Kalidou Koulibaly

[Dax777]

Koulibaly and not having Zinchenko will make us much more resilient to counter-attacking goals which our the achilles heel.

I agree that we've gone away from the high press but that's just because of Silva, and he's gone, so whether it's Bernardo or Foden replacing him, the press will be much better. That will have a huge impact on the number of dangerous attacks that get through midfield.

It's absurd that we went this long with defenders as slow as Stones and Otamendi, but getting Aké and Koulibaly will make a huge difference.

Even if we don't concede directly from counters, we concede big chances which then boost the belief of the other side and we lose control of the game.

Agree with the bolded.

 

[IBlue]

Koulibaly and not having Zinchenko will make us much more resilient to counter-attacking goals which our the achilles heel.

I agree that we've gone away from the high press but that's just because of Silva, and he's gone, so whether it's Bernardo or Foden replacing him, the press will be much better. That will have a huge impact on the number of dangerous attacks that get through midfield.

It's absurd that we went this long with defenders as slow as Stones and Otamendi, but getting Aké and Koulibaly will make a huge difference.

Even if we don't concede directly from counters, we concede big chances which then boost the belief of the other side and we lose control of the game.

The press against Watford was excellent

 

[OB1]

We concede bad goals, we don't concede a lot of goals.

City have the second best-defensive record in the league, conceding just two more than Liverpool, one less than United and far superior to blocking teams such as Sheffield United and Wolves - Ederson could win Golden Gloves - us scoring so many more goals than anybody else.

It was the same when Vinny or Demichelis were in the back-four, experienced as fuck and reliable most of the time but always a team conceding laughable goals.

I think a deal for Ake makes solid sense and would rather we can get Stones to refocus, than spend £70m on Koulibaly. Stones has all the system playing tools and is still only 25. If he can't stay fit, then Garcia must continue to get his chance.

It is the make up of the system in front of the back four which mainly needs to change. A proper left-sided attacker would ensure our left-back isn't caught seventy yards from his own goal if teams are able to transition on us - would also like another left-back to challenge Mendy.

Rodri needs help and would much rather see us spend big cash on another midfielder with legs and a top-class forward.

I agree with a lot of the above but I'd like to see KK partnered with Laporte and Stones and Ake as back-ups. Maybe let Garcia have a season on loan somewhere.

 

[pavelsrnicek]

We concede bad goals, we don't concede a lot of goals.

City have the second best-defensive record in the league, conceding just two more than Liverpool, one less than United and far superior to blocking teams such as Sheffield United and Wolves - Ederson could win Golden Gloves - us scoring so many more goals than anybody else.

It was the same when Vinny or Demichelis were in the back-four, experienced as fuck and reliable most of the time but always a team conceding laughable goals.

I think a deal for Ake makes solid sense and would rather we can get Stones to refocus, than spend £70m on Koulibaly. Stones has all the system playing tools and is still only 25. If he can't stay fit, then Garcia must continue to get his chance.

It is the make up of the system in front of the back four which mainly needs to change. A proper left-sided attacker would ensure our left-back isn't caught seventy yards from his own goal if teams are able to transition on us - would also like another left-back to challenge Mendy.

Rodri needs help and would much rather see us spend big cash on another midfielder with legs and a top-class forward.

I agree on left back, midfielder and forward but not on Stones. He is obviously a very talented footballer but he has had 2 awful seasons with both injury and form. It seems his issues in his personal life have affected him. It may be he needs a change to rediscover some form. It also seems like his fluffed every chance he has been this season (Carabao and Bournemouth especially).

He should be replacing Kompany but can anyone say he is mentally strong enough to lead our defence into the future? We are crying out for an aggressive and demanding centre back which none of our defenders are so I think selling Stones for Koulibaly makes sense.

 

[domalino]

The press against Watford was excellent

Rodri is going to take our pressing levels above what we had in 17/18.

He's just outrageously good at reading where a player under pressure is going to try and pass or run, and just intercepting them and releasing the ball forwards to start attacks.

This season he's been caught out with some weak pressing ahead of him letting people off the hook and leaving him caught too high up the pitch, but with Rodri-Bernardo-KDB, we'll just swamp anyone.

