Javi Martinez

[Damien10]

Unflattering for sure. Don't rate him at all,Just my opinion.

 

[schfc6]

Ofc we'll play with highline, it's the only way to compress the space in front and prepare to press/regain the ball quickly. We've just bought B.Silva to play this way.
If you think we'll sit deep and just hit on counters, you're probably forgetting that our coach isn't Mou or Mancini.

I've not forgot anything.

Sane, Jesus, both Silvas, De Bruyne, Sterling all thrive on space.

I agree we won't sit deep as a team and look to counter, Guardiola's whole philosophy is based on getting the key players in as much space possible.

At Barcelona he had incredibly gifted players in tight spaces, ideally suited finding spaces and relying on incredible technique in small spaces. We don't have that in general.

At Bayern he didn't use that system as much.

At City we have amassed some incredibly quick players and ball players ideally suited to them.
To compact the pitch as you are suggesting doesn't make any sense.

The front three will press.
Then the next two will press while YaYa or Martinez or whomever is the pivot will rarely be the wrong side of the ball.

As you say, we certainly won't be like the swamp donkeys and sit on the edge of our box but Guardiola will certainly look to utilise our assets.

 

[Andouble]

any journos back this up as a rumour with substance yet or are we still basing this on the random Liverpool fan on twitter?

 

[Exeter Blue I am here]

We'll have to disagree for now; at least on how we define s l o o o o o o o w :) He's not Usain but he's not some carthorse. Of course, he might not even be a target.

He's a lot closer to a carthorse (in terms of pace) than he is Usain Bolt IMO. No change of gear whatsoever. I'll bow to others in terms of an assessment of his technical abilities, but I would be concerned about buying anyone to play in the whirlwind Prem who's as phenomenally slow as Martinez, no matter how well developed his positional awareness. I'd be interested to know the asking price....

 

[Andrew___K]

At Barcelona he had incredibly gifted players in tight spaces, ideally suited finding spaces and relying on incredible technique in small spaces. We don't have that in general.

At Bayern he didn't use that system as much.

Bayern under Pep always played with highline for the same reasons - to make pressing possible. When the team had the ball, defenders stayed high, the system was totally based on it, be it at Barca or Bayern. The only exceptions were when they deliberately 'deepened' the play on particular occasions to overcome oppo's pressing.

 

[Paulmcfc2703]

It's very harsh to talk about the lack of pace Martinez has.

Whenever he breaks into a jog he ends up on the treatment table for about a month.

If I was him I'd do the same.

 

[Homar]

I'd be nearly as disappointed with him as I would with Carvalho. This is not the calibre of player that is going to elevate the club. He could be a decent "squad player", but I don't think we need any more of those.

 

[Delphacito]

Juve's back three were no 4x100 Jamaican relay team, they were or are an exceptional defence.
Not seen much of Martinez of late, but he's an exceptional player.

I’m being sarcastic mate. Maldini was slow as hell.

 

[Citizen Green]

 

[Andrew___K]