#50 | Eric García - 2020/21 performances

[FCBarca]

Last December he had already made his debut and was around the first team, as I said, we didn't get him locked up early so he clearly wasn't a priority or we just presumed he would and let it slip which is partly why Txiki and Pep are probably annoyed.

As I have said, I couldn't care less if he stayed. He is not a long term solution to our defence and we would have bought anyway. Now he is leaving however he shouldn't be in the match day squad and certainly not getting game time.

Domenech says Txiki was trying earlier to extend the player but the player/agent thought it was premature and even then there was some unease about his continuity from City management - a return to Barca was not seen as much a factor as his 1st team chances with City. When it was clear he had the quality, I suspect City increased their pressure to extend

As I have said before, the Barca rumour never came credibly into the frame until June and even then it was initiated on the player's side which leads me to suspect COVID/confinement and being away from family/home figured into it to some degree. Plus, as I say, cantera kids always have one eye on an eventual return

For the player, it will have been a great experience to have played under Pep and learn from the best even if only for a short period of time in his development. He's ready for the next step in his career

 

[jamesha]

Domenech says Txiki was trying earlier to extend the player but the player/agent thought it was premature and even then there was some unease about his continuity from City management - a return to Barca was not seen as much a factor as his 1st team chances with City. When it was clear he had the quality, I suspect City increased their pressure to extend

As I have said before, the Barca rumour never came credibly into the frame until June and even then it was initiated on the player's side which leads me to suspect COVID/confinement and being away from family/home figured into it to some degree. Plus, as I say, cantera kids always have one eye on an eventual return

For the player, it will have been a great experience to have played under Pep and learn from the best even if only for a short period of time in his development. He's ready for the next step in his career

You seem very tenacious in your interest in Garcia so I am interested in how you think he would fit in at Barcelona. Would he be a first choice centre back and, if not, where do you see him fitting in and how many games do you think he would play?

Personally I do not think he has the pace and power in the air necessary to be a first choice at a club that is seriously challenging to win the league and that he will spend most of his career either a squad player at a top club of will become a regular for a mid-table club.

Give us your opinion and we can bookmark the thread to re-visit in a few years to see whose prediction was closest.

 

[the_tevez_wiggle]

I don't have anything against Eric. He's been respectful in the way he's conducted himself and I'll wish him all the best when he leaves.

But I just don't understand why we're playing him at all. We've got four senior centrebacks who are much better and we've got at least one young lad who will be with us for longer.

This is my point. Garcia seems a decent kid and definitely has a lot of potential. But we have 2 rcbs in dias and stones, 2 lcbs in laporte and ake that need to gel together.
Beneath them we have what I believe are 2 potential world class cbs, 1 of which is a huge city fan and the other has been here since he was 11 and probably loves the club in THB & luke mbete. 1 left footed the other right. All deserve more game time. Sign a contract and move up the pecking order, don't and you sink to the bottom.

 

[FCBarca]

You seem very tenacious in your interest in Garcia so I am interested in how you think he would fit in at Barcelona. Would he be a first choice centre back and, if not, where do you see him fitting in and how many games do you think he would play?

Personally I do not think he has the pace and power in the air necessary to be a first choice at a club that is seriously challenging to win the league and that he will spend most of his career either a squad player at a top club of will become a regular for a mid-table club.

Give us your opinion and we can bookmark the thread to re-visit in a few years to see whose prediction was closest.

Those details are not very interesting questions IMHO. He is La Masia made, Catalan and a leader who has been part of a very successful youth group at multiple age groups where he was elected Captain every single season by his teammates. As I have said before, similar was said about Pique at United - no pace or power yet his career worked out just fine. He is the future for the Barcelona defense and to boot, a tremendous professional - I would take a home grown talent like this over any other on the market

Feel free to bookmark, I have been consistent about this assessment since before he disappointingly signed in 2018 for City

It's the same philosophy you see at Ajax

 

[Tugay One Cup]

I am convinced that an exiting player continues to be called for appearances by Pep

Pep is desperately trying to get him to stay. That's the reason why he's thrown the occasional appearance when he wants to rest one of our proper defenders.

Again, you're quite obviously trying to convince yourself. Just watch the guy play. He is a pushover, runs like a 36 year old and has been getting worse and worse on the ball with every appearance he makes for us.

I like him so I hope he goes on to be decent. But now? He's shite.

 

[FCBarca]

Pep is desperately trying to get him to stay. That's the reason why he's thrown the occasional appearance when he wants to rest one of our proper defenders.

Again, you're quite obviously trying to convince yourself. Just watch the guy play. He is a pushover, runs like a 36 year old and has been getting worse and worse on the ball with every appearance he makes for us.

I like him so I hope he goes on to be decent. But now? He's shite.

So he is playing him to 'seduce' him at the risk of his team/club losing points? 4 seasons with Guardiola has taught you very little

 

[Tugay One Cup]

So he is playing him to 'seduce' him at the risk of his team/club losing points?

It's funny that you've quoted the word "seduce" when I didn't even use it. It's almost as if you're going off the reports of various journalists who did actually use that same word. Bizarre.

4 seasons with Guardiola has taught you very little

Four seasons has taught me that three was enough.

 

[FCBarca]

It's funny that you've quoted the word "seduce" when I didn't even use it. It's almost as if you're going off the reports of various journalists who did actually use that same word. Bizarre.



Four seasons has taught me that three was enough.