 

[Serg10Aguero]

I do think for those big games and the CL, we need a CB of Koulibaly’s caliber to make our defence a fortress. Where even if we’re up against a lot of pressure we’re still solid.

 

[Ashleymcduff]

We concede bad goals, we don't concede a lot of goals.

City have the second best-defensive record in the league, conceding just two more than Liverpool, one less than United and far superior to blocking teams such as Sheffield United and Wolves - Ederson could win Golden Gloves - us scoring so many more goals than anybody else.

It was the same when Vinny or Demichelis were in the back-four, experienced as fuck and reliable most of the time but always a team conceding laughable goals.

I think a deal for Ake makes solid sense and would rather we can get Stones to refocus, than spend £70m on Koulibaly. Stones has all the system playing tools and is still only 25. If he can't stay fit, then Garcia must continue to get his chance.

It is the make up of the system in front of the back four which mainly needs to change. A proper left-sided attacker would ensure our left-back isn't caught seventy yards from his own goal if teams are able to transition on us - would also like another left-back to challenge Mendy.

Rodri needs help and would much rather see us spend big cash on another midfielder with legs and a top-class forward.

that’s what I’ve been saying koudabilly didn’t fix our problems

 

[Great Kompany]

John Stones when bought initially ticked a lot of boxes for us:
Homegrown
English
Can play from the back
Play against hard press

But can he still do that ? He has been under the tutelage of one of the best manager on the planet but still struggles quite a bit. Is there some more potential to be harnessed ?
I want all our signings to succeed and he was touted to be City and England captain but the growth has not been there to be seen. Can we risk another season with Stones and Laporte as partners. Maybe Pep is the best judge for that and he doesn't look convinced.
Koulibaly ticks all the above parameters.

 

[BufordUSABlue]

I agree with a lot of the above but I'd like to see KK partnered with Laporte and Stones and Ake as back-ups. Maybe let Garcia have a season on loan somewhere.

I see a lot of value in this, assuming the Koulibaly deal is nailed on, I like Garcia but his lack of pace frightens me at the highest level, he definitely needs to improve and playing time will help with this, but where would you loan him out to where the standard is such that he has the chance to really kick on??

Officially demoting Stones to a back-up CH will probably finish what little confidence he has left and he probably needs to be moved on, using him in a deal for an incoming player would be the right play IMO..

 

[himalayan_blues]

Nothing fresh on Ake so far.

We wonder where this Kane rumors come from . Not even a slight indications reported in media.
Is there even a slight hope ?

 

[M12Blue]

I agree with a lot of the above but I'd like to see KK partnered with Laporte and Stones and Ake as back-ups. Maybe let Garcia have a season on loan somewhere.

Think Garcia is ready mate, sadly see Stones on the move, unless Bsrca have turned Garcia’s head

 

[Alcatraz]

I see a lot of value in this, assuming the Koulibaly deal is nailed on, I like Garcia but his lack of pace frightens me at the highest level, he definitely needs to improve and playing time will help with this, but where would you loan him out to where the standard is such that he has the chance to really kick on??

Officially demoting Stones to a back-up CH will probably finish what little confidence he has left and he probably needs to be moved on, using him in a deal for an incoming player would be the right play IMO..

Like this view...
Garcia is a real talent but too slow. You can maybe get away with not being so strong in the air (like Ake) but City play such a high line, you need pace. Aubeymang showed us that last weekend...

 

[Draikin]

This season he's been caught out with some weak pressing ahead of him letting people off the hook and leaving him caught too high up the pitch, but with Rodri-Bernardo-KDB, we'll just swamp anyone.

Unfortunately I dont think Pep will bench Gundogan

 

[ctid1894]

I do think for those big games and the CL, we need a CB of Koulibaly’s caliber to make our defence a fortress. Where even if we’re up against a lot of pressure we’re still solid.

This type of stuff is fairies and unicorns. Big CL and PL games are impossible to control sometimes because other teams are so good. You could have a back five of Koulibaly, Kompany, VVD, Laporte and prime Maldini, you would still concede goals and get your arse spanked occasionally.

