Kalidou Koulibaly

[Gabriel]

I was all for signing him, but even I confess I’m having second thoughts. The only person that’s really championing him on here is someone who has consistently watched him for the last five years and is in tears at the thought of losing him. By contrast, loads of people are adamant he is rubbish. They admit to never having never seen him play, or at best have caught YouTube clips, yet they are making a compelling case that this is going to be a huge mistake. A mistake of Mangala proportions! If that wasn’t enough, he’s old, apparently really old, and getting older by the day even. It’s all too, too much, and then there’s the question of the money...

 

[RayCTID]

I was all for signing him, but even I confess I’m having second thoughts. The only person that’s really championing him on here is someone who has consistently watched him for the last five years and is in tears at the thought of losing him. By contrast, loads of people are adamant he is rubbish. They admit to never having never seen him play, or at best have caught YouTube clips, yet they are making a compelling case that this is going to be a huge mistake. A mistake of Mangala proportions! If that wasn’t enough, he’s old, apparently really old, and getting older by the day even. It’s all too, too much, and then there’s the question of the money...

Mangala was knocking on the door of being one of the best defenders in Europe (although one or two posterson this forum warned us he might not be what we are looking for despite me and a few others defending him), had won a few medals and caps for France and FC Porto respectively and he had a similar career rise to Koulibaly and was younger too when he joined.

 

[Gabriel]

Mangala was knocking on the door of being one of the best defenders in Europe (although one or two poster on this forum warned us he might not be what we are looking for), had won a few medals and caps for France and FC Porto respectively and he had a similar career rise to Koulibaly nand was younger too when he joined.

Mangala was at the door. Koulibaly is through the door and already checking out the loft conversion.

 

[RayCTID]

Mangala was at the door. Koulibaly is through the door and already checking out the loft conversion.

I am not so sure about that. He seems to be one of those highly effective players in one system(like the players they have sold for high prices in recent seasons) but will look lost or don't settle in another.

 

[bobom]

I am not so sure about that. He seems to be one of those highly effective players in one system(like the players they have sold for high prices in recent seasons) but will look lost or don't settle in another.

But the system he was best in was Sarri's, which isn't 100 miles from Pep's.

 

[RayCTID]

But the system he was best in was Sarri's, which isn't 100 miles from Pep's.

Sarri's system didn't work particularly well at Chelsea and this is more down to the individual than the system. And Sarri's system was similar to Pellegrini's (who I like) and that didn't help with Mangala's spell at City. He stll has to adapt to a different culture as well.

 

[Gabriel]

I am not so sure about that. He seems to be one of those highly effective players in one system(like the players they have sold for high prices in recent seasons) but will look lost or don't settle in another.

Good players can adapt and should be able to play in other teams, and I don’t hold that they follow a pattern from one system to another. After all, Mangala might ultimately have been disappointing, but Fernando...

 

[Withnail]

Its too much for a player who has achieved next to fuck all. At leat with van Dijk he won something before he arrived in England (and I don't rate that player too highly)

Detest the Dippers, but Van Dijk is a very good player, would welcome him at City. Who do you want?

 

[RayCTID]

Good players can adapt and should be able to play in other teams, and I don’t hold that they follow a pattern from one system to another. After all, Mangala might ultimately have been disappointing, but Fernando...

Both had their positives. One ended up being an highly expensive squad option one was a cheaper one

 

[RayCTID]

Detest the Dippers, but Van Dijk is a very good player, would welcome him at City. Who do you want?

Hard to tell as there is definite shortage especially for us who want to be competing at an higher level and with the current system. We did take a huge gamble with not buying van Dijk but despite the way it panned out I did understand the reasonings why we didn't go for him. I'm not suggesting to not bring one in but make damn sure its going to be 100% correct one.

 

[Gabriel]

Hard to tell as their is definite shortage especially for us who want to be competing at an higher level. We did take a huge gamble with not buying van Dijk but despite the way it panned out I did understand the reasoinings why we didn't go for him. I'm not suggesting to not bring one in but make damn sure its going to be 100% correct one.

You can never be 100% sure and we’d probably have been in for him last season, but we couldn’t have foreseen the predicaments of our four right-footed centre backs a year on.

