Mehdi Benatia

[nmc]

Any chance we are going for Benatia and Mangala - seemed to be closely linked to both but they are hardly similar I.e. One the finished article the other with potential. Perhaps Nasty is on the way out?

 

[Wrighty Wrexham]

FFP

 

[chris85mcfc]

Will have been mentioned but is he another player we are going to lose for 4-6 weeks for the AFCON?

I know we have adequate cover with DeMichelis but if VK and Benatia were to form a formidable partnership he would be a big loss

If Yaya was to stay, would he be another to dissapear or do we think he is going to retire from International football?

Would be grim to lose them both especially in such important positions

Yaya has spoken of retiring from internationals after the world cup so if he stays there's hope he won't go but Benatia is Morocco's best cb so yes we'd lose him, should be alright with MDM and Nasty though, I think it's more important to get to a place where we have the quality to rotate properly throughout December because the problems been fatigue as much as losing players at that time of year. Adherence to a particular style (MP's system) and decent squad depth should mean we're less reliant on individuals than we have been in the past, started to see signs of that with Nasri, Silva, Yaya, Kun and Vinny missing games last season, we still kept winning.

Yea we do have MDM and Nastastic who are adequate replacements and are more than good enough to rotate. My only gripe is that I like a settled back four, its the only line in the team that I like to see settled. I suppose the main thing is getting all the centre halves to play the same way ie high line and on the front foot, so that when we do make a change it doesnt effect the way we play.

A spine of Joe, VK, Benatia, Yaya, Ferna, Silva and Aguero would be perfect

In fact we could probably just play with 7 :)

 

[Wrighty Wrexham]

Dont forget Boyota ;)

 

[mcb1207]

Not being funny but it seems like when we are linked with a player I've never heard of it brings out the liars or geeks who " apparently " seen him play 30 matches this season and is a great player,

Some people are so full of shit or don't have lives, I don't believe for a second anyone on here has sat through a season of Roma matches and has a valid opinion on the man


Or are a first rate bore geek play station no girlfriend/ social life whatsoever. Or let football consume their life FIFA STYLE

Every fucking time I guarantee it

And every fucking time you're there to bring it up ;)

You're right though, just one of the many wonders of the transfer forum.

Keeping it real mate , keeping it real


I believe we are in for Thingymajiginio From Inter Milan

I await someone who's seen him play all season and will be a great buy

Have watched Thingymajiginio but I'm not sure inter would sell for less than 50m, slight upgrade on boyata, epic on fifa though

 

[waspish]

Never watched him play what's the fee? If rumoured its around 25m is he worth it?

 

[Tueartsoverhead kick]

And every fucking time you're there to bring it up ;)

You're right though, just one of the many wonders of the transfer forum.

Keeping it real mate , keeping it real


I believe we are in for Thingymajiginio From Inter Milan

I await someone who's seen him play all season and will be a great buy

Have watched Thingymajiginio but I'm not sure inter would sell for less than 50m, slight upgrade on boyata, epic on fifa though

Got my tattoo ordered £50 per sitting cant wait !!

 

[Wrighty Wrexham]

City move closer to defender capture
Manchester City, Latest news update: May 29, 2014 10:00 AM
[[views]]

Manchester City have reportedly agreed terms with Roma defender Mehdi Benatia over a prospective contract.

City are yet to reach an agreement with Roma over the transfer of the Moroccan, with the Serie A side keen to keep hold of the centre-half.
However, Gazzetta dello Sport claim the Premier League champions have reached an agreement with the player and City appear to be the frontrunners in the battle for his signature.
Benatia is still under contract with Roma but has been left disappointed by the Italian side's extension offer and has indicated he could be prepared to move on this summer, despite stressing his love for the club and city.
It has been suggested Roma could be convinced to sell for a fee in the region of £28million if it becomes clear Benatia will not agree to an extension but City could face competition for his signature.
A number of other clubs from across Europe, including Barcelona and Bayern Munich, have been credited with an interest in the 27-year-old, but City appear to have made the first move by reaching an agreement with the player.
Meanwhile, released keeper Costel Pantilimon has emerged as a target for Arsenal, with the Romanian understood to be keen to remain in the Premier League.

 

[Le Havre Oswald]

City move closer to defender capture
Manchester City, Latest news update: May 29, 2014 10:00 AM
[[views]]

Manchester City have reportedly agreed terms with Roma defender Mehdi Benatia over a prospective contract.

City are yet to reach an agreement with Roma over the transfer of the Moroccan, with the Serie A side keen to keep hold of the centre-half.
However, Gazzetta dello Sport claim the Premier League champions have reached an agreement with the player and City appear to be the frontrunners in the battle for his signature.
Benatia is still under contract with Roma but has been left disappointed by the Italian side's extension offer and has indicated he could be prepared to move on this summer, despite stressing his love for the club and city.
It has been suggested Roma could be convinced to sell for a fee in the region of £28million if it becomes clear Benatia will not agree to an extension but City could face competition for his signature.
A number of other clubs from across Europe, including Barcelona and Bayern Munich, have been credited with an interest in the 27-year-old, but City appear to have made the first move by reaching an agreement with the player.
Meanwhile, released keeper Costel Pantilimon has emerged as a target for Arsenal, with the Romanian understood to be keen to remain in the Premier League.

whos that mate. is it someone shit like
soccernews,fancast etc...

 

[Bluesiam]

Quoted in the Gazetto D'Italia:

"I have had a great season, I am convinced by the project, but not too excited by the City, the lousy weather, food, and dodgy women.....
...... and the number of f***ing Vespas...........so I've decided I'm off to Sunny Manchester to join my buddy Samir and make some serious wonga." said Benatia.

