John Stones

[Marvin]

Vinny is constantly injured

He'll have had a Summer of recuperation.

 

[Marvin]

I've a feeling that Kompany is going to be given time to recover so for the first couple of months at least you can discount him. Then you've got Otamendi who has been struggling for consistency, Mangala the same and then Laporte and Stones who don't play for us, with Stones not looking likely to. So I'd say our CB situation is far from ideal as it stands.

Didn't say it was. I said if laporte signs, then Stones looks unlikely.

 

[adrianr]

With Owen and now Neville coming out now saying he a quality player and taking a shot at the media getting on Stones back, have the feeling they paving the way for a move to the scum.

Screams that to me too.

 

[OB1]

So we'd have Kompany, Otamendi, Laporte and Stones. What a waste. And that's assuming Mangala goes.

They can't all play, and you can't rotate central defenders. No one does that.

We have to have four centre backs in the squad; especially given Vinnie's injury problems. A lot depends on whether Denayer is in the squad and whether that is primarily as a CB or RB.

Can't say I'm a fan of rotating centre backs but if the system is well understood and you have a stable core of defenders, you ought to be able to make it work over time. You buy both Stones and Laporte with a long-term view. Whether we will buy one, both or none is something we will have to wait on but I do not think it is at all inconceivable that we would buy both.

 

[flb]

He'll have had a Summer of recuperation.

He still cant be relied on to play 10-15 games on the bounce.

Vinny, Mangala, Otimendi, MDM

or

Vinny, Laporte,Otimendi, Stones


We have had 4 CB's on the books every season for years, so Idont see why we cant have 4 again but of real quality under Pep who has a penchant for playing 3 at the back.

 

[Phil1]

Didn't say it was. I said if laporte signs, then Stones looks unlikely.

No, you was worried about us having too many CBs and them going to waste and you not being happy with rotating. I pointed out that as it stands two don't play for us and one is struggling with injuries.
I added the last bit myself as a general comment.

 

[Marvin]

Besides Manuel pellegrini?

Forced on him. It makes sense in closing weeks of the season when you are playing CL games and then League games. But generally even MP I think would play the same centre-back pairing the majority of games. You have to have cover for injuries but you can't have 4 centre-backs. i wouldn't work. You see what happens to players like Mangala when they are in then out. Savic. Boateng. Every player needs to play regularly to play at their best. And you need progression for young players.

The only way we buy Laporte and Stones is if two centre backs get sold. Or like someone said we play 3 at the back. I don't think we will do that

 

[Marvin]

He still cant be relied on to play 10-15 games on the bounce.

Vinny, Mangala, Otimendi, MDM

or

Vinny, Laporte,Otimendi, Stones


We have had 4 CB's on the books every season for years, so Idont see why we cant have 4 again but of real quality under Pep who has a penchant for playing 3 at the back.

One of which was Demichelis. You can't call on players to step in for injured players if they haven;t been playing.

Squad has to be workable in terms of numbers.

Our entire U16 team will just walk away if we sign player after player. There has to be progression. Khaldoon seems to agree

 

[richards30]

Well obviously Martin has gone, mangala will be sold and vinny is injured? Even when vinny is fit it'll be tender hooks waiting for his next injury? Add to the mix otamendi is rash as fuck and comes in and out of form then Laporte, who is also injured but not fair off full training and stones might not be such a bad idea!

 

[stony]

Barnsley is full of them. The funny talking fuckers.

There are plenty rags but I see more Barnsley shirts knocking about than anything else. I've seen quite a few City shirts too, mostly on kids. There's even a kid on our street who plays football in the road in his City shirt.