#14 | Aymeric Laporte - 2021/22 Performances

[alexmcity]

It's not a fetish. Simply compare numbers. Wins, goals conceded, shots conceded, they were better. The lack of honesty is on your part.

We conceded 4 goals during the run of 14 wins in 18/19 when every single point was decisive. Plus, last season we defended as a team better than in 18/19, our pressing game was better. In 18/19 we had players like Kun and David who weren't as good and useful at high pressing as Foden and Jesus. Plus we had Rodri who is a better DM than Gundogan (who played at DM after Ferna got injured in February 2019).

Simplistic comparisons of conceded goals and chances won't tell you the whole truth about Kompany/Laporte vs Dias/Stones. I like both Stones and Laporte, but think Laporte has been more consistent since his arrival and is a bit more physical and hard than John. Last season was the only one in which Stones was better than Laporte, and the latter arrived here 4 years ago.

 

[mccity]

We conceded 4 goals during the run of 14 wins in 18/19 when every single point was decisive. Plus, last season we defended as a team better than in 18/19, our pressing game was better. In 18/19 we had players like Kun and David who weren't as good and useful at high pressing as Foden and Jesus. Plus we had Rodri who is a better DM than Gundogan (who played at DM after Ferna got injured in February 2019).

Simplistic comparisons of conceded goals and chances won't tell you the whole truth about Kompany/Laporte vs Dias/Stones. I like both Stones and Laporte, but think Laporte has been more consistent since his arrival and is a bit more physical and hard than John. Last season was the only one in which Stones was better than Laporte, and the latter arrived here 4 years ago.

Tbh with Stones and Laporte it's basically a case of they're both incredibly good if they aren't making any errors.

I think with each of Dias, Stones, and Laporte, you could say they all have standout qualities that put them ahead of the other two but maybe the odd deficiencies here and there that put them behind the other two. Overall though all very much worthy of being at a very top team.


Hopefully we can add Aké to that conversation soon enough.

 

[FromPollockToSilva]

I've never understood this fetishism of the Dias-Stones partnership like it's some secret technique wanted by all the righteous sects(that's wuxia allusion for the uninitiated). It's not any better than Kompany and Laporte in my book. The pairing in our brilliant 2018-19 season and my joint favorite City season ever along with the Centurion season.

We conceded 4 goals during the run of 14 wins in 18/19 when every single point was decisive. Plus, last season we defended as a team better than in 18/19, our pressing game was better. In 18/19 we had players like Kun and David who weren't as good and useful at high pressing as Foden and Jesus. Plus we had Rodri who is a better DM than Gundogan (who played at DM after Ferna got injured in February 2019).

Simplistic comparisons of conceded goals and chances won't tell you the whole truth about Kompany/Laporte vs Dias/Stones. I like both Stones and Laporte, but think Laporte has been more consistent since his arrival and is a bit more physical and hard than John. Last season was the only one in which Stones was better than Laporte, and the latter arrived here 4 years ago.

Kompany and Laporte only played together 7 times in the run-in in all comps (post the Newcastle defeat) in 18/19, including letting in three when we went out of the Champions League to Spurs

They were a formidable partnership, but so were Stones and Dias as we pulled away last season

 

[alexmcity]

Kompany and Laporte only played together 7 times in the run-in in all comps (post the Newcastle defeat) in 18/19, including letting in three when we went out of the Champions League to Spurs

They were a formidable partnership, but so were Stones and Dias as we pulled away last season

Thanks for the info.

Laporte started in 11 of the last 14 league games, probably in any of the last 8, and in all big/difficult games in the other compets, he was our main CB during that run. He had a shocker vs Spurs in the 2nd leg, but he was crucial for the domestic treble (or quadruple). Otamendi and Stones were used mostly for rotation purposes in that period (they did very well!). Laporte and Kompany were seen as our best partnership during the run in.

IIRC, Kompany and Laporte started as a pair in the most difficult games (when Kompany was available, that is). They scored crucial goals as well: Kompany vs Leicester and Laporte vs Brighton (the 2nd goal, which turned out to be the winner as well).

