Inigo Martinez

Not a bad choice if were playing 3 at the back I guess. As his height wouldn't be able to be exploited, He's taller than Azpilicueta who was arguably the best CB in the league last season.
 
01cravend said:
Not a bad choice if were playing 3 at the back I guess. As his height wouldn't be able to be exploited, He's taller than Azpilicueta who was arguably the best CB in the league last season.
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His height (a whole 1/2 inch shorter than Otamendi) isn't going to be exploited anyway with our high line, and at set pieces we have loads of height now.
 
Johnny_on said:
I'm not sure what your point is. Gabriel Jesus, DeBruyne, Mendy, Walker, Sane, Bernardo opportunistic? Sounds like we've done a good job as you had to go back 3 years to find one that didn't work out :-)
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My point was purely that centre backs have not been the strong point of the scouting team, we have brought in at least one per year ever since the take over and by a margin the only one that has fully worked was Demichelis, who Pellegrini knew well.
We have scouted some great players but so far centre backs have not really worked.
(I am certainly not writing off or condemning Stones but so far you would have to say not proven)
 
Cityfan said:
My point was purely that centre backs have not been the strong point of the scouting team, we have brought in at least one per year ever since the take over and by a margin the only one that has fully worked was Demichelis, who Pellegrini knew well.
We have scouted some great players but so far centre backs have not really worked.
(I am certainly not writing off or condemning Stones but so far you would have to say not proven)
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Maybe... but still think its a bit harsh.

Stones and Otamendi are both fine for me... A lot of CB's would struggle in our formation, its really open.

Overpriced for both? probably, but performance wise I think they are ok considering how much they get exposed.

I guess we'll find out this season, but they should have more protection this year, so I wouldn't be surprised if both look great with that extra covering pace next to them.
 
Johnny_on said:
Maybe... but still think its a bit harsh.

Stones and Otamendi are both fine for me... A lot of CB's would struggle in our formation, its really open.

Overpriced for both? probably, but performance wise I think they are ok considering how much they get exposed.

I guess we'll find out this season, but they should have more protection this year, so I wouldn't be surprised if both look great with that extra covering pace next to them.
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That's the very reason we need exceptional cbs imo.

Someone like Otamendi would have no problem in Mourinho's bus parkers.

It's in a wide open system where he's going to be tested. And that's why the rags back in their footballing days, went for people with pace like Staam & Ferdinand.
 
Neville Kneville said:
That's the very reason we need exceptional cbs imo.

Someone like Otamendi would have no problem in Mourinho's bus parkers.

It's in a wide open system where he's going to be tested. And that's why the rags back in their footballing days, went for people with pace like Staam & Ferdinand.
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True, although I really don't think they will be as exposed next year, could be wrong.

If it is going to be like last year then we should have gone for VvD.
 
Johnny_on said:
Maybe... but still think its a bit harsh.

Stones and Otamendi are both fine for me... A lot of CB's would struggle in our formation, its really open.

Overpriced for both? probably, but performance wise I think they are ok considering how much they get exposed.

I guess we'll find out this season, but they should have more protection this year, so I wouldn't be surprised if both look great with that extra covering pace next to them.
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I'm not really slating the scouting team more pointing out that our centre back purchases have not been their strongest feature.
Considering the money spent how do Toure, Lescott, Boateng(for us), Savic, Nastasic, Mangala, Otamendi &Stones compare with the best which is what we are trying to get.
 
Cityfan said:
I'm not really slating the scouting team more pointing out that our centre back purchases have not been their strongest feature.
Considering the money spent how do Toure, Lescott, Boateng(for us), Savic, Nastasic, Mangala, Otamendi &Stones compare with the best which is what we are trying to get.
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I'd look at our goals conceded columns for those seasons and i bet there aren't many better.

We attack, with a lot of players. Yet we don't concede many. I'd say that the defence was doing a pretty good job all in all (Fullbacks last season were a liability but thats sorted now).

A lot of the players that would come under the 'best' are protected by the formation, think of how defensive Juve are... It wasn't a given that someone like Bonucci wouldn't have got exposed for us.
 
Johnny_on said:
I'd look at our goals conceded columns for those seasons and i bet there aren't many better.

We attack, with a lot of players. Yet we don't concede many. I'd say that the defence was doing a pretty good job all in all (Fullbacks last season were a liability but thats sorted now).

A lot of the players that would come under the 'best' are protected by the formation, think of how defensive Juve are... It wasn't a given that someone like Bonucci wouldn't have got exposed for us.
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Well we've certainly felt the need to buy replacements every season, which has not been the case for other positions which kind of suggests the managers have been less than enthusiastic about them.
 
Cityfan said:
Well we've certainly felt the need to buy replacements every season, which has not been the case for other positions which kind of suggests the managers have been less than enthusiastic about them.
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I'm pretty sure we shouldn't still have Demichelis, Toure and Lescott in the squad. So all should be gone...

Boateng and Savic have had good careers since leaving. So either bad decisions to let them leave.... or not managers choice.

Which leaves only Mangala and Nastasic. Both who are ok, but not horrendous (Mangala is more the price we paid).

Its really not as bad as some blues make out.

Martinez, plus maybe keeping Tosin around and i'm happy with the centre back options.

I think we'll concede less than last year and score loads more.... We'll be fine.
 
raghavk said:
Walker and Danilo/Mendy?
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Walker 6'1'' replaces Zabba 5' 10''

Mendy 6' 2'' replaces Clichy 5' 9''

Danilo 6' 0'' replaces Sagna 5' 9''

It's possible next season we could put out a team where 8/11 players are 6ft+ :

352 - Ederson; Otamendi, Kompany, Stones; Walker, Silva, KDB, Yaya, Mendy; Sané, Aguero.
 
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Johnny_on said:
I'm pretty sure we shouldn't still have Demichelis, Toure and Lescott in the squad. So all should be gone...

Boateng and Savic have had good careers since leaving. So either bad decisions to let them leave.... or not managers choice.

Which leaves only Mangala and Nastasic. Both who are ok, but not horrendous (Mangala is more the price we paid).

Its really not as bad as some blues make out.

This guy, plus maybe keeping Tosin around and i'm happy with the centre back options.
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I'm not saying they are awful but compared with other positions it is hard to say we have recruited quality for the money spent.
I'm hoping the next one is good can't say I know much about him though.
 
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