James Trafford

[ScottSinclair]

Diogo Costa is another Claudio Bravo in waiting.

I don't rate Costa at all, just want to say that Bravos main problem was his age and the fact he never really got to change the perception of him. He were put under a lot of pressure in a new league at an advanced age behind a backline and a midfield adapting to Pep ball and void of full-backs able to compete. Even then, after that first season I had full confidence in him every time he stepped up as back-up for Eddie.

He was a brilliant goalkeeper in his prime and continued to be so until his 40s in a league he knew after he left us. If we signed him around 2012/2013 I think he would have ousted Hart and become our first-choise for maybe a decade.

Sorry, just a rare Bravo-defence out of nowhere

 

[DJ1]

Blimey, hope this shower of shite can get to 40 points

Like the good old days eh :-)

 

[bluemoon32]

Hopefully he's improved with his feet, he used to be bloody awful

 

[Blue Since 76]

Like the good old days eh :-)

Still feel a relief when we get there, even if it is by January!

 

[DJ1]

Still feel a relief when we get there, even if it is by January!

Yep I feel like I just replaced my springtime relegation fight anxiety with springtime premier league winning anxiety!

 

[ScottSinclair]

Hopefully he's improved with his feet, he used to be bloody awful

When?

 

[Cheadle_hulmeBlue]

Hopefully he's improved with his feet, he used to be bloody awful

Did I watch a different player in our academy? He’s pretty good with his feet

 

[simon23]

Blimey, hope this shower of shite can get to 40 points

No one is saying they are shit and certainly not Sunday league level but if you watched us last year and know anything about football nd take off the blue tinted specs then you know we struggled defensively last year, in particualr against teams that play in transiton quickly (which is where Dias really struggles for a start)

there is a lot ofquestions about our back line

Have we got a proper right back? - No - neither Nunes or Lewis are anywhere near good enough
Are Khusonov and Reis unknowns (in particualr Reis) - yes - Reis in particular hasnt played anywhere near enough competative games to know if he can make it at the very top
Has Ake got a very bad injury record and therefore it is fair to presume that he will pick up injuries that will keep him out for parts of the season - yes
Does Dias struggle playing in a high line - infact without the insurance of Walkers pace does the whole defence struggle with this? - Yes

 

[Matt Diablo]

Want this lad to sign, get his chance, take it, be our no 1 for at least 10 years - big time

 

[bluemoon32]

Did I watch a different player in our academy? He’s pretty good with his feet

Maybe i'm wrong, he looked awkward as fuck to me

 

[CΛL]

I don't rate Costa at all, just want to say that Bravos main problem was his age and the fact he never really got to change the perception of him. He were put under a lot of pressure in a new league at an advanced age behind a backline and a midfield adapting to Pep ball and void of full-backs able to compete. Even then, after that first season I had full confidence in him every time he stepped up as back-up for Eddie.

He was a brilliant goalkeeper in his prime and continued to be so until his 40s in a league he knew after he left us. If we signed him around 2012/2013 I think he would have ousted Hart and become our first-choise for maybe a decade.

Sorry, just a rare Bravo-defence out of nowhere

Not being funny but whilst most of that is true, there’s no defending how bad he was at City, every shot went through him as if he were a ghost

 

[Cheadle_hulmeBlue]

Maybe i'm wrong, he looked awkward as fuck to me

There’s no way pep would be ok with this move if he wasn’t at least decent with his feet though. Surely

 

[bluemoon32]

There’s no way pep would be ok with this move if he wasn’t at least decent with his feet though. Surely

Like i said mate, it's me that's probably wrong

 

[Marvin.]

Like i said mate, it's me that's probably wrong

I remember Burnley's defence getting a lot of stick from playing the ball out of defence. I don't specifically remember Trafford but he was a young player then.

 

[Coatigan]

All depends on Ederson really, We all know Pep won't stand in the way of any player that wants a move.

It's clear that Eddie wants to leave a couple of seasons now, That's why I think he'll leave.

£3m is an absolute joke, I know he's in the final year of his contract but that price is atrocious.

Yeah think people have been too quick to take the 3M rumour for granted.

3m ffs. You can't even buy a couple Oasis tickets for that!

 

[johnny crossan]

Is it only me who is a bit meh about this?

Has Eddie really gone that bad he wants out or he's being told he's off?

Maybe I've not seen enough of the kid Trafford.

Is he any good?

New showreels appearing by the hour

 

[Ajm1985]

Doesn't make any difference. Ederson is still a valuable player (especially under Pep) and he doesn't seem to be itching for a move. Far from being nonsense.

All those factors do make a difference, and yep, his flirtation with Saudi teams last summer and Galatasaray now really do show he's itching for a move.

 

[johnny crossan]

this one is advertising his feet I think

 

[Carrl]

Maybe i'm wrong, he looked awkward as fuck to me

Agree, but I suspect the reason he looks awkward might be because he's tall as fuck.

 

[Berti No Show]

No one is saying they are shit and certainly not Sunday league level but if you watched us last year and know anything about football nd take off the blue tinted specs then you know we struggled defensively last year, in particualr against teams that play in transiton quickly (which is where Dias really struggles for a start)

there is a lot ofquestions about our back line

Have we got a proper right back? - No - neither Nunes or Lewis are anywhere near good enough
Are Khusonov and Reis unknowns (in particualr Reis) - yes - Reis in particular hasnt played anywhere near enough competative games to know if he can make it at the very top
Has Ake got a very bad injury record and therefore it is fair to presume that he will pick up injuries that will keep him out for parts of the season - yes
Does Dias struggle playing in a high line - infact without the insurance of Walkers pace does the whole defence struggle with this? - Yes

I can't help but feel these issues won't be sorted for another 24 months. It's not a quick process as we are in the middle of a rebuild.

Players like Stones, Bernardo, Akanji, Ake, Gundogan and Kovacic will likely be moved on in the next few seasons and we will replace them with younger players. It's not a quick fix at all and I'd rather we didn't rush it and got it bang on the first time around bringing in Plan A targets.