 

[ctid1894]

Like this view...
Garcia is a real talent but too slow. You can maybe get away with not being so strong in the air (like Ake) but City play such a high line, you need pace. Aubeymang showed us that last weekend...

Garcia played Aubamayang offside, sadly Mendy who could see along the defensive line decided to drop deep and play him onside. Pace was irrelevant, no defender in the world could catch Aubamayang over 40 yards with a 5-10 yard headstart, including Walker.

 

[Alcatraz]

Garcia played Aubamayang offside, sadly Mendy who could see along the defensive line decided to drop deep and play him onside. Pace was irrelevant, no defender in the world could catch Aubamayang over 40 yards with a 5-10 yard headstart, including Walker.

Playing Aubameyang off side ? He must think he is a lot quicker than he actually is !

 

[ctid1894]

Playing Aubameyang off side ? He must think he is a lot quicker than he actually is !

Watch the clip, it's already been discussed on here multiple times with everyone coming to the exact same conclusion; Garcia was perfectly positioned and would have played Aubamayang offside, Mendy fucked up by dropping too deep.

 

[Sleeping_Easy]

We concede bad goals, we don't concede a lot of goals.

City have the second best-defensive record in the league, conceding just two more than Liverpool, one less than United and far superior to blocking teams such as Sheffield United and Wolves - Ederson could win Golden Gloves - us scoring so many more goals than anybody else.

It was the same when Vinny or Demichelis were in the back-four, experienced as fuck and reliable most of the time but always a team conceding laughable goals.

I think a deal for Ake makes solid sense and would rather we can get Stones to refocus, than spend £70m on Koulibaly. Stones has all the system playing tools and is still only 25. If he can't stay fit, then Garcia must continue to get his chance.

It is the make up of the system in front of the back four which mainly needs to change. A proper left-sided attacker would ensure our left-back isn't caught seventy yards from his own goal if teams are able to transition on us - would also like another left-back to challenge Mendy.

Rodri needs help and would much rather see us spend big cash on another midfielder with legs and a top-class forward.

The damage was done in the early part of the season. By new years we'd conceded 10 more goals, lost 5 more games and drew 1 more than Liverpool. This resulted in a 17 point gap and the title being all but done. They've conceded 11 since the restart and I think that makes the current stats look a little better. It's obvious that they were going to go off the boil a bit once they'd won it. The stats that give us an accurate picture are we've conceded 8 more and 12 more than the title winning seasons and that's not good enough.

Away from the stats one of the biggest things I think has been a problem is conceding the first goal in games. It gives the other team something to hold on to and gives them that lift. This is something we've done far too often this year and its along the lines of what you were saying about it being stupid mistakes most of the time.

 

[Neville Kneville]

Watch the clip, it's already been discussed on here multiple times with everyone coming to the exact same conclusion; Garcia was perfectly positioned and would have played Aubamayang offside, Mendy fucked up by dropping too deep.

Is Pep really resorting to Pellegrini's rigid defensive plan, which he himself totally destroyed not so long ago, by us simply knocking the ball past it & running ?

Or are the players supposed to use their judgement hold the line then quickly drop off, as the ball is played ?

I only ask because if the answer is A, imo we are fucked.

And if Garcia was playing for Real Madrid or Barca etc, against us, would we be more confident, or less confident of beating them than if they had KK ?

 

[mccity]

I think whatever way we play under Pep, we're going to concede stupid goals. When we only conceded 4 times on the run in at the back end of last season, 3 of them were stupid. 2 were bad pieces of defending on set pieces and 1 was braindead against Watford. Even the freekick Palace scored against us could be said to have been dealt with poorly.

With us playing so offensively and so high up the pitch, even if we're 95% perfect we'll still make errors and get caught out.

The best we can ask for is a competent and reliable defensive centre backs to minimise mistakes and our best pressing players to minimise opportunities to make mistakes. At the back end of 18/19 we had Kompany and Laporte playing together and it showed.

Koulibaly is good for both. He's a good enough defender so that he can actually deal with things that come his way the few times he's asked to do so. He's also good enough on the ball to allow us to press up and give our press the best chance it's got.