Welcome Donnarumma!

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ric
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BlueMoonAcrossThePond said:
Cheers.

You make some good points.

But, nonetheless, even absent a single ball kicked with Donnarumma in goal, I'm confident in my assessment - because I base it on what I've seen from virtually every single pundit I've watched from Sky Sports, The Athletic, NBC Sports, numerous much smaller pundits whose opinion I respect, ... and on and on - I've yet to find a single reputable pundit who thinks that Donnarumma is a good signing for us.
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The same collective media outlets spouted the same about KDB, silva and Aguero, all either too small, mentally weak and inflated in price…

I certainly get the point regarding those in front and at full back, however, a fit again Rodri, invariably sees a drop off in opposing teams press, coupled with his ability to spin and drive like nobody else in any league, he’s always been the key to the system, he also has the perfect foil in Reijnders when doubled up on….

Let’s just see, I wouldn’t be putting too much faith in the Shaka hislops, Craig burleys, Gary Neville et al, more blunders in that collective than Michael J fox in goal
 
He pretty much single handedly knocked Arsenal and scousers out of the champions league last year. One particular save from Odegard was unbelievable.
Without him, PSG don’t win the CL. I think it’s a great signing but no doubt there’ll be many ready to jump on any mistake.
 
Zin 'messiah' Zimmer said:
The same collective media outlets spouted the same about KDB, silva and Aguero, all either too small, mentally weak and inflated in price…

I certainly get the point regarding those in front and at full back, however, a fit again Rodri, invariably sees a drop off in opposing teams press, coupled with his ability to spin and drive like nobody else in any league, he’s always been the key to the system, he also has the perfect foil in Reijnders when doubled up on….

Let’s just see, I wouldn’t be putting too much faith in the Shaka hislops, Craig burleys, Gary Neville et al, more blunders in that collective than Michael J fox in goal
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Cheers. I intentionally left out ESPNFC in the list of pundits - because they are indeed mostly inept (Marcotti and Laurens being the main exceptions).
 
BlueMoonAcrossThePond said:
Agree with some of your points.

PSG departed ways with Donnarumma mostly due to Donnarumma's wage demands according to what I've read.

That said, PSG - like us - play a ball control system - as both a means of offense and defense. Unlike PSG, we are unable to cope with Donnarumma's weakness at passing - PSG has world class and IMO several #1 in the world players at LB, LCB, RCB and RB. All of them have pace and all of them are excellent on the ball and all of them are excellent when under pressure (AIt Nouri is weak on defense and tends to dribble into trouble when under pressure; Gvardiol is perfect; Dias is less good than Gvardiol but certain can fit with Donnarumma; Stones is perfect; Lewis is terrible and Nunes has potential but isn't great either).

A little research on Donnarumma would reveal that he's #1 or #2 at shot stopping in his box. And that he's not great at commanding the box on - for example corner kicks - and isn't gifted on the ball - and doesn't sweep - and doesn't offer himself as a passing option when building from the back.

Look - I hope that Donnarumma is successful in our side - but for me, he doesn't at all fit our system (not good on the ball) and furthermore, unlike PSG, we can't cope with this deficiency if we want to most often play from the back.

Sure Pep might change our system to hoof it much more often... but that's counter to everything that Pep has done in his entire career so I very much doubt that this is happening.

TL/DR
Welcome Donnarumma - I very much hope that you'll succeed.
But at the same time, given the way that we've always played under Pep and given Donnarumma's average passing ability (at best) coupled with our current defensive line - Donnarumma is a misfit and were going to be worse than if Ederson or Trafford were in goal IMO. I may be wrong in this opinion of course - but pretty much every single pundit I've watched expresses the exact same opinion.

