Centre back options

[The Doctor]

I'm willing to give Mangala a chance if Pep thinks he can do it, but last season for example, the back 3 system allowed teams to run at us with pace & our cbs were unable to do anything once a pass, even a short pass, was made to people such as Vardy. They didn't read the pass nor anticipate the danger, in the situation before the pass & once the pass was made, they were two, three yards too slow to close down the recipient, it's then just upto the keeper, or the oppo to fall over/miss the target, or we'd had it.

Chelsea's centre backs were much more proactive & often snuffed it out or fouled, before the situation even developed. We can't see it coming & we were absolutely hopeless at seeing it v Real Madrid & when we did see it, too late, we didn't have the pace to recover & just relied on hope, which worked.

As usual, the defensive shortcomings are being ignored on here & everyone was 'fantastic' at the back defending. But they weren't, non of them.

Acceleration over 10-20 yards, rather than a 50 yard sprinter, might be enough to give us that split second which makes the difference, as we saw with the fullbacks last night.

I would take a punt with Mangala! At times he looks a man mountain! His nifty footwork against Lukaku was a joy to watch.

 

[Neville Kneville]

I would take a punt with Mangala! At times he looks a man mountain! His nifty footwork against Lukaku was a joy to watch.

I would like Pep to give him a proper test pre season, to see what he's got, in match situations. I don't believe any manager can judge players purely on training games. By all accounts Aguero would never get a game for anyone if that was the case.

 

[Mad_fer_it]

There were rumours of Inigo Martinez floating about recently. Not heard much for a couple of weeks though. Never seen him play personally. Wouldn't be particularly expensive at £27m...

 

[Andrew___K]

There were rumours of Inigo Martinez floating about recently. Not heard much for a couple of weeks though. Never seen him play personally. Wouldn't be particularly expensive at £27m...

Small left-footed ball-playing CB, same type of defender as L.Hernandez. Good, but not of a star level. If we're buying him, hope it's a rotational solution and we're getting someone better next summer to replace Ota. Better fit than Mangala, no doubt. The only concern is that we would lack powerful tall defenders in case Komps needs rest.

 

[aguerooo93]

Small left-footed ball-playing CB, same type of defender as L.Hernandez. Good, but not of a star level. If we're buying him, hope it's a rotational solution and we're getting someone better next summer to replace Ota. Better fit than Mangala, no doubt. The only concern is that we would lack powerful tall defenders in case Komps needs rest.

Why would we need to replace Otamendi? One of the best center-backs in the league last season by the numbers...pundits like to criticize him sure, but if you watch City games from beginning to end you'll notice that he makes a ridiculous number of interceptions, blocks and last-ditch tackles while consistently winning aerial duels and taking it out of the defense. He makes mistakes, but nowhere near as often as people say because of confirmation bias

 

[The Doctor]

I would like Pep to give him a proper test pre season, to see what he's got, in match situations. I don't believe any manager can judge players purely on training games. By all accounts Aguero would never get a game for anyone if that was the case.

Don't know what you mean by proper test pre season! He's played 2 now against RM & Rags he can't get higher competition than that pre season Let's see if he also plays against Spurs & WHU.......like I say he looks a man mountain at times!

 

[Neville Kneville]

Don't know what you mean by proper test pre season! He's played 2 now against RM & Rags he can't get higher competition than that pre season Let's see if he also plays against Spurs & WHU.......like I say he looks a man mountain at times!

I mean starting as a main centre back, maybe in a 2 cb formation rather than being put on later in the game in a 3 or at fullback.

 

[Blue Coop]

 

[TRUE BLUE NO1]

"we cannot spend too much more"

Maybe we done with our big spending this summer? Unless Pep means we cant spend much more because we already have a big money offer on the table for Sanchez OR Mbappe?

Martinez seems a low cost, low risk signing that could come in and be happy backing up Kompany....I think if we could get Sanchez and Martinez, it would be a truly perfect summer transfer window for the club...(I dont see Mbappe as an option due to his possible 150mil+ transfer fee)

 

[Blue Coop]

"we cannot spend too much more"

Maybe we done with our big spending this summer? Unless Pep means we cant spend much more because we already have a big money offer on the table for Sanchez OR Mbappe?

Martinez seems a low cost, low risk signing that could come in and be happy backing up Kompany....I think if we could get Sanchez and Martinez, it would be a truly perfect summer transfer window for the club...(I dont see Mbappe as an option due to his possible 150mil+ transfer fee)

I agree Sanchez plus a defender is what I want to see from here, to cap it off. I think we will challenge as is, and that would just make us heavy favourites.

