Full Backs?

[balotelli's back pocket]

Angelino is ready now. He isnt maldini, no, but he is more than good enough for his age and his tenacity and pace is huge. No worse than bellerin.
Maffeo is already an accomplished defender, and is also good enough.

 

[TrueBlueMike]

I'd be more than happy to start the season with Sagna and Clichy as first choice full backs, and Angelino and Maffeo as back ups. Still think Zabaleta and Kolarov could both stay though.

If you'd have said that prior to any pre-season games - i would have been seriously worried, but I now feel the same way.

 

[kaz7]

Adriano just signed for Besiktas, did they lose interest in Kolarov?

 

[MeatHunterrr]

Apparently they only paid 500k £ for Adriano, with incentives to go up to 1.5m £.

Interesting, there were reports while back that City were asking £3m for Kolarov so looks like it was too much then.

 

[TRUE BLUE NO1]

Interesting, there were reports while back that City were asking £3m for Kolarov so looks like it was too much then.

Dont think anyone is willing to pay a fee and match his 90k a week salary and it seems players like Bony, Kolarov would prefer to sit on the bench earning top wages, instead of getting regular 1st team football elsewhere. Going to be interesting to see how we are able to move some of these players on during the summer...

 

[_OVO_]

Angelino and Maffeo along with Tosin impressed me the most so far in the pre-season. With Vinny, Sagna and Hart coming back, and Stones on the way, I am surprisingly not worried about defence anymore.
But I still think one or two out of those will be loaned out.

 

[Dax777]

Apparently they only paid 500k £ for Adriano, with incentives to go up to 1.5m £.

Yeah, I doubt we were asking for that little.

 

[ONTHERUNWITHTHAKSIN]

Dont think anyone is willing to pay a fee and match his 90k a week salary and it seems players like Bony, Kolarov would prefer to sit on the bench earning top wages, instead of getting regular 1st team football elsewhere. Going to be interesting to see how we are able to move some of these players on during the summer...

TBF Bony tried to put a shift in last 2 friendlies

As for full backs I see us going 3 CB at back with alternate back 4 and I agree Clichy, Sagna with Angelino and Maffeo has back up.

 

[Kinkladze 1]

Angelino is ready now. He isnt maldini, no, but he is more than good enough for his age and his tenacity and pace is huge. No worse than bellerin.
Maffeo is already an accomplished defender, and is also good enough.

Angelino and Maffeo aren't ready at all. They're very good prospects being vastly overhyped by all the clappers just like they did with Denayer. Whether they'll make it at our level is anybody's guess.

What CL semi finalist clubs have full backs like Angelino and Maffeo? Fucking none. To get to those final rounds you need a whole lot more that Angelino and Maffeo can CURRENTLY offer. I'm all for giving them a fair crack of the whip. Let's hope they progress but to say they are ready for us now is bollocks.

 

[TRUE BLUE NO1]

TBF Bony tried to put a shift in last 2 friendlies

As for full backs I see us going 3 CB at back with alternate back 4 and I agree Clichy, Sagna with Angelino and Maffeo has back up.

I agree mate..looking more and more like Maffeo/Angelino will have a part to play in the squad this season. Both looked comfortable in the starting 11 during pre-season games and can only improve with game time. Both dont have much experience at top level but maybe Pep feels the upside is worth the risk. As for Bony, he's one of a few that just dont fit. Many of the players we need to move on, still have something to offer a team but Bony would need to offer alot more than "good at holding the ball up" to be successful in a Pep team and sadly... Movement, pressing and finishing have just not been his strengths since arriving.