Have we had a proper centre back since Kompany?

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

Because he isn't playing particularly well at the moment — and he's got an undeniable tendency to injury — people are a bit quick to forget the Rúben was absolutely huge in his first two seasons. And with John Stones, in the treble season, I consider that centre-half pairing to have been the best that City's ever had.
I personally had never heard of him before he came, so it was all the better as a surprise.

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

We haven't had one since Dave Ewing 'n Bill Leivers retired - early sixties.

 

[thegoatsthegoat]

Because he isn't playing particularly well at the moment — and he's got an undeniable tendency to injury — people are a bit quick to forget the Rúben was absolutely huge in his first two seasons. And with John Stones, in the treble season, I consider that centre-half pairing to have been the best that City's ever had.
I personally had never heard of him before he came, so it was all the better as a surprise.

Dias poor form over the last couple have years is the reason he isn't spoken about to the level of others. He was class them first couple of years but if you follow that up with being shite then you will always get mixed reviews. Stones being right back for important games of that run in would make me lean away from them being the best partnership but it has to be up there considering the achievements of that season.

I am hoping Khusa is the next proper, leading centre half.

 

[Exeter Blue I am here]

Stones and Laporte. Both excellent

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

He was class them first couple of years but if you follow that up with being shite then you will always get mixed reviews. S

Well I wouldn't say he was “shite” after that. Far from it.

I am hoping Khusa is the next proper, leading centre half.

We can agree on that.

 

[Bobby the blue]

What’s with the re-writing of history.
Kompany was a good defender but also injured a hell if a lot.

Laporte was immense and carried us to the title a few years back.
Dias was a fantastic and hopefully can get back there.
Stones is a proper centre half and has come back when his time at city looked all but done.

I know the play isn’t great at the moment but constantly looking back and comparing the current crop to kompany/sterling and yaya won’t get us anywhere.

Time to back the current lot and see us through this period of football turbulence.

 

[SamTheGuru]

He was signed as a DM, then became a full time CB

Throughout his entire career I always thought he would return to DM. Instead he ended up becoming a sweeper.

 

[Scaring Europe to Death]

We've won the CL and 4 PL Titles since Kompany left so we must have had somebody who was half decent

 

[Bentheblue]

Stones and Laporte. Both excellent

I feel Laporte is underrated. Joined in the winter of the 100 point season and was a regular of the Fourmidables team. Chipped in with a few goals.

 

[Exeter Blue I am here]

I feel Laporte is underrated. Joined in the winter of the 100 point season and was a regular of the Fourmidables team. Chipped in with a few goals.

I’ll never understand why we sold him. He carried us to the title in 2019. He was the only bugger who was ever fit on that run in

 

[Brightwell Bros.]

What’s with the re-writing of history.
Kompany was a good defender but also injured a hell if a lot.

Laporte was immense and carried us to the title a few years back.
Dias was a fantastic and hopefully can get back there.
Stones is a proper centre half and has come back when his time at city looked all but done.

I know the play isn’t great at the moment but constantly looking back and comparing the current crop to kompany/sterling and yaya won’t get us anywhere.

Time to back the current lot and see us through this period of football turbulence.

I got into a weird chat on here that started with "Vinny wouldn't have lost to Spurs" and when I pointed out his not particularly great record against Spurs, including a pretty atrocious collapse that he was at the centre of, they accused me of calling him shit.

I love some of these old players, but we are now talking about them as legendary figures in hushed tones. Nostalgia is nice in small doses, but it can rot you from the inside. Just look at United.

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

What’s with the re-writing of history.
Kompany was a good defender but also injured a hell if a lot.

Laporte was immense and carried us to the title a few years back.
Dias was a fantastic and hopefully can get back there.
Stones is a proper centre half and has come back when his time at city looked all but done.

I know the play isn’t great at the moment but constantly looking back and comparing the current crop to kompany/sterling and yaya won’t get us anywhere.

Time to back the current lot and see us through this period of football turbulence.

Oh stop being so balanced and sensible!

 

[Semper aggressus]

Stones and Gvardiol.

Dias for one season. Needs to get his act together.

 

[Le Havre Oswald]

Like saying have we had an out and out goal scorer since Aguero left

 

[balotellishaircut]

I blame Doku for our lack of defensive solidarity.

 

[jaiguruKun]

It's a bit of a silly question for obvious reasons. You don't win what we have without great defenders.

Dias was absolutely brilliant in 20/21 (arguably on a par on Kompany) but has steadily declined since.

The 20-23 side managed to do something Kompany never did, get us to two CL finals and then win the damned thing!

 

[Bentheblue]

I’ll never understand why we sold him. He carried us to the title in 2019. He was the only bugger who was ever fit on that run in

I glad you mentioned that as I recall him carrying us to one of the titles but there have been so many I couldn’t remember which one.

 

[CΛL]

Had this convo in the stones England thread. Not a proper centre half for me stonesy. Top class but leagues away from a kompany

He’s a player you play alongside a leader at the back, Dias is that for us now but it’s suicidal to play them both at the same time these days

 

[Salford in the City]

Not had any with the combination of strength, power, and leadership skills which Vinny had in abundance.

 

[Brightwell Bros.]

I’ll never understand why we sold him. He carried us to the title in 2019. He was the only bugger who was ever fit on that run in

I think him and Sterling took the blame for Lyon in Pep's mind and he never really trusted them again.