Why is Donnarumma a mercenary, as opposed to other "senior" players we have bought?
See how he does playing every week?Ideal scenario would be: Loan Trafford out to a PL side (maybe a promoted team, or Newcastle), keep Donnarumma at City and around the dressing room for one more year, see how Trafford does being asked to play every week, then make a decision in 2027. Trafford now is like Joe Hart in 2009, when he was clearly a talented goalkeeper but maybe not ready to play every single week for a team with Champions League ambitions. So we loaned him for some experience while Shay Given was in net for 18 months. That loan to Birmingham was the making of Joe and hopefully a similar loan will be the making of Trafford. We can't afford to lose him permanently imo.
I know where you’re coming from but Trafford is way further down the development line than Joe when he went to Birmingham.Ideal scenario would be: Loan Trafford out to a PL side (maybe a promoted team, or Newcastle), keep Donnarumma at City and around the dressing room for one more year, see how Trafford does being asked to play every week, then make a decision in 2027. Trafford now is like Joe Hart in 2009, when he was clearly a talented goalkeeper but maybe not ready to play every single week for a team with Champions League ambitions. So we loaned him for some experience while Shay Given was in net for 18 months. That loan to Birmingham was the making of Joe and hopefully a similar loan will be the making of Trafford. We can't afford to lose him permanently imo.
To be fair Trafford’s name is the only thing I can’t stand about him ;)See how he does playing every week?
He’s got nearly 150 first team apps as a pro and several personal and team trophies, it’s not like Joe Hart at all. Let’s put some respect on his name please.
He has to be targeting to be England number one ahead of the euros, he’s not accepting City being in control of his destiny again on that front.
I thought this with the Ederson/Ortega situation too but I’d try out not having a number 1 and 2 keeper, just change them out depending on the game and player form like any other player.I think City & Trafford have a big decision to make, but with the right discussion around it, I’d like to think there’s a way through.
For City - develop a long-term strategy that means offloaded Donnarumma at the right time to allow Trafford to become the #1 for the next 10 years. I suspect only a year or two before he gets moved on.
For Trafford - is he willing to stick with the squad for the time period agreed above to be the #1 at the best run club in the world and challenge for trophies for a decade.
To be fair we just don't know that yet because the sample size is too small. Once Trafford has done a full season as a starting keeper in the PL then we'll have a better indication of where he is in his development. Let's call it a draw and say he's where Hart was in 2010.I know where you’re coming from but Trafford is way further down the development line than Joe when he went to Birmingham.
He’s more like the Joe Hart of 2011.
That interview was telling he did seem a bit upset but professional I think he’s a great keeper
Donnarumma is terrible with his feet,and his decision making when it comes to picking the right pass,and makes a game plan like Sundays harder to implement,Trafford isn't as good a shot stopper but he is more of a Pep keeper for build up than Donnarumma.Pep has decided to go with Donnarumma but there is definitely a debate to be had about who suits the team better.I also think Trafford is better against teams like arsenal for set peices.I see "Donnarumma is only a shot stopper" has become the new "Ederson is only a passer" very quickly.
Trafford played well with what he needed to do and I'm not saying any of this as a criticism of him because he's been much better in the cup than he was at the start of the season.
But people are kind of being prisoners of the moment every time Trafford wins a game to act like Donnarumma has been some black hole for us at the back all season. Trafford is a better passer, but you'd swear Gigi was just tripping over his feet and booting it for a corner every time based on here.