Pleased it amused you, I intentionally chose this term because of that. Point is, if Pep were to try to convince the player to stay it only underscores his confidence in the player & would never risk pts by playing him only to convince. Naive to say the least

As for Pep continuing/extending, I am surprised but the timing, for me, suggests it is linked to confidence about Messi's arrival - which would indeed make sense. But I agree that the way things look currently, in an already unprecedented year, it's the most disappointing performing Pep side since be began coaching at the senior level

Yet, City are only 5 pts from the top of the table and 1st in their CL group - so objectively speaking, they are hardly doing poorly, just not at the standard Guardiola has set despite injuries. Is he getting more pragmatic? Not sure but City look unusual to me atm

 

[Xhavenjoe]

Copied this from an article about John Stones in the athletic magazine.
Not too sure what it is telling us really.

City centre-backs' passing stats

PLAYER	PASSES ATTEMPTED	PASSES COMPLETED	PASSES RECEIVED	PASSING ACCURACY	% OF PASSES FORWAR	PASSES OWN HALF	PASSES OPP HALF	PASSING % OPP HALF	PASSES INTO FINAL THIRD	PASSING % LONG	THROUGH BALLS	KEY PASSES
Eric Garcia	99.45	94.5	82.35	95.00%	29.00%	42.3	57.15	96.50%	8.1	50.00%	0.25	0.45
John Stones	85.6	81.4	71.4	95.10%	24.10%	61.8	23.8	91.00%	4	72.00%	0	0.2
Ruben Dias	81.56	75.53	66.15	92.60%	23.80%	49.64	31.92	93.10%	7.24	56.10%	0	0
Nathan Ake	80.98	75.75	66.97	93.50%	29.30%	32.53	48.44	95.60%	7.12	62.50%	0	0.24
Aymeric Laporte	71	62.75	55.25	88.40%	32.70%	40.75	30.25	86.80%	6	40.00%	0	0.5

City centre-backs' defensive stats

PLAYER	TACKLES	TACKLE SUCCESS	CLEARANCES	INTERCEPTIONS	SHOTS BLOCKED	DUELS	DUEL SUCCESS	AERIALS	AERIAL SUCCESS	RECOVERY	ERRORS LEADING TO SHOT	ERRORS LEADING TO GOAL
John Stones	1	16.70%	3.2	1.2	0.8	4.6	73.90%	2.6	76.90%	5.2	0	0
Ruben Dias	0.37	40.00%	2.97	0.56	0.74	4.73	64.70%	2.69	69.00%	5.29	0	0
Nathan Ake	0.47	50.00%	0.95	0.95	0	6.65	57.10%	4.75	65.00%	1.66	0	0
Aymeric Laporte	1.25	16.70%	2.5	1.25	0.25	7.25	58.60%	4.25	52.90%	4.25	0	0
Eric Garcia	2.25	80.00%	2.25	1.35	0	8.55	47.40%	4.05	22.20%	5.85	0	0

What the tables above show, apart from how good Garcia actually is on the ball, is that there’s more to football than the numbers.

 

[ScottSinclair]

Copied this from an article about John Stones in the athletic magazine.
Not too sure what it is telling us really.

City centre-backs' passing stats

PLAYER	PASSES ATTEMPTED	PASSES COMPLETED	PASSES RECEIVED	PASSING ACCURACY	% OF PASSES FORWAR	PASSES OWN HALF	PASSES OPP HALF	PASSING % OPP HALF	PASSES INTO FINAL THIRD	PASSING % LONG	THROUGH BALLS	KEY PASSES
Eric Garcia	99.45	94.5	82.35	95.00%	29.00%	42.3	57.15	96.50%	8.1	50.00%	0.25	0.45
John Stones	85.6	81.4	71.4	95.10%	24.10%	61.8	23.8	91.00%	4	72.00%	0	0.2
Ruben Dias	81.56	75.53	66.15	92.60%	23.80%	49.64	31.92	93.10%	7.24	56.10%	0	0
Nathan Ake	80.98	75.75	66.97	93.50%	29.30%	32.53	48.44	95.60%	7.12	62.50%	0	0.24
Aymeric Laporte	71	62.75	55.25	88.40%	32.70%	40.75	30.25	86.80%	6	40.00%	0	0.5

City centre-backs' defensive stats

PLAYER	TACKLES	TACKLE SUCCESS	CLEARANCES	INTERCEPTIONS	SHOTS BLOCKED	DUELS	DUEL SUCCESS	AERIALS	AERIAL SUCCESS	RECOVERY	ERRORS LEADING TO SHOT	ERRORS LEADING TO GOAL
John Stones	1	16.70%	3.2	1.2	0.8	4.6	73.90%	2.6	76.90%	5.2	0	0
Ruben Dias	0.37	40.00%	2.97	0.56	0.74	4.73	64.70%	2.69	69.00%	5.29	0	0
Nathan Ake	0.47	50.00%	0.95	0.95	0	6.65	57.10%	4.75	65.00%	1.66	0	0
Aymeric Laporte	1.25	16.70%	2.5	1.25	0.25	7.25	58.60%	4.25	52.90%	4.25	0	0
Eric Garcia	2.25	80.00%	2.25	1.35	0	8.55	47.40%	4.05	22.20%	5.85	0	0

What the tables above show, apart from how good Garcia actually is on the ball, is that there’s more to football than the numbers.

He is very good on the ball, no doubt about that. But I would also wager his pool of games is smaller, and against weaker opposition.

Stones, when he is mentally there, is our best forward passer. Laporte almost his equal with the added benefit of his beautiful cross-field pass. Ake I would thought have it in his locker to be on their level but has looked afraid to try, Dias is okay with the ball. They are all better defenders than Garcia though, who is at his best when he doesnt have to defend, and at his worst he looks like a underdeveloped 13 year old against grown men so it is what it is