We have an excellent left back in Cancelo and our backups are comparable with our rivals as it stands.
I agree, we need a legitimate left back and if we pay £45m+£5m or £50m, it doesn't matter, let them spin it how they want.Everyone knows that the fee would be too high, but better to pay 5-10m£ more than stay with the problem for the next year. We don't know if there is a possibility we would sign anyone cheaper. Everyone knows for ages that we should pay 50M£.
We are the same as last season we have Zinchenko and Ake that can play left back to cover Cancelo. It's not ideal but we only suffered last season because of a freak set of injuries coupled with a suspensionBut we are not moving forward . We need to sign a left back as we are one injury away having ferdy type problem with no one v be ring to play at left. Back . We should never stand still and need to keep evolving .
That's my point. Square pegs in round holes & no specialist LB's since Mendy, Kolarov & Clichy.I was including anyone that occupied that that position at any point during the same time. laporte, ake, delph, angelino, etc.
I agree we would be better with a natural left back, all I am saying its not a disaster if we have to go with what we had for full backs last seasonThe problem with Cancelo at left back is better teams work us out, they let Cancelo go down the line knowing the left foot is not his best and needs to cut back on his right, the key is balance on both sides and the forwards want a first time cross and make the run only for Cancelo to hold and cut back,
i also like the balance in giving us options of down both flanks to mix it up so teams down no have to defend us
Since Zinch is edging out the door that's a bit moot at this point.all I am saying its not a disaster if we have to go with what we had for full backs last season
Last summer it was the Arry Kane fans boys, now that was fringing weird, defending a player than did not even play for us,
Last couple of seasons I’d honestly say Cancelo’s better on the left than the right, even if he’s a right footed RB. You’re right we dicked around getting a proper LB for too long, but what we’ve got works (assuming zinny stays).That's my point. Square pegs in round holes & no specialist LB's since Mendy, Kolarov & Clichy.
It's been a perennial issue for City over the past 6 seasons & it's high time we stopped with the mend & make do approach to filling a position which has constantly caused us grief & has never been properly resolved.
Sancho was overvalued and rated just like Grealish, like White, like Maguire, like Kane and guess what they are all English.So you value him at the level of a Fred, a Ben White, less than a Pepe, or a Sancho.
I would suggest that his quality, his performances and his status as a top English talent made his ‘true value’ in the region of a £75-80m area. So we did overpay to a degree but the people who matter at City believed it would be worth it. I’m sure he will move up further levels for us this season.
With regards to Cucurella we might value you him in the region of £40m but might end up around the £50m if we really want him. That’s the same ballpark ‘overpayment %’ as Grealish.
We operate at a very difficult area of the market where so few players have the ability to play for us and of them a significant portion are unobtainable - that’s why we will always periodically have to pay a premium.
On the flip side you can’t argue that we have got Haaland, Phillips (and potential Alvarez) in for tremendous value, maybe the club feel that this value will allow them to push the boat out for specific positions such as LB or as in the Grealish signing.