Eliaquim Mangala - now official

[I'm With Stupid]

Re: Eliaquim Mangala

If we genuinely think he's gonna be one of the best defenders in the world for the next 10 years, then we should go for it. Once you've got him, that's that area of the pitch sorted for years, whereas going for a cheaper option could mean we end up spending the same amount over the period anyway with worse results as every couple of years we try to strengthen on the cheap.

 

[El Mago]

Re: Eliaquim Mangala

I hope we don't sign Mangala or Fernando.

Let Fernando stay with Porto, he just renewed his contract and lets go and sign Matrinez or whoever out there.

 

[FredTilson]

Re: Eliaquim Mangala

I hope we don't sign Mangala or Fernando.

Let Fernando stay with Porto, he just renewed his contract and lets go and sign Matrinez or whoever out there.

Martinez will get completely found out in the premier league in a two man midfield. Would just be Garcia with better passing.

I think since Fernando had expressed his interest in joining us in January and we have been talking to Porto all this while, maybe a compromise was reached wherein we can get him at a reasonable price in the summer.

 

[LoveCity]

Re: Eliaquim Mangala

Fernando is a freak, if there was ever a play you looked at and thought "Perfect for Premier League", it's him. Yaya/Fernandinho/Fernando/Garcia would be an awesome selection of central midfielders. Even sacrificing Garcia and giving someone like Huws the fourth position and we still have great options.

Here's something Martin Cox wrote about him from Benfica vs. Porto last year.

The game settled down after the fourth goal, and Porto were the more authoritative side. Both continued to press and play a high line, but Porto were more adept at working the ball forward, cutting through Benfica’s lines smoothly. The key player here was Fernando, a player who perfectly understands how to take advantage of his freedom in front of the back four, contributing both to overloads at the back, and in midfield.

When Porto passed out from the back, Oscar Cardozo and Lima pressed their centre-backs, so Fernando dropped between them to create a 3 v 2 situation, and Porto worked the ball forward. Simple stuff, but something Matic failed to do (granted, he was playing in more of a flat four). Then, when Porto had the ball in midfield, Fernando became a midfielder again, and Porto’s triangle could play around Benfica in midfield – Enzo Perez, who tried to stop Joao Moutinho playing, was overrun. With Fernando always covering, both Alex Sandro and Danilo pushed forward dangerously.

 

[FredTilson]

Re: Eliaquim Mangala

We might even line up with all 3 of Fernando, Fernandinho and Toure in tough away games/CL games. That should give us excellent solidity.

 

[richards30]

Re: Eliaquim Mangala

We might even line up with all 3 of Fernando, Fernandinho and Toure in tough away games/CL games. That should give us excellent solidity.

most definitely because as tough as they all are they are also good players with the ball.

 

[VOOMER]

Re: Eliaquim Mangala

Haven't Porto been a huge disappointment this season, on a par with the rags?

 

[VOOMER]

Re: Eliaquim Mangala

Haven't Porto been a huge disappointment this season, on a par with rags?

 

[carlos tevez is a blue]

Re: Eliaquim Mangala

Haven't Porto been a huge disappointment this season, on a par with rags?

 

[MCFC4EVR]

Re: Eliaquim Mangala

Haven't Porto been a huge disappointment this season, on a par with the rags?

They have and they're gonna miss out on the champions league next season but the reason Porto are struggling is because they still haven't replaced the creativity Moutinho and James Rodriguez provided. 40m for the pair of them is not a bad price.