Nice stats mate. However in the two most important games he played against Lyon and Arsenal we shipped 5 goals. I didn’t think he played great in either albeit he was not alone.
And lost the only two that mattered.
City's defence last season was inept. We managed to get 80 plus points because our offensive game and ability to keep the ball was so good, but you can't win much in the game when you are liable to concede a goal to the first serious counter-attackWe conceded 3 goals in the 11 games Laporte played after coming back with 9 clean sheets.
So if that's him not "being the same" I don't care.
For me, a sprint start is absolutely crucial. Almost as important as further signings. It will set the mentality for the season. We were out of it before Xmas last year, psychologically if not mathematically.If no more players come in at the End of the day we still have a group of players who on their day can win this league. Liverpool aside this league aren’t great and with no fans in anfield I can’t see them getting as many points as last few seasons, chelsea have to many no signings to muster a serious challenge.
It’s a two horse race and our games versus the dippers will be crucial
We were well off the pace last season. The main job of this Summer transfer window was to strengthen the defence.Why were they the most important?
Why was Lyon more important than Real? If we'd lost vs. Real you never get to Lyon. And if we'd beaten Lyon, you'd have written that off as a meaningless game and complained we lost to Bayern.
Sounds like you only count losses as the most important games, in which case you'll never be satisfied with any defence.
They're already getting the 'luck'. Their opener against Leeds. Never a pen. Got past VAR.For me, a sprint start is absolutely crucial. Almost as important as further signings. It will set the mentality for the season. We were out of it before Xmas last year, psychologically if not mathematically.
The dippers surely can’t enjoy as much luck this time. Some teams will have worked them out. Get out of the traps fast, remember how to press, Bernardo regains his mojo and we set the stage for Ake/Torres/A N Other to settle quickly. Then there‘s everything to look forward to.
Which we have/are doing.We were well off the pace last season. The main job of this Summer transfer window was to strengthen the defence.
so the next manager doesnt want to play the sysytem Pep does, Pep buys more midfielders to play his false 9 more, next manager wants a bigger mobile centre forward and wants to spunk money on say Kane, we have just wasted millions on players which maybe surplus to requirements and cant get rid of, sort of ties the next guys hands.I don't get the theory that it's Peps last year so let's withhold some funds for the next manager. Surely the next manager will want the best squad possible already in place.
By signing one defender?Which we have/are doing.
We were well off the pace last season. The main job of this Summer transfer window was to strengthen the defence.