Leonardo Bonucci

[eversince 76]

So like Pep likes to play with, three at the back and a double pivote?

Yes, but Pep plays a high line, Juve and Italy don't. I'm convinced Otamendi and Mangala will be seen as far better defenders when they play like Juve and Italy do. Unless Pep teach them to, but it seems he rather wants the club splashes out 50mill on a 29 year old defender. Not Pep like imo ...

 

[Akiva]

I keep reading posts which attempt to explain why this wouldn't be a really good signing and ultimately they all come down to "he's 29".

 

[Ajm1985]

Boatengs long passes out of defence were a really important part of how Guardiola beat teams who would press Bayern last season.

Bonucci is probably the only CB who could say he's better at those passes and going into a league with Pochettino, Klopp, Ranieri all employing aggressive pressing in midfield, Pep might be thinking he really needs that option.

There's a good write up of how he used these long balls from Boateng to beat Dortmund 5-1 here - http://www.zonalmarking.net/2015/10...witches-width-and-long-balls-expose-dortmund/

And it's also just a cool read because it was an absolute blinder by Pep, showing all the kind of tactical nouse we've not had here before.

Anyway, my point is simply - we can buy goals for cheaper than £60m and from players better suited to Pep's play. Maybe not 40 goals like Auba had, but we can get them elsewhere.

But a passing CB of Bonucci's quality can't be for for less than £50m it seems. That's what Everton want for stones, and Laporte turned us down, so Bonucci offers the finished article for the same price as the kids with potential

Boateng employed those exact diagonal long balls to the left last night before his injury. Loew obviously saw the benefit of his skills and that tactic.

 

[1961_vintage]

Boateng employed those exact diagonal long balls to the left last night before his injury. Loew obviously saw the benefit of his skills and that tactic.

His distribution was outstanding. Unrecognisable as the player who once played for us.

 

[TRUE BLUE NO1]

Sky Sports News HQ ‏@SkySportsNewsHQ 9s9 seconds ago
Sky sources: Man City to hold talks with agent of Juventus defender Bonucci in next few days http://skysports.tv/eDPjDc

3 retweets0 likes

 

[Ajm1985]

His distribution was outstanding. Unrecognisable as the player who once played for us.

Definitely! I also think it's a shame Vinny is injured so often as he could definitely fulfil this role.

 

[BlueDejong]

 

[wattle]

Seeing him play in the euros i thought fuck me I wish we could sign him but thought no chance as there has been nothing in the press or Internet. Then boom! Looks like it might happen. Who gives a fuck about his age. I want to win the prem THIS season. Come on tixi, get this done

 

[johnmc]

Yeah he's 29. So what. 4 years of him or 4 years of Mangala?

 

[TRUE BLUE NO1]

Yeah he's 29. So what. 4 years of him or 4 years of Mangala?

Not even close mate!;) Bonucci all day!!....The way I look at it is, pay 51mil for Bonucci and sell Mangala for 20-30mil.....Bonucci costing us 20mil ;) Bonucci and Peres would greatly improve our back 4....just not 100% sure Juve are going to let him go..