 

[skyblues]

I am not so sure about that. He seems to be one of those highly effective players in one system(like the players they have sold for high prices in recent seasons) but will look lost or don't settle in another.

I think it’s focusing on the wrong thing. Koulibaly can pass, he has pace, he can read the game and he can defend, standing or sliding. A guy like this would fit pretty much any team, or system if you will.

 

[RayCTID]

You can never be 100% sure and we’d probably have been in for him last season, but we couldn’t have foreseen the predicaments of our four right-footed centre backs a year on.

Again despite goals we still aren't clinical (but that has alawys happened regardless the manager). That helps take the burden off our defenders,

 

[Gabriel]

Again despite goals we still aren't clinical (but that has alawys happened regardless the manager). That helps take the burden off our defenders,

Fully agree, we should have added to the striking department by now but have again chosen to defer. Similarly, we should be addressing the left-back and defensive midfield options, but at least the signing of Koulibaly should resolve one problem area.

 

[RayCTID]

Fully agree, we should have added to the striking department by now but have again chosen to defer. Similarly, we should be addressing the left-back and defensive midfield options, but at least the signing of Koulibaly should resolve one problem area.

As I said we could with one but I am unsure whether Koulibaly is the right one and this time next year we will be looking for another one (initally just like you and a few other posters I was fully on board with this one)

 

[ChicagoBlue]

Mangala was at the door. Koulibaly is through the door and already checking out the loft conversion.

Which is why he is 29!

Im not sure what it takes for a defender to make it at City!

An entire City defence player in the CL QF for other teams!! Imagine the cash we would have saved!!

Trippier...Denayer...Savic...Angeliño

Now, I’m not saying any of them are world beaters, but we have spent a £100Ms to replace them with players that don’t get a game now! Oh, and they’re all international!

Are they not even good enough to be subs for City...like Mendy, Cancelo, Zinchenko, Stones, Otamendi?!

I’d take an Upemecano over Khoulibaly.

Age, speed, ball work, price all go in favor of Upemecano! And, his wages will be cheaper and he has sell on potential!

The bigger question is...would YOU leave a cushy number for City and the PL??

 

[Gabriel]

As I said we could with one but I am unsure whether Koulibaly is the right one and this time next year we will be looking for another one (initally just like you and a few other posters I was fully on board with this one)

If we lose Garcia, Otamendi, and Stones this summer, and Fernandinho next, then unless Adarabioyo or Sandler prove a success, we’ll definitely be looking for a younger back up who has more experience than our other academy prospects.

 

[RayCTID]

I think it’s focusing on the wrong thing. Koulibaly can pass, he has pace, he can read the game and he can defend, standing or sliding. A guy like this would fit pretty much any team, or system if you will.

Mangala had most of those attributes and look on how that turned out. The League we play in will easily expose Koulibaly's weaknesses as well as it did Mangala's. Mangala could actually pass as well (I am not joking here). Mangala's biggest problem was he was very shaky under pressure.

 

[RayCTID]

If we lose Garcia, Otamendi, and Stones this summer, and Fernandinho next, then unless Adarabioyo or Sandler prove a success, we’ll definitely be looking for a younger back up who has more experience than our other academy prospects.

Which I hope we have another target lined up.

 

[Gabriel]

Which is why he is 29!

Im not sure what it takes for a defender to make it at City!

An entire City defence player in the CL QF for other teams!! Imagine the cash we would have saved!!

Trippier...Denayer...Savic...Angeliño

Now, I’m not saying any of them are world beaters, but we have spent a £100Ms to replace them with players that don’t get a game now! Oh, and they’re all international!

Are they not even good enough to be subs for City...like Mendy, Cancelo, Zinchenko, Stones, Otamendi?!

I’d take an Upemecano over Khoulibaly.

Age, speed, ball work, price all go in favor of Upemecano! And, his wages will be cheaper and he has sell on potential!

The bigger question is...would YOU leave a cushy number for City and the PL??

Completely agree with you on the other player points- still think Angelino should be recalled- but think you underplay the one thing Koulibaly has over Upemecano, experience. I think we set out to get him knowing that Otamendi and Stones were leaving and that Fernandinho’s days were numbered. That is a phenomenal number of years to lose in quick succession. Even with Ake in the bag we needed someone with a big game mentality on the right of Laporte and a player who could see us over the next 3-4 seasons.