Centre back options

[The Doctor]

I'm willing to give Mangala a chance if Pep thinks he can do it, but last season for example, the back 3 system allowed teams to run at us with pace & our cbs were unable to do anything once a pass, even a short pass, was made to people such as Vardy. They didn't read the pass nor anticipate the danger, in the situation before the pass & once the pass was made, they were two, three yards too slow to close down the recipient, it's then just upto the keeper, or the oppo to fall over/miss the target, or we'd had it.

Chelsea's centre backs were much more proactive & often snuffed it out or fouled, before the situation even developed. We can't see it coming & we were absolutely hopeless at seeing it v Real Madrid & when we did see it, too late, we didn't have the pace to recover & just relied on hope, which worked.

As usual, the defensive shortcomings are being ignored on here & everyone was 'fantastic' at the back defending. But they weren't, non of them.

Acceleration over 10-20 yards, rather than a 50 yard sprinter, might be enough to give us that split second which makes the difference, as we saw with the fullbacks last night.

I would take a punt with Mangala! At times he looks a man mountain! His nifty footwork against Lukaku was a joy to watch.

 

[Neville Kneville]

I would take a punt with Mangala! At times he looks a man mountain! His nifty footwork against Lukaku was a joy to watch.

I would like Pep to give him a proper test pre season, to see what he's got, in match situations. I don't believe any manager can judge players purely on training games. By all accounts Aguero would never get a game for anyone if that was the case.

 

[Mad_fer_it]

There were rumours of Inigo Martinez floating about recently. Not heard much for a couple of weeks though. Never seen him play personally. Wouldn't be particularly expensive at £27m...

 

[Andrew___K]

There were rumours of Inigo Martinez floating about recently. Not heard much for a couple of weeks though. Never seen him play personally. Wouldn't be particularly expensive at £27m...

Small left-footed ball-playing CB, same type of defender as L.Hernandez. Good, but not of a star level. If we're buying him, hope it's a rotational solution and we're getting someone better next summer to replace Ota. Better fit than Mangala, no doubt. The only concern is that we would lack powerful tall defenders in case Komps needs rest.

 

[aguerooo93]

Small left-footed ball-playing CB, same type of defender as L.Hernandez. Good, but not of a star level. If we're buying him, hope it's a rotational solution and we're getting someone better next summer to replace Ota. Better fit than Mangala, no doubt. The only concern is that we would lack powerful tall defenders in case Komps needs rest.

Why would we need to replace Otamendi? One of the best center-backs in the league last season by the numbers...pundits like to criticize him sure, but if you watch City games from beginning to end you'll notice that he makes a ridiculous number of interceptions, blocks and last-ditch tackles while consistently winning aerial duels and taking it out of the defense. He makes mistakes, but nowhere near as often as people say because of confirmation bias

 

[The Doctor]

I would like Pep to give him a proper test pre season, to see what he's got, in match situations. I don't believe any manager can judge players purely on training games. By all accounts Aguero would never get a game for anyone if that was the case.

Don't know what you mean by proper test pre season! He's played 2 now against RM & Rags he can't get higher competition than that pre season Let's see if he also plays against Spurs & WHU.......like I say he looks a man mountain at times!

 

[Neville Kneville]

Don't know what you mean by proper test pre season! He's played 2 now against RM & Rags he can't get higher competition than that pre season Let's see if he also plays against Spurs & WHU.......like I say he looks a man mountain at times!

I mean starting as a main centre back, maybe in a 2 cb formation rather than being put on later in the game in a 3 or at fullback.

 

[Blue Coop]

 

[TRUE BLUE NO1]

"we cannot spend too much more"

Maybe we done with our big spending this summer? Unless Pep means we cant spend much more because we already have a big money offer on the table for Sanchez OR Mbappe?

Martinez seems a low cost, low risk signing that could come in and be happy backing up Kompany....I think if we could get Sanchez and Martinez, it would be a truly perfect summer transfer window for the club...(I dont see Mbappe as an option due to his possible 150mil+ transfer fee)

 

[Blue Coop]

"we cannot spend too much more"

Maybe we done with our big spending this summer? Unless Pep means we cant spend much more because we already have a big money offer on the table for Sanchez OR Mbappe?

Martinez seems a low cost, low risk signing that could come in and be happy backing up Kompany....I think if we could get Sanchez and Martinez, it would be a truly perfect summer transfer window for the club...(I dont see Mbappe as an option due to his possible 150mil+ transfer fee)

I agree Sanchez plus a defender is what I want to see from here, to cap it off. I think we will challenge as is, and that would just make us heavy favourites.