Nicolás Otamendi - 2018/19 performances

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First red card at City. Handball not a handball.

It’s is a high quality player and possibly best third choice CB in the league!
 
Controversial point I'm sure, but I'm not convinced Otamendi is 3rd or 4th choice CB. It seems to me based on the games he has played he is very distinctly 2nd choice to Laporte as the left centre back. Whenever Laporte isn't in LCB, Otamendi plays. For example the Arsenal game recently where Stones was available. However due to Laporte's extreme quality and left footedness he's never dropped, and thus we rarely see Otamendi.

He's certainly 3rd choice as the right sided centre back behind Stones and Kompany, but I strongly believe Otamendi is a guaranteed pick if Laporte is not in that LCB role for whatever reason. Had Stones and Kompany been fully fit I still think neither of them would have started on Wednesday had Pep been insistent in Laporte at LB and Fernandinho as CB.
 
ChicagoBlue said:
I guess we won’t be satisfied until the perfect game occurs!

Surprised “Walker OUT!” banner has not been unfurled yet! LOL!
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Wai
mccity said:
Controversial point I'm sure, but I'm not convinced Otamendi is 3rd or 4th choice CB. It seems to me based on the games he has played he is very distinctly 2nd choice to Laporte as the left centre back. Whenever Laporte isn't in LCB, Otamendi plays. For example the Arsenal game recently where Stones was available. However due to Laporte's extreme quality and left footedness he's never dropped, and thus we rarely see Otamendi.

He's certainly 3rd choice as the right sided centre back behind Stones and Kompany, but I strongly believe Otamendi is a guaranteed pick if Laporte is not in that LCB role for whatever reason. Had Stones and Kompany been fully fit I still think neither of them would have started on Wednesday had Pep been insistent in Laporte at LB and Fernandinho as CB.
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Interesting view. Never looked at it like that b4 ...
 
mccity said:
Controversial point I'm sure, but I'm not convinced Otamendi is 3rd or 4th choice CB. It seems to me based on the games he has played he is very distinctly 2nd choice to Laporte as the left centre back. Whenever Laporte isn't in LCB, Otamendi plays. For example the Arsenal game recently where Stones was available. However due to Laporte's extreme quality and left footedness he's never dropped, and thus we rarely see Otamendi.

He's certainly 3rd choice as the right sided centre back behind Stones and Kompany, but I strongly believe Otamendi is a guaranteed pick if Laporte is not in that LCB role for whatever reason. Had Stones and Kompany been fully fit I still think neither of them would have started on Wednesday had Pep been insistent in Laporte at LB and Fernandinho as CB.
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Absolutely correct! He is our second choice LEFT sided CB, but that makes him our third choice CB when Laporte is never dropped. Ferna has been used as a stop gap RCB, or tactical tweak, when Stones was injured and Kompany not match fit, but I think everyone has come to the conclusion that Stones (RCB) and Laporte (LCB) is the first choice traditional CB pairing.

I’ve become an Otamendi convert. Was not a favorite when he arrived, but has had stints in the team where he was consistently in the mix for MOTM (even though a CB rarely gets it in a team that dominates the opposition going forward). His statistics are outstanding, but you always feel like he has a clanger in him, and that the red mist occasionally clouds his view of the current game situation, as it did against Schalke.

I wouldn’t hesitate to take him into the trenches with me, but he is often a blunt instrument in a team of orchestral virtuosos.
 
Otters is class - brilliant footballer and never complains when dropped. It's a shame for him that we're so deep that he hasn't appeared more often so far this season.
 
Great today, will now probably have a run in the team with the Laporte injury - which tbh isn't the worst thing ever, as we've won a couple leagues with Ota already if memory serves and he tends to do better after playing many games

That standing tackle on hazard in extra time was exquisite
 
thyer64 said:
Great today, will now probably have a run in the team with the Laporte injury - which tbh isn't the worst thing ever, as we've won a couple leagues with Ota already if memory serves and he tends to do better after playing many games

That standing tackle on hazard in extra time was exquisite
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Yes, there were at least three occasions when we put in 'Bobby Moore' type tackles at important times when Chelsea were on the attack in dangerous position. Maybe we have been practising the art of focusing on the ball, with the timing of the tackle being so crucial. Whatever, Otamendi, Zinchenko, Walker all make important interceptions.
 
The General was in top form today. Immense performance. He's a fighter and that sort of intangible quality is great to have. Also really durable which helps considering Vinnie's injury history, Stones has had some issues physically and Laporte picked up a knock today.
 
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