Dayot Upamecano

[ctid1894]

Are we really comparing Mangala with a World Cup & Balon D'or winner?

You're right, it's incredibly rare to find a CB that ticks every box, but for the price, his age, his physical and technical ability, I think he's the best realistic option. Having a stronger team & Pep coaching him could improve him dramatically in terms of concentration. He'd be a massive upgrade to Otamendi & Stones.

You keep repeating pace and power are two "huge parts of the game", Cannavaro proves that is just a myth, he had neither in abundance and yet was the best defender in the world for a time and is as far as I'm concerned, still the best defender I've ever seen. Mangala was just used as an example/comparison to show pace and power doesn't always translate into being a good defender.

That's all fairy tales and optimism, you can't say Upamecano is a massive upgrade on Stones yet because right now, he suffers from exactly same lapses of concentration, that plague Stones. Stones coincidentally has worked with a stronger team and Pep and still hasn't improved in that area of his game, which completely debunks that myth too. There's no guarantees Upamecano will improve, like I said it's hope and fairy tales at this stage, he may he may not.

 

[ONTHERUNWITHTHAKSIN]

You keep repeating pace and power are two "huge parts of the game", Cannavaro proves that is just a myth, he had neither in abundance and yet was the best defender in the world for a time and is as far as I'm concerned, still the best defender I've ever seen. Mangala was just used as an example/comparison to show pace and power doesn't always translate into being a good defender.

That's all fairy tales and optimism, you can't say Upamecano is a massive upgrade on Stones yet because right now, he suffers from exactly same lapses of concentration, that plague Stones. Stones coincidentally has worked with a stronger team and Pep and still hasn't improved in that area of his game, which completely debunks that myth too. There's no guarantees Upamecano will improve, like I said it's hope and fairy tales at this stage, he may he may not.

WHAT!!!!!!

Best defender you have seen is Cannavaro

Have you never seen Richard Dunne play for us blues

Give your head a wobble

 

[ctid1894]

WHAT!!!!!!

Best defender you have seen is Cannavaro

Have you never seen Richard Dunne play for us blues

Give your head a wobble

I'm sure some on here would say he's still not big enough or powerful enough.

 

[domalino]

You keep repeating pace and power are two "huge parts of the game", Cannavaro proves that is just a myth, he had neither in abundance and yet was the best defender in the world for a time and is as far as I'm concerned, still the best defender I've ever seen. Mangala was just used as an example/comparison to show pace and power doesn't always translate into being a good defender.

That's all fairy tales and optimism, you can't say Upamecano is a massive upgrade on Stones yet because right now, he suffers from exactly same lapses of concentration, that plague Stones. Stones coincidentally has worked with a stronger team and Pep and still hasn't improved in that area of his game, which completely debunks that myth too. There's no guarantees Upamecano will improve, like I said it's hope and fairy tales at this stage, he may he may not.

Don't know what player you were watching, but Cannavaro was known for his pace.

 

[teddykgb]

I think our system asks an awful lot of any CB and even Cannavaro would have made some hard to watch mistakes in it. I know Uoamecano has been playing in a 5 back so maybe it is similar there but I would worry about any player who is mistake prone in a less aggressive system because they will just be put under more pressure in ours.

Even Laporte has had a few ugly errors but he’s so remarkable because he is so consistent

 

[ctid1894]

Don't know what player you were watching, but Cannavaro was known for his pace.

He certainly wasn't slow but he wasn't exactly Kyle Walker quick either, not by any stretch of the imagination.

 

[OliMCFC]

Lots of arguments here but I dont think anyone can deny a CB with good recovery pace amongst other things would be ideal. Dayot might have made a few mistakes but lets not forget he's 21 and if theres anyone who can iron out mistakes its Guardiola. Upamecano has good recovery pace and is super tall - two things we do lack. Few things he needs to work on but he would be my choice personally - can play both LCB and RCB too

 

[OccupiedPalestineBlues]

He certainly wasn't slow but he wasn't exactly Kyle Walker quick either, not by any stretch of the imagination.

IMO, I don't think that defenders always need to be super quick but I'll qualify that by saying that it depends upon the systems of play employed by the team they're in.
Footballing intelligence / reading the game / good positioning and the occasional 'tactical' foul can mean an awful lot, so slowish defenders can be fantastic behind a low block, but I feel that playing a high line, as we do, means that being quick is crucially important to us.
Think how many times the sprint speed of one or other of our defenders has snuffed out a threat, in recent seasons, and I think you'll appreciate that if we didn't have some blistering pace at the back we'd have conceded many more goals in recent seasons

 

[MeatHunterrr]

Stones and Otamendi are not fast yet they played very well in the 2017/18 for us. Key is pressing from the forwards, if that is bad then slowish defenders can be exposed as opponent can have their time choosing their passes. So yes to cover all bases fast CBs would be ideal but its not everything.

Mangala brutally proved that speed means fuck all if you lack the other things.

 

[ctid1894]

Stones and Otamendi are not fast yet they played very well in the 2017/18 for us. Key is pressing from the forwards, if that is bad then slowish defenders can be exposed as opponent can have their time choosing their passes. So yes to cover all bases fast CBs would be ideal but its not everything.

Mangala brutally proved that speed means fuck all if you lack the other things.

I couldn't agree more. There's no perspective with the majority of posters when it comes to central defenders, if they're not 6'4, built like a tank and faster than Usain Bolt in his hayday, it's like nothing else is acceptable. When you're absolutely right, if we get the pressing right, then defenders won't be exposed. Ederson's starting position is vital as well, he can mitigate any potential threats from long balls.