Kalidou Koulibaly

[Tugay One Cup]

Now being linked with the dippers on daily mail

Yeah those rumours have been around for ages.

 

[Rammy Blue]

Everyone sugesting 20-25 mill need to realise the actual market, we got that for Brahim near the end of his contract. We have also been quoted around 50 Mill for Baston from Inter who is young, inexperienced and 3rd choice.

Ok, I’ll have an internet bet with you, lol, that if we sell him it’s nearer £25mil than £50mil.

We are the worst player selling club there has ever been.

 

[Rammy Blue]

the key word is reserve

if we get some a decent centre half this summer we wont need him to play there....

he is still the best option in midfield (over Gundogan and Rodri)

Pep won’t play him there any more, why can’t you get your head around that fact.

 

[skiddypants]

Haha, first sign of old age!!

Chilwell, not Richard Cresswell:)

My first sign was being able to took my balls in my socks!

 

[omri]

koulibaly.
alaba+thiago from sane trade.

perfect window.

 

[City Raider]

We won 14 games in a row last season with Gundogan in DM. It was not only a winning run but defensively we were immense during this period, barely conceding. I like Gundogan but he's hardly the most mobile. It was around this period Kompany started featuring more frequently.

I'd argue it's the lack of a super solid defence (primarily due to issues at CB) that's caused difficulties for our DMs, not the other way around. We had similar problems in DM during 16/17 which was remedied going into 17/18 by improving our FB and GK situation at the time.

There’s no doubt Pep’s style is so aggressive that whoever we put in those 3 key roles, it’s a huge ask of them as Kompany often said.

There’s no doubt we need a quality CB.

There’s no doubt Ferna no longer has the legs to play DM and we need a long term replacement.

There is some doubt that should be Rodri.

 

[Tb1981]

Alaba doesn't fancy it apparently, even with Bayern proposing it.

City have been open to it. Still think there might be some talking round.

Havertz is the other one we would love to do.

Koulibaly, Havertz and Alaba would be the stuff of legend.

You’ll know better than me but I reckon if the ban is overturned pep will extend fairly soon after and some big targets will probably be more receptive to coming

 

[Prophet of Doom]

I think some people need a reality check on here regarding our summer targets. There are many reasons we will find the market very difficult this Summer ( and we have found very difficult for the last 2 years ).

CAS hearing and potential catastrophic outcome
Pep in final year of contract and no chance another is being signed
Unable to close major deals for 2 1/2 years except where buy out clause or no competition
Had rings run round us by other Owners and Chairman
More attractive options with other elite teams
Seem unwilling to match financial packages offered elsewhere / or too principled to enter auctions

We should not be going anywhere near negotiations with De Laurentis and what happened with Jorginho.

Havertz can pick the club he wants to go to. We have seen several times that when this is the case we lose out.

Lets get the hearing out of the way then try to come up with some realistic targets that will want to join. Maybe COVID will put us in a good position financially compared to others, but the wrong decision at CAS could ruin the club in the short term.

 

[Colin Bells Boots]

You’ll know better than me but I reckon if the ban is overturned pep will extend fairly soon after and some big targets will probably be more receptive to coming

I would guess that is what most of us are really hoping for. We are currently in a state of suspense and in need of some positivity .

 

[Dobsy]

If we are really interested in Koulibaly and get shafted by Napoli to pay 80m+
it would only show how desperate we are to finally get a proper CB partner for Laporte.

50m maybe, not 80+.
Depends on what we get for possible leavings.

Koulibaly/van Dijk in red would be a shocker though.

Pretty sure Liverpool will have other priorities. Joe Gomez and Matip are good young CBs who can learn alongside Van Dijk.

For them I think they'll need to find a link up striker to back up Firmino, and backup at full back.

 

[Paul1970]

Maybe we are desperate in the meantime to pay


Listen to Pep. Dinho's legs are not able to cover DM anymore.
Surely you understand the immense difference in workrate between DM and CB?
That ship has sailed since summer 2019.

We already see his legs are not able to cover counter situations as a CB.
He still has enough value for a season, but not as a starter, as a cover.
Be realistic, times have changed.

Surely that was the he reason Rodri came in as cover to take the workload of him . Don’t care what anyone says to he decision to put him in defence has had a major impact on our season.

 

[simon23]

Pep won’t play him there any more, why can’t you get your head around that fact.

Its interesting you have to reply in such a way and also with such presumption

I know its highly unlikely/a certainty Pep will play him in such a way......BUT..... he, in my opinion, is still our best defensive midfield option.

Hope that clears it up for you

 

[blueparrot]

Surely that was the he reason Rodri came in as cover to take the workload of him . Don’t care what anyone says to he decision to put him in defence has had a major impact on our season.

No, Rodri didn't come as cover for Fernandinho. The intention was always for Fernandinho to provide cover at centre back, Laporte's injury meant he played more than was intended. Laporte's injury was the major impact on our season.