Again I may be wrong - and I hope that I am for the sake of our side - but if I'm wrong, then so are 90% or so of all football pundits.
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IMO this is a myth. The backline aren't great on the ball as some may think. Their midfield is, but the strength of the fb's is to bomb on in attack. They aren't great passers. Neither are Maquinos or Pacho. In fact I watched back some of PSG's CL games to get a glimpse of Donnarumma and PSG were put under a lot of pressure against Liverpool, Villa and Arsenal at times. People also forget that PSG were almost as bad as us in the group phase. Credit to them they did well when it came to knockouts, but they had a bit of luck as well. I don't watch Ligue 1, but I think PSG would struggle playing out of pressure if they had to the PL.

The difference between us and them at the moment is the quality of their wingers as well as their fb's in attack. They can dominate possession in games a lot because of their pressing and winning the ball back with Dembele up top.

Donnarumma isn't Ederson with the ball at his feet. We all know that, but what I found out was he's not as bad as he's made out to be. Against Villa he played every short pass well. He could ping passes to the fb's decently. However this was under moderate pressure. Against high pressure you'd assume he just boot it. I don't doubt at some point he will have a mare. With all keepers it's usually when they pass it through the middle. IMO with the way the game is going and teams pressing m2m we have already been booting the ball long from goal kicks even with Ederson. My guess is the Pep sees that and is willing to adjust.

With Donnarumma I'm having more concerns with coming out for crosses. He's big, but he can't jump. He punched it into his own net against Israel and he was barely fouled. Teams will pry on that. He's slow and tends not to come off his line. Hopefully Xabi the GK coach will work with him. We'll see how it goes.
 
I have been watching this guy since he was 18 at AC and he was a prodigy then. I thought our chance was over when he moved to PSG. It turns out he is only 26 and is about to enter his prime as a keeper.
 
www.mancity.com

Donnarumma hungry to help City make history

New signing Gianluigi Donnarumma says he is hungry to help Manchester City make history and secure even more silverware.
www.mancity.com www.mancity.com

www.mancity.com

I’m so proud Pep wants me at City, says Donnarumma

Gianluigi Donnarumma says it’s an indescribable emotion to know that Pep Guardiola wanted to work with him at City.
www.mancity.com www.mancity.com

www.mancity.com

Watch: Donnarumma’s first Manchester City interview

City secured the deadline day signing of Gianluigi Donnarumma and after going away on international duty, he sat down with the Club for his first interview as a Blue.
www.mancity.com www.mancity.com

www.mancity.com

Gallery: Donnarumma’s first day at the CFA!

Gianluigi Donnarumma is in Manchester and building up to his first taste of English football.
www.mancity.com www.mancity.com
 
A good.little interview with him on the os. He certainly seems.pleased to be here. I do like the way he called us a historic club on a couple of occasions, wonder if he did that on purpose.
 
blue whippet said:
A good.little interview with him on the os. He certainly seems.pleased to be here. I do like the way he called us a historic club on a couple of occasions, wonder if he did that on purpose.
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Why would it be on purpose? His age, 26? We are a historic club winning things.
 
Haaland94 said:
He speaks some Engliah, but obviously wanted to express himself properly, hence the translation. Comes across as articulate, determined, excited, and with true winners mentality. Can't wait to see him in action.
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Agree...as much as I was excited by Trafford joining us, the difference between the two interviews are night and day.

Donnarumma seems to speak with real leadership & authority & lots of talk about working together as a team to create a strong culture rather than all about him.

Hope the Etihad has brushed up on their Italian or downloaded the Duolingo app for some practice - tantissimo!
 
Just seen his interview on the os.
Speaks well, looking forward to seeing a keeper with a big presence around the area who makes big saves.
That's no slight on Eddie but this guy will win us points for sure.
 
Mancini’s Pastilles said:
Doesn't speak English? Khus got stick for not being able communicate
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Why on earth does it matter that he can't speak English?

He'll be able to speak either French or Spanish id imagine, which will be more than good enough to communicate with everyone at the club

The English are the minority, and should look into learning other languages
 
city5189 said:
Just seen his interview on the os.
Speaks well, looking forward to seeing a keeper with a big presence around the area who makes big saves.
That's no slight on Eddie but this guy will win us points for sure.
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Just watched the latest one, wfuch going off the dark clouds he was training today. He’s fucking huge!
 
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