BillyShears
Well-Known Member
If Pep keeps Kolarov I'm starting the Pep out campaign early doors! ;)
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
Time catching up with Zabaleta?
- Thread starter toffee balls
- Start date
If Pep keeps Kolarov I'm starting the Pep out campaign early doors! ;)
eversince 76
Well-Known Member
If Pep keeps Kolarov I'm starting the Pep out campaign early doors! ;)
If Pep is unable to make Kolarov a better player he needs to go anyways.
FantasyIreland
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- 29 Oct 2008
- Messages
- 64,698
My feelings are that he'll be the first defender out the door,Zaba may not be far behind as I think it makes more sense to keep Sagna.If Pep keeps Kolarov I'm starting the Pep out campaign early doors! ;)
BillyShears
Well-Known Member
My feelings are that he'll be the first defender out the door,Zaba may not be far behind as I think it makes more sense to keep Sagna.
Yep. Sagna has been head and shoulders a better defender than Zab this season, and more importantly, Sagna doesn't look finished at the highest level in the way that Zab does.
I am concerned at the lack of concern in terms of buying full backs. The word is that it's the least important position to the player acquisition team this summer. Hope that's just talk because I think there's an argument we need minimum 2 top drawer full backs.
FantasyIreland
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- 29 Oct 2008
- Messages
- 64,698
Its very odd Billy....but its been odd for the past few seasons imo.......Its been a very obvious area of weakness(LB in particular) and yet we have been more concerned with throwing obscene amounts at centre half? I appreciate a need to strengthen that area also existed but surely the spending could have been more wisely spread?Yep. Sagna has been head and shoulders a better defender than Zab this season, and more importantly, Sagna doesn't look finished at the highest level in the way that Zab does.
I am concerned at the lack of concern in terms of buying full backs. The word is that it's the least important position to the player acquisition team this summer. Hope that's just talk because I think there's an argument we need minimum 2 top drawer full backs.
BillyShears
Well-Known Member
Its very odd Billy....but its been odd for the past few seasons imo.......Its been a very obvious area of weakness(LB in particular) and yet we have been more concerned with throwing obscene amounts at centre half? I appreciate a need to strengthen that area also existed but surely the spending could have been more wisely spread?
Completely agree. It'll be interesting to see what happens. Personally I think they'll end up buying at least one full back, but those deals will be much smaller comparative to the rest of our business. Bare in mind we're looking at the best part of 80 million pounds just for Stones and Laporte.
Gareth Barry Conlon
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- 5 Sep 2014
- Messages
- 15,962
Yep. Sagna has been head and shoulders a better defender than Zab this season, and more importantly, Sagna doesn't look finished at the highest level in the way that Zab does.
I am concerned at the lack of concern in terms of buying full backs. The word is that it's the least important position to the player acquisition team this summer. Hope that's just talk because I think there's an argument we need minimum 2 top drawer full backs.
I'd like to see Delph given a go at left back, I think he has all the right elements to his game to do very well there!
FantasyIreland
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- 29 Oct 2008
- Messages
- 64,698
Its a popular thought.....and it might be his most realistic opportunity of some longevity here.I'd like to see Delph given a go at left back, I think he has all the right elements to his game to do very well there!
BillyShears
Well-Known Member
I'd like to see Delph given a go at left back, I think he has all the right elements to his game to do very well there!
It's the kind of move I wouldn't put past Pep.
FantasyIreland
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- 29 Oct 2008
- Messages
- 64,698
Interesting you believe we will go for both Laporte and Stones. .Completely agree. It'll be interesting to see what happens. Personally I think they'll end up buying at least one full back, but those deals will be much smaller comparative to the rest of our business. Bare in mind we're looking at the best part of 80 million pounds just for Stones and Laporte.
BillyShears
Well-Known Member
Interesting you believe we will go for both Laporte and Stones. .
Everyone I've spoken to at every level within the media in the UK all say that City and Pep want BOTH of them this summer. I also think it speaks volumes that realistically we're the only club being linked seriously with both players. It wouldn't surprise me if they are the first two to get announced/done too.
andyhinch
Well-Known Member
Hope we don't break the back for Stones, no doubting his potential but I'm yet to be convincedInteresting you believe we will go for both Laporte and Stones. .
