Eliaquim Mangala - now official

[Blue Haze]

Re: Eliaquim Mangala

He is decent but never worth £29 million.

Agreed. An argument can be made that none of the goals are his fault.

But honestly, if we're paying that sum of cash, I expect someone nearer Vinny's level. For that price I'm looking for someone who takes control of the game and erases opponent goals, someone who takes responsibility on his own shoulders. Not someone we look at and say "well he's not responsible for that goal, nor that one, nor that one..."

 

[gungho-tactics]

Re: Eliaquim Mangala

Not impressed at all but I can't see potential very well. Not as good as Nasty by some distance.

Nastasic is not a frontfoot defender. When tries to nick the ball high up the pitch, he usually fails. I lost count of how many freekicks he conceded in the first half of the season.

 

[gungho-tactics]

Re: Eliaquim Mangala

He got beaten again.

 

[eastland 56]

Re: Eliaquim Mangala

Looks like a headless chicken. He's very raw. Not impressed with him at all tonight. Would not pay the amounts of money that is being quoted.

 

[Mr. Aguia]

Re: Eliaquim Mangala

He is decent but never worth £29 million.

Agreed. An argument can be made that none of the goals are his fault.

But honestly, if we're paying that sum of cash, I expect someone nearer Vinny's level. For that price I'm looking for someone who takes control of the game and erases opponent goals, someone who takes responsibility on his own shoulders. Not someone we look at and say "well he's not responsible for that goal, nor that one, nor that one..."

Unfortunately the market doesn't work like that. There are so few quality CB's available and nearly every top club needs one the price has sky rocketed. 2 years ago we tried to buy Agger and they wanted 25m and he was much older and not rated nearly as high. The market has gone off it's head. Just look at some of the deals in the recent past. 37m for Carraol LOL, 50m for Torrez, Fellaini 27m, 80m for Bale, 100m for Neymar, etc... To sign quality players you are gonna have to pay over the odds from now on. Just makes our academy even more important.

 

[George Hannah]

Re: Eliaquim Mangala

Looks like a headless chicken. He's very raw. Not impressed with him at all tonight. Would not pay the amounts of money that is being quoted.

are you related to Nelly's left foot?

 

[sam-caddick]

Re: Eliaquim Mangala

He is decent but never worth £29 million.

Agreed. An argument can be made that none of the goals are his fault.

But honestly, if we're paying that sum of cash, I expect someone nearer Vinny's level. For that price I'm looking for someone who takes control of the game and erases opponent goals, someone who takes responsibility on his own shoulders. Not someone we look at and say "well he's not responsible for that goal, nor that one, nor that one..."

Unfortunately the market doesn't work like that. There are so few quality CB's available and nearly every top club needs one the price has sky rocketed. 2 years ago we tried to buy Agger and they wanted 25m and he was much older and not rated nearly as high. The market has gone off it's head. Just look at some of the deals in the recent past. 37m for Carraol LOL, 50m for Torrez, Fellaini 27m, 80m for Bale, 100m for Neymar, etc... To sign quality players you are gonna have to pay over the odds from now on. Just makes our academy even more important.

Pretty much this.

I think we have to take into account that we are not living in a generation where there are an abundance of top notch central defenders like there was say ten years ago for example, I don't think it's a coincidence as well that the weaknesses in most of the top teams in Europe are their defences because of this.

I have said on this thread numerous times that Mangala is the best defender I have seen this season that is not playing in one of the best teams in Europe at the moment, he still has a lot to learn but you only have to look at his physical presence to see how much of a colossus central defensive pairing we could have with this man having Kompany next to him.

 

[toffee balls]

Re: Eliaquim Mangala

Still not sure me.

Matt Hummels for me tbh.

 

[George Hannah]

Re: Eliaquim Mangala

"He's a big lad and a bonny lad and he likes his beer and his name is Eliaquim and I wish he was here"

(north east folk song)

 

[gungho-tactics]

Re: Eliaquim Mangala

I don't think Porto are keen to drop their asking price. We should steer clear. Van Dijk is a cheaper option.