Nicolás Otamendi - 2018/19 performances

Status
Not open for further replies.
M M

mccity

Moderator
Joined
14 Jun 2010
Messages
23,635
There's been loads of excitement (rightly so) recently at the prospect of a Stones-Laporte combination for the future.

But I think as a result people are maybe being a little too quick to write off Otamendi, certainly in the short term. He was our best centre back last season and has shown massive signs of improvement at every step since Guardiola joined. And he's reliable to be available considering he has a good injury record.

He might not be the 1st choice, and it's easy to think that given Stones and Laporte's respective styles and potentials. But I still think there'll plenty of games he'll feature in beyond just being for rotation.

How do people see his season going?
 
mccity said:
There's been loads of excitement (rightly so) recently at the prospect of a Stones-Laporte combination for the future.

But I think as a result people are maybe being a little too quick to write off Otamendi, certainly in the short term. He was our best centre back last season and has shown massive signs of improvement at every step since Guardiola joined. And he's reliable to be available considering he has a good injury record.

He might not be the 1st choice, and it's easy to think that given Stones and Laporte's respective styles and potentials. But I still think there'll plenty of games he'll feature in beyond just being for rotation.

How do people see his season going?
Click to expand...
Best Centerback since the first day he put on a blue shirt. But he'll probably take a backseat to the future unless they faulter.

Same is probably true for Kompany.
 
mccity said:
There's been loads of excitement (rightly so) recently at the prospect of a Stones-Laporte combination for the future.

But I think as a result people are maybe being a little too quick to write off Otamendi, certainly in the short term. He was our best centre back last season and has shown massive signs of improvement at every step since Guardiola joined. And he's reliable to be available considering he has a good injury record.

He might not be the 1st choice, and it's easy to think that given Stones and Laporte's respective styles and potentials. But I still think there'll plenty of games he'll feature in beyond just being for rotation.

How do people see his season going?
Click to expand...

Extremely important player still. Stones and Laporte are the future of our central defence- they could be as good as Ramos-Varane someday- but both are still only 24 and as such it's unrealistic to expect them to be able to play at the top of their game all season.We'll need Otamendi a lot, same for Kompany.
 
we will definitely see him or komps, like if we play three at the back especially but also I think he will be back in the starting line up at some time even iin a back 4. Just a hunch. Stones and Laporte is still untested in the PL, remains to be seen how stable they are.
 
Still has an important part to play. I think we'll see him more when we face teams with physical strikers. For the teams with strikers with pace Stones and Laporte.
 
It's being reported that like Messi and Di Maria he has "asked not to be called up by Argentina". I assume that's like an unofficial retiring from international football.

Would obviously be good news for us if true.
 
Larry Stranger said:
Still has an important part to play. I think we'll see him more when we face teams with physical strikers. For the teams with strikers with pace Stones and Laporte.
Click to expand...

Like Diego Costa? He looked like an EDS player up against him. Strangely, the only one in our team who has looked good against the Costas/Zlatans, etc. has been Mangala.
 
lasereyes said:
Like Diego Costa? He looked like an EDS player up against him. Strangely, the only one in our team who has looked good against the Costas/Zlatans, etc. has been Mangala.
Click to expand...

Costa only scored 1 goal against us in 5 league games, we obviously didn't manage too badly.
 
We will see all of them.

We don't know if Stones/Laporte will maintain their level. JS has previous for dropping out of form, or both could be immense all season.

We don't know either, if this will be the season which catches up with Vinny, & whether Otamendi will repeat last season's form or return to the often car crash, disaster area from the previous seasons.

But we have 4 cbs to go at, who have all performed at various times. Good position to be in.
 
He had a few moments of madness at the WC but hopefully we can expect another good campaign from him.

If we play two centre backs and everyone is fit, I find it quite difficult to determine who the best two out of the four are. I think they are all excellent.
 
How many teams can boast a compliment of centre halves where the quality of Otamendi is probably now considered 4th choice?
 
Dr Jacoby said:
He had a few moments of madness at the WC but hopefully we can expect another good campaign from him.

If we play two centre backs and everyone is fit, I find it quite difficult to determine who the best two out of the four are. I think they are all excellent.
Click to expand...
+1
A fit, in-form Kompany is first choice for me - obviously he's been extremely injure-prone, out for long spells, not fit/fragile when playing and advancing in years. Still, he can be dominant even now.
Otters is second choice for me - consistent, steady, rarely makes mistakes.
Laporte is my third choice. A great passer and reliable defender.
Stones has massive talent - but at times he still loses concentration, giving the ball away when a simple pass is on. He's getting better at cutting this out of his game and I suspect that he'll improve even more in this regard this season.

But yes, it's close. Kompany is a clear first choice for me given the constraints I've listed; 2nd-4th are close.
 
domalino said:
Costa only scored 1 goal against us in 5 league games, we obviously didn't manage too badly.
Click to expand...

Mangala shut him down in at least 1 of those games. I was referring to the infamous brawl game where Otamendi got skinned alive by Costa in response to the claim of Otamendi for the physical matchups.
 
Otamendi is our smallest, slowest and likely weakest defender, I think a few people are misinterpreting his aggression for strength. Otamendi's actual best qualities are his ability to read play and snuff out danger with aggressive tackling and interceptions. He's a lot like Mascherano in a way.

The best games for Otamendi to play would in theory at least be when we play teams who are good enough in possession to have us on the back foot periodically. He's our best option for sticking tight on the striker and keeping them out of the game.