It sounds like great news for City fans.

 

[Wrighty Wrexham]

Clubcall for what its worth!

 

[tolmie's hairdoo]

I must be missing something?

Every tackle he makes, every position he takes up, in most of the videos I have now watched, he always takes the right hand channel that Kompany already occupies?

He leads with his right foot, so does he address the fundamental problem of a left-sided partner?

Chelsea must have seriously blown us out of the water on Mangala is this is now going ahead.

 

[Anonymous]

Chelsea must have seriously blown us out of the water on Mangala is this is now going ahead.

The Mangala/Mendes/third party ownership issue makes that transfer more expensive than it needs be. Also he's incredibly young and ultimately if he doesn't hit the ground running it'll be a fucking disaster for the price he'll end up costing. Benatia has the experience and is of an age where you suspect his in game intelligence will be miles ahead of Mangala's.

I've also wondered for a while why we were after him when he's a left footer and we have Nastasic and Rekik.

 

[chris85mcfc]

I must be missing something?

Every tackle he makes, every position he takes up, in most of the videos I have now watched, he always takes the right hand channel that Kompany already occupies?

He leads with his right foot, so does he address the fundamental problem of a left-sided partner?

Chelsea must have seriously blown us out of the water on Mangala is this is now going ahead.

Perhaps he is going to play on the right side, and VK will move over to the left?

Surely VK is good enough to play in either of those positions

From what ive seen of Mangala i really don't rate him as highly as £40 million

 

[Forzacitizens]

I must be missing something?

Every tackle he makes, every position he takes up, in most of the videos I have now watched, he always takes the right hand channel that Kompany already occupies?

He leads with his right foot, so does he address the fundamental problem of a left-sided partner?

Chelsea must have seriously blown us out of the water on Mangala is this is now going ahead.

he looks two footed to me, what about his age?

 

[tolmie's hairdoo]

I must be missing something?

Every tackle he makes, every position he takes up, in most of the videos I have now watched, he always takes the right hand channel that Kompany already occupies?

He leads with his right foot, so does he address the fundamental problem of a left-sided partner?

Chelsea must have seriously blown us out of the water on Mangala is this is now going ahead.

Perhaps he is going to play on the right side, and VK will move over to the left?

Surely VK is good enough to play in either of those positions

From what ive seen of Mangala i really don't rate him as highly as £40 million

Vinny is shocking playing on the left. Looks a carthorse, gets dragged out and then concedes a foul trying to get back in.

So is Benatia a right-footed player who is just equally adept playing on the left?

If that is the case, then fine.

At least he can shift across when Vinny is injured or suspended.

We also have Demichelis who can do this.

I remember watching Lescott and Nastasic both together against Villa in the Carling Cup.

A prime example that decent central defenders find it very difficult to move a couple of yards across from their comfort zone.

 

[Le Havre Oswald]

I must be missing something?

Every tackle he makes, every position he takes up, in most of the videos I have now watched, he always takes the right hand channel that Kompany already occupies?

He leads with his right foot, so does he address the fundamental problem of a left-sided partner?

Chelsea must have seriously blown us out of the water on Mangala is this is now going ahead.

ive never been a fan of mangala mate. I know hes young but he seems really floppy to me, if you know what I mean. he reminds me of sakho at Liverpool.

 

[chris85mcfc]

I must be missing something?

Every tackle he makes, every position he takes up, in most of the videos I have now watched, he always takes the right hand channel that Kompany already occupies?

He leads with his right foot, so does he address the fundamental problem of a left-sided partner?

Chelsea must have seriously blown us out of the water on Mangala is this is now going ahead.

Perhaps he is going to play on the right side, and VK will move over to the left?

Surely VK is good enough to play in either of those positions

From what ive seen of Mangala i really don't rate him as highly as £40 million

Vinny is shocking playing on the left. Looks a carthorse, gets dragged out and then concedes a foul trying to get back in.

So is Benatia a right-footed player who is just equally adept playing on the left?

If that is the case, then fine.

At least he can shift across when Vinny is injured or suspended.

We also have Demichelis who can do this.

I remember watching Lescott and Nastasic both together against Villa in the Carling Cup.

A prime example that decent central defenders find it very difficult to move a couple of yards across from their comfort zone.

There are plenty of examples of two right footed centre halves playing alongside each other, in fact id say most pairings are both right footed

Pepe/Ramos
Hummels/Subotic
Rio/Vidic
Cahill/Terry
Miranda/Godin

I think Mancini started the ethos of wanting a right and left footed centre half but MDM proved last year that its fine to have 2 right footed centre backs

Lescott was poor enough on his left side never mind his right :)

 

[tolmie's hairdoo]

I must be missing something?

Every tackle he makes, every position he takes up, in most of the videos I have now watched, he always takes the right hand channel that Kompany already occupies?

He leads with his right foot, so does he address the fundamental problem of a left-sided partner?

Chelsea must have seriously blown us out of the water on Mangala is this is now going ahead.

ive never been a fan of mangala mate. I know hes young but he seems really floppy to me, if you know what I mean. he reminds me of sakho at Liverpool.

Don't have an issue with changing targets, opinions.

My issue is that nobody seems to be able to tell me definitively that he is a left-sided centre back.

He is clearly not based on the majority of videos out there.

We have fallen foul before of trying to put square pegs in round holes.

If there is one league where a defensive player could be exposed for such, it is this one.

I don't rate Italian football in the slightest. I used to, but not anymore.

 

[markbmcfc]

Benatia is very strong on both sides. Naturally right, but strong on his left.

He will have been scouted much closer than I've ever watched him so I don't think this is an issue worth people worrying about.