I wrote in the Laporte thread that I think Laporte is our best CB when things get stretched. I also think Dias is at his most limited under these circumstances.
Dias is like a better Otamendi. When you pushed back and need to defend deep the guy is a colossus. When you're controlling a game and need someone to push up and be aggressive to contain the opposition, Dias is as good as the best. But when things get stretched we have difficulties. His major weaknesses here are that he's ultra eager to commit and physically he's not the most imposing in strength nor speed. In fact Fernandinho had similar issues back in 19/20 (when we got countered almost every other game).
Thankfully he still operates at a high level even under these circumstances, but it's not his glorious best that we see. Also, it's been very rare to see a pinball back and forth game since his arrival.
I totally agree, i luv the guy, he's a rock and one of the best centre halves in the world and should definitely be the next City Captain.Dias is human, not a super hero. Even he is prone to the odd indifferent game. Just be thankful he plays for City. Since he signed for City he has been a f*cking brilliant centre half, and a massively positive character in the dressing room at City. Dias is a Captain and a leader. We should all be grateful he signed for city, and plays for City.
Not sure his CH partner is an issue, because Laporte has been playing well.Plays better alongside Stones.
Not sure his CH partner is an issue, because Laporte has been playing well.
I think it's when Rodri isn't playing that the defence looks not as tight, because opposing teams exploit the bigger gaps left in the middle.
Well obviously Pep doesn't agree with you because, for one reason or another, Laporte is currently the first choice CH instead of Stones.Rotating centrebacks is moronic, especially when Dias and Stones merged so well last season, won us the league were possibly the biggest factor in us going further in the Champions League than ever before; both have suffered this year because of it. Laporte seems to have a parasitical impact on both of them when partnered with him for some reason, potentially his personality.
I’d try to restore the Stones-Dias partnership in the new year as the Champions League games will expose Dias’ flaws without his pal, while Laporte himself has previous as a big game bottle job.
I his ’dwindling’ was possibly down to the lack of options/movement in front of him today.Very poor on the ball today, dwindled on it too much, either lost it himself or gave the ball to somebody else who had nowhere to go. Much more solid defensively than last few games though.
I think this sort of the case. You're definitely right that he had restricted options, but Stones and Laporte both tend to manage better in these regards.I his ’dwindling’ was possibly down to the lack of options/movement in front of him today.
Think he needs a game off every now and then. We need stones to be available again So we can rest him
Eleven points clear and the best defence in the league , quite unbelievable post , we laugh at our rivals self entitlement and then a post like this appears , Dias is the best centre back in europe , Stones easily the best English centre back and Laporte a regular Spanish international, and Ake gets in the Netherlands starting eleven.Rotating centrebacks is moronic, especially when Dias and Stones merged so well last season, won us the league were possibly the biggest factor in us going further in the Champions League than ever before; both have suffered this year because of it. Laporte seems to have a parasitical impact on both of them when partnered with him for some reason, potentially his personality.
I’d try to restore the Stones-Dias partnership in the new year as the Champions League games will expose Dias’ flaws without his pal, while Laporte himself has previous as a big game bottle job.