7 | Joao Cancelo - 2022/23 Performances

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

I agree, the here and now does count; which is why losing a player of his experience when we've got a fight on our hands in the second half of the season is lunacy. The reality is, when both are on song, Cancelo is a superior fullback to Ake. Would Cancelo have played his way back into form? We'll never know now. But we've just lost the one player who had legitimate stardust and big game experience in a position where we are laughably weak. To top it off, we've bent over backwards like a bunch of soft arses to accommodate Bayern, a team we'll likely meet in the CL.

Let's not try dressing it up, if we don't bring in a replacement then it's poor from the club.

Put it this way. I've always defended letting Zin go to Arsenal. But it puts it in a rather different light, doesn't it: letting Zin go, then Cancelo with six months of that?
And you bring in the likes of Gómez to replace them? Not very convincing, is it? He's not as good in defence as Nate, and he's not in the same ball park as Cancelo in attack.
And I repeat my conviction that as the games come thick and fast now in the second half of the season, with two a week being the norm rather than the exception, we do in fact need four centre backs. The more so in that I've noticed that, for some reason, injuries to centre backs seem to be loooong…
Of course, if someone good is lined up, then all is forgiven.

 

[Bournemouth Blue]

I reckon he has become frustrated by his lack of form but can’t take criticism. We all know what Pep thinks about that sort of behaviour, which is why he is such a great coach.

 

[FogBlueInSanFran]

Funny thing is US at the world cup looked a bit like City on our worse days. Lots of possession, some pretty passing, but couldnt finish in a brothel

And defensive mistakes by the CBs vs the Oranj.

I’m not as bullish on the US because we have no world-beating talisman (yet). No focal point, no one who could start anywhere in the world. We could always pull a Morocco some year I guess. We did look very good in flashes. So tough here when superior (male) athletes have so many lucrative career choices in (US) football, basketball, baseball, and no academy system (which we do have for individual sports like tennis and golf). It’s changing very gradually, but it’s going to take some time.

 

[tolmie's hairdoo]

Is Ruben?

Yep.

 

[Brightwell Bros.]

Anyone got a named source for the Foden training ground stuff? It all sounds plausible, and makes the lack of chemistry between the two + Foden's injury and general doghouse status make sense, but wonder where it is coming from?

 

[chickaroon]

Not really if thats the case . Laporte can cover up and has played as a left wing back recently.

Yes, but I think we waste Laporte, at left back. His distribution from CB is vital to us. I am sure he is not happy playing in that left back position.

 

[Rammy Blue]

Wouldnt he be cup tied?

No

 

[kippaxchris]

His form dropped drastically before the world cup, he had his moody moment with Ronaldo at the world cup, he's apparently had a moody moment with Pep & his form has been shocking since the world cup, get rid.

 

[Scottyboi]

I liked what little I saw of him tbf but wtf do I know.

 

[FogBlueInSanFran]

Seems best for all concerned. Having said that, he's nailed on to score against us in the CL.

Can he play against us in CL if on loan?

 

[pride in battle]

Cancelo tried to take out a few players in training with some stupid fucking tackles, all because his bottom lip was quivering.

He's got an opinion that everyone in the dressing room needs to hear, it brings down the entire mood in the dressing room.

He was the most passive-aggressive person at the club, all dazzling white teeth but the first to talk shit.

Fair do's mate, thanks for info

 

[Postman Pep]

Can't say I'm arsed about this. Never really took to him from when he dived on the deck and started rolling around like he'd been hit with a crow bar during a bit of handbags just before a corner in one of his first games. Nobody had gone near him on the replay. When he's on it, he's on it (going forward anyway). When he's not, he's absolute gash.

Laters, Joao.

I did grow to like him but same that was embarrassing especially against lower league opposition, forget who.

 

[Rammy Blue]

Possibly, but Phil isn't doing himself any body language favours either with Pep.

Definitely gone on easy street since he signed his new deal, all that money gone to his head.

 

[HelloCity]

How come Dias is hardly featuring? In the past when he was injured Pep would throw him back in due to how much of an asset he was to the side. Feels like he’s barely had a look in since he got back to fitness.

 

[LucahArchie10]

Cancelo & Walker definitely been sulking & not arsed on the training park since returning from Qatar

Rick coming in hasn't been great for some imo & you can tell when Pep said Rick got kicked & nobody came to his help
We obviously have an unhappy camp & another reason Pep let it out of the bag

4 clubs in 7 years says it all for me

He was dropped from Portugal starting 11in world cup final games also for sulking & arguing,

Hes been fucking abysmal in some games compared to the season before

 

[Rammy Blue]

Can he play against us in CL if on loan?

Yes

 

[Manchester_City_Blue]

Possibly, but Phil isn't doing himself any body language favours either with Pep.

Hopefully this situation might give Phil a kick up the arse?

 

[Northblue]

Possibly, but Phil isn't doing himself any body language favours either with Pep.

If that’s the case this will hopefully be an eye opener for him

 

[Cricket Blue]

Absolutely baffling
Why sign a new contract then?

 

[Legal Alien]

It's a shame about Cancelo.
I feel sorry for him in that he's played RB at his previous clubs and for his country but never really got a run at that position for us.
His ability mean't that he had to play but, to me, he was always only a stopgap at LB.

He's obviously seen his arse, maybe because he saw Rico and Stones take over at RB when Walker's been out and now obviously Ake at LB??
I dunno but you can't piss off our Boss and threaten to leave because, as we've seen, you will get what you wished for!

Oh well, as i say, it's a shame it's come to this and let's hope Ake can stay injury free so it doesn't affect our performances the rest of the season.