FantasyIreland
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- 29 Oct 2008
- Messages
- 64,698
It really does sound like a defensive overhaul is coming then - much needed and no arguments from me.Everyone I've spoken to at every level within the media in the UK all say that City and Pep want BOTH of them this summer. I also think it speaks volumes that realistically we're the only club being linked seriously with both players. It wouldn't surprise me if they are the first two to get announced/done too.
Where does that leave Denayer? RB? in place of Zab? or out the door with one or both of Mangala and Otamendi?
It really does sound like a defensive overhaul is coming then - much needed and no arguments from me.
Where does that leave Denayer? RB? in place of Zab? or out the door with one or both of Mangala and Otamendi?
I'm happy to see Mangala and Ota go as they just are not good enough but I'd like to see Den given the chance he should have been given this season.
I also hope to see the scouting system that leads us to be taken to the cleaners for mediocre central defenders and journeymen midfielders taken out and shot.
And Zabs has earned a free to anywhere he likes if he doesn't fancy being a squad defender. Great player for us.
r.soleofsalford
Well-Known Member
Yep. Sagna has been head and shoulders a better defender than Zab this season, and more importantly, Sagna doesn't look finished at the highest level in the way that Zab does.
I am concerned at the lack of concern in terms of buying full backs. The word is that it's the least important position to the player acquisition team this summer. Hope that's just talk because I think there's an argument we need minimum 2 top drawer full backs.
Zab has had a big injury, he`s missed 21 games with a twisted knee. unless this is a chronic knee problem he can get his fitness back, and if fit Zab is still our best option IMO as a wing back either left or right sided. we have no one else at full back that offers as much in both attack and defense.
yes i can understand getting 2 young full backs and getting rid of two older full back but i for 1 would love to see Zab stay beyond his football days hopefully passing on his enthusiasm through coaching, he is i think, emotionally attached to this club which in today`s game is something you dont see much in players, he has dedication and aggression not seen since the day`s of Mick Doyle.
r.soleofsalford
Well-Known Member
I'm happy to see Mangala and Ota go as they just are not good enough but I'd like to see Den given the chance he should have been given this season.
I also hope to see the scouting system that leads us to be taken to the cleaners for mediocre central defenders and journeymen midfielders taken out and shot.
Otimendi and Mangala were 2 of the most sort after C/B`s in European football, playing Yaya as defensive cover most of the season hasnt help the reputation of anyone from our defense.
FantasyIreland
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- 29 Oct 2008
- Messages
- 64,698
Well no argument in regards to our centre half purchasing policy......there are several examples of players in this league that could have done as good,if not better,a job than our 70m pairing.I'm happy to see Mangala and Ota go as they just are not good enough but I'd like to see Den given the chance he should have been given this season.
I also hope to see the scouting system that leads us to be taken to the cleaners for mediocre central defenders and journeymen midfielders taken out and shot.
I too hope Denayer is given his deserved opportunity,either CB or RB,as i've championed him from the moment he signed,i'm just not convinced he will.......
Otimendi and Mangala were 2 of the most sort after C/B`s in European football, playing Yaya as defensive cover most of the season hasnt help the reputation of anyone from our defense.
Bet they aren't sought after now. But yes, our defensive cover has been crap.
I'm avhugr proponent of Delph at leftback. I think he is tailor made for it. So you'd get no objections from me on that one.
On a side note, if we get Pogba, Gundogan, and Laporte, what other areas would you suppose are more important than the likely Kolarov replacement?
I definitely think we need a right back, Zab as much as I love him clearly hasn't got the boundless energy he once had and Sagna is solid but offers very little attacking threat these days.
Then I think it's one, maybe two natural wide players depending on where De Bruyne prefers playing and also if Pep feels like he can get any consistency with Brandon Barker who I think has everything technically but others who see him far more regularly seem to believe he's a bit soft and goes missing too often. Sterling will be brilliant under Pep, given freedom to run at players again in the final third but Navas has to go, maybe it's just confidence with him too but I just don't see any potential in him.
He doesn't though does he. He's been getting his fair share of critiscm this season and justifiably so.Spot on mate, but you have to be careful criticising Silva. He gets a free ride and a free pass from many on here no matter how wank he is.