January defenders

[Ederson's smiley tattoo]

If we want to splash the cash Milan Skriniar is like Maguire but better in every single way possible, plays as a LCB but is right footed so would slot in perfectly at RCB. Great with his feet and very strong. He would be extremely exepnsive though. I think we should look at CB´s in a similar mould to Kompany. Another one to look at could be Gimenez, but he would also be expensive. A cheaper alternative could be Jonathan Tah, but it seems like no top club is after him which could be warning sign since he seems so complete as a CB.

 

[mosssideblue]

We really need to buy a top defender ASAP.

January is tough but let’s make it happen. The number one trait should be leadership imo. Then of course ball playing and defensive ability.

Right now our CB situation is terrible.

Otamendi- not a leader, 32 in a few months and mistake prone.

Stones- not a leader, weak mentally, weak defensively, hasn’t progressed much in his time hear.

Laporte- top quality, currently injured obviously but not sure he’s a leader tbh

E.Garcia and THB- two great talents but simply too young and inexperienced right now.

Fernandinho- doing his best at CB but he is a world class DM and we are losing that but playing him in defense.

let’s splash the cash and buy a top CB.

Interesting how you have prioritised qualities needed. I am an old fuddy duddy and would want first and foremost defensive ability first

 

[KCblue]

Nico Elvedi has one year left on his contract at the end of the season and can play CB as well as both fullback positions. He'll be 24 in September, think he'd be a great Otamendi replacement in the summer. With Laporte returning around the new year I don't see us signing a CB in January unless it's a loan.

 

[decmancity]

We will need to move on a foreign player to be able to buy unless they are homegrown. Can we move on Otamendi on a cut price deal to get someone in Jan. Not too sure.

 

[MCFC ISRAEL]

We will need to move on a foreign player to be able to buy unless they are homegrown. Can we move on Otamendi on a cut price deal to get someone in Jan. Not too sure.

Why not? He is currently a fourth option when he realizes that even Fernandinho, in his age , in a whole new position and is still playing before him. He would love to move, we would love to let him go and bring a replacement as early as January. In the summer I would also bring someone instead of Stones

 

[nellyonthewing]

Time to dust off my ffs txixi playbook.

 

[decmancity]

Why not? He is currently a fourth option when he realizes that even Fernandinho, in his age , in a whole new position and is still playing before him. He would love to move, we would love to let him go and bring a replacement as early as January. In the summer I would also bring someone instead of Stones

Sam Lee appears to say that he asked to move in the summer but we asked for too much. If Txiki picks up the phone and offers him for noult with us paying 30% of his wages im sure we will have offers but I don't think we will. We will still see value in Otamendi and Pep I am sure would be happy to keep him around as he is useful for rotation and cup games. Stones has till the summer to prove himself, I have made a lot of excuses for him over the years but my patience is wearing thin. Laporte and Stones is still our best partnership and when he is back I hope we can get our first choice back 4 on the pitch for a few matches in a row.

 

[bondsman]

We will need to move on a foreign player to be able to buy unless they are homegrown. Can we move on Otamendi on a cut price deal to get someone in Jan. Not too sure.

Rather shift Mendy or Bravo

 

[MeatHunterrr]

We will need to move on a foreign player to be able to buy unless they are homegrown. Can we move on Otamendi on a cut price deal to get someone in Jan. Not too sure.

Bin Bravo off, the guys useless anyway. Carson or Walker in goal cant be worse.

 

[abu13]

I would like to see us make a move for Nathan Ake in January, he isn't going to come cheap but i think he has a big future ahead of him.

 

[Trevor Morley's Tache]

Our current defenders are more than capable enough. They just need an injury free run of form in a settled line up like other teams have managed.

 

[Paul1970]

Our current defenders are more than capable enough. They just need an injury free run of form in a settled line up like other teams have managed.

Sorry mate but apart from Laporte they are not good enough . I mean pep would rather play a central midfielder than trust otamendi and to not even pick our £50 million left back in the match squad tells me he is finished at city . Walker looks like he is gonna probably get his wish to finish his career at sheff Utd if not next season then the season after . We have some good young defenders coming through but boy we are definitely not on the money at the back .

