20 starts in the prem and 9 in the CL probably tells me he has risen to the level of preferred starter - at say left back - for a side challenging for the PL and CL title.Zin is an OK backup player. If you think he's risen to the level of preferred starter - at say left back - for a side challenging for the PL and CL title - with respect, you are far, far overvaluing Zin's ability.
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The above said - I'd like for us to retain Zin as a backup/utility player. He's got talent - not awesome talent - but OK talent. But what sells me on Zin, is that he never seems to complain and gives his all when on the pitch. He's a team player - and team chemistry is extremely important.
Well thats your opinion, I disagree.>> We have Zinchenko, who is a top level LB now
Huh? Under pressure against a top side, he's a massive weak link. Gives the ball away carelessly - and one-on-one defensively against a RW, I do not trust him at all. With alarming frequency, crosses come in.
>> DM, whilst we have invested a small fortune in Lavia and Rosa, this isn't a priority.
Again, huh? If we played a quality DM we would have won the CL.
No but he certainly didn’t help when we conceded one. I don’t dislike him. Seem a decent bloke and does a decent job, but we should be aiming for better. And pep must agree because we have seen cancelo, ake, Laporte and Mendy all start games there. Only my opinion though.So it was Zinchenko's fault that we failed to score? Strange that.
Name me a realistic signing at left back who is better than Zinchenko and played at an equally high level or higher.>> We have Zinchenko, who is a top level LB now
Huh? Under pressure against a top side, he's a massive weak link. Gives the ball away carelessly - and one-on-one defensively against a RW, I do not trust him at all. With alarming frequency, crosses come in.
Would we? Another huge assumption. I think we'd have been better with Ferna but the idea that we definitely would have won is absurd.>> DM, whilst we have invested a small fortune in Lavia and Rosa, this isn't a priority.
Again, huh? If we played a quality DM we would have won the CL.
Not sure I see that. He does a job but it has costed us on occasions, including the CL final.
Except this is the level he has been playing at for 2 years or more.Zin is an OK backup player. If you think he's risen to the level of preferred starter - at say left back - for a side challenging for the PL and CL title - with respect, you are far, far overvaluing Zin's ability.
Zinchy was out injured for a fair while at one pointNo but he certainly didn’t help when we conceded one. I don’t dislike him. Seem a decent bloke and does a decent job, but we should be aiming for better. And pep must agree because we have seen cancelo, ake, Laporte and Mendy all start games there. Only my opinion though.
Kane
We have Zinchenko, who is a top level LB now (In a Pep team)
DM, whilst we have invested a small fortune in Lavia and Rosa, this isn't a priority.
Taylor Harwood-Belis and Mbete are the very promising prospects at CB.
Grealish. Luxury, yes. Quality, yes.
I think CL gets pinned on Peps selection not Zin to be honestNot sure I see that. He does a job but it has costed us on occasions, including the CL final.
Cheers mate. Thanks for your post.I can't agree with you on Zinchenko. He's an excellent footballer who has excelled in an unfamiliar role. He's young, talented, and determined. Exactly the type of player we want to keep.
I agree that Jack Grealish is a luxury, but so what? If we were short of cash I might be mildly concerned, but we're not.
Your post makes it sound as though we're desperate and the window closes at 11pm tonight.
We could have a new LB or DM lined up to be signed tomorrow for all we know. We may even have another striker on the way!
Sit back, appreciate that we're PL Champions on the verge of signing our top targets at record fees, and enjoy the ride.
As the more relaxed among us say, fuck it, it's not our money!
>> Name me a realistic signing at left back who is better than Zinchenko and played at an equally high level or higher.Name me a realistic signing at left back who is better than Zinchenko and played at an equally high level or higher.
Would we? Another huge assumption. I think we'd have been better with Ferna but the idea that we definitely would have won is absurd.
Ludicrous.Hell, the janitor down the street has higher potential - meaning potential to become a first choice starter - so gifted that were he to come onto the xfer window - top clubs would pursue him as a starter.
PSG, Inter, Lazio, Napoli, Leicester, Porto, Leipzig. Even Barcelona perhaps?Zin is obviously gifted and I really do want him to stay on as a backup. As starter though... no way. Do you really think that any top club - by-in-large - would trade Zin for their current starting LB? I do not - at all.
We had 2 very gifted, fit, defensive midfielders available in Fernandinho and Rodri but Pep chose not to play them.RE no DM in CL.
Who knows. But answer me this. If we did have a very gifted, fit, DM, would Pep have been more likely to field him in the final?
You forgot Diaz, he starts every single game.Ludicrous.
PSG, Inter, Lazio, Napoli, Leicester, Porto, Leipzig. Even Barcelona perhaps?
We had 2 very gifted, fit, defensive midfielders available in Fernandinho and Rodri but Pep chose not to play them.
FWIW I am not saying we shouldn't buy a left back, when we can. Shifting Mendy is the issue there, a player with an unenviable injury history and an extremely enviable pay packet.
Another point, City don't really do starters. Ok, Ederson and KDB are pretty set in stone but everyone else rotates based on form and fitness.
