Teams have been targeting our left side for a few seasons now, especially the better ones, for example Real Madrid. We need a specialist left back who can defend as well as he attacks. Ake did a great job yesterday coming across to cover that left side when Cancelo was not in position. But that stretched Dias and that's where Nunez got space. Cancelo is a fantastic right-sided wingback but not a defensive left back in my view.And just one of those weird coincidences that their best player plays on the right wing for them, if only we had a left back that's not as good as our current left back then they wouldn't have passed to Salah at all
I agree you can't blame Cancelo for shipping the goals against Madrid but not having a strong left back (like Walker/Cancelo on the right) affects the balance of the whole team. It is our weak link and Pep knows it and the club is trying to address it.if you think we got ‘found out’ against Real then you must have a telly in an alternate universe, @mrsprkl
We outplayed them over both legs. The entire defence, including Ed up to a point, went AWOL for about five minutes either side of the full time whistle. Nothing to do with Cancelo as such, or only in so far as he was part of a collective failure for, as I say, five minutes, eight at the outside.
Spot on bobby and my point exactly.Teams have been targeting our left side for a few seasons now, especially the better ones, for example Real Madrid. We need a specialist left back who can defend as well as he attacks. Ake did a great job yesterday coming across to cover that left side when Cancelo was not in position. But that stretched Dias and that's where Nunez got space. Cancelo is a fantastic right-sided wingback but not a defensive left back in my view.
So ,no plan B?
The problem is there are not many strong left backs out there. We may have to bite the bullet and pay up. This position has got to be sorted for this season. The Word Cup presents a significant injury risk to Walker and Cancelo in any event as Portugal and England will probably go deep into the tournament. An extra £10m will not make a difference in the long term.You can applaud Bloom stance. He can getaway with, so he is doing it.
But in Reality he is being a knob. Brighton paid £15mill for Cuckoo. A good spot and they beat all other clubs to him. Fair play to Brighton.
Cuckoo has played 1 season in the PL. Yes, he looks good, no doubting that. He was Brighton’s player of the year. He’s young. Etc. Etc.
Let’s be honest, £30mill was too low. And it looks a it‘s got Bloom’s back up and made him even more determined to hold out for x.(we don’t know the exact figure)
But if the latest rumours are true and City have up their offer to £40mill, that in my opinion is a fair offer. An offer City should have gone in with straightaway, with a few small add-ons.
A £25mill profit should be accepted by Bloom. If not, which looks increasingly likely, City have to move on at some point. Frustratingly, City don’t always get their first transfer choice. This could be 1 of those occasion?
Was summed up in first few minutes when Cancelo got square on in the box as Salah ran at him full belt, awful defending.I`ve said it before but I`ll say it again.Anyone who thinks Cancelo is our answer to a left back needs to think again.
Excellent on the offensive but an absolute beginner defensively. Time and time again he was anywhere but out on that left flank and Salah had a fucking field day.God knows why Cancelo has too constantly find himself in the middle of the defence where he marks no fucker.
Not been yelling too much about Txiki and getting Cucoo signed, but by fuck after yesterday this proves beyond doubt we need a natural left sided full back.