Sorry, you never know on here...
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Matthijs de Ligt
- Thread starter BlueDejong
- Start date
Sorry, you never know on here...
Gabriel
Well-Known Member
He plays in a high line for Ajax & The Netherlands and had no trouble up against Leroy 1v1 in the Germany/Holland match a few months back.
Mbappe tried a few times in the France/Netherlands game to knock it past him and gas him, with no luck.
He's not slow at all, and if you can deal with Mbappé you're more than fast and agile enough. I think the fact he's 6'4'' and absolutely massive makes his speed deceptive.
Good points. He's also physically strong, so, in that respect, he's much more akin to Otamendi than Stones or Laporte. Indeed, it's hard to see him being outmuscled in the manner Falcao outmuscled Stones.
I'd like him, as I think we could then offload Otamendi and Kompany, from the playing squad, but I imagine he'll be prohibitively expensive and available at a time when our immediate priorities require addressing. As I said earlier, I think it will fall to Barcelona, that lot, and maybe even Liverpool to fight over his signature.
Don’t be sorry, I was on the wind up to some degree. I don’t think he’s as good as some people make out.Sorry, you never know on here...
I do think he’s got flaws though, especially in terms of body positioning and getting caught flat footed 1vs1 on occasion when I’ve watched him (albeit only on TV). He appears to be an “all or nothing” defender from the little I’ve seen, much like Otamendi when he first came lunging at anything that moved albeit at least de Ligt stays on his feet. Maybe I’m not giving him as much credit as he deserves but I just think he’s not quite there, at this moment in time there’s not a chance he could replace Stones or especially Laporte.
GX Blue
Well-Known Member
We've bought plenty of players who are third choice - Danilo, Gundogan, Mahrez in the current squad alone. None of them have the same right to play as the people they back up because they're nowhere near as good.
So that entire sentiment is very obviously fictitious.
My days, you're basing your whole argument on hindsight. Ridiculous.
Mahrez was not bought to be 3rd choice. Its been proven that way as the season has gone on due to him not settling as well as we all expected. At the start he was in the team. Hes not the standard of Leroy and Sterling at present. Who is?
Gundogan was wanted by all Europe's top clubs when he chose us. Further bad injuries and the emergence of Bernardo has pushed him out the picture now. He didn't expect to be 3rd choice.
Danilo was signed after Dani Alves fucked us off at the last minute he was an option we couldn't turn down as Chelsea wanted him too. Was Dani Alves gona be 3rd choice that season then? Walker had a superb first season and kept him out. He didn't sign to sit on the bench though as he is now showing.
So no, they weren't "3rd choice" signings at the time. So your happy ranking system is clearly fictitious.
Mahrez was not bought to be 3rd choice.
Not bought to be 3rd choice but no question he was not 1st choice in the market, he was a fallback alternative when Alexis was not available
Its been proven that way as the season has gone on due to him not settling as well as we all expected. At the start he was in the team. Hes not the standard of Leroy and Sterling at present. Who is?
He has struggled to settle which frustrates many fans but there is certainly a good rationale to allow for additional patience - even in the current makeup of the squad, everything did not click straight away in the first year under Pep
Gundogan was wanted by all Europe's top clubs when he chose us. Further bad injuries and the emergence of Bernardo has pushed him out the picture now. He didn't expect to be 3rd choice.
This is inaccurate, his injury history dropped his market value & the number of top clubs pursuing him. Perhaps not expecting to be 3rd choice but I don't believe even Pep saw him as 1st choice - rather as a key player in the rotation. I do think there's probably a bit too much emphasis placed on who the starting XI is when Pep likes a solid rotation
Danilo was signed after Dani Alves fucked us off at the last minute he was an option we couldn't turn down as Chelsea wanted him too. Was Dani Alves gona be 3rd choice that season then? Walker had a superb first season and kept him out. He didn't sign to sit on the bench though as he is now showing.
Danilo was signed for his versatility in being able to play either fullback position, centerback or even as DM - not really a true alternative to Alves but agree that he was expressly purchased for depth
OntarioBlue
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This is an interesting one. If the rumours about Otamendi are true (and Pep did confirm he is unhappy) then we are potentially down two senior centre backs next season ( I assume Vinny will be offered a contract but will have restricted playing time). Obviously Stones and Laporte are first choice but are Garcia and Sandler ready to step up. What about Aradadabioyo ?
Personally I think that between the five options mentioned above we probably have plenty of cover for 2 centre back spots. Like many others on here I’d much rather the club concentrate on the full back and DM positions where we have greater need.
Personally I think that between the five options mentioned above we probably have plenty of cover for 2 centre back spots. Like many others on here I’d much rather the club concentrate on the full back and DM positions where we have greater need.
