Edin Dzeko

[richards30]

It was a real shame to be honest seeing edin like that on Sunday. Was also blatantly obvious he wasn't focused and better all round if he went back to Germany. Surely Dortmund wouldn't be interested in a swap deal regardinv Reus or gundogen? (Sp)

 

[EaglesFan]

So Dzeko will be gone, lets move on.

There are two overwhelming errors in the way this team is designed (Mancini for the most part) - that will remain with Edin or without him:

1) WHY even buy Dzeko (or Cavani, or whatever true center-forward) if your entire strategy is narrow, short passing game through the middle?? Edin's goalscoring skills cannot be questioned (throughout his career, even his career at City) - he never fit this team from the get-go.

On that subject - Cavani would fail or underperform (if you will) here too, I strongly believe that. We better get Falcao or alike - much better fit.

2) Speaking of attitude. Too many superstars DOES NOT equal a great team - please see Dortmund. You need guys on the bench, eager for something to prove. All Roberto knows is to cry for MORE superstars. When you have Aguero, Tevez, Dzeko, and Balotelli - that is a lot of fucking ego to handle. Will NEVER work. If City keeps Tevez and Aguero - add Cavani/Falcao/Lewandowski - and you are deemed for fallout, AGAIN. Look at Madrid - they have only Benzema and Higuain, but as Mourinho plays ONE - there are issues with both of them already.

Neither 1 or 2 above have anything to do with Edin...fact.

 

[BibbyBlue85]

Goodbye and Good luck

 

[lust overlord]

We don't need a midfielder.

Go and rewatch our European games, our decrepit looking midfield looked second rate and was completely overrun - even our one genuine top class CMF, Yaya Toure, looked poor against Gundogan. If it was me an elite holding midfielder would be high on the agenda this summer as this position is vital in Europe. It doesn't matter that we have loads of them already, none of them are elite level. United are weak there too and look at them in Europe vs. Premier League.

Our highest tackles-per-game midfielder is Gareth Barry on 2 successful tackles per game. He is our best holding midfielder at the moment. Compare to Arturo Vidal who averages 5.1 tackles per game, Luis Gustavo (Bayern BACKUP midfielder) who averages 2.6 tackles per game, Sandro (Spurs) who averages 3.6 tackles per game, Xabi Alonso who averages 3.3 tackles per game, Lars Bender who averages 4.6 tackles per game. The young lad we're being linked with Kondogbia even averages 2.7 tackles per game. You'll struggle to find any reputable holding midfielder who averages less tackles than our best holding midfielder. And considering Yaya (1.2 tackles per game - so his and Barry's COMBINED tackle count is lower than some European midfielders) does not like to get stuck in, it's pretty important we have a good tackler next to him.

Not that tackles are the only important thing but you'll find most elite level central midfielders offer a better passing range too and some of them like Vidal (9 assists, 11 goals) offer a real attacking threat also. Our midfield is good enough for many Premier League games but even there you can see the frailties when we come up against a mobile pressing unit like Southampton. And that sluggishness going forward against 10 man defences would be overcome easier by a better midfield.

BTW, Garcia averages 1.1 tackles per game which is an astonishingly poor stat for a player whose only apparent quality is breaking up play. De Jong was averaging 2.4 tackles before his season-ending injury. Milner, who is famous for his tenacity and closing down, only averages 1.4 tackles too.

Honestly Marvin, I think you're too quick to accept mediocrity sometimes, you even bigged up Adam Johnson who wouldn't make a top 50 wingers in Europe list. If we want to be the best we should aspire to have the best players, not just "make do". And the best players don't even have to cost a bomb, Lars Bender for example would probably cost £15million.

Could be some of our tackle stats are low because we are the ones keeping possession.
In Europe however I think you may have a valid point.

 

[Danny Hoekman]

Why is he training in a Cologne boxing gym this morning? Are they not in at Carrington today?

 

[Latics Fan SJK]

We don't need a midfielder.

Go and rewatch our European games, our decrepit looking midfield looked second rate and was completely overrun - even our one genuine top class CMF, Yaya Toure, looked poor against Gundogan. If it was me an elite holding midfielder would be high on the agenda this summer as this position is vital in Europe. It doesn't matter that we have loads of them already, none of them are elite level. United are weak there too and look at them in Europe vs. Premier League.

Our highest tackles-per-game midfielder is Gareth Barry on 2 successful tackles per game. He is our best holding midfielder at the moment. Compare to Arturo Vidal who averages 5.1 tackles per game, Luis Gustavo (Bayern BACKUP midfielder) who averages 2.6 tackles per game, Sandro (Spurs) who averages 3.6 tackles per game, Xabi Alonso who averages 3.3 tackles per game, Lars Bender who averages 4.6 tackles per game. The young lad we're being linked with Kondogbia even averages 2.7 tackles per game. You'll struggle to find any reputable holding midfielder who averages less tackles than our best holding midfielder. And considering Yaya (1.2 tackles per game - so his and Barry's COMBINED tackle count is lower than some European midfielders) does not like to get stuck in, it's pretty important we have a good tackler next to him.

Not that tackles are the only important thing but you'll find most elite level central midfielders offer a better passing range too and some of them like Vidal (9 assists, 11 goals) offer a real attacking threat also. Our midfield is good enough for many Premier League games but even there you can see the frailties when we come up against a mobile pressing unit like Southampton. And that sluggishness going forward against 10 man defences would be overcome easier by a better midfield.

