LoveCity said:
CTIDANDREW said:
Lavezzi would be ideal but it seems much much more unlikely he would come here than Bale.
Why? He wants to leave Napoli and has a £26million buy-out clause.
Lavezzi at £26million is much better value than Bale at £40million.
I agree. Price and what you get I'd rather have Lavezzi. However it's worth noting on Lavezzi that he's 27! I didn't realise he was that old. It's not terrible age don't get me wrong, but it's worth thinking about in the market.
CTIDANDREW said:
Goo said:
No offense taken, your opinion which you're entitled to.
The problem I have with buying Bale (ignoring the price tag) is that he's very linear. I pointed out in another thread that our attacking four is so fluid because every player in attack can play in different positions when required. For instance if Aguero drops deep, Tevez will push higher up, or if Nasri roams left Silva will go central/right. Versatility is something Mancini loves (Yaya playing advanced/Zab playing both full back positions/ Micah playing CB etc)
I totally agree with you that Bale is one of the best left wingers the premier league has seen for some time, but he just won't fit our style. He suits Spurs play of 2 wingers and (usually) 2 strikers. This is also how the scum play.
Hazard or Lavezzi are more likely to join City for this reason. Hazard can play as winger/play maker, and score goals and there fore a more reasonable buy.
Hazard is also less likely to cost us an arm and a leg (well, less than Bale anyway), although getting Ade off the pay roll would be a huge bonus if he was included in the Bale deal.
I agree fully. But IMO every summer transfer period should be about improving weaknesses. I dont think its any secret that this year are biggest weakness was width. We saw it in numerous games where we just didn't have a plan B. Bale would single-handley be that plan b. Also, Im not convinced that Bale cant play within the four attacking group that are offensive runs if called upon. I just dont see why Mancini would go out and spend huge on Dzeko and Ballotelli if he wasnt going to bring in a Bale type player. Lavezzi would be ideal but it seems much much more unlikely he would come here than Bale. If we want to continue to build with the Barca model then sure we should go all out attack to get Hazard, and Martinez as that would fit like a glove. But, I think a smart man such as Mancini sees where the team went wrong this season, and knows he needs a player like Bale to change the attack within games.
I don't see why we should spend 40 million on a Plan B thought. When people talk about width throughout the season it's been a case of being at 70 minutes and our Plan A hasn't worked. I can't see Bale being happy with sitting on the bench until our Plan A doesn't work. Remember, the need for plan B was only noticed in January, and since March has pretty much been forgotten. Dzeko was playing fine without "width" or out and out wingers until January. I think the width argument is to much of an easy excuse in my opinion.
Having said that, I believe Hazard offers width, yet can still play to our normal attacking style.
When you say we need a Plan B, I don't think a new player is the answer, I think it's being able to get the players to act differently when given the instruction from the touch line. Hazard can do what we're doing at the moment AND can add what Bale would add.
Hazard is also young and cheaper. The only negative for Hazard is the homegrown rule, and I wouldn't worry about that
