack bauer]

Waller is my hero, on 17 June 2025 - 08:38 PM, said:

For years, Man City dominated with their winning formula: total possession and a strong midfield supporting a top striker. But last season, that formula started to show cracks, especially against teams that used powerful, direct wingers. It forced Pep to rethink his approach.

In response, he adapted by bringing in strong, accurate wingers who could exploit the wide areas, even if it meant giving up some possession. The results spoke for themselves, their form improved significantly after the shift.

Now, we’re seeing a broader trend: teams are focusing on dynamic wingers who can change games. That’s why introducing Markanday into our own possession-based system could mark a major shift in how we approach matches.

What do others think, am I on the right track or way off the mark?

time will tell is the initial thought, i have been wondering what this signing does to mandy... i presume markandy will be 1st choice for the right side attacking position, which is where mandy plays his best stuff, don't want to see Liam at full back, wonder if we may see him on the left side of the 3 behind the striker with dobra being the central one? but that would not fit with your idea of dynamic attacking wingers, mandeville is an excellent player and very important to us in the creative attacking play but he's not a traditional winger who is going to power past people, be interesting to see how it all shapes up.

[dtp]

Waller is my hero, on 17 June 2025 - 08:38 PM, said:

For years, Man City dominated with their winning formula: total possession and a strong midfield supporting a top striker. But last season, that formula started to show cracks, especially against teams that used powerful, direct wingers. It forced Pep to rethink his approach.

In response, he adapted by bringing in strong, accurate wingers who could exploit the wide areas, even if it meant giving up some possession. The results spoke for themselves, their form improved significantly after the shift.

Now, we’re seeing a broader trend: teams are focusing on dynamic wingers who can change games. That’s why introducing Markanday into our own possession-based system could mark a major shift in how we approach matches.

What do others think, am I on the right track or way off the mark?

If I’m right, last season Markanday was used on the right side of our attacking midfield three and was regularly chosen ahead of Mandeville. He showed pace, creativity, and goal scoring ability but also a willingness to track back. So, I think it is probably right to think he can be more dynamic than Mandeville.

Dobra also gives us a more dynamic approach than the average midfielder with his ability to run at a defence and his eye for goal but he appears to operate better centrally rather than wide. However, I would be tempted to look at a taller goalscoring No10 type player to play between the both of them and behind the likes of Will Grigg.

Four regular starting attacking players all expected to be in double figures in a season with the work rates we see from Dobra, Grigg & Markanday could be the springboard to a successful campaign.

However, it is a squad game and different opposition set different problems. Being able to adapt to how other teams set up can determine selection which can mean the same formation with different players who have different attributes. As such, there should always be space in the match day squad for a player like Liam Mandeville even though I don’t think it should be RB.

[DIFH]

 jack bauer, on 17 June 2025 - 08:43 PM, said:

time will tell is the initial thought, i have been wondering what this signing does to mandy... i presume markandy will be 1st choice for the right side attacking position, which is where mandy plays his best stuff, don't want to see Liam at full back, wonder if we may see him on the left side of the 3 behind the striker with dobra being the central one? but that would not fit with your idea of dynamic attacking wingers, mandeville is an excellent player and very important to us in the creative attacking play but he's not a traditional winger who is going to power past people, be interesting to see how it all shapes up.

Hopefully it will allow rotation where the quality remains for 90 minutes.

Where does Duffy fit in ?

[Exharboroughspireite]

We may be seeing an end to the possession for possessions sake football. Quicker, more direct and the return of dribbling please

[hilly81]

jack bauer, on 17 June 2025 - 08:43 PM, said:

time will tell is the initial thought, i have been wondering what this signing does to mandy... i presume markandy will be 1st choice for the right side attacking position, which is where mandy plays his best stuff, don't want to see Liam at full back, wonder if we may see him on the left side of the 3 behind the striker with dobra being the central one? but that would not fit with your idea of dynamic attacking wingers, mandeville is an excellent player and very important to us in the creative attacking play but he's not a traditional winger who is going to power past people, be interesting to see how it all shapes up.

People won't want to hear this but Mandeville will be backup next season.

[azul]

I don't think we set out deliberately set out for possession for possession's sake. We only pass it around at the back (slowly) when we are struggling for creativity and penetration. I don't think we will change our possession based football but hopefully we will do it much quicker and better. If you love PC then you have to accept his style of play - he isn't going to change fundamentally at his age. As far as his three attacking midfielders are concerned I'm sure he will want to get back to the situation where he perms them and swap outs out two or three on the dreaded 70 minute mark.

[dim view]

hilly81, on 18 June 2025 - 07:07 AM, said:

People won't want to hear this but Mandeville will be backup next season.

The only reason that happened to Mandy last season was that his confidence suffered 'cos he couldn't hit the onion bag. The harder he tried the more he snatched.
If he can just keep up an average of 1 in 4 he will not be backup. Somebody has to get the ball quickly to Dilan and Dobs in space and that man is Mandy.

[Bald magician]

 DIFH, on 18 June 2025 - 03:49 AM, said:

Hopefully it will allow rotation where the quality remains for 90 minutes.

Where does Duffy fit in ?

I see rotation being key next season. Markandy and mandy make a very strong pairing for this to happen.

Fans need to lower expectations quickly ! Including expectations of Markandy! Hes a brilliant signing but won't change the world!

This post has been edited by Bald magician: Today, 08:52 AM

[hilly81]

dim view, on 18 June 2025 - 08:18 AM, said:

The only reason that happened to Mandy last season was that his confidence suffered 'cos he couldn't hit the onion bag. The harder he tried the more he snatched.
If he can just keep up an average of 1 in 4 he will not be backup. Somebody has to get the ball quickly to Dilan and Dobs in space and that man is Mandy.

From what position?

[Blue5]

 Waller is my hero, on 17 June 2025 - 08:38 PM, said:

For years, Man City dominated with their winning formula: total possession and a strong midfield supporting a top striker. But last season, that formula started to show cracks, especially against teams that used powerful, direct wingers. It forced Pep to rethink his approach.

In response, he adapted by bringing in strong, accurate wingers who could exploit the wide areas, even if it meant giving up some possession. The results spoke for themselves, their form improved significantly after the shift.

Now, we’re seeing a broader trend: teams are focusing on dynamic wingers who can change games. That’s why introducing Markanday into our own possession-based system could mark a major shift in how we approach matches.

What do others think, am I on the right track or way off the mark?

I've thought about this for quite a bit.

When circumstances dictate, for example, when we can't break the opposition down or we are chasing a game like against Walsall, we need a different way of playing. It's a futile exercise bellyaching about the opposition wasting time if we play in such a way that we don't need any encouragement in running our own clock down.

Sean Dyche touched on this in a recent podcast. You might have an ideal way of playing but if it's clear that isn't working in a game, you change it. It's important to get a result.