Joao Cancelo

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

or he's pulling our dicks knowing we believe what he says

I don't really mind that. it saves me some work.

 

[Franknorgrovesnephew]

I don't really mind that. it saves me some work.

lol

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

Sod Maguire. Really, really want Cancelo. Then I will be a happy bunny for the summer.

Incidentally, I agree that people were a little bit too hard on Walker last season (why is it that people need to exaggerate their judgements into hardened extreme positions that simply don't square with what's going on out on the pitch?). But think how wonderful it will be to have hungry players competing for their position, both at LB and RB, next season.

 

[Tricky_Trev]

Sod Maguire. Really, really want Cancelo. Then I will be a happy bunny for the summer.

I feel like that too. In an ideal world, we’d add Cancelo and a CB, but if we only get one, i’d prefer it to be Cancelo. We can get by with Laporte, Stones, Otamendi, Fernandinho, Garcia, Sandler (if he doesn’t go out on loan). But Cancelo gives us another option, something different to what we currently have.

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

We can get by with Laporte, Stones, Otamendi, Fernandinho, Garcia, Sandler

We sure as as hell can!

 

[DMA's]

I feel like that too. In an ideal world, we’d add Cancelo and a CB, but if we only get one, i’d prefer it to be Cancelo. We can get by with Laporte, Stones, Otamendi, Fernandinho, Garcia, Sandler (if he doesn’t go out on loan). But Cancelo gives us another option, something different to what we currently have.

We haven’t got room in the squad for Sandler. Just worry if Laporte where to get injured we would really struggle.

 

[Mon Autre]

We haven’t got room in the squad for Sandler. Just worry if Laporte where to get injured we would really struggle.

I think outside of Laporte there's a question mark over all of the other options. Stones has been excellent but it seems to come in fits and bursts. I don't think Otamendi is fully trusted there. Garcia and Sandler are largely unproven prospects and I have literally no idea why so many people are keen on using Fernandinho there. One long-term injury to Laporte especially, but also Stones and we won't be in a great position. We turned to Kompany at the end of last season and I think it was his performances that got us over the line, I think we could do with bringing someone in and that is more of a priority to me than a new RB.

 

[MarsLlama]

or he's pulling our dicks knowing we believe what he says

He'd thrive on this forum.

 

[BlueCityfan]

Cancelo is more important than Maguire IMO. Cancelo would add a new attacking outlet on the right flank.

Maguire would just add to the depth IMO. However, it looks like we won't be able to get rid of Danilo.

 

[aguerooooo]

FWIW I think this doesnt need to happen unless we lose Danilo who i rate highly and has never let us down This would therefore just need us to go for CH Cover

 

[daveyboybluemoon]

FWIW I think this doesnt need to happen unless we lose Danilo who i rate highly and has never let us down This would therefore just need us to go for CH Cover

This can not happen unless we sell Danilo (or another overseas play not including Mangala or Sandler) as we have no room for him

 

[razman]

 

[ninjamonkey]

We attack 90% of every game and we can do that because 4 players hold their position at all times and one of those is Walker.

At least somebody realises.

People on here keep talking of cancelo and Angelino flying down the wings, who exactly will be defending when they’re off playing as wingers? We would get sucker punched on the counter so much.

Pep’s mentioned before how he instructs walker to hold his position and not push on like he normally would like to and that’s for two reasons, firstly his pace against the counter is absolutely crucial and he’s also said he prefers the wingers to have as much space as possible to isolate their marker 1v1.

If cancelo comes in, and we’re expecting him to be playing as essentially a winger for the large parts of most games then that’s going to require a big change of style to accommodate the loss of the defensive cover walker provides. A switch to play 3 at the back as some suggest would surely need us to sign at least 2 more centre backs given we currently have just 3 which isn’t even possible with the squad limitations.

 

[Deleted member 81382]

Cancelo is more important than Maguire IMO. Cancelo would add a new attacking outlet on the right flank.

Maguire would just add to the depth IMO. However, it looks like we won't be able to get rid of Danilo.

I don't know how true it is but according to Duncan Castles, we are looking to bring in Cancelo with a view to him becoming the first choice right back. I doubt it would happen immediately because that would be unfair on Walker. However, if Castles is to be believed, we're not just bringing him in to replace Danilo as a squad player, we're bringing him in to improve the first team. Don't think you could say the same about Maguire so I agree, this is the more important transfer.

