Leonardo Bonucci

[domalino]

Paul Hirst reckons we are only prepared to spend £25m on Bonucci...one of the best defenders in the world, in his prime.

(It's written in the article photographed)

 

[Metalartin]

Paul Hirst reckons we are only prepared to spend £25m on Bonucci...one of the best defenders in the world, in his prime.

(It's written in the article photographed)

I'd have preferred we bring in Bonucci over Stones and hope Denayer can be molded into a home grown ball playing CB. Trouble is Juve would have wanted the same price we are paying for Stones, neither of them should be that much but the market it crazy these days and they know there's a chance people might pay it if desperate enough.

Out of Bonucci and Stones I'm not quite certain who'd be more money well spent for £50m, if Stones becomes the player he could be any time soon then fantastic that's a CB position sorted for years to come but with Bonucci there are no ifs you are buying proven talent and experience of the highest caliber allbeit for a shorter time.

 

[domalino]

I'd have preferred we bring in Bonucci over Stones and hope Denayer can be molded into a home grown ball playing CB. Trouble is Juve would have wanted the same price we are paying for Stones, neither of them should be that much but the market it crazy these days and they know there's a chance people might pay it if desperate enough.

I trust Pep's judgement of Stones. I'm sure he can add the physicality and eliminate the lapses in concentration. And in a couple of years we'll have our own rock solid ball playing CB.

I like the idea of only getting one CB though. Keep Mangala and Denayer and let them fight it out.

Kompany, Otamendi, Stones and either Denayer or Mangala. Good enough IMO.

 

[Metalartin]

I trust Pep's judgement of Stones. I'm sure he can add the physicality and eliminate the lapses in concentration. And in a couple of years we'll have our own rock solid ball playing CB.

I like the idea of only getting one CB though. Keep Mangala and Denayer and let them fight it out.

Kompany, Otamendi, Stones and either Denayer or Mangala. Good enough IMO.

That's a good shout but there will be some moaning we should sell Manga to reap some of the £42m back, which will always go against him, that's the problem with these fees it's so much harder for fans, press and haters alike to show patience when it's required. It was the same with Sterling and I saw it coming before we signed(well it was more of a concern than a prediction), I've never been one to get on Sterling's back despite that though and I think he'll do well under Pep.

 

[birchwoodgingerste]

I believe we will sign both bonnuci and stones .. Just wait till the close of the window as pep said

 

[MeatHunterrr]

No chance Juventus sell Bonucci if they sell Pogba, certainly not for £25m.

 

[YaYa's Left Peg]

No chance Juventus sell Bonucci if they sell Pogba, certainly not for £25m.

Wait, just wait....

 

[johnmc]

Maybe we are keeping an eye on Vinnie? If he looks like he has overcome his issue then we don't need Bonnucci

Big if granted.

 

[Exeter Blue I am here]

I trust Pep's judgement of Stones. I'm sure he can add the physicality and eliminate the lapses in concentration. And in a couple of years we'll have our own rock solid ball playing CB.

I like the idea of only getting one CB though. Keep Mangala and Denayer and let them fight it out.

Kompany, Otamendi, Stones and either Denayer or Mangala. Good enough IMO.

It would be if there was the slightest indication that Kompany might stay fit for longer than 5 minutes. As recent history suggests that's unlikely though, I'd rather we bought another top quality centre half (and leader) and let one of the others go, preferably Mangler....

 

[simon23]

id get both bonnuci and stones if we could.....sell mangala.....listening to Peps press conference, Mangala doesn't fit what pep wants...he isn't a ball playing centre half...I don't think Mangala is anywhere near as bad as he has been made out and i think he suffered a lot cause of Mp's tactics and having to sometimes play with Kolorov, but Im not sure he has the ability with the ball at his feet to do what Pep wants

Bonnuci Vinnie Sontes and Otto would be as good as any team in world football as far as choice of centre halves

however i think we will end up with stones...i too cant see Juventus letting both pogba and Bonnuci go in one transfer window

 

[Exeter Blue I am here]

That's a good shout but there will be some moaning we should sell Manga to reap some of the £42m back, which will always go against him, that's the problem with these fees it's so much harder for fans, press and haters alike to show patience when it's required. It was the same with Sterling and I saw it coming before we signed(well it was more of a concern than a prediction), I've never been one to get on Sterling's back despite that though and I think he'll do well under Pep.

He won't, and neither will Mangala, although like every player in the squad I would expect them to improve to some degree with Pep in charge. However, neither is comfortable enough in possession on anything like a consistent enough basis to cut it under a manager who values control of the ball above all else.....IMO

 

[mancunial]

Bonnucci is the one transfer I want to happen, he would be the one that would galvanise the whole squad

 

[oakiecokie]

He won't, and neither will Mangala, although like every player in the squad I would expect them to improve to some degree with Pep in charge. However, neither is comfortable enough in possession on anything like a consistent enough basis to cut it under a manager who values control of the ball above all else.....IMO

Manga is the second coming of Lescott I`m afraid.Looks so uncomfortable on the ball and I cannot see much hope for him under Pep.