He still works more than well enough in any kind of game. When playing counter attacking sides it's always a toss up between his incredible ability to snuff out danger (which is never discussed in these types of games) and his inability to do much once he's been beaten on the half way line.

As NK said, the form of our CBs is still unpredictable, as optimistic as we want to be. Plus the fact Otamendi is good as a LCB means I expect him to still feature more than most.

It's a weird one with Kompany. He's PROBABLY our best defender still, at least when fit. But he's also the worst at playing the Pep way. I think Otamendi is ahead of him in the queue, excluding games where Kompany's leadership is necessary.
 
CityInWashingtonState said:
Please elaborate on this.
Click to expand...
Kompany is actually very good at playing the Pep way. Defensively speaking he's strong and aggressive, and he has excellent reading of play.

With the ball, he's quality. He's calm, confident moving the ball forwards, and can pick out a pass. There's a ton of evidence to prove how good he is too. There are very few defenders in the world I think better than VK at playing the Pep way.

But, three of those very few defenders play for City too. With Stones and Laporte it's clearer. They're both extremely composed in possession, and both are in the world top 5 for passing ability as CBs. And by passing ability, I don't just mean the ability to play a pass. But also the ability to pick out a pass, the ability to break the lines consistently, and the ability to do all of that under pressure. They are elite.

Otamendi's more marginal. When Pep first showed up, Kompany was a bit ahead. But Otamendi's ability to stay fit has meant that during Guardiola's tenure he's featured in over double the amount of games as Kompany (I think it's close to 90 vs 35) which has allowed him to massively improve his game leaps and bounds in that aspect, in a way that unfortunately Kompany hasn't. He's now better at bringing the ball out, and is slightly less prone to making a really odd choice of pass than Vinnie.

Defensively between the four at this moment in time, I actually think they're all of a similar high standard when in form (Kompany's not quite what he once was, whilst still great. Otherwise he'd be top). But the fine margins of ability to play out from the back just put Kompany at the back of the queue, excluding games as I say where his character is really vital as he's still the biggest and best personality within the squad.
 
mccity said:
Kompany is actually very good at playing the Pep way. Defensively speaking he's strong and aggressive, and he has excellent reading of play.

With the ball, he's quality. He's calm, confident moving the ball forwards, and can pick out a pass. There's a ton of evidence to prove how good he is too. There are very few defenders in the world I think better than VK at playing the Pep way.

But, three of those very few defenders play for City too. With Stones and Laporte it's clearer. They're both extremely composed in possession, and both are in the world top 5 for passing ability as CBs. And by passing ability, I don't just mean the ability to play a pass. But also the ability to pick out a pass, the ability to break the lines consistently, and the ability to do all of that under pressure. They are elite.

Otamendi's more marginal. When Pep first showed up, Kompany was a bit ahead. But Otamendi's ability to stay fit has meant that during Guardiola's tenure he's featured in over double the amount of games as Kompany (I think it's close to 90 vs 35) which has allowed him to massively improve his game leaps and bounds in that aspect, in a way that unfortunately Kompany hasn't. He's now better at bringing the ball out, and is slightly less prone to making a really odd choice of pass than Vinnie.

Defensively between the four at this moment in time, I actually think they're all of a similar high standard when in form (Kompany's not quite what he once was, whilst still great. Otherwise he'd be top). But the fine margins of ability to play out from the back just put Kompany at the back of the queue, excluding games as I say where his character is really vital as he's still the biggest and best personality within the squad.
Click to expand...

I am not relating to any of this. Can you maybe give some examples to add some weight to your argument?
 
lasereyes said:
I am not relating to any of this. Can you maybe give some examples to add some weight to your argument?
Click to expand...
I know you're only trying to get me to elaborate with examples so that you can understand my opinion more, but I need the same in return so I can help you out. Because asking me to provide examples to ALL the above seems a stretch and a lot of unnecessary effort on my end.
So help me out here. Which bit is it you really want examples for?

The bit where I say Kompany is a great defender?
The bit where I explained how great a fit Kompany is for our system?
The bit where I said Stones and Laporte are better with the ball at their feet than Kompany?
The bit where I said Otamendi used to be worse than Kompany with the ball at his feet?
The bit where I said Otamendi's had a great opportunity to improve and adapt to our system more than ever that Kompany didn't have due to not getting injured and playing over double the games as a result?
The bit where I said all 4 defenders are on roughly equal footing defensively when on form?
The bit where I said Kompany's leadership can make him first choice?
The bit where I said my conclusion?
Or all of the above?

I'm being genuine here. I feel that a lot of what I said made sense and for you to disagree with or not buy into every aspect seems vague on your part. Do you really need me to provide examples of Kompany's defending ability?

Why don't you let me know which specific bits you take issue with and provide a counter argument or examples for the otherwise so that we can break down exactly what it is you don't relate to and we can help each other work out together exactly what the conclusion on these guys should be. Or if it's a case of misunderstanding just point me in the direction and I can help.
 
Vinnie's a great defender, as is Nico. But I don't feel either of them fit as well into Pep's team as Stones and Laporte. Those two might lack a bit of the physical presence at the back, it's true, but offer a much broader range of passing, a lower error rate when taking the ball out of defence, and greater calmness on the ball: recovering the ball deep in their half after an option attack, who is more likely to put their foot through it and gift the ball to the opposition, and who is most likely to find a team mate?

But we are totally spoilt having all four.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Unread Posts

Don't have an account? Register now and see fewer ads!

SIGN UP
Back
Top