It's Quiet Thread 15 - Txiki Blinders

[leo_city]

My opinion is he is a good one on one defender, good at reading what the attacker will do. Positionally he struggles. Also my head nearly exploded when it came out that he used to be a winger. With the ball and attacking he is poor.

Yeah he is quite poor on the ball, which is a huge requirement for teams playing out the back these days. He can occasionally dribble past a player or two but then his next deficiency in end product becomes evident. He also lacks physicality, aerial presence or as you mentioned positional awareness on a lot of occasions.

 

[balotelli's back pocket]

I wonder if negotiations on the fee mean that there isn't a release clause?

Of course, they're not quite legally mandatory/enforceable in the same way as in Spain, nor would we ideally like to pay it all upfront. I could see us agreeing to pay slightly more over a longer period of time?

 

[chaddblue]

Just seen James Ducker tweet that after Varane the rags want trippier and a top class DM, the vermin are going all in this summer it seems!

You never know... maybe at some point they'll actually buy a player who improves them

 

[leo_city]

As said you have that with Walker, only the attacking option with Cancelo

I disagree. Walker adds very little to our attack, his numbers going forward speak for themselves, he's also not the best crosser or passer when higher up the pitch. But as I said, that is totally fine. He brings a lot more to compensate with his pace, physicality and positional awareness, helping our build up, and making quick recoveries on counters, or breaking up opposition play otherwise.

 

[mosssideblue]

You never know... maybe at some point they'll actually buy a player who improves them

And if they do, it will only be on paper as Noddy will soon ruin them.

 

[mosssideblue]

I disagree. Walker adds very little to our attack, his numbers going forward speak for themselves, he's also not the best crosser or passer when higher up the pitch. But as I said, that is totally fine. He brings a lot more to compensate with his pace, physicality and positional awareness, helping our build up, and making quick recoveries on counters, or breaking up opposition play otherwise.

Totally agree.

 

[JWT_98]

I'm currently away, so not really looped in, but just to say City and Villa were talking late last night and it sounds like we might be almost be there on the fee and structure for Grealish.

Maybe a matter of hours, rather than days.

 

[leo_city]

Totally agree.

It's really not any shade towards Walker. I am glad he's actually finally getting plaudits for his consistency in performances with both City and England recently. What he does not have in his game can't just be made up can it. I think it's great we have him as an option as well as Cancelo. Gives us a great balance.

 

[Keeper!]

I disagree. Walker adds very little to our attack, his numbers going forward speak for themselves, he's also not the best crosser or passer when higher up the pitch. But as I said, that is totally fine. He brings a lot more to compensate with his pace, physicality and positional awareness, helping our build up, and making quick recoveries on counters, or breaking up opposition play otherwise.

Fair play, I would have him above Cancelo every time, Cancelo good footballer but not a player I want around when the going gets tough.

 

[leo_city]

Fair play, I would have him above Cancelo every time, Cancelo good footballer but not a player I want around when the going gets tough.

Yeah, my original point really was responding to a post about how a full back is shite defensively, and I just pointed out that is the case with most modern full backs today. They are mostly shite defensively, or some can either only defend or attack. There is a lack of complete fullbacks in today's game, probably/maybe because the game has changed a lot. It's one or the other profile. Can't think of many who really excel in both criteria.