Benjamin Mendy (Back In Training)

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As we have seen with Walker on the other side, playing with wingers actually inhibits our full backs and it will be the same for Mendy.

We did see glimpses where there can be no spaces to run beyond because Sane or Sterling occupy the same spaces.

We have started to see Sane move into an old-fashioned inside left role in recent games, and who can forget the goal against Liverpool also when he went for a return and Mendy whipped it back from the by-line.

All the same, Delph does gives us more of a balance when it comes to staying back and becoming essentially a five in the middle.

The only way we will see the very best of Mendy and Walker's talents would be to go three at the back and essentially do away with our wingers, which ain't gonna happen.

Until we see how Mendy's short passing measures up, it is difficult to say beyond his incredible power and pace, how much further he will now elevates us.

For me, Delph would be City's player of the year at any other time.

Could have been the difference in the title race early on.
 
GazM said:
My view from what little I saw of Mendy at the start of the season was that he was exceptional on the front foot but left a bit to be desired when defending (tracking back, leaving space in behind). Delph is a more orthodox full-back in that respect. Can't compare the two as they are different type of player.
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If anyone searches Youtube for the home match v Liverpool, you have a very raw defender, but going foward, wow. Those crosses in the box are excellent.

Worth noting Walkers assists and goals were reigned in as soon as Mendy was injured. When he;s back bet Walker starts to attack further forward in support of Raheem and Bernardo
 
tolmie's hairdoo said:
As we have seen with Walker on the other side, playing with wingers actually inhibits our full backs and it will be the same for Mendy.

We did see glimpses where there can be no spaces to run beyond because Sane or Sterling occupy the same spaces.

We have started to see Sane move into an old-fashioned inside left role in recent games, and who can forget the goal against Liverpool also when he went for a return and Mendy whipped it back from the by-line.

All the same, Delph does gives us more of a balance when it comes to staying back and becoming essentially a five in the middle.

The only way we will see the very best of Mendy and Walker's talents would be to go three at the back and essentially do away with our wingers, which ain't gonna happen.

Until we see how Mendy's short passing measures up, it is difficult to say beyond his incredible power and pace, how much further he will now elevates us.

For me, Delph would be City's player of the year at any other time.

Could have been the difference in the title race early on.
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As others have mentioned in this forum, Walker makes loads of great forward runs but rarely gets the ball, to the point I feel sorry for him. Not sure if that is a deliberate tactic on City's part, with Walker used as a decoy.

Walker can't cross a ball like Mendy and I would expect City to try and play him in more. Also, Sane and Sterling can both move inside and be effective. I don't think we have to go back three to get best out of Walker and Mendy.

What we do have with Mendy, Delph and the Man of Zinc is great tactical options at LB.
 
Well according to what I've read in this thread we've spent £40 million on a full back who can't defend and doesn't track back.

Txiki out!
 
tolmie's hairdoo said:
As we have seen with Walker on the other side, playing with wingers actually inhibits our full backs and it will be the same for Mendy.

We did see glimpses where there can be no spaces to run beyond because Sane or Sterling occupy the same spaces.

We have started to see Sane move into an old-fashioned inside left role in recent games, and who can forget the goal against Liverpool also when he went for a return and Mendy whipped it back from the by-line.

All the same, Delph does gives us more of a balance when it comes to staying back and becoming essentially a five in the middle.

The only way we will see the very best of Mendy and Walker's talents would be to go three at the back and essentially do away with our wingers, which ain't gonna happen.

Until we see how Mendy's short passing measures up, it is difficult to say beyond his incredible power and pace, how much further he will now elevates us.

For me, Delph would be City's player of the year at any other time.

Could have been the difference in the title race early on.
Click to expand...

We'll see Mendy overlap to let Sané come inside to score more goals. Mendy also loves to run inside the fullback which I'm sure we'll see alot when Sané does take the right back out wide.
 
domalino said:
We'll see Mendy overlap to let Sané come inside to score more goals. Mendy also loves to run inside the fullback which I'm sure we'll see alot when Sané does take the right back out wide.
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I agree, they could potentially be a deadly combination. Really excited to see it come to fruition next season.
 
Some people are La La land . Mendy coming back makes us a much much better team .

Delph cost us a few stupid goals trying to clear long balls. He done a job and thats it . I actually preferred Zinchenko playing instead of him.
 
SublimeSane said:
Some people are La La land . Mendy coming back makes us a much much better team .

