And yet Klarov and Fernandinho didn't play week in week out there. They could cover if they have to, but they wouldn't be ideal first choices would they?But we don't have 3 central defenders. We have 4, because Guardiola obviously rates Kolarov, and we could even see someone like Fernandinho dropping in there.
Right.
It was vintage Kompany against Palace - even getting on the score sheet for the second time in four appearances.
But Guardiola admits there remain serious doubts about his ability to last an entire campaign.
“I think when he is in that form there is no doubt,” said the City manager. “But we have to cover our backs.
“We cannot give all our confidence he will be fit because of what we have experienced the last few years. We have to have back ups if something happens.”
I guess someone will now tell me he didn't mean it & it's actually in code, like when Aguero says he isn't leaving.
Thanks I try my best ;)That's an awful argument. You could just as easily reverse it and say "surely it's his job to coach our £40m+ centre backs to improve their defending"?
And yet Klarov and Fernandinho didn't play week in week out there. They could cover if they have to, but they wouldn't be ideal first choices would they?
It's obvious City need another authoratative central defender. Stones could develop, but at the moment when Kompany's not playing he looks weak. Perhaps Guardiola thinks he can develop.
Thanks I try my best ;)
The thing is the back line struggle with his high defensive line, he seems too stubborn to adapt that and Ota, Stones & Kolarov will unfortunately never fit like a hand in a glove.
I'm assuming Iheanacho will be away and probably Roberts too, I'm also assuming that 2 of The 3 of Silva, Bernardo and Kdb will be playing in midfield in any one game.We also have Bernardo Silva & DeBruyne, Iheanacho, Pat Roberts & in fact D Silva who can play in a front 3.
I'm not seeing the part where he says buying a new CB is a priority?
Is he not actually just saying that we can't rely on Kompany to be fit?
How do you explain the fact that every reliable journalist, and @tolmie's hairdoo all say that CB is not a priority? Do you think he's asked Begirisatain to buy him one and he's been told no?
It is only June but the only central defender we have been reliably linked to is VVD. I would pay whatever it takes to get him. Scrap the Sanchez bid if necessary because if we had him and Kompany, then I think we would be the team to beat. As it is, we'd be an injury to Kompany away from troubleJust in case:
“I’m pretty sure Manuel Pellegrini missed him a lot the last two seasons - and of course we missed him.
“He is a real central defender.
“I said many times - central defenders, ‘How many duels do you win with the striker?’
“‘More than the other one? You are a central defender.’
“And he wins.
“You to feel it. When the opponent crosses the ball ‘Wow, it’s Vinny there.’
“Maybe you know they are going to score a goal. With Vinny against Arsenal they scored a goal in the six-yard box. Okay that can happen.
“But you have the feeling when they cross or you cross with a corner or a free kick you are there.
“That feeling - especially in this league when there are a lot of long balls - it is a really important thing.
“In other leagues it does not happen. It’s important to have people to win duels in the air.”
I'm assuming Iheanacho will be away and probably Roberts too, I'm also assuming that 2 of The 3 of Silva, Bernardo and Kdb will be playing in midfield in any one game.
That would leave us one injuries from only having lets say Sane Sterling Aguero with only Bernardo to fill in .
I'm saying, Pep clearly sates, as I have quoted elsewhere, that we need Vinny & lists why. Then says we have to cover our backs.
Note not 'we have cover'.
We have to have backup.
Not not ; 'We have backup'.
It is only June but the only central defender we have been reliably linked to is VVD. I would pay whatever it takes to get him. Scrap the Sanchez bid if necessary because if we had him and Kompany, then I think we would be the team to beat. As it is, we'd be an injury to Kompany away from trouble
So what is your expalnation for the fact centre half is clearly not a priority in the transfer window?
You're claiming he's clearly stating he wants another centre-back, but we're obviously going for Silva, Ederson, Alves, Mendy, Walker and Sanchez before a centreback.
Do you think Begiristain is refusing to buy him one?
I think Van Dijk was the centre back.
I expect the plan is to sign Sanchez and let them go but it isn't problem solved because if we do that we can only sign a centre back if one goes we wouldn't have room for 5 centre backs. Linking Sanchez to sorting out centre back is the issue I have. My guess is we buy Sanchez, then bring in a centre back as long as we can move one out. Pep will not go into the season with 5 centre backs and only 4 forwards.Well surely, the sensible thing would be, don't get rid of those players, unless we sign Sanchez ?
Problem solved.
Right, so you just choose to ignore all the journalists and ITK's who say he's not a priority, and the fact that Chelsea and Liverpool are the only ones who seem to have really taken things past "interest"?
Sanchez?
Well it depends on whether we are signing a centre back this summer or not? I don't suppose any of us know for sure. If we are, then fine, if not then we are not then IMO we are not reinforcing an area of the defence when needed. We have already signed one attacking player and we are clearly trying to sign another in Sanchez and at a stretch potentially even putting in a big bid for Mbappe. Really though my point was about the opinions of supporters. We used to think it was hilarious when Wenger kept buying more attackers and now it seems to me the majority on here think that the addition of Sanchez is much more necessary than the addition of a decent centre back. I look at the squad we have now with the addition of Bernardo Silva and think that is absolutely fucking nuts when you look at the relative quality of our centre backs. Only my opinion though.All things going to plan we're signing 5 defensive players and 1 forward.
Please tell me more about how we're doing a Wenger and not reinforcing the defence when needed.
I have been reading journalists linking us with Van Dijk since last year, haven't you ?
You didn't believe them then, but you believe them now ? I don't believe them either way.
You believe Pep when he says we must score more goals, & that is enough proof that he means we must sign players, even though he never said we must sign players but when he says we need backup for Kompany, it doesn't mean we must sign backup, it means something else ?