Benjamin Mendy

[adr2.8i]

if mendy doesnt turn up then maybe Ric should go to the medical instead seems theres a slot booked in :-)

 

[domalino]

There's a ton of stats out there about crosses not being generally productive and not creating 'easy to score' chances. This is why we usually try and keep the ball and work it into positions that are easier to score from.

That doesn't meant that Mendy's crossing isn't a bonus though, it is - it'll put the fear of god into opposition defences. It'll also mean defences will watch for him as he's a threat and it'll in turn create more space for Sane (or whoever).

He is a quality crosser of the ball, but I expect he'll use it sparingly and try and pick people out with passes from close in more often. And I give it a month before someone starts moaning saying he always hits the first defender...

Hoping he's signed today and on a plane with Yaya, Sane, Sancho etc soon enough.

We do a lot of crossing - on average 1 cross per game less than United...who reverted to crossing to Ibrahimovic and Fellaini at every single opportunity.

Having someone with the quality delivery Mendy has will be massive.

Not sure if it was a freak goal but Jesus' header at the end of last season raised my eyebrows. He seems decent enough in the air, huge spring too. I remember him nearly scoring a header with one of his first touches v Spurs with a great leap. Mendy was crossing to Falcao last season. He's not exactly a giant. All you need is good movement to lose your man and then a cross to match. Look at Falcao's header against us. Deadly cross, a relative midget scored with his head. Pretty simple. Even Aguero has scored some nice headers for us. Plus, a cross doesn't always need to be to someone's head. Kolarov has been crossing to Aguero for most of his City career, and the wee man has been gobbling them up. I think it's quite old fashioned, Big Sam tactics to think that we need to cross to Peter Crouch otherwise don't bother.

Falcao is 1cm taller than Jesus, so you're completely right, and Aguero actually scored 6 headers in 15/16 despite being 5'8" which shows it's really all about the delivery and the striker finding a bit of space.

The massive difference beween players like Mendy and Jesus/Kolarov, for example, is that Mendy can deliver a cross while sprinting down the touchline at full speed. That's why he gets so many assists from his crossing, because if you can whip that ball in without slowing down or taking a touch then the defence doesn't have a second or two to get back or get ready for it - the big CB's don't have time to get on top of a smaller striker and win the header.

I can't wait for Mendy, just hope we get a positive update on this relatively soon.

 

[waspish]

Salford paul on sat seemed to think we were close to a deal being done so unless they changed the goal posts we should be signing him sooner or later.

 

[Dax777]

Aguero and Jesus, if you think it's just about height then you have it all wrong, we'd never have sold Dzeko if that was the case who was tall and could score for fun. Intelligent movement is the key, they can both score headers(although not every cross has to be a high one) that way and have proven so. Set pieces you'd have more of a point in but our defenders are big, physical as well as being very technical by PL standards, I want to see the likes of Stones and Otamendi taking a leaf out of Kompany's book, hopefully seeing him score after coming back like he did will have influenced them somewhat.

Well, to be fair I pointed this out simply because Kolarov's driven or grounded cross is as good as Mendy'd. So I was simply making the logical jump that a jump in improvement will most come from his pointed head high crosses.

 

[Dax777]

He'll be crossing into the box where they'll be four or five City players breaking into it. Last season Sane and Sterling had to stay wide because the fullbacks weren't good enough to get up and down and deliver quality.

This year, Sane and Sterling can come inside, which will give us far more numbers in the box.

Hopefully. That will signal a stylistic change in the way we approach crashing the opposition box. I look forward to it.

 

[Dax777]

Damn, so much for you using FM for your scouting (maybe FIFA). You would know about drilling crosses instead of floating crosses and near post crosses instead of far post crosses. Of course you'd also know that by watching football, but whatevs.

Makes sense. Carry on.

 

[Blue Smarties]

#RicOut

Don't know who he thinks he is tbh.

 

[BimboBob]

#RicOut

Is this trending yet?

#RicOut


Will change to #RicCopOut when nothing happens.

 

[bobmcfc]

If nothing happens today I'm going to burn this forum down to the ground...


Burrrrrrn

 

[Ric]

Ha, I'm looking forward to having a break from here when nothing happens today.