Delph cost us a few stupid goals trying to clear long balls. He done a job and thats it . I actually preferred Zinchenko playing instead of him.
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Mendy isn't particularly good defensively though tbf and I'd be very surprised if Mendy is notably better. He's an attacking FB first and foremost.
 
tolmie's hairdoo said:
As we have seen with Walker on the other side, playing with wingers actually inhibits our full backs and it will be the same for Mendy.

We did see glimpses where there can be no spaces to run beyond because Sane or Sterling occupy the same spaces.

We have started to see Sane move into an old-fashioned inside left role in recent games, and who can forget the goal against Liverpool also when he went for a return and Mendy whipped it back from the by-line.

All the same, Delph does gives us more of a balance when it comes to staying back and becoming essentially a five in the middle.

The only way we will see the very best of Mendy and Walker's talents would be to go three at the back and essentially do away with our wingers, which ain't gonna happen.

Until we see how Mendy's short passing measures up, it is difficult to say beyond his incredible power and pace, how much further he will now elevates us.

For me, Delph would be City's player of the year at any other time.

Could have been the difference in the title race early on.
Click to expand...

A very reasonable assessment. In saying that, Mendy has only played 4 games for us. Delph has 40; Walker 27. No one can conclusively say how Mendy's attributes will affect us tactically. However, I imagine Pep wouldn't have spent £52m for Delph to be our left back. I imagine Pep will develop and mould Mendy to becomes a LB of his liking.
 
Delph has been great but really offers very little going forward. Zinch offers slightly more going forward but at a loss defensively. They've both been superb but I don't think its remotely disparaging to them to say that they aren't what we should be looking for moving forward. Ignoring the defensive side of things they both primarily contribute to the attack by being extremely useful in retaining possession and cycling the ball around the box, but don't often provide the kind of killer ball that we sorely need against anti-football teams.

What Mendy provides instantly is those kind of balls. Even with 10 men behind the ball a team cannot reliably guard against the precision passing of our 8's, the movement of our forwards, the deep balls from our 6, the crossfield balls of our centre backs, the propensity for half of our team to have a crack from outside the box AND two marauding full backs screaming in on the over/underlap putting in precision balls. Having been a fullback myself (albeit of very limited ability) it just isn't feasible, there are too many threats to deal with all the time.

Thats what I think Pep is trying to build here, a team with so many different ways to kill you off that there is just no way you stop us. That's why I think Pep bought Bendy, when there were numerous capable left back targets last summer, many of whom could have fit our system very well (and with the way the price went up, could potentially have been cheaper). Mendy is the only one who provided that tangible ability to provide decisive moments.

Maybe I'm chatting absolute bollocks and seeing those two assists against Liverpool got me all hot and bothered, but I can see Bendy making a huge impact next year.
 
Prob OTT i guess. In context he has been great considering he isnt a left back . Judging him as a normal left back he has didnt offer much going forward and was suspect under a long ball.
 
shak said:
Delph has been great but really offers very little going forward. Zinch offers slightly more going forward but at a loss defensively. They've both been superb but I don't think its remotely disparaging to them to say that they aren't what we should be looking for moving forward. Ignoring the defensive side of things they both primarily contribute to the attack by being extremely useful in retaining possession and cycling the ball around the box, but don't often provide the kind of killer ball that we sorely need against anti-football teams.

What Mendy provides instantly is those kind of balls. Even with 10 men behind the ball a team cannot reliably guard against the precision passing of our 8's, the movement of our forwards, the deep balls from our 6, the crossfield balls of our centre backs, the propensity for half of our team to have a crack from outside the box AND two marauding full backs screaming in on the over/underlap putting in precision balls. Having been a fullback myself (albeit of very limited ability) it just isn't feasible, there are too many threats to deal with all the time.

Thats what I think Pep is trying to build here, a team with so many different ways to kill you off that there is just no way you stop us. That's why I think Pep bought Bendy, when there were numerous capable left back targets last summer, many of whom could have fit our system very well (and with the way the price went up, could potentially have been cheaper). Mendy is the only one who provided that tangible ability to provide decisive moments.

Maybe I'm chatting absolute bollocks and seeing those two assists against Liverpool got me all hot and bothered, but I can see Bendy making a huge impact next year.
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You’re not talking shit, you’ve got it right. Mendy fires crosses in low from the deeper areas. Full backs who can do this are very rare. As an example, Kolorov could cross by only from an overlap situation, which makes them easier to defend.

Mendy will come straight back in and make us stronger.
 
The only thing that really matters is Mendy was important enough to Pep for us to make him the most expensive left back ever, right? He will be a massive influence down the stretch. Also, with many players being mentally and physically fatigued in April and May, bringing in a fresh player like Mendy should be huge.
 
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