Good for him. Don't get me wrong I would have no problems with us signing Bonucci, you judge each individual player on his own merits but I do think Bluedeadhead is correct, generally players tend to go into a decline to some extent once they hit 30, not all by any means but as a general rule, there's something to it.Cannavaro also won the Ballon d' Or when he was 33.
No worries, I get your point mate. But in terms of declining past 30, usually it starts from the front. Forwards > Wingers > Midfielders > Defenders > GK. Maldini and Zanetti was still one of the best in the world when they were on the end of their 30s. No reason Bonucci can't be that.Good for him. Don't get me wrong I would have no problems with us signing Bonucci, you judge each individual player on his own merits but I do think Bluedeadhead is correct, generally players tend to go into a decline to some extent once they hit 30, not all by any means but as a general rule, there's something to it.
Agreed, you wouldn't worry about getting a keeper over 30 and not so much a central defender either. I reckon Bonucci is a fine player and in most respects exactly what we need. My main worry would be his lack of pace, he can read the game well which will help but with us defending with a high line I'd still worry that his lack of pace might get exposed and it's not like he's going to have a lightening quick partner to bail him out when this happens. Even if we totally get to grips with the way Pep wants us to play, on the occasions when we are attacked it is likely to be on the counter and with lots of our players caught upfield, for me we need at least one genuinely rapid central defender.No worries, I get your point mate. But in terms of declining past 30, usually it starts from the front. Forwards > Wingers > Midfielders > Defenders > GK. Maldini and Zanetti was still one of the best in the world when they were on the end of their 30s. No reason Bonucci can't be that.
Your question is loaded and forces me into a false premise: I.e. we need "external experience" at a position.He's a leader and we desperately need one at the back. I really think you're being too negative on this one.
Out of curiousity; if you were to pick a gettable and highly experienced CB, while at the same time being a leader type, who would it be?
Fair enough, Dax. However, neither Chiriches nor Marquinhios strike me as leaders, and I really believe we need one, which is why I loaded the question the way I did.Your question is loaded and forces me into a false premise: I.e. we need "external experience" at a position.
Given that choice, sure Bonnuci certainly is a household name thatcomes to mind. And I'm not surprised many list him. I just don't think he's worth the money. Especially because there are many as good (or in my opinion) better who are way cheaper.
And if you ask me for the name of one right now who I think will be better for Pep's squad, philosophy and City's style? Vlad Chiriches at Napoli. Yup same guy who couldn't make the grade at Spurs a few years back.
Bit right now he is who I'd rather if I wanted an experienced CB. He is a better passer than Bonucci (shocking I know, folks make it sound like Bonnuci was the best thing since sliced bread) better tackler, harder worker too. Not to mention, he'll be 28 when he gets here (you know, the age Pep specifically mentioned :p)
But that's only if you force me to choose an experienced defender, which by the way I wouldn't seeing as we have Kompany, Otamendi, and Kolarov. All above, at it approaching 30. And chuck full of experience.
If I were to go for any CB at all it would be Marqhuinos at PSG. Who we should have probably nabbed when he wasn't getting playing time.
So in short, I'll take Vlad and Marqhuinos over Bonnuci every day of the week.
The reason why I skipped the leader part are 2 folds:Fair enough, Dax. However, neither Chiriches nor Marquinhios strike me as leaders, and I really believe we need one, which is why I loaded the question the way I did.
I'm sick and tired of all the passengers in the team, and I would therefore like us to sign more players with leadership abilities. The CB position is a position which I believe at least one should be a leader, and with Stones still unexperienced, I believe he would develop faster with an experienced leader next to him. I would love to see that player being Kompany, but it does not look like that is going to happen. Bonucci therefore fits the bill for me.
You mention Otamendi and Kolarov, and while they're experienced, neither of them are leaders in the sense of keeping the defensive structure sound and instilling confidence in the backline. Marquinhos is too young to be that player IMO and Chiriches has already flopped once in the Premier League - who knows how he would cope with the league today. Whether he possesses leadership ability, I really can't say.
Exactly, i'd like to see stones and otamendi when they're not trying to cover 2 positions at once. Pace on the wings would help them massively imoI think with 2 new fullbacks our current central defenders look a lot better than they do now
My guess for the summer
Ederson
Henriches
Laporte/Bonucci
1 Left back (Kolarov will stay)
Fabinho
Dahoud
LW/RW
ST (If Aguero leaves)