Mehdi Benatia

[carlos tevez is a blue]

Please be true.

 

[richards30]

I really do hope we can get benatia! imagine a summer window of: sagna, Fernando,benatia,caballero and alexis sanchez?!?!!

 

[Tricky_Trev]

I really do hope we can get benatia! imagine a summer window of: sagna, Fernando,benatia,caballero and alexis sanchez?!?!!

Surely Sanchez is unrealistic?? The first four, yes.

 

[bluemonkey71]

That Spanish bird on Talkshite said this morning that Sanchez wants juventus

 

[bluesince76]

If anyone of you guys know Il Tempo, a newspaper in Italy, is it reliable? They say that Benatia doesn't want to be part of the pre-season training in the USA with Roma and will not go because he has an agreement with City.

He'd still end up in the US on a pre-season tour, so I hope it's not a fear of flying putting him off

 

[Graceyboy]

Just watched the following You tube video of Benatia

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUXev_FrclM[/video]

Yes, he looks awesome in this video (but lets all remember that video rolls can be put together to make Corradi look like a world beater)

We do know that our recruitment team don't shop via you tube videos any longer and compile huge dossiers on their tergets, so if he's good enough for Tixi to be wanting to sign him, he must be the article we need.

I do have one concern (and this is only from seeing in the video) is that he seems to be very similar to vinnie and MDM in the respect that they defend a high line and make risky brave interceptions v early. Now this is great and puts us on a quick counter attack if it comes off, but if it goes wrong, do we have the player to "sweep up" and recover the situation (aka Lescott type). I guess that is down to the way we set up (one goes, one stays and covers with help from a DM player)

This minor observation is prevalent to whoever we signed anyway, so it is just a minor comment. I do very much hope we can get this guy.

We need to be bringing in our No 1 targets and not having to go for other options. We did this in 2012 and look what happened

Come on Tixi, in you we trust to close these deals (maybe a signed autograph of de niro and some Yaya cake will clinch it)

 

[jollylescott]

Txiki has hardly put a foot wrong since he arrived, so whoever we end up with will be the right player to improve the squad.

From the videos available Benatia looks the perfect type of player for us, but prising him away from Roma will be no small achievement.

 

[richards30]

I really do hope we can get benatia! imagine a summer window of: sagna, Fernando,benatia,caballero and alexis sanchez?!?!!

Surely Sanchez is unrealistic?? The first four, yes.

if a.madrid offer £20m for negredo he`ll be out and we`ll go for alexis sanchez asap! there was a rumour he was available for £16m but put another £10m on that now! but I`m sure we could riggle the negredo money and add £6m to get sanchez?!?! he can also play up fron or out wide which offers us variation as well as covering different positions. hopefully with manuel being Chilean will be a benefit as well.

 

[Tricky_Trev]

What's the adaptation like in moving from a right centre back to a left centre back? Vinnie has always been better on the right, and in that video, Benatia also plays on the right side. I've never been a defender, so I don't know if that's an easy or difficult adjustment to make?

 

[Gundogan's Moustache]

What's the adaptation like in moving from a right centre back to a left centre back? Vinnie has always been better on the right, and in that video, Benatia also plays on the right side. I've never been a defender, so I don't know if that's an easy or difficult adjustment to make?

I play Centre Back (Left Side) Whenever I play on the right. The only adjustment is playing the ball out. Both Kompany and Bentatia both play right side. One will be playing out with their weeker foot

 

[Nixon_The_Bike_Thief]

What's the adaptