Benjamin Mendy - 2018/19 Performances

[Deleted member 77198]

I thought he was atrocious defensively.

Lost Raul at a corner daydreaming and Raul nearly scored,
Got sucked in on the half way line and gave Wolves a free run down our left,
Foul throw you get from six year olds that gave Wolves more chances to get at us,
Tried to give their winger a shoulder charge and came off second best and got skinned giving their winger a free run into our box,
Passed a ball into midfield to nobody giving Wolves a free run into our last third,
Their tricky sub (signed from Boro) came on and he got sucked in 1v1 and got skinned giving Wolves a chance to win the game...

Not a Pep player for as long as I’ve got a hole in my arse.

My main 2018-19 season prediction was that Delph would make left back his own and I’ve seen nothing defensively from Mendy to change my mind.

 

[BlueMedic]

He doesn't have the defensive brain to spot danger for me, there was a moment in the second half when one of our midfielders was on the ball in the left of midfield, facing our own goal, getting harried by a couple of their players, looking likely to lose it, and I watched Mendy, he was just creeping further up the touchline leaving a huge gap at left back where it looked inevitable they were about to win the ball & run into.

I was amazed he wasn't going the other way to cover his position.

I personally don't think he'll ever be "good" defensively, but it's about making sure his pro's of attacking play outweigh any con's of his defensive play.

 

[BlueMoonz1977]

Regardless of what we identify, this position is no longer seen as a proper defensive role. It is now utilised as another attacking option.

Real madrid have played this way in that position for countless years

Yes these players may not be defensively 100% sound, but what they are is 100% an attacking threat that provides width. They are now just a defensive support when it is required.

 

[Craig]

Basically got a left winger left back whilst the best left winger in the league is on the bench. Fantastic going forward but looks awful defending and God knows what he'll be like against a top team.

 

[Mr HJ]

What I'm reading into some of these posts - and media driven rubbish - is similar to when Stones first arrived. Sometimes people can talk themselves into believing something that isn't true. In Stone's case it was that he was error prone. For Benjamin it's that he can't defend. Fact is he is probably in the top three left backs in the world - don't forget he's had a significant career threatening injury and played less than ten games in a year. I don't understand when fans seem to look for a negative position on a player. I know football is about different opinions but I for one am so glad we have him. I watched him when Monaco were at full tilt and this guy is going to be fantastic for us. He's young, powerful, probably the best crosser in the league and will only improve as he plays more.

 

[Neville Kneville]

What I'm reading into some of these posts - and media driven rubbish - is similar to when Stones first arrived. Sometimes people can talk themselves into believing something that isn't true. In Stone's case it was that he was error prone. For Benjamin it's that he can't defend. Fact is he is probably in the top three left backs in the world - don't forget he's had a significant career threatening injury and played less than ten games in a year. I don't understand when fans seem to look for a negative position on a player. I know football is about different opinions but I for one am so glad we have him. I watched him when Monaco were at full tilt and this guy is going to be fantastic for us. He's young, powerful, probably the best crosser in the league and will only improve as he plays more.

He wouldn't be one of the best if he defended in each game, like he did yesterday though & Pep would stop using him as a fullback.

There is no reason to write Mendy off as a fullback because of a few dodgy moments but it's a fact that he has to improve hugely on yesterdays performance where he was worse defensively than Zinchenko.

 

[Kinkladze 1]

Wow some big shouts going on here! You do know that no one is allowed to criticise or critique a City player on here? It's happy clapper land only FYI.

Some interesting views given on him. He's an amazing crosser of the ball. Defensively lacking. The word lumbering comes to mind. I can't make up my mind whether I'd rather have Delph and Sane or Mendy and Sterling.

 

[carlosthejackal]

It was obvious in the few games he played at the start of last season that defensively he is lacking , especially against Liverpool, but Guardiola plays a high risk game and he is prepared to accommodate Mendy’s short comings because he offers so much going forward, hopefully a lot of work on the training ground can improve his defensive capabilities .

 

[Neville Kneville]

It was obvious in the few games he played at the start of last season that defensively he is lacking , especially against Liverpool, but Guardiola plays a high risk game and he is prepared to accommodate Mendy’s short comings because he offers so much going forward, hopefully a lot of work on the training ground can improve his defensive capabilities .

Versus Liverpool Otamendi was doing schoolboy stuff, & Mendy's job was attacking which he did, so a bit unfair to use that as a guage imo.

 

[waspish]

What I'm reading into some of these posts - and media driven rubbish - is similar to when Stones first arrived. Sometimes people can talk themselves into believing something that isn't true. In Stone's case it was that he was error prone. For Benjamin it's that he can't defend. Fact is he is probably in the top three left backs in the world - don't forget he's had a significant career threatening injury and played less than ten games in a year. I don't understand when fans seem to look for a negative position on a player. I know football is about different opinions but I for one am so glad we have him. I watched him when Monaco were at full tilt and this guy is going to be fantastic for us. He's young, powerful, probably the best crosser in the league and will only improve as he plays more.

Yep narrative been set some fans will miss his good defending and highlight his bad defending think Pep be working on him also.