For example, who is our starter at RB? Walker? Does that make Cancelo a back-up? Cancelo is obviously starting quality. If that is the type of "back-up" you mean for Zinchenko then I guess fair enough. He, like 90% of City players, is not going to play every game.
Regardless, unless we get an unexpected offer for Mendy it will by him and Zin next season.
Right now. So did Laporte a year ago.You forgot Diaz, he starts every single game.
Every single point you've made is void with that zinchenko take...unless its a professional piss take, in that case bravo.>> Name me a realistic signing at left back who is better than Zinchenko and played at an equally high level or higher.
Hell, the janitor down the street has higher potential - meaning potential to become a first choice starter - so gifted that were he to come onto the xfer window - top clubs would pursue him as a starter.
Zin is obviously gifted and I really do want him to stay on as a backup. As starter though... no way. Do you really think that any top club - by-in-large - would trade Zin for their current starting LB? I do not - at all.
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RE no DM in CL.
Who knows. But answer me this. If we did have a very gifted, fit, DM, would Pep have been more likely to field him in the final? What might or might not have transpired from there is speculation. The consensus football pundit opinion though is that we'd have been much better off with a DM in the final. And I tend to agree.
You could replace the name Zinchenko with Kolarov in this and it would hit the spot on most points.The thing with Zinchenko is, some people massively undervalue the things he's excellent at, and hugely overstate the areas he's least good at. That and they have a calcified view of his abilities from when he first got into the team and was very much learning the role on the job.
There are few players in the league in any position who are better at taking a pass under pressure and keeping possession, and they all also play at City. He will always show for the ball. His first touch is superb and his passing is exceptional. He also understands how and when to move into more central positions in a way that most career left-backs do not. Luke Shaw could not do what Zinchenko does as well as Zinchenko does it. Neither could Robertson, or Chilwell, or any other "traditional" left backs.
He wins more headers than any of those other players. He makes more interceptions. His pass completion is significantly higher and he is dispossessed less often. He also concedes far fewer fouls than his cohort too.
His only real downsides are that he isn't particularly quick, and he doesn't get many assists. Not much we can do about the first one, although as his positioning keeps improving we don't find ourselves being undone by sheer pace down his flank too often. Not getting assists is more to do with him playing largely as an inverted and/or deeper fullback role and therefore not really getting into crossing position very often compared to someone like Robertson. Also, not really having anyone to cross to a lot of the time.
Would other top clubs want him? Irrelevant if they're not coached by Guardiola. Nobody else is asking fullbacks to play the way Pep does. That said, I think Bielsa would love Zinchenko too.
Yeah people don't seem to appreciate the vastly different things a Pep fullback does to any other. Other managers would look at Zinchenko and see a potentially top midfielder.The thing with Zinchenko is, some people massively undervalue the things he's excellent at, and hugely overstate the areas he's least good at. That and they have a calcified view of his abilities from when he first got into the team and was very much learning the role on the job.
There are few players in the league in any position who are better at taking a pass under pressure and keeping possession, and they all also play at City. He will always show for the ball. His first touch is superb and his passing is exceptional. He also understands how and when to move into more central positions in a way that most career left-backs do not. Luke Shaw could not do what Zinchenko does as well as Zinchenko does it. Neither could Robertson, or Chilwell, or any other "traditional" left backs.
He wins more headers than any of those other players. He makes more interceptions. His pass completion is significantly higher and he is dispossessed less often. He also concedes far fewer fouls than his cohort too.
His only real downsides are that he isn't particularly quick, and he doesn't get many assists. Not much we can do about the first one, although as his positioning keeps improving we don't find ourselves being undone by sheer pace down his flank too often. Not getting assists is more to do with him playing largely as an inverted and/or deeper fullback role and therefore not really getting into crossing position very often compared to someone like Robertson. Also, not really having anyone to cross to a lot of the time.
Would other top clubs want him? Irrelevant if they're not coached by Guardiola. Nobody else is asking fullbacks to play the way Pep does. That said, I think Bielsa would love Zinchenko too.
The thing is, Zin isn't a traditional left sided full back. He's a Pep Guardiola left sided full back. Different animals. .Ludicrous.
PSG, Inter, Lazio, Napoli, Leicester, Porto, Leipzig. Even Barcelona perhaps?
We had 2 very gifted, fit, defensive midfielders available in Fernandinho and Rodri but Pep chose not to play them.
FWIW I am not saying we shouldn't buy a left back, when we can. Shifting Mendy is the issue there, a player with an unenviable injury history and an extremely enviable pay packet.
Another point, City don't really do starters. Ok, Ederson and KDB are pretty set in stone but everyone else rotates based on form and fitness.
For example, who is our starter at RB? Walker? Does that make Cancelo a back-up? Cancelo is obviously starting quality. If that is the type of "back-up" you mean for Zinchenko then I guess fair enough. He, like 90% of City players, is not going to play every game.
Regardless, unless we get an unexpected offer for Mendy it will by him and Zin next season.
You could replace the name Zinchenko with Kolarov in this and it would hit the spot on most points.
I sometimes wonder if some City fans simply don't like Eastern European left backs..