BTW, Garcia averages 1.1 tackles per game which is an astonishingly poor stat for a player whose only apparent quality is breaking up play. De Jong was averaging 2.4 tackles before his season-ending injury. Milner, who is famous for his tenacity and closing down, only averages 1.4 tackles too.

Honestly Marvin, I think you're too quick to accept mediocrity sometimes, you even bigged up Adam Johnson who wouldn't make a top 50 wingers in Europe list. If we want to be the best we should aspire to have the best players, not just "make do". And the best players don't even have to cost a bomb, Lars Bender for example would probably cost £15million.

Could be some of our tackle stats are low because we are the ones keeping possession.
In Europe however I think you may have a valid point.

You badly need a new CM, even if it is mainly to improve your European performances. He may be a fan favourite, but Barry is just not the answer in the CL.

 

[hgblue]

Go and rewatch our European games, our decrepit looking midfield looked second rate and was completely overrun - even our one genuine top class CMF, Yaya Toure, looked poor against Gundogan. If it was me an elite holding midfielder would be high on the agenda this summer as this position is vital in Europe. It doesn't matter that we have loads of them already, none of them are elite level. United are weak there too and look at them in Europe vs. Premier League.

Our highest tackles-per-game midfielder is Gareth Barry on 2 successful tackles per game. He is our best holding midfielder at the moment. Compare to Arturo Vidal who averages 5.1 tackles per game, Luis Gustavo (Bayern BACKUP midfielder) who averages 2.6 tackles per game, Sandro (Spurs) who averages 3.6 tackles per game, Xabi Alonso who averages 3.3 tackles per game, Lars Bender who averages 4.6 tackles per game. The young lad we're being linked with Kondogbia even averages 2.7 tackles per game. You'll struggle to find any reputable holding midfielder who averages less tackles than our best holding midfielder. And considering Yaya (1.2 tackles per game - so his and Barry's COMBINED tackle count is lower than some European midfielders) does not like to get stuck in, it's pretty important we have a good tackler next to him.

Not that tackles are the only important thing but you'll find most elite level central midfielders offer a better passing range too and some of them like Vidal (9 assists, 11 goals) offer a real attacking threat also. Our midfield is good enough for many Premier League games but even there you can see the frailties when we come up against a mobile pressing unit like Southampton. And that sluggishness going forward against 10 man defences would be overcome easier by a better midfield.

BTW, Garcia averages 1.1 tackles per game which is an astonishingly poor stat for a player whose only apparent quality is breaking up play. De Jong was averaging 2.4 tackles before his season-ending injury. Milner, who is famous for his tenacity and closing down, only averages 1.4 tackles too.

Honestly Marvin, I think you're too quick to accept mediocrity sometimes, you even bigged up Adam Johnson who wouldn't make a top 50 wingers in Europe list. If we want to be the best we should aspire to have the best players, not just "make do". And the best players don't even have to cost a bomb, Lars Bender for example would probably cost £15million.

Could be some of our tackle stats are low because we are the ones keeping possession.
In Europe however I think you may have a valid point.

You badly need a new CM, even if it is mainly to improve your European performances. He may be a fan favourite, but Barry is just not the answer in the CL.

Bang on, which is why I've been so disappointed with Garcia. We needed a Ferrari and we signed a Fiat Punto.

 

[waspish]

Why is he training in a Cologne boxing gym this morning? Are they not in at Carrington today?

Think they are back Wednesday nice little break after Mancini put them through there paces last week ;)

 

[EaglesFan]

Short summary of Dzeko's carrer at City:

City got two pieces of silverware in a year, and he played a major part in both.

Even those who hate him will never forget him (whether you like it or not)...even if he did nothing other that QPR equalizer (which he surely did).

He is part of this team's history forever, whatever each of us individually think of him.

And that's it, really...

Also, in a years time we will all wish we have a 3rd striker who will, in a bad year, bag 13 goals in EPL.

 

[dancity19]

So Dzeko will be gone, lets move on.

There are two overwhelming errors in the way this team is designed (Mancini for the most part) - that will remain with Edin or without him:

1) WHY even buy Dzeko (or Cavani, or whatever true center-forward) if your entire strategy is narrow, short passing game through the middle?? Edin's goalscoring skills cannot be questioned (throughout his career, even his career at City) - he never fit this team from the get-go.

On that subject - Cavani would fail or underperform (if you will) here too, I strongly believe that. We better get Falcao or alike - much better fit.

2) Speaking of attitude. Too many superstars DOES NOT equal a great team - please see Dortmund. You need guys on the bench, eager for something to prove. All Roberto knows is to cry for MORE superstars. When you have Aguero, Tevez, Dzeko, and Balotelli - that is a lot of fucking ego to handle. Will NEVER work. If City keeps Tevez and Aguero - add Cavani/Falcao/Lewandowski - and you are deemed for fallout, AGAIN. Look at Madrid - they have only Benzema and Higuain, but as Mourinho plays ONE - there are issues with both of them already.

Neither 1 or 2 above have anything to do with Edin...fact.

Whilst I do worry slightly about getting someone like Cavani who may not fit in to our system, from what I have seen of him he appears to not only thrive off good service (Dzeko when he can be bothered) but also is able to create goals out of nothing, and create chances for himself.

When on his game, Dzeko can, and often does find himself in the right position to score, but it is so rare for him to create a goal for himself.