 

[simon23]

In your opinion, not in Peps, so he won't play in midfield ahead of Rodri and Gundogan no matter how many times anyone posts it.

Oh yeah its just an opinion but also one shared by quite a few I would guess, based on the fact as you say the amount of posts by it (not just by me).
Who do you think is the best defensive midfield option - lets say in a crucial game, everyone fit, against an elite team?

 

[simon23]

Maybe we are desperate in the meantime to pay


Listen to Pep. Dinho's legs are not able to cover DM anymore - based on his covering of our defense this season I would say that opinion is debatable

Surely you understand the immense difference in workrate between DM and CB? - yes i understand it clearly, and again his work rate at centre half has shown that he can still do it - rodri is far less mobile and gundogan looks like he is moving in cement especially when on recovary runs - If Pep wont play ferna there (and I believe he wont) then we need a btter option than what we have. Its also not about the legs but about the brain and ferna was one of the best at being in the right palce a the right time as he saw the danger quicker - rodri doesnt at the moment and gundogan is oblvivous to it and no one can tell me ferna isnt a better option than Gundogan - thats just bullshit im afraid


We already see his legs are not able to cover counter situations as a CB - completely disagree - he cant match the speedsters upfront (but i doubt he ever could - he was never about blistering pace - he was about reading the game with a good level of mobility which he still has

He still has enough value for a season, but not as a starter, as a cover - i would disagree -but that goes back to the point that we therefore need someone better in the 6 role - rodri is ok in most average games, Gundogan is a liability in the defensive sense -he is shit at it I would goas far to say

 

[simon23]

you mean Aaron Cresswell? He’s 30 years old, not sure what kind of fee would be required.

The leftback dilemma is still a tough one. Not many outstanding available. I wouldn’t be against bringing Angelino back. He’s better than Zinchenko. Then the funds can be used on a midfielder/winger. Koulibaly is a must imo, if we sign only one player this window it has to be him.

I think the liverpool game showed why Angelino isnt good enough - i dont think he played much after that did he?

 

[blueparrot]

Oh yeah its just an opinion but also one shared by quite a few I would guess, based on the fact as you say the amount of posts by it (not just by me).
Who do you think is the best defensive midfield option - lets say in a crucial game, everyone fit, against an elite team?

This season with the defence in dissaray after Laporte's injury then Fernandinho, except he was needed at c.b. Next season if the defence is Walker Koulibaly, Laporte, new left back., and then a choice of Rodri or a 35 year old Fernandinho then Rodri for me. That's my opinion, and others will have a different one which is fair enough.
What I don't get is those saying buy a centre back then we will see Fernandinho back in midfield because we all know Pep doesn't share that opinion.

 

[simon23]

This season with the defence in dissaray after Laporte's injury then Fernandinho, except he was needed at c.b. Next season if the defence is Walker Koulibaly, Laporte, new left back., and then a choice of Rodri or a 35 year old Fernandinho then Rodri for me. That's my opinion, and others will have a different one which is fair enough.
What I don't get is those saying buy a centre back then we will see Fernandinho back in midfield because we all know Pep doesn't share that opinion.

Absolutely he was needed there this season - completely agree, no arguement. I think he did ok as well

If it was me I would like you say buy a centre back and left back (All our options at present are shit), sell Gundogan, keep Rodri and have Ferna as well but to rotate with rodri - in the biggest games it would be Ferna for me still - Rodri could move above him in the peckign order btu my reservations about Rodri are his lack of mobility and his recovery - neither which are great. His reading of the game is fantastic and his ability with the ball at his feet is also good. Id say his passing is on a par with ferna's (though look at mahrez goal vs Burnely - it was from a ferna diagonal ball

just cause Pep doesnt share that opinion doesnt mean it cant be debatable or even questioned

 

[Rammy Blue]

Absolutely he was needed there this season - completely agree, no arguement. I think he did ok as well

If it was me I would like you say buy a centre back and left back (All our options at present are shit), sell Gundogan, keep Rodri and have Ferna as well but to rotate with rodri - in the biggest games it would be Ferna for me still - Rodri could move above him in the peckign order btu my reservations about Rodri are his lack of mobility and his recovery - neither which are great. His reading of the game is fantastic and his ability with the ball at his feet is also good. Id say his passing is on a par with ferna's (though look at mahrez goal vs Burnely - it was from a ferna diagonal ball

just cause Pep doesnt share that opinion doesnt mean it cant be debatable or even questioned

Don’t get me wrong, I’d prefer to see Dinho play in midfield, we are just saying it’s pointless discussing something that’ll never happen, and that’s direct from Pep’s mouth.

 

[simon23]

Don’t get me wrong, I’d prefer to see Dinho play in midfield, we are just saying it’s pointless discussing something that’ll never happen, and that’s direct from Pep’s mouth.

Fair enough and I know thats what Pep has said - doesnt mean he cant be wrong however as well and I think he is - not that what I think in anyway matters whatsoever.