Marc Cucurella

[foggy1974]

Yeah, it's unbelievable not to sign an LB, but people would criticize all of us because we have won back-to-back Premier League's.

Injury crisis, Vini Jr. against Fernandinho 1 vs 1 in CL, but we still do not need a full-back. It's only about drawing conclusions.

Fernandinho played at rightback that night because Walker went off injured & Cancelo was suspended

 

[Scottish Cityzen]

I don't think he is worth 1/2 of what we paid, I never got him at Villa and what I witnessed last season did not surprise me.

People on here keep saying he needed 12 months to settle in, we will see, I am not holding my breath for Jackie boy, I hope I am very wrong.

So you value him at the level of a Fred, a Ben White, less than a Pepe, or a Sancho.

I would suggest that his quality, his performances and his status as a top English talent made his ‘true value’ in the region of a £75-80m area. So we did overpay to a degree but the people who matter at City believed it would be worth it. I’m sure he will move up further levels for us this season.

With regards to Cucurella we might value you him in the region of £40m but might end up around the £50m if we really want him. That’s the same ballpark ‘overpayment %’ as Grealish.

We operate at a very difficult area of the market where so few players have the ability to play for us and of them a significant portion are unobtainable - that’s why we will always periodically have to pay a premium.

On the flip side you can’t argue that we have got Haaland, Phillips (and potential Alvarez) in for tremendous value, maybe the club feel that this value will allow them to push the boat out for specific positions such as LB or as in the Grealish signing.

 

[Paul1970]

We have an excellent left back in Cancelo and our backups are comparable with our rivals as it stands.

But we are not moving forward . We need to sign a left back as we are one injury away having ferdy type problem with no one v be ring to play at left. Back . We should never stand still and need to keep evolving .

 

[Txiki Txiki Bang Bang]

I don't think he is worth 1/2 of what we paid, I never got him at Villa and what I witnessed last season did not surprise me.

People on here keep saying he needed 12 months to settle in, we will see, I am not holding my breath for Jackie boy, I hope I am very wrong.

You've fucked up now, haven't you?

@Lavinda Past @DATOIA get at him!

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

Fernandinho played at rightback that night because Walker went off injured & Cancelo was suspended

It was one step above that. Stones was rushed back from injury to play at Right Back, but got re-injured just before their first goal and was replaced by Fernandinho.

 

[Dribble]

Again, one that is more a question of extent than the point, but that is a bit of an embelishment.

After the 17-18 season, when he was first tried at LB to get us to the end of the season, Zinchenko has played more games at LB than any other of our LBs in each of the following 3 seasons, up until the last season when Cancelo had a worldy on both sides of the pitch.

In 2 of those seasons he played as many and/or more games than the next 2 put together.

He is no doubt a squad player, I use that term myself, he shares that role with with others and is often not first choice. But he also often is, and has been more than just a back-up, for at least 3 of his 4 seasons as a LB.

We only had perma-injured Mendy as a LB, unless I've missed someone?

 

[Coatigan]

This post is a breath of fresh air here on bluemoon! I am not sure why most posters just wouldn't admit that we pay waaaay over his actual value.

What is his actual value?

We paid well under Haaland's actual value, so lets call it evened out. And probably bang on Rodri's. That's release clauses I guess, win some lose some.

 

[taconinja]

I get ya. From what I've seen of him he's more a classic central midfield all-rounder. He's not a specialist CDM or CAM, nor box to box.

He's adept at doing both without being world beating at either (similar to Gundog) but that versatility makes FDJ an invaluable conduit like Gundog, as he can competently do the lot to a very high standard, without being a specialist at any.

For the right price & wages, I'd have him as a Gundog replacement without worry. We were balls deep in for him until Barça blew everyone out of the water in terms of the fee & wages to get him.

To show that level of interest in him, there's something Pep & Txiki have seen which must fit into our playing ethos, & I don't think that was purely down to him being a possible replacement for Fernandinho either.

All fair points, and I can see that working yeah. I think if we hadn't gone for Phillips, it would be more likely.

 

[Dribble]

Pep can work wonders with players, so I'd never say no absolutely not. Everything I've seen of him makes me believe de Jong would be superb in a double pivot, which we could play and might benefit us in certain games, but I don't see us modifying our system to fit him when we've got Phillips to play a more advanced midfield role like Gundogan.

That's only my opinion, though. I've not watched a lot of him at Ajax and Barca has been all over the map tactically since he's been there.

I get ya. From what I've seen of him he's more a classic central midfield all-rounder. He's not a specialist CDM or CAM, nor box to box.

He's adept at doing both without being world beating at either (similar to Gundog) but that versatility makes FDJ an invaluable conduit like Gundog, as he can competently do the lot to a very high standard, without being a specialist at any.

For the right price & wages, I'd have him as a Gundog replacement without worry. We were balls deep in for him until Barça blew everyone out of the water in terms of the fee & wages to get him.