 

[Mon Autre]

I don't know how true it is but according to Duncan Castles, we are looking to bring in Cancelo with a view to him becoming the first choice right back. I doubt it would happen immediately because that would be unfair on Walker. However, if Castles is to be believed, we're not just bringing him in to replace Danilo as a squad player, we're bringing him in to improve the first team. Don't think you could say the same about Maguire so I agree, this is the more important transfer.

Surely that would be the case. Given Walker's age and his patchy form last season it would be crazy to spend €60m on a RB we don't see as an upgrade on him.

 

[George Hannah]

Surely that would be the case. Given Walker's age and his patchy form last season it would be crazy to spend €60m on a RB we don't see as an upgrade on him.

I think the fact that good RBs are thick on the ground this window has lowered his price.

 

[ctid1894]

At least somebody realises.

People on here keep talking of cancelo and Angelino flying down the wings, who exactly will be defending when they’re off playing as wingers? We would get sucker punched on the counter so much.

Pep’s mentioned before how he instructs walker to hold his position and not push on like he normally would like to and that’s for two reasons, firstly his pace against the counter is absolutely crucial and he’s also said he prefers the wingers to have as much space as possible to isolate their marker 1v1.

If cancelo comes in, and we’re expecting him to be playing as essentially a winger for the large parts of most games then that’s going to require a big change of style to accommodate the loss of the defensive cover walker provides. A switch to play 3 at the back as some suggest would surely need us to sign at least 2 more centre backs given we currently have just 3 which isn’t even possible with the squad limitations.

You’re absolutely correct in terms of the balance of the team and ensuring we’ve got enough cover to protect against counter attacks. Walker does a fantastic job most of the job nullifying those threats the majority of the time and that will absolutely continue as and when we require it.

If Cancelo comes we will have to evolve tactically without a shadow of a doubt to protect ourselves defensively. Personally I think it can be done very simply by one of the #8’s dropping back in alongside Fernandinho/Rodri, not all the time, just when both the fullbacks go forward. We already do it to some extent when Walker goes forward, as the RW ticks into AM and De Bruyne drops into a half and half role essentially covering Walker’s position.

Equally I’m not opposed to a switch to a back three or to 4-2-1-3 for some games to give us more flexibility going forward and defensively, depending on the opposition.

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

This is not quite the subject, but I am utterly bemused by the revisionism that has gone on (on this forum) concerning John Stones for months now. During the Centurions season he was as solid as a rock, and a major part in the success story of that season. Pep rates him as one of the best, if not the best, English centre half of his generation. Vinny picked him over Joleon, Ota, MdM, and Laporte in his best City team of his period here.
I have complete faith that John is one of our central defenders – and England's – for years to come.

 

[Tricky_Trev]

At least somebody realises.

People on here keep talking of cancelo and Angelino flying down the wings, who exactly will be defending when they’re off playing as wingers? We would get sucker punched on the counter so much.

Pep’s mentioned before how he instructs walker to hold his position and not push on like he normally would like to and that’s for two reasons, firstly his pace against the counter is absolutely crucial and he’s also said he prefers the wingers to have as much space as possible to isolate their marker 1v1.

If cancelo comes in, and we’re expecting him to be playing as essentially a winger for the large parts of most games then that’s going to require a big change of style to accommodate the loss of the defensive cover walker provides. A switch to play 3 at the back as some suggest would surely need us to sign at least 2 more centre backs given we currently have just 3 which isn’t even possible with the squad limitations.

It’s absolutely all about balance, but it’s definitely possible to play that way. Think Barca with Dani Alves and Jordi Alba. Busquets dropped so deep at times, so you can imagine Rodri doing similar if we play with offensive fullbacks. It depends on what the opposition are doing too. Against many teams we can play with 7 forward-thinking players and still have balance, because they only have 1 or 2 guys in advanced positions themselves. Our 3 deeper players can handle that (4 players when you consider Ederson basically plays as a sweeper). But against other teams, the balance would be found with a different split between offensive and defensive players.

 

[MarsLlama]

I don't know how true it is but according to Duncan Castles, we are looking to bring in Cancelo with a view to him becoming the first choice right back. I doubt it would happen immediately because that would be unfair on Walker. However, if Castles is to be believed, we're not just bringing him in to replace Danilo as a squad player, we're bringing him in to improve the first team. Don't think you could say the same about Maguire so I agree, this is the more important transfer.

I don't think the club care about being 'fair' to Walker. He's the weak link in our team, the worst in possession, one of the most error-prone. Would he get into 18/20 teams in the league? Yes. Should we settle for him? No.