The draw between Manchester City and Brentford was like a vivid "team problem observation class" for us. It's clear that you're short of midfielders, but watching the game confirms this. Gundogan's appearance clearly shows the team's problems, which seem unsolvable.
Bringing in two central defenders was a smart move, but the midfield's shortcomings are too obvious! However, the central defenders also seem unsure of what to do, clearly not fully recovered. The new central defender has a chance to be on the squad for the next game, so Nunes won't have to play as a fullback. This player is naturally an attacking player but now needs to play as a right-back, which is a poor choice under the circumstances of no other options.
A turning point came when Gundogan came off the bench; suddenly, the defense deflated like a punctured ball, riddled with problems. But this isn't Gundogan's fault; he returned to be Rodri's substitute, previously alongside Kovacic and Rodri, but now he's Kovacic's substitute, which is troublesome. After all, when he was younger, he didn't perform well as a single holding midfielder at City. At his age now, you can't expect much from him.
But the question is, will Manchester City bring in a holding midfielder? There's currently no news about any holding midfielders, only news of two central defenders arriving soon and a forward coming. That means there's still half the time left, yet it seems the team hasn't brought in a new midfielder. There's also no news of any midfield transfers, which is strange. Have they not found a player, or are they choosing silence to keep it a secret?
But bringing in a forward could work too, as the team really lacks someone who can score goals in this match. If the incoming winger can score, then it's just one goal to win, an acceptable situation. So, at this stage, choosing a forward makes sense; the current wingers waste too many scoring opportunities, which is frustrating. For now, it seems Guardiola doesn't know how to change things and can only wait for new players. Both Reiss and Husanov have arrived, and once the formalities are completed, they'll have the opportunity to play in upcoming games. As for the forward Marmoush, the transfer fee hasn't been agreed upon yet.
But it's not all bad news; Foden looks to be recovering, and the competitors haven't pulled away, giving the team a chance to make the top four. Basically, we're seeing a situation where Manchester City is at its worst, and new players could solve many problems.
If Manchester City brings in a midfielder, their goal would be second place; if not, their goal would be the top four and entry into the Champions League. Regardless, there's pressure on the teams ahead. Looking at recent Premier League performances, many teams are struggling, tired, which is normal given that many players haven't had a proper rest. Now, recruitment efforts are indeed needed.