Koulibaly is 29 in June, this is the last Game he played, in early February.
Sané needed a year to adapt
Bernardo needed a year to adapt
Mahrez needed a year to adapt
Cancelo needed a year to adapt
Maybe this is the perfect deal to allow Garcia and Harwood Bellis time to get ready? Personally don’t think we are interested but he would be class and we wanted Bonucci again this summer if possible and he’s 33!
Cant agree more, ticks every box.Laporte didn't need any time to adapt, Fern didn't need any time to adapt, Ederson didn't need any time to adapt.
Instead of just making irrelevant blanket statements if you look at the coaches Koulibaly has played under - Benitez, Sarri, Ancelotti - then he's got loads of experience under top coaches and with Sarri he's played under a coach who has as similar a style of play to Pep's as exists.
In fact if you wanted you couldn't find a coach who put more Pep-like demands on centrebacks, both in possession and out of possession than Sarri at Napoli.
So I doubt he'd need the same period of adaptation.
He's an incredible player, it just comes down to the cost Napoli demand as to whether it's worth it for a player you're only gonna get 4 or 5 years out of.
I think he only started to play on the left when he joined Napoli because Albiol prefered right CB. He's a natural RCB like pretty much all right footed CB'sHe plays on the left where laporte plays. We need someone for the right
Koulibaly is 29 in June, this is the last Game he played, in early February.
Sané needed a year to adapt
Bernardo needed a year to adapt
Mahrez needed a year to adapt
Cancelo needed a year to adapt
We also wanted Maguire too. Above all else for his experience too.Not his best effort. Didn't help he tripped up. However, even Laporte had a shocker agains Spurs in the CL. It happens. Koulibaly is still a good defender. He may be older, but Pep also wanted Bonucci and JFE. His experience is a plus. It all depends on how much Napoli want for him. If we could get him without getting rinsed it would be a good buy.
Everyone who hasn't played for Pep or come out of La Masia would have to adapt to some extent. So no matter who we buy basically. Laporte is an exceptional freak.
Dinho is an extremely short-term partner for Laporte. He'll only be here 1 more year along with Otamendi. So we'll have 2 CB's go soon. Koulibaly would have a few years at least. If like I said, you can get Koulibaly at a reasonable price, pull the deal because you don't know if you could get another decent CB in the future for a good price.We also wanted Maguire too. Above all else for his experience too.
But those were in the past. Our situation and needs are different this time.
We have an old Player who Pep seems to trust to be the short-term starting partner to Laporte: Fernandinho
Therefore our true priority should be a Long term back up to Laporte.
Because we could play 3ATB and have Laporte be in the middle, If the Left sided CB is as good as the Laporte, then for the RCB Spot we have many different options already(and their quality should not cause too much of a problem)
Dinho is an extremely short-term partner for Laporte. He'll only be here 1 more year along with Otamendi. So we'll have 2 CB's go soon. Koulibaly would have a few years at least. If like I said, you can get Koulibaly at a reasonable price, pull the deal because you don't know if you could get another decent CB in the future for a good price.
The problem has been when Laporte was out, the CB partnership no matter who it was, was worrying. We should look for a young promising CB, but on top of Koulibaly. A young CB most likely will have growing pains so if Laporte was out again and they were paired with, take your pick, it would still be a problem. There's no telling how good a young CB might turn out.
Maybe peps thinking 3 centre backs like the ajax team used to play laporte ,koulibaly ,rodrigo , or stonesHe plays on the left where laporte plays. We need someone for the right
Eric Garcia is ready, signing a new RCB partner for Laporte will see Garcia walk away this summer or in January and who could blame him. I would leave in his position too because he's not put a foot wrong when he's been given limited opportunities and has more than earned his chance to prove he's the long term partner for Laporte.
The one and only reason people are advocating buying a new RCB is because he's only 19, it's certainly not on ability or the maturity he's shown on and off the pitch. Players who are that good do not stay around waiting for an opportunity, not when they're guaranteed it elsewhere, just look at Sancho. Phil Foden if he wasn't a blue would probably have walked away too, if he's not getting regular starts in the league and Champions League (if we're in it) next season, he will probably end up leaving in the not too distant future as well. He's actually being loyal to the point it might have an adverse effect on his development, he needs to play games and now, not in another 2-3 years time.
I am usually against another expensive CB signing but this kid looks like a special talent. To have his CV at 19 years old is incredible, don’t think there is any better in history at a similar age.
Van Gaal has a point, would look great with Laporte. Stones can compete.
Less than a year ago you were more than happy to suggest signing a 19 year old De Ligt as Laporte's partner, the same age as Garcia is now. He played in and captained a poor Ajax team to the Champions League semi-final. There's absolutely no reason why Garcia couldn't play a similar role with more experienced players around him, none whatsoever.Yes he’s ready to play but not ready to be a starter for a team trying to win the Champions League and Premier League again. CB is a position that favors experience. You just can’t be the best in the world at 19.
Would I want to see Garcia against Liverpool or even Real’s front 3?? No I wouldn’t and neither would most fans.
Koulibaly would no way block Garcia’s development. The players blocking it are Otamendi and Stones. The 3rd or 4th choice CBs.
Would I want to see Garcia against Liverpool or even Real’s front 3?? No I wouldn’t and neither would most fans.
1 year of Fernandinho Is exactly what we need.
Kyle Walker is also a player that is very experienced in a 3ATB system.
Pep has said that 3ATB is a system that we will start using more often, so playing 2 Left footed CB is possible.
What we need in the market is a CB that will be a Perfect Partner to Laporte AND also eventually become his replacement.
Therefore a YOUNG Left footed CB with the Potential to be considered as a good as Laporte.
Laporte has spent 90% of his Man City career partnered with either John Stones or Nicolas Otamendi.
Having a Left-Footed CB is a Major Factor in the way Pep wants the CB to play. A right footed player just CANNOT do the same things.
Less than a year ago you were more than happy to suggest signing a 19 year old De Ligt as Laporte's partner, the same age as Garcia is now. He played in and captained a poor Ajax team to the Champions League semi-final. There's absolutely no reason why Garcia couldn't play a similar role with more experienced players around him, none whatsoever.
We will have De Bruyne as captain, we also have Aguero and Fernandinho who regularly captain the team, as well as Laporte, Bernardo and Sterling probably joining them in the leadership group as and when required.
As for your other point, yes I would. I would be more than happy to have Garcia playing against Liverpool or Real Madrid's front three, he's more than good enough to not only hold his own but flourish against anybody.