It's Quiet thread 14 - 'do one' edition

[meeesh]

I am amazed that 15 months after Kompany left we’ve only identified Koulibaly, Carlos and Gimenez as replacements. One is owned by a club we can’t deal with, another is a penalty machine and the 3rd is slow, injury prone and plays in a completely different system. Are there no decent 25-27 year old defenders around in Europe?

So far this window has been utterly underwhelming. We finished miles off Liverpool and went out in the Champions League to an inferior Lyon side. We’ve barely dealt with the issues in the side at the start of last season, still no Kompany replacement but Ake is left sided cover and Ferran replaces Sané.

However we haven’t dealt with the issues we had last season- lack of pace in midfield, one injury prone left back and 3 players who will play there out of position and only 2 forwards one of whom has had regular injury issues. It looks increasingly like we won’t look to address these as Pep is in his final season. The downside is that Pep’s final season may yet be like Pellegrini’s (at least he had new signings in KDB, Sterling, Otamendi and Delph).

I know Covid is a major issue but we’ve had a director of football to avoid issues of succession planning but it looks like next summer we’ll be in even worse shape. New manager, Aguero will need replacing, still need a left back possibly 2 depending on Mendy’s fitness, new midfielder and that’s before any issues become apparent this season. We’re likely to have an older squad in transition comptetitibf wuth Real, rags, Liverpool, PSG in what will probably be a manic post Covid summer transfer window.

For a club that has been well run for the last few years it seems incredibly naive to be crossing our fingers and hoping that Messi will come next summer (spoiler he won’t- it’s this window or not at all).

If I wasn’t depressed enough........league one here we come

Some fair points though,just feels even worse when you read it as you’ve put it

 

[domalino]

The only conspiracy theory here is that you have bigged him up to be the most fantastic young CB there has ever been,because Pep and Enrique say so.

But the debate here is the kid wants to leave Manchester City,that's all that matters on here,nothing angry about it,just a case of moving him on.

I actually don't like him for us, I think in our system, you need legs. I was pumping the breaks when people were getting carried away as I think in the PL he was decent but largely untested.

But I'm smart enough to know that if all the elite coaches who work with him think he's great, and the people who don't are bitter he's chosen to leave, he's probably a very good player.

 

[JimmyGrimble10]

I wish I had your guys' confidence in your scoting ability of a player you've watched 2.5 matches of, truly astonishing how maybe the best defender in la liga this season is now the reincarnation of ragnar klavan

according to some on here, he ain’t even that good. He’d be a quality signing for us, especially considering our high line and his pace and power.

 

[meeesh]

I actually don't like him for us, I think in our system, you need legs.

But I'm smart enough to know that if all the elite coaches who work with him think he's great, and the people who don't are bitter he's chosen to leave, he's probably a very good player.

Yea fair enough that,I’m more arsed over the fact he wants to leave when he’s been being selected pretty regularly,but trust me when I say I’m not bitter,I’ve always been a firm believer that if any player wants out then see you later,problem is I also thought that was Pep’s mantra as well.

But he is painfully slow

 

[domalino]

It's not a conspiracy theory.

“He’s so intelligent. He guides the line incredibly well. A guy who is beloved, I know from his career at Barcelona, every single season he was the captain, nominated by his team-mates. That shows his personality. He doesn’t make mistakes and whatever he has to do, he does it properly. He listens and wants to learn all the time and therefore deserves to play. He communicates with his team-mates and he’s so young, just 19!”

No mention of actual defending.


His 'Beloved' wants to fuck off.

I accept they all rate him & have fast tracked him.

Now you're just being fucking stupid.

Pep cares about the mindset of his defenders. That's why when people slated John Stones, he didn't praise his defending, he praised his balls. If pointing out that a player was loved at their former club is somehow meant to be a red flag to a conspiracy where Garcia is only playing because of his "connections" then you need to stop drinking.

And the fact you've dived into some very old quotes to find evidence of how the conspiracy must be true, really doesn't help you're protestations of accepting some coaches might just rate a player differently.


Lastly, I would say He doesn’t make mistakes and whatever he has to do, he does it properly is about as ringing an endorsement of a defender's ability as you can get.

 

[ninjamonkey]

I wish I had your guys' confidence in your scoting ability of a player you've watched 2.5 matches of, truly astonishing how maybe the best defender in la liga this season is now the reincarnation of ragnar klavan

Most people have only seen him in the Europa myself included, where he was like a parody of Otamendi on a really bad day. Now perhaps they were his worst three games of an otherwise stellar season and 3 games isn’t enough to judge a player but those 3 games were enough to notice traits and characteristics.

he clearly dives in recklessly a lot, you can get away with it in Spain a lot more as proved by Otamendi who was touted as the best cb in la Liga for 2/3 years before we bought him. The guy isn’t a kid, he’s had one noteworthy season in his career so far, it’s not unfair for people to be sceptical

 

[glyntowen]

I am amazed that 15 months after Kompany left we’ve only identified Koulibaly, Carlos and Gimenez as replacements. One is owned by a club we can’t deal with, another is a penalty machine and the 3rd is slow, injury prone and plays in a completely different system. Are there no decent 25-27 year old defenders around in Europe?
SNIP

I actually think it is this, there seems to be a real shortage of tier 1 defenders, if you get one you keep them so the market is now lower quality. I'd put this down to the move from old fashioned defending to ball playing defenders, new stricter laws on tackling and attacking overload preferred by many teams

I'm not thrilled by our options above, think KK is the best of the bunch

 

[bumbleblue]

its still too quiet. i have been working my socks off as that usually when something happens ... it isnt working this time is it?? no imminence on the horizon at all ...???

 

[PragueBlue]

But he is painfully slow

And abysmal in the air. Positioning is suspect as well. Other than that he's ok.

Personally, I was pleased that he didn't want to renew, as I just don't think he is right for us or the PL. Nothing against him at all and hope he does well in Spain.

 

[damrider]

Now perhaps they were his worst three games of an otherwise stellar season

They WERE, though! He's had an incredible season, not just a mediocre or a good one. This is what people fail to realize.

Plus, I think you're exaggerating about how "bad" he was in those matches.