Is left back really a problem?

Dribble said:
I've already explained why we failed to keep Laporté in particular happy last season. We generally setup with Dias & A Nother, usually Stones. My point is this, if we had 4 equally good CB's & they shared the playing load equally, what's the problem?

Laporté was pissed because Dias & Stones were generally selected, & when Laporté was used, it was in a distinctly second string side. Laporté probably believes he's better than that & wants to play in the top matches.

If we were to play PSG in the CL & he was on the bench, but the following weekend started against the Rags in the Derby, both are huge matches, so he couldn't moan. If he was then selected in the CL PSG return the following week, & benched for the PL match vs Chelsea the following weekend, he's equally shared 50% of our major matches with the other CB's. That's the level of squad I'd love us to have.

I get why Silva is unhappy. As I stated a few days ago we went on a 7 match (I think) winning run in the PL. Up comes the Derby & a not match fit KDB is immediately selected & Silva dropped to the bench. Silva was on a hot streak of form, & KDB was as rusty as fuck.

I could sense from that day that Silva probably thought he was always gonna be playing second fiddle to Gundog & KDB regardless of how he played. I thought playing KDB in that match was a mistake, & so it proved as we were shit & KDB was badly out of sorts. That decision was on Pep & not one I would have made.

We can easily have two almost equally as good teams to share the load over 4 competitions throughout the season. However, that ain't gonna happen with the drop in quality between Dias & Aké, or Zin & Mendy.

Cancelo can play LB, but he's a better RB. Zin has earned his LB spot through hard graft, endeavour & skill. What I & many fans believe is that we need a proper specialist LB to share the load with Zin, & increase the quality of our squad's gene pool. All this square pegs in round holes to me is utter bollocks & unnecessary. We had the same at CB 2 seasons ago with some fans famously saying 'Play Fern there, Rodri or Harewood Bellis' & we'll be fine. Look how the square pegs in round holes ended up that season? :-|

With what I've suggested, we'd be infinitely stronger, we'd put less playing stress on our squad, & I'm pretty sure our players would accept playing 30+ top class games each for City per season, rather than some playing 50+, plus internationals, & others barely scraping 20.

Pep is continually lamenting that top class players are being burned out being expected to play so many top class matches. This is one way to better our squad, & help save our players physically. Sorry if this doesn't make sense to you, but it makes utter sense to me, as it's what Pep, Txiki & Soriano have always said was our ultimate goal. We've just got to share that load better so that all our players feel fully involved across the season.

OK, only 11 can start a CL final, but another 11 can start an FA Cup final, or the pivotal game to secure a title. That will never happen when we have such a serious drop off in performance when the likes of Mendy & Aké play. We're literally a top striker, top LB, CB & a CDM short of achieving that for next season. )(
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I am a big fan of Laporte, but last year was a shadow of his former self, not looked the same since his injury.

Although he looks something back to his best with his Spain performances and solid games with us.

It would be a huge blow to lose him , the drop down in quality to Ake is huge and Sandler untried, although clearly rated and talented.
 
Keeper! said:
It would be a huge blow to lose him , the drop down in quality to Ake is huge and Sandler untried, although clearly rated and talented.
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He's 24 and he's played 46 professional games in his career, 33 of them before he even came to Man City. Since joining, he's managed 2 games for us and 11 in the Belgium. I know he missed a season through injury, but I'm not sure how rated he is, to be honest.
 
Mendy will get sacked so opens up a spot in the squad for a LB? Offer Porro and £35m for Nuno Mendes and we are sorted at LB for years to come!
 
richards30 said:
Mendy will get sacked so opens up a spot in the squad for a LB? Offer Porro and £35m for Nuno Mendes and we are sorted at LB for years to come!
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I'v got a feeling they would fleece us for a hell of a lot more than that, would be our cheapest signing from Portugal with that figure
 
Well there is a chance we'll know today if we have another free space in the squad, depending on what transpires at crown court later. I'd imagine that whatever happens we'll be a man down at left back.

Whether that spot goes to Ronaldo, Kayky or a new LB, if any, remains to be seen.
 
Might be a bizarre question, but do clubs have insurance against losing players in unforseen circumstances like these? I know injuries will be, but paying out £50M on an asset surely must have cover for other eventualities.
 
bluetonium said:
Well there is a chance we'll know today if we have another free space in the squad, depending on what transpires at crown court later. I'd imagine that whatever happens we'll be a man down at left back.

Whether that spot goes to Ronaldo, Kayky or a new LB, if any, remains to be seen.
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He's at the Magistrates court today where (presumably) he'll be bailed to appear at Crown Court at a later date. Given the backlog that could be a good while down the line.

City have suspended him pending the investigation and I can't see him coming back to the club until it's settled one way or the other.

Have we put a CL squad list in yet?
 
Citizen of Legoland said:
Might be a bizarre question, but do clubs have insurance against losing players in unforseen circumstances like these? I know injuries will be, but paying out £50M on an asset surely must have cover for other eventualities.
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Self inflicted, no chance any insurance company pays out in this case, let alone insures you for it in the first place.
 
GoatersLeftShin said:
Maxwel Cornet: Burnley have £15m offer accepted for Lyon player

Looks like Burnley are going to sign the Lyon left back for £15m. I thought Lyon were a very decent side when we played them and I'm sure he scored against us. If I remember correctly he was very quick as well.

Why aren't we all over this? This lad is FAR, FAR better than Mendy and if we were thinking of spending £10m on the Fulham lad, this seems an absolute no-brainer to me.

I would see this as an absolute no brainer. We need a lad who can play left back, he's quick, gets forward well and has CL experience.

I'd offer them Mendy in return as well as he might be decent in the French league and if he playing for Lyon, he might see it as a good move. Of course, we'd have to tip up plenty for his wages. If it means no more Mendy and a good player in return we should hijack this transfer.

No way do you swap Lyon to live in Burnley and having Dyche tell you to launch it every 2 minutes and be happy.
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Good player is Cornet. He'd link up well with Mr Whippy.
 
So he is in jail until Sept 10th at the erliest and in reality he is unlikely to be out anytime soon as this is going to drag on right through the season.

Legally - the club will have to keep quiet until there is a verdict in the trial and if he is guilty that is the time to terminate the contract. That said I would assume that the club will leave him off the squad lists as there is never a guarantee that any player gets on it.
 
jaiguruKun said:
The fact he's in police custody means absolutely nothing about the strength of the case and no serving or ex police officer worth listening to would comment on live criminal proceedings in this way. Mods should be cracking down on this sort of talk.
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No serving officer would comment-but objectively being charged with numerous very serious offences, being kept for court and being remanded in custody..I'd say there was very definitely a strong case.
 
He has also been charged with breaching the conditions of his original police bail from November by having more than four people present at his home earlier this week, on the night when the latest rape allegation was made
 
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