Javi Garcia

[decmancity]

All these stats being quoted about Garcia's passing accuracy being above 90%, number of passes, etc, hardly surprising when he immediately offloads a short pass as soon as he gets it and either plays it square or back to the nearest team mate about 12 feet away!!
He doesn't seem to me to have any confidence on the ball bringing it forward.
Milner and Barry in the centre of midfield should be first choice for me while Yaya is away.

He is growing into the league and the team, he has shown a few glimpses he will go forward with the ball so he just needs some more confidence and time on the pitch!

He has shown a few times also he can pass the ball long, one of his main attributes is his good range of passing. It's mentioned all over the internet and if you watch some of his games from when he was at Benfica.

 

[the talisman]

Martin Jol seems to think he's OK.........

"And the problem we had was that, if you look at Javi Garcia and Gareth Barry, City's midfield is so physically strong."

Surely we've learned by now to judge these players in their 2nd season, he's already miles better than when he got here.

 

[Golden Balls]

I think that what is missing here is the fact that last week he was applauded and looked the player expected of him. This week he didn't have the luxury of playing against 10 men...and struggled again.

I'd play Milner and Barry in midfield. Garcia would never get a look-in at any other top 6 premier league club.

 

[Paul11/12]

All these stats being quoted about Garcia's passing accuracy being above 90%, number of passes, etc, hardly surprising when he immediately offloads a short pass as soon as he gets it and either plays it square or back to the nearest team mate about 12 feet away!!
He doesn't seem to me to have any confidence on the ball bringing it forward.
Milner and Barry in the centre of midfield should be first choice for me while Yaya is away.

When we played Barry and Yaya we had two players bringing the ball forwards and we were nowhere near as solid defensively as we are with Garcia.

People have different priorities in football but personally I'm delighted to see a strong and tactically aware player like Javi drop back and look to nullify any counters (which are our achilles heel). His passing is very safe and uninspiring (I posted the stats as people say he can't pass to his team mates most of the time - clearly untrue) and more than likely that's exactly what Mancini wants.

What part of his job is Garcia actually bad at?

He's bad at running quickly! Yesterday against a hardworking but ultimately poor Fulham side he made 1 tackle which was penalized(wrongly IMO) every time he gets beaten for pace he tugs,pulls or trips "taking 1 for the team, but ultimately if a holding MF player is not too quick, he should read the game well, and he doesn't.

 

[teddykgb]

All these stats being quoted about Garcia's passing accuracy being above 90%, number of passes, etc, hardly surprising when he immediately offloads a short pass as soon as he gets it and either plays it square or back to the nearest team mate about 12 feet away!!
He doesn't seem to me to have any confidence on the ball bringing it forward.
Milner and Barry in the centre of midfield should be first choice for me while Yaya is away.

This I really agree with. I can't say for sure whether Garcia has been extremely helpful and I just haven't seen it, but one thing I definitely do see is that Garcia has been outright terrified of the ball in his limited time at City. He's playing ultra simple square balls all over the place. Especially when paired with Yaya, but even in these last few without him. Now, he's a DM, so that's generally probably even the smart play, but unlike Barry, as an example, he's a bit shy to show for the ball when someone needs him to and when he does get it he's often playing the simple pass back into trouble. He really seems incredibly uncomfortable on the ball and it just trying to be rid of it as quickly as possible. We need much more dynamism in this role, again just in my opinion.

 

[Matt the Giant]

Even the greatest teams on earth who has won everything there is to win, did so, and do so, with "good enough" players in various positions. To expect superstars in every position is just not realistic.

ManUre has won a heck of a lot with players we call shit, and so has Chelsea. Even the great Barcelona has played with less than fantastic players in the team and still won everything.

Garcia though, isn't shit and he does his job good enough. Sure, he could be faster, but he's not. So what?

Kun could be more clinical.
Edin could have a better first touch
Kompany could be a better passer.
Hart could be far better in the air and with his distribution.
Zabaleta and Clichy could both be better crossers of the ball.
Barry could be quicker.
Balotelli could be at AC Milan.

But in spite of this we are the current champions and we are doing very well. I do no not for a second think our sqaud is inferior in any way and Garcia is good enough to do the job which is asked of him.

 

[NQCitizen]

All these stats being quoted about Garcia's passing accuracy being above 90%, number of passes, etc, hardly surprising when he immediately offloads a short pass as soon as he gets it and either plays it square or back to the nearest team mate about 12 feet away!!
He doesn't seem to me to have any confidence on the ball bringing it forward.
Milner and Barry in the centre of midfield should be first choice for me while Yaya is away.

When we played Barry and Yaya we had two players bringing the ball forwards and we were nowhere near as solid defensively as we are with Garcia.

People have different priorities in football but personally I'm delighted to see a strong and tactically aware player like Javi drop back and look to nullify any counters (which are our achilles heel). His passing is very safe and uninspiring (I posted the stats as people say he can't pass to his team mates most of the time - clearly untrue) and more than likely that's exactly what Mancini wants.

What part of his job is Garcia actually bad at?

He's bad at running quickly! Yesterday against a hardworking but ultimately poor Fulham side he made 1 tackle which was penalized(wrongly IMO) every time he gets beaten for pace he tugs,pulls or trips "taking 1 for the team, but ultimately if a holding MF player is not too quick, he should read the game well, and he doesn't.

So if we are back purely to pace - name a fast defensive midfielder?

If he was a tiny dynamo he'd be terrible in the air. Short of spending 30mil you won't find a complete midfielder. You have to let them grow into a team. Look how Barry, Zab and Kompany improved.

 

[Hamann Pineapple]

I think that what is missing here is the fact that last week he was applauded and looked the player expected of him. This week he didn't have the luxury of playing against 10 men...and struggled again.

I'd play Milner and Barry in midfield. Garcia would never get a look-in at any other top 6 premier league club.

Who would you rather have ? Garcia or Cleverley ?

 

[johnny crossan]

Balotelli could be at AC Milan.

this is just too unkind

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpfyh0i0A1g[/youtube]

 

[Matt the Giant]

Balotelli could be at AC Milan.

this is just too unkind

Could you ever forgive me?? :)