GX Blue
Well-Known Member
Not bought to be 3rd choice but no question he was not 1st choice in the market, he was a fallback alternative when Alexis was not available
He has struggled to settle which frustrates many fans but there is certainly a good rationale to allow for additional patience - even in the current makeup of the squad, everything did not click straight away in the first year under Pep
This is inaccurate, his injury history dropped his market value & the number of top clubs pursuing him. Perhaps not expecting to be 3rd choice but I don't believe even Pep saw him as 1st choice - rather as a key player in the rotation. I do think there's probably a bit too much emphasis placed on who the starting XI is when Pep likes a solid rotation
Danilo was signed for his versatility in being able to play either fullback position, centerback or even as DM - not really a true alternative to Alves but agree that he was expressly purchased for depth
Two things:
Mahrez. Yes, he was bought to play. We paid 60m. Hes our record signing.
Gundogan. Yes, it is very accurate. He had 1 year left on his Dortmund deal, hence the price of only 25m and we beat a host of clubs to sign him. Pep's first signing. A lot was hoped of him at the start.
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Two things:
Mahrez. Yes, he was bought to play. We paid 60m. Hes our record signing.
Gundogan. Yes, it is very accurate. He had 1 year left on his Dortmund deal, hence the price of only 25m and we beat a host of clubs to sign him. Pep's first signing. A lot was hoped of him at the start.
Mahrez might be the record signing but he was not 1st choice, I believe that was the point the OP had made referring to shifting priorities in the market
Gundogan was an early signing for Pep but was not a coveted player in the market and a far cry from the interest he generated a few years earlier before the injuries began. Let's not look over the fact that City bought him when he was even still injured.
FantasyIreland
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Not bought to be 3rd choice but no question he was not 1st choice in the market, he was a fallback alternative when Alexis was not available
Sanchez was always available,instead we chose to let the desperate cretins down the road meet his stupid demands.
So wheres de ligt going then? Seems like he’s def moving, and if the prevailing thought is he’d only go to a top club where he’s a guaranteed starter, I’m not seeing many options. City have their current group as discussed. Barca already have Pique, Umtitti, Langlet and just signed that young guy from France. PSG have Silva, Marquinhos, Kehrer and Kimpebe. Juve are loaded at CB. I guess you could argue Real, but is De ligt unseating Ramos right away?? Point being I don’t know that we can just say “oh he’d have to share time at City, no way then.” and pretend he walks into the starting lineup at any other huge club.Mahrez might be the record signing but he was not 1st choice, I believe that was the point the OP had made referring to shifting priorities in the market
Gundogan was an early signing for Pep but was not a coveted player in the market and a far cry from the interest he generated a few years earlier before the injuries began. Let's not look over the fact that City bought him when he was even still injured.
Sanchez was always available,instead we chose to let the desperate cretins down the road meet his stupid demands.
He was available, for free and for a salary far less than what United threw at him but there's no question he was Pep's primary target and the player opted to take the cash
FantasyIreland
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He was available, for free and for a salary far less than what United threw at him but there's no question he was Pep's primary target and the player opted to take the cash
You said he wasn't available,hence my reply?? And he wasn't free as he was transferred as part of a swap deal involving a player rated at 25m(ish)
Add that to his 500k wages and we rightly fucked him off.
Also......Our interest in Mahrez was common knowledge while we were discussing that deal.
You don't half talk some nonsense.
So wheres de ligt going then? Seems like he’s def moving, and if the prevailing thought is he’d only go to a top club where he’s a guaranteed starter, I’m not seeing many options. City have their current group as discussed. Barca already have Pique, Umtitti, Langlet and just signed that young guy from France. PSG have Silva, Marquinhos, Kehrer and Kimpebe. Juve are loaded at CB. I guess you could argue Real, but is De ligt unseating Ramos right away?? Point being I don’t know that we can just say “oh he’d have to share time at City, no way then.” and pretend he walks into the starting lineup at any other huge club.
Remains to be seen, there are plenty of clubs that would love to have a player of De Ligt's caliber - how many top clubs that could/would guarantee him starting? Maybe PSG but that would be it - T.Silva will be 35 years of age for the upcoming season
Barcelona have a potential injury concern with Umititi so there's a real possibility his career is at risk at the club. Pique is 32 and has already stated he will not be playing indefinitely as he has many interests outside of playing + he looks to be on the decline. Lenglet is depth, not meant to be a starter. Todibo is a 19 year old investment for the future and is far behind De Ligt in terms of being ready to provide big minutes at a top club.