 

[richards30]

Koulibaly or Ruben Dias in and give cancelo a run of games please pep

 

[Trevor Morley's Tache]

Sorry mate but apart from Laporte they are not good enough . I mean pep would rather play a central midfielder than trust otamendi and to not even pick our £50 million left back in the match squad tells me he is finished at city . Walker looks like he is gonna probably get his wish to finish his career at sheff Utd if not next season then the season after . We have some good young defenders coming through but boy we are definitely not on the money at the back .

Prior to injury, Stones (middle of last season certainly) was a shoe in, as were Mendy and LaPorte. Then take your pick from Otta, Walker, Zinch, Cancelo, Angelino and Garcia for the final place with the youngsters coming through to supplement.

A run of games with a settled back line in front of Eddie and we start to see the mistakes ironed out.

 

[Tevez City]

Spending money doesn't always resolve your problem.

Look at Chelsea for an example, they spend nothing last summer and lost their best player Hazard while also having important players injured.

They relied on their youngsters ( Abraham, Mount, Tomori & others ) and somehow they are above City after 12 rounds !

IMO, Pep made some mistakes and he needs to get back to the basics and use the 100 points season as reference.

 

[Easy]

Interesting how you have prioritised qualities needed. I am an old fuddy duddy and would want first and foremost defensive ability first

yes but such a defender is useless for us if he can’t use his feet. Also every great defense needs a leader and we don’t have one. Kompany is gone so leadership is crucial for us. Without Kompany coming into the defense at the end of last season no chance we win the league.

 

[Keeper!]

Our current defenders are more than capable enough. They just need an injury free run of form in a settled line up like other teams have managed.

Never in a million years are they good enough, Laporte apart.

Stones, Otto, Fern , Mendy got good enough.

 

[Pubteam Lomas]

We need a leader.
We need a strong character. Kompany calling Salah a 'pussy', Yaya picking up Lallana at Wembley.
On Sunday when Sterling was getting grief it was like the nursery kids shouting 'stop it'.
Look at VVD did he marched over and threw his weight into the argument with Sterling and Gomes.
We need somebody to walk over and say 'f@ck off and deal with me'.

 

[Paul1970]

Prior to injury, Stones (middle of last season certainly) was a shoe in, as were Mendy and LaPorte. Then take your pick from Otta, Walker, Zinch, Cancelo, Angelino and Garcia for the final place with the youngsters coming through to supplement.

A run of games with a settled back line in front of Eddie and we start to see the mistakes ironed out.

I respect your opinion mate but I don’t think they are . John stones. Has carried on from the back end of last season and Doesn’t look like getting better so I don’t even think a run of games is making him any better . Otamendi should not have been allowed to stay on this season as he is clearly not good enough. What we should have done is blood Garcia and Taylor Haywood even now with the title race virtually over give them game time in the league because they will become unsettled as it’d only natural. I really cancelo even more so than walker so he would now be starting. I think walker who has been great is coming to the end of career at the very top as you can see this season there has been way too many lapses . The left side is just a mess but give angelino game time now as I wouldn’t trust mendy and neither does pep i mean biggest game of the season and mendy s not even in the squad. If we’re not gonna buy then get the kids in.

 

[Trevor Morley's Tache]

I respect your opinion mate but I don’t think they are . John stones. Has carried on from the back end of last season and Doesn’t look like getting better so I don’t even think a run of games is making him any better . Otamendi should not have been allowed to stay on this season as he is clearly not good enough. What we should have done is blood Garcia and Taylor Haywood even now with the title race virtually over give them game time in the league because they will become unsettled as it’d only natural. I really cancelo even more so than walker so he would now be starting. I think walker who has been great is coming to the end of career at the very top as you can see this season there has been way too many lapses . The left side is just a mess but give angelino game time now as I wouldn’t trust mendy and neither does pep i mean biggest game of the season and mendy s not even in the squad. If we’re not gonna buy then get the kids in.

We don't play a settled back line week-in week-out like other teams. A settled back line is greater than the sum of its parts, but I guess we'll never know how good they can be as a unit.