Quote Originally Posted by IBK View Post
'Academic' debate is all we do on here

I do understand where we are - and that is a good part of my concern about where we can get to under Arteta. I think that we have set ourselves up - both in terms of our system and our players - not to be able to adapt to the more efficient and effective way in which many of our competitors are playing the game. I agree with you that swapping existing players will not achieve this. More generally, we have too few creative players; to few runners to receive the ball in advanced positions; and no reliable finishers.

We have spent on players and have a high wage bill. The quality we do have has been enough for us to finish second with a following wind. But our system is now too easily neutralised - even with all our forwards available. And even the potential transfer targets we have been linked to are unlikely, IMO to see us champions.
There’s nothing we can do to guarantee a league win. But ultimately there’s a reasonable expectation that having the best squad wins you the league regardless of the system you play, Liverpool are going to win because they arguably have the best available squad (which is currently a low bar). So in terms of which of us, city or Liverpool win the league next season comes down to who spends the wisest in the summer.

Having Rodri and having good attacking players allowed City to neutralise any potential weakness their style of play left them open to in transition.they were never having to overcommit. So really the stylistic change comes down to are we going to persist with two defensive midfielders in most games