 

[Metalartin]

He won't, and neither will Mangala, although like every player in the squad I would expect them to improve to some degree with Pep in charge. However, neither is comfortable enough in possession on anything like a consistent enough basis to cut it under a manager who values control of the ball above all else.....IMO

I can't agree with you on Sterling, you only need to look his breakthrough season with Liverpool to discount most of that. Comfortable on the ball, head up while dribbling, confidence to take shots on with conviction and finesse... I saw all of those things just not consistently. At City we didn't see that enough at all never mind consistently but he most certainly does have all of the things his doubters says he's somehow never shown. It's not a sure thing but I'm pretty confident under Pep he will have quite a few doubters admitting(happily) they were wrong to write him off.

I hope there's something Pep can do with Manga but you might be right about that one.

We're off topic again anyway but it's hard not to draw comparisons with all the potential outgoings and incomings we have.

 

[Tez Tosterone]

He won't, and neither will Mangala, although like every player in the squad I would expect them to improve to some degree with Pep in charge. However, neither is comfortable enough in possession on anything like a consistent enough basis to cut it under a manager who values control of the ball above all else.....IMO

Correct. When we were pursuing Mangala, we considered, but ultimately overlooked Benatia who ended up at Bayern. That, despite Benatia leaving Bayern last week for Juve after the Bayern feeling he underperformed, was a mistake by the City board. We should have taken Benatia instead of Mangala.

Just like now, where we are misguidedly going for Stones over players like Koulibaly and Manolas.

 

[Steve68]

Squad limits have to mean we will have to shift out at least one CB. Especially if Deneyar is to have a space. Mangala is a goner if we get Stones. Wouldn't be more than a little surprised if Kompany was moved on. Not happy but not too surprised. Would like Bonnuci as well.

 

[eversince 76]

Seen it too often over the last few years. All this excitement when Savic came in, than Nastasic, than Mangala, than Otamendi ... now Bonucci?
All 4 were decent to very good defenders before they came to us, or with Savic became very good after leaving us.

I don't care in he is 29 (as a CB we can easily get 4-5 years out of him unless he replicates Kompany), or he will cost a fortune (it's a crazy market anyway, it's more about getting the ones you want). BUT ... Bonucci does only know how to play in a Juventus and Italy team with the back line far more deeper than we or Pep wants to play. Maybe, just maybe we are great in buying the wrong kind of defenders. Or maybe we finally have a manager who does recognize the kind of CB's we need, either buy one, create one from what you have, or work with the CBs and turn them in to the defender that suits the team.

 

[City_Sean]

Correct. When we were pursuing Mangala, we considered, but ultimately overlooked Benatia who ended up at Bayern. That, despite Benatia leaving Bayern last week for Juve after the Bayern feeling he underperformed, was a mistake by the City board. We should have taken Benatia instead of Mangala.

Just like now, where we are misguidedly going for Stones over players like Koulibaly and Manolas.

I've said this for a while but Koulibaly and Stones should be the targets. The former was ridiculously good last year. He's basically a Manala who can defend and pass.

 

[domalino]

Correct. When we were pursuing Mangala, we considered, but ultimately overlooked Benatia who ended up at Bayern. That, despite Benatia leaving Bayern last week for Juve after the Bayern feeling he underperformed, was a mistake by the City board. We should have taken Benatia instead of Mangala.

Just like now, where we are misguidedly going for Stones over players like Koulibaly and Manolas.

Pep wants Stones.

I don't know why anyone is questioning his judgement of players.

 

[OB1]

Seen it too often over the last few years. All this excitement when Savic came in, than Nastasic, than Mangala, than Otamendi ... now Bonucci?
All 4 were decent to very good defenders before they came to us, or with Savic became very good after leaving us.

I don't care in he is 29 (as a CB we can easily get 4-5 years out of him unless he replicates Kompany), or he will cost a fortune (it's a crazy market anyway, it's more about getting the ones you want). BUT ... Bonucci does only know how to play in a Juventus and Italy team with the back line far more deeper than we or Pep wants to play. Maybe, just maybe we are great in buying the wrong kind of defenders. Or maybe we finally have a manager who does recognize the kind of CB's we need, either buy one, create one from what you have, or work with the CBs and turn them in to the defender that suits the team.

Good point about Bonucci's experience: we have no idea how easily he would adapt to Pep's game and English football / life. We presumably would not pursue him though if Pep and Co didn't think he had the requisite tools but our track record on assessing CB's has not been great; although it has not previously involved Pep.

I'd be happy to see us take a risk on Bonucci, even at big money.