To show that level of interest in him, there's something Pep & Txiki have seen which must fit into our playing ethos, & I don't think that was purely down to him being a possible replacement for Fernandinho either.

 

[Coatigan]

We only had perma-injured Mendy as a LB, unless I've missed someone?

I was including anyone that occupied that that position at any point during the same time. laporte, ake, delph, angelino, etc.

 

[ancoats]

We have an excellent left back in Cancelo and our backups are comparable with our rivals as it stands.

The problem with Cancelo at left back is better teams work us out, they let Cancelo go down the line knowing the left foot is not his best and needs to cut back on his right, the key is balance on both sides and the forwards want a first time cross and make the run only for Cancelo to hold and cut back,

i also like the balance in giving us options of down both flanks to mix it up so teams down no have to defend us

 

[Legal Alien]

Everyone knows that the fee would be too high, but better to pay 5-10m£ more than stay with the problem for the next year. We don't know if there is a possibility we would sign anyone cheaper. Everyone knows for ages that we should pay 50M£.

I agree, we need a legitimate left back and if we pay £45m+£5m or £50m, it doesn't matter, let them spin it how they want.

I get the argument about Cancelo, but he's a right footed player, playing left back.

With us selling Torres, Sterling and Jesus we have lost a lot of width and i think with us playing with a genuine centre forward that will mean the fullbacks having to provide width and crosses on their natural side.

This lad looks a good defender and puts in a good cross with his left foot.
We have the money, so just go and get it done City!

 

[blue61]

But we are not moving forward . We need to sign a left back as we are one injury away having ferdy type problem with no one v be ring to play at left. Back . We should never stand still and need to keep evolving .

We are the same as last season we have Zinchenko and Ake that can play left back to cover Cancelo. It's not ideal but we only suffered last season because of a freak set of injuries coupled with a suspension

I agree we would be improved by signing Cucurella, however if the fee is not acceptable to both parties then there is no panic going forward, unless Zinchenko leaves

 

[Dribble]

I was including anyone that occupied that that position at any point during the same time. laporte, ake, delph, angelino, etc.

That's my point. Square pegs in round holes & no specialist LB's since Mendy, Kolarov & Clichy.

It's been a perennial issue for City over the past 6 seasons & it's high time we stopped with the mend & make do approach to filling a position which has constantly caused us grief & has never been properly resolved.

 

[blue61]

The problem with Cancelo at left back is better teams work us out, they let Cancelo go down the line knowing the left foot is not his best and needs to cut back on his right, the key is balance on both sides and the forwards want a first time cross and make the run only for Cancelo to hold and cut back,

i also like the balance in giving us options of down both flanks to mix it up so teams down no have to defend us

I agree we would be better with a natural left back, all I am saying its not a disaster if we have to go with what we had for full backs last season

 

[Zenmanc]

all I am saying its not a disaster if we have to go with what we had for full backs last season

Since Zinch is edging out the door that's a bit moot at this point.

 

[Keeper!]

You've fucked up now, haven't you?

@Lavinda Past @DATOIA get at him!

Last summer it was the Arry Kane fans boys, now that was fringing weird, defending a player than did not even play for us,

 

[Sir Joe Aguero]

That's my point. Square pegs in round holes & no specialist LB's since Mendy, Kolarov & Clichy.

It's been a perennial issue for City over the past 6 seasons & it's high time we stopped with the mend & make do approach to filling a position which has constantly caused us grief & has never been properly resolved.

Last couple of seasons I’d honestly say Cancelo’s better on the left than the right, even if he’s a right footed RB. You’re right we dicked around getting a proper LB for too long, but what we’ve got works (assuming zinny stays).

 

[Keeper!]

So you value him at the level of a Fred, a Ben White, less than a Pepe, or a Sancho.

I would suggest that his quality, his performances and his status as a top English talent made his ‘true value’ in the region of a £75-80m area. So we did overpay to a degree but the people who matter at City believed it would be worth it. I’m sure he will move up further levels for us this season.

With regards to Cucurella we might value you him in the region of £40m but might end up around the £50m if we really want him. That’s the same ballpark ‘overpayment %’ as Grealish.

We operate at a very difficult area of the market where so few players have the ability to play for us and of them a significant portion are unobtainable - that’s why we will always periodically have to pay a premium.

On the flip side you can’t argue that we have got Haaland, Phillips (and potential Alvarez) in for tremendous value, maybe the club feel that this value will allow them to push the boat out for specific positions such as LB or as in the Grealish signing.

Sancho was overvalued and rated just like Grealish, like White, like Maguire, like Kane and guess what they are all English.

Why do you think people are amazed at the price for Kalvin Philips? 45m for a young , full English International, that's a reasonable and sensible price for a very good footballer.

A Spanish version of Grealish would be less than half the price.

 

[FantasyIreland]

Get this over the line and we will go into the new season in a fantastic situation,probably our most balanced and fluid looking squad.

Square pegs will have been addressed and hungry young blood will be raring to go.