City have Stones & Laporte who are nearly certain starters with good depth already - would De Ligt unseat either anytime soon even if he would play in the rotation along with Erik Garcia who had to have been given assurances about opportunities with the first team. Juventus are legitimate option but they never pay that big for a defender - Raiola could be a factor there and there is speculation her prefers the package Turin are considering for the Dutchman
He's a right footed CB which means at Barcelona he'd be a direct upgrade on Pique and I could easily see him become the undisputed starter early into a possible career at Barcelona but I am merely speculating
You said he wasn't available,hence my reply?? And he wasn't free as he was transferred as part of a swap deal involving a player rated at 25m(ish)
Add that to his 500k wages and we rightly fucked him off.
Also......Our interest in Mahrez was common knowledge while we were discussing that deal.
You don't half talk some nonsense.
The point was that he was not available, that also means not available at the price City were willing to pay - hence the reason why they moved on from him and directly were linked to Mahrez last winter
Are you suggesting that Sanchez was never the priority?
FantasyIreland
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No,the point is......youre spouting shite,again.The point was that he was not available
No,the point is......youre spouting shite,again.
There is little credible evidence to support that between Alexis & Mahrez, the latter was the priority signing for Pep/City last year
Gabriel
Well-Known Member
Remains to be seen, there are plenty of clubs that would love to have a player of De Ligt's caliber - how many top clubs that could/would guarantee him starting? Maybe PSG but that would be it - T.Silva will be 35 years of age for the upcoming season
Barcelona have a potential injury concern with Umititi so there's a real possibility his career is at risk at the club. Pique is 32 and has already stated he will not be playing indefinitely as he has many interests outside of playing + he looks to be on the decline. Lenglet is depth, not meant to be a starter. Todibo is a 19 year old investment for the future and is far behind De Ligt in terms of being ready to provide big minutes at a top club.
City have Stones & Laporte who are nearly certain starters with good depth already - would De Ligt unseat either anytime soon even if he would play in the rotation along with Erik Garcia who had to have been given assurances about opportunities with the first team. Juventus are legitimate option but they never pay that big for a defender - Raiola could be a factor there and there is speculation her prefers the package Turin are considering for the Dutchman
He's a right footed CB which means at Barcelona he'd be a direct upgrade on Pique and I could easily see him become the undisputed starter early into a possible career at Barcelona but I am merely speculating
You seem to discount 'that lot', who are still desperate for a central defender, and Liverpool, who will be looking for someone to partner van Dijk, but I cannot work out if that's because you no longer count them as 'top clubs' or if it's because you don't want to admit that they might just pip Barcelona to his signature. Unless Barcelona already have assurances, I would not underplay the role van der Saar might play or indeed the role of van Dijk.
It's true, De Ligt could work with van Dijk at Liverpool but Lovren while an inferior talent is not yet 30 so it wouldn't be a clear cut shot at starting. I struggle to imagine Liverpool spending that much again on a defender but why not? I think they are likely to be thinking midfield more than anything else since that is the weakest part of the team atm. Not sure why you would conclude I do not view them as one of the top clubs - they are unquestionably one of the top clubs
I had a pulse on what was happening with De Jong, I have little on De Ligt apart from the desire to see him signed. Raiola is normally kryptonite when it comes to Barcelona so that works against them, even if he isn't his agent per se. As big a talent as De Jong and at 19 should probably be a world class level player for more than a decade - not sure anyone would want to miss the chance for that at any price.
Seems a great great kid, super loyal to Ajax and the sort of leader profile you'd hope for leading the defense. Oranje are already looking outstanding
I had a pulse on what was happening with De Jong, I have little on De Ligt apart from the desire to see him signed. Raiola is normally kryptonite when it comes to Barcelona so that works against them, even if he isn't his agent per se. As big a talent as De Jong and at 19 should probably be a world class level player for more than a decade - not sure anyone would want to miss the chance for that at any price.
Seems a great great kid, super loyal to Ajax and the sort of leader profile you'd hope for leading the defense. Oranje are already looking outstanding
This guy is off to Barça if they make a good enough offer financially.
They (de Jong and de Ligt) said countless of time they want to play in the same club if possible.
When one was PSG bound, the other was PSG bound. Now that Barça got one of the duo, they have a huge lead as a personal preference of the player.
They (de Jong and de Ligt) said countless of time they want to play in the same club if possible.
When one was PSG bound, the other was PSG bound. Now that Barça got one of the duo, they have a huge lead as a personal preference of the player.
citytilllidie
Well-Known Member
A bit cheaper than De Ligt.You are comparing him to De Ligt as being a reasonable like for like, lets leave it there
Rather spend the money on a top centre forward.
Maybe Dybala?