Centre back options

domalino said:
He left us because his ex-fiance was pregnant with twins and he wanted to be near his kids when they were born. Ended up reconciling with her as well so it went well for him.

There wasn't an issue between him and the club AFAIK.

Not to mention there's a completely new coaching staff now, plus some of his Germany teammates and the coach who he credits as the man who "taught him how to defend". How's that for a reason to return?
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Not bad. I thought he didn't like being played out of position at right back. I can't see it happening. No way we get one of Bayern's best players from them unless they want to sell.
 
There are not many Center Backs who are out there that are world class. Manolas is on sale, though he is almost Zenit bound Chelsea are trying to hijack the deal.
 
Dax777 said:
These occasional breakaway happen to every top team. The only major difference was that there keepers made saves at a higher rate than ours. Put another way, as shitty as most thought our CBs and FBs were, they gave up chances at the same rate as Chelsea and United and slightly less than Tothenham. They were far superior to Liverpool and Arsenal. But Chelsea and United's keepers were just significantly better than ours.

For all intent and purpose if you exclude goalkeeper performance, only Tottenham played better defence in the league.

So its either the whole league barring Tothenham is shit, or (more rationally) our CBs are not as shit as advertised. I'm going to go with the latter.

Any position can be strengthened. I don't want to pretend CB can't. But nothing suggests its a particular problem. We have a great on Komps, a top 5 defender in Ota, a developing Stones and a quite capable Kolarov. We are spoilt for options at CH.
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That's as may be Dax777 but we have a tradition to uphold, in that we have brought in a centre back every summer since the AUG takeover. It just wouldn't feel right if we didn't bring one in this summer.
 
Marvin said:
Not bad. I thought he didn't like being played out of position at right back. I can't see it happening. No way we get one of Bayern's best players from them unless they want to sell.
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As always, Bayern's stance on players is they don't sell unless the player wants to leave. Same as Juventus, if you don't want the honour of playing for Bayern Munich, they'll find someone who does.
 
This is all Goal's doing. Are they just saying this because they know it will create a buzz and we'll follow them, or do you think they know it's true.

It seems blindingly obvious that City need another central defender but the evidence that we are pursuing one seems thin on the ground. The only decent link was with VVD. He'd be a great buy.

if we buy a central defender it can't be one for the future, it has to be a player who can come in straight away and have the authority to lead City's back line. Doesn't matter to me whether he's 30 plus because Stones is going to get better. he just needs to develop alongside Kompany or someone else
 
Jazzman said:
I give you his first stint at City was a disaster. What I am trying to say is that he has come a long way since that. He is truly world class and has the credentials to prove it. There aren't many higher decorated CB's around.
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See my last post before yours here—I agree! ;-)
 
Neville Kneville said:
Could the 'complex deal' involve a player or players going the other way ?
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A swap with Kolarov would be the dream but suspect Otamendi would be more likely. I'd be delighted with either of them to clear off if it meant getting a proper centre back in. Have you seen much of De Vrij and if so what do you make of him? He's at Lazio and Kolarov has been banging on about wanting to return there.
 
Marvin said:
This is all Goal's doing. Are they just saying this because they know it will create a buzz and we'll follow them, or do you think they know it's true.
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Spot on, Idk how can anyone take such 'news' seriously.
Marvin said:
if we buy a central defender it can't be one for the future, it has to be a player who can come in straight away and have the authority to lead City's back line. Doesn't matter to me whether he's 30 plus because Stones is going to get better. he just needs to develop alongside Kompany or someone else
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How can you be so confident in Stones? He'll get better, but when? And to what extent? He's a terrible 1-on-1 defender, not sure if that can be fixed. And should we just let him learn, ruining our title chances? I'd like to see a rising star like Laporte or Ajax CBs, not another temporary repair. Oh, that would harm Stones? Who cares? Let the strongest survive.
 
Andrew___K said:
Spot on, Idk how can anyone take such 'news' seriously.

How can you be so confident in Stones? He'll get better, but when? And to what extent? He's a terrible 1-on-1 defender, not sure if that can be fixed. And should we just let him learn, ruining our title chances? I'd like to see a rising star like Laporte or Ajax CBs, not another temporary repair. Oh, that would harm Stones? Who cares? Let the strongest survive.
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Fuck me you're incredibly naive if you think de Ligt and Davinson doesn't make mistakes consistently either.
 
Sensanetional said:
Fuck me you're incredibly naive if you think de Ligt and Davinson doesn't make mistakes consistently either.
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Definitely less than one of the most error-prone defenders in PL. While youth is prone to errors by definition, it's difficult to doubt worldclass potential of Ajax pair. I would be amazed to see Stones in the same bracket with them in 5 years.
Another problem is that young stars are poached by top clubs very early, it could be too late by the time we finally realise that Stones isn't a new Pique.

Edit: I'm not against errors per se, but the coach should have all tools to punish players for complacency - for example, replacing them with a better competitor. Stones and Ota had a free ride this season in the absence of alternatives.
 
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Lancet Fluke said:
A swap with Kolarov would be the dream but suspect Otamendi would be more likely. I'd be delighted with either of them to clear off if it meant getting a proper centre back in. Have you seen much of De Vrij and if so what do you make of him? He's at Lazio and Kolarov has been banging on about wanting to return there.
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I've never studied him but never seen anything which leaps out at me.

I never really trust defenders from Italy to be a good as they may appear anyhow.

One of the reasons Bob gave for signing Kolarov, was his pace.

Edit: Now I know, saw him loads for Feyenoord, didn't like.
 
Andrew___K said:
Definitely less than one of the most error-prone defenders in PL. While youth is prone to errors by definition, it's difficult to doubt worldclass potential of Ajax pair. I would be amazed to see Stones in the same bracket with them in 5 years.
Another problem is that young stars are poached by top clubs very early, it could be too late by the time we finally realise that Stones isn't a new Pique.

Edit: I'm not against errors per se, but the coach should have all tools to punish players for complacency - for example, replacing them with a better competitor. Stones and Ota had a free ride this season in the absence of alternatives.
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Sanchez is incredibly error prone he switches off 2 to 3 times per game like Mangala did.

De Ligt is less error prone but he fucks up in the exact same way as Stones because they play the exact same game.
 
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