 

[FromPollockToSilva]

Thanks for the info.

Laporte started in 11 of the last 14 league games, probably in any of the last 8, and in all big/difficult games in the other compets, he was our main CB during that run. He had a shocker vs Spurs in the 2nd leg, but he was crucial for the domestic treble (or quadruple). Otamendi and Stones were used mostly for rotation purposes in that period (they did very well!). Laporte and Kompany were seen as our best partnership during the run in.

IIRC, Kompany and Laporte started as a pair in the most difficult games (when Kompany was available, that is). They scored crucial goals as well: Kompany vs Leicester and Laporte vs Brighton (the 2nd goal, which turned out to be the winner as well).

As you say, Laporte was excellent the majority of that season paired with both Otamendi and Stones too. Skimming through the lineups for 18/19, it looks like Kompany might not have lost a single game in 90 minutes that he started all season, regardless of who he played next to

Although clearly our best partnership was the one-time Walker-Laporte pairing that downed Gladbach 7-0

We also played a League Cup semi-final with Sandler and Garcia back there, which I had completely forgotten about

 

[Love_Each_Day]

Our best pairing I've seen was Stones-Laporte for the first half of 18/19 season before Stones got injured. LaPorte missed most of following season and we've never really given it a chance since. People seem comforted seeing someone hollering and pointing but a Kompany/Terry/Van Dijk type shouty man is only pertinent under likes of Mancini/Mourinho/Klopp playing bunker football. Leadership under Guardiola is more about taking your own responsibility with courage and helping your mates where you can. Dias is ok but defending these days is done with composure and possession, not flinging yourself at every ball like Ryan Shawcross.

 

[Lauz9888]

Our best pairing I've seen was Stones-Laporte for the first half of 18/19 season before Stones got injured. LaPorte missed most of following season and we've never really given it a chance since. People seem comforted seeing someone hollering and pointing but a Kompany/Terry/Van Dijk type shouty man is only pertinent under likes of Mancini/Mourinho/Klopp playing bunker football. Leadership under Guardiola is more about taking your own responsibility with courage and helping your mates where you can. Dias is ok but defending these days is done with composure and possession, not flinging yourself at every ball like Ryan Shawcross.

I think Dias is better than that, but I take your point.

I think we have four very good CBs (firmly believe Ake is coming good) and they each have a different set of attributes that are more suited to some matches than others. The challenge for the club is keeping them all fit and happy and building those relationships so that any pairing works and Pep just gets to pick them for tactical reasons.

 

[Love_Each_Day]

I think Dias is better than that, but I take your point.

I think we have four very good CBs (firmly believe Ake is coming good) and they each have a different set of attributes that are more suited to some matches than others. The challenge for the club is keeping them all fit and happy and building those relationships so that any pairing works and Pep just gets to pick them for tactical reasons.

I was joking on Dias, he's exactly the type of leader I was talking about. Reminds me of Kolo in everything being positive and cajoling, you never see him get nasty with teammates like you do with some other vocal leaders. Just gets a bit annoying that Stones and Laporte apparently need him to perform when they've been superb together (and both alongside Otamendi as well who also wasn't seen as a leader).

Agree with you about Ake, thought it a strange signing but he looks a lot more comfortable this season and offers something different. Wouldn't have any worries with him starting with one of the others.

 

[youngbob]

There was a point where the four centre-backs we had at the club were Kompany, Stones, Otamendi and Laporte. I think we're getting back to those levels with Dias, Stones, Laporte and Ake.

 

[Nicholas van Whatsisface]

Laporte had a great game on the weekend.

When he plays like that, there’s few in the world you’d say are better.

He’s had a bad injury, and was clearly unsettled last season watching the Dias and Stones partnership develop before his eyes.

We’re managing the minutes across the three much better this year, so I hope we’re seeing the best of an injury-free and happy Laporte again. Because he’s a huge asset to us if we are.