Centre-back

[adrianr]

What about vermalen? Proven in the premier league and champions league. Out of favour at arsenal. Ticks all the boxes for me. Doubts over his fitness but there always is with arsenal players

Not a bad shout at all but I really think we have to leave it a couple more seasons before buying anyone from Arsenal, unless it's Wilshere.

 

[cibaman]

What about vermalen? Proven in the premier league and champions league. Out of favour at arsenal. Ticks all the boxes for me. Doubts over his fitness but there always is with arsenal players

We don't need another left footed cb unless Lescott leaves

 

[Ethan23]

What about vermalen? Proven in the premier league and champions league. Out of favour at arsenal. Ticks all the boxes for me. Doubts over his fitness but there always is with arsenal players

We don't need another left footed cb unless Lescott leaves

I suggested him at the start of the silly season... if he could recapture his form just like Clichy did when he joined, then he would be a brilliant acquisition.

He could even cover at LB if necessary... he also guarantees 4-5 goals a season which is a bonus

 

[blueparrot]

Twittertancredipalmeri
@tancredipalmeriAt last. According to Sky Italy, Inter and Chivu are scheduling a meeting to end their contractl
could be good cover for cb and left back

 

[Blue Haze]

The Arsenal match showed again why we need another central defender. Can't claim later we weren't warned.

 

[Cook]

The Arsenal match showed again why we need another central defender. Can't claim later we weren't warned.

Agreed, Lescott seems too slow for me for this kind of defending. I don't consider Joleon as a reliable cover for Nasty.

 

[NipHolmes]

Twittertancredipalmeri
@tancredipalmeriAt last. According to Sky Italy, Inter and Chivu are scheduling a meeting to end their contractl
could be good cover for cb and left back

Great if he's on a free but I wonder about his speed. The league has a habit of exposing pace.

 

[andrewmswift]

we really, really, really need another quality CB. lescott can't cut it

 

[LoveCity]

we really, really, really need another quality CB. lescott can't cut it

In certain games he can... or could, he's shown that. But lord I'm not sure I've ever seen a top level footballer so awkward with the ball at his feet. He will suffer if we play a high line, he doesn't have the pace or intelligence (need one or the other). Pepe is light years ahead of him as a total defender and I still hope we can nab him before the window closes. If not Pepe, then someone really good, experienced, and compatible with this style of defending.

 

[Daz_Blue]

Sky Italy: Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis has rejected an offer of about £3.5m from City for defender and captain, Paolo Cannavaro (32).

Sorry if already posted....at work and do not have time to scroll

 

[Bill]

i'll say it again as I did all last august


we need a thug.

and soon.

 

[KennyG]

Swap with Barry to Napoli and Cannavaro to MCFC?

 

[MCFC BOB]

Sky Italy: Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis has rejected an offer of about £3.5m from City for defender and captain, Paolo Cannavaro (32).

Sorry if already posted....at work and do not have time to scroll

We don't deal with Napoli anymore.

 

[onceabluealways]

i'll say it again as I did all last august


we need a thug.

and soon.

If we are going to playa high line we need pace not a thug

 

[kbb]

A quick thug then?

 

[Mad 4 It]

A quick thug then?

I would recommend "Ip Man"

 

[decmancity]

Pepe is quick, for a CB he can really shift.

A high line needs defenders who are comfortable themselves/capable of jumping forward to win the ball before it moves through.
That's why the likes of Thiago Silva are so renown, quick across the ground to make sure they get to the ball first or the player who will receive it can't move with it.

Lescott is slow and unsure of himself outside of the box and struggles massively.

When Richards plays at CB, his physical attributes are what makes him put in the performances he does. He isn't Maldini when it comes to defending so relies on his speed and power to make sure he either gets the ball first or the player receiving the ball can't get away from him because then he will struggle.

Kompany has the blend of both, T.Silva the same, Pepe imo the same, Varane and Sakho too.

 

[LoveCity]

Speaking of Sakho...

Jonathan Johnson ‏@Jon_LeGossip 5m
Tomorrow morning's L'Equipe will reportedly reveal that PSG's Mamadou Sakho has decided to leave the club. #PSG

Could be an option but suspect Pellegrini is looking for someone older and more experienced? Apparently Milan and Liverpool interested.

 

[FantasyIreland]

Have the Rami links gone cold?

 

[sam-caddick]

After today's defensive disgrace it's quite clear we need a center back to back up/ rotate Nastasic, Lescott simply cannot cope with this high line system Pellegrini want to implement.

Kompany, Nastasic, Zabaleta, Micah and even Boyata have looked decent using the high line system.

Lescott, Kolarov and I think Clichy have struggled with adaptation, and it's that left hand side that seriously needs looking at.