 

[BringBackSwales]

Why would we need to replace Otamendi? One of the best center-backs in the league last season by the numbers...pundits like to criticize him sure, but if you watch City games from beginning to end you'll notice that he makes a ridiculous number of interceptions, blocks and last-ditch tackles while consistently winning aerial duels and taking it out of the defense. He makes mistakes, but nowhere near as often as people say because of confirmation bias

I agree

 

[Tugay One Cup]

We're going to have serious problems next season if we have to rely on Mangala at some point. He's a woeful player who, like Joe Hart, shines only when we have our backs to the wall for ninety minutes and he has a fight on his hands. Personally, I think his athleticism is the only thing he has going for him and that opposition identify him as the weak link. Often when he plays for us the other team will press and press and press until it reaches Mangala and then they'll just give him as much time as he wants while marking everyone else as they know there's zero danger for them when he's on the ball. His first touch is consistently shocking and how anyone could miss that is beyond me.

Believe it or not, I have a soft spot for him and would love nothing more than to be proven wrong and for him to become a success for us but he'd have to change virtually everything about his game for that to happen.

We're trying to put together a world class squad here and the centre back position is one where we're seriously lacking. An injury to Kompany and we're left with Stones and Otamendi, neither of whom are currently anywhere near world class, with Tosin and Mangala as backup, both of whom are midtable quality at best.

I'll take a lot of stick for this post but I've been reading all the 'give Mangala a chance' comments and honestly can't believe people have that much faith in him.

 

[Marvin]

this is a risk. I'd have made this a key priority but there's no doubt that the central defenders will have a much easier time this season

1) We have two quality keepers. One should do the job
2) We have full backs! We were ruthlessly exposed at every counter-attack last season......that in part is why Bravo conceded so many goals. forwards were clean through
3) Stones is one season older
4) Kompany starts the season fit (touch wood) with a full pre-season behind him.
5) Our attacking power is much stronger this season. B Silva, Sane and Jesus. We had half a Sane last season, and a 1/4 a Jesus. Put the ball in the other net, makes it easy to play

 

[Lancet Fluke]

We're going to have serious problems next season if we have to rely on Mangala at some point. He's a woeful player who, like Joe Hart, shines only when we have our backs to the wall for ninety minutes and he has a fight on his hands. Personally, I think his athleticism is the only thing he has going for him and that opposition identify him as the weak link. Often when he plays for us the other team will press and press and press until it reaches Mangala and then they'll just give him as much time as he wants while marking everyone else as they know there's zero danger for them when he's on the ball. His first touch is consistently shocking and how anyone could miss that is beyond me.

Believe it or not, I have a soft spot for him and would love nothing more than to be proven wrong and for him to become a success for us but he'd have to change virtually everything about his game for that to happen.

We're trying to put together a world class squad here and the centre back position is one where we're seriously lacking. An injury to Kompany and we're left with Stones and Otamendi, neither of whom are currently anywhere near world class, with Tosin and Mangala as backup, both of whom are midtable quality at best.

I'll take a lot of stick for this post but I've been reading all the 'give Mangala a chance' comments and honestly can't believe people have that much faith in him.

For me the issue with not buying a CB and relying on Mangala and/or Tosin as back up is that essentially they are as likely to be as dependent on having Kompany next to them as Stones and Otamendi are, probably even more so. We know we are fine there as long as Vinnie plays, the problems come as soon as he isn't there and that won't change unless we buy someone.

 

[Tugay One Cup]

For me the issue with not buying a CB and relying on Mangala and/or Tosin as back up is that essentially they are as likely to be as dependent on having Kompany next to them as Stones and Otamendi are, probably even more so. We know we are fine there as long as Vinnie plays, the problems come as soon as he isn't there and that won't change unless we buy someone.

Completely agree there mate. Knowing our luck, we'll either not sign anyone and Kompany will suffer an injury or we will sign someone and Vinnie will be fit as a fiddle all season. That would be typical.

Marvin made some good points though, due to other reinforcements, particularly fullbacks, we will be better equipped to deal with injury setbacks this season.

 

[Profaneomen]

Is Mangala really that bad or did he suffer playing with our extremely bad full back speed. And changing defender pair. Because he has done well in Valencia and Porto? Maeby he could be like new signing with our new system. Just play him with better build up defender.

 

[StretfordBlueReece]

Id say we definatly need another left back over a centre back because if Mendy got a serious injury then were struggling down that side. Only one natural left sided defender surely we have got to strengthen there. Another Left back and Sanchez will do us nice.

 

[dachoosen1]

Id say we definatly need another left back over a centre back because if Mendy got a serious injury then were struggling down that side. Only one natural left sided defender surely we have got to strengthen there. Another Left back and Sanchez will do us nice.

Danilo looked excellent at left back against real and has played there a number of times in Brazil and Portugal according to posters and journalists. We need another CB if we will be playing 5 at the back.

 

[jimharri]

The money's ran out....



We're fucked. Any promising young CBs in Leagues 1 or 2?

 

[Neville Kneville]

Seems Pep has decided Vinny is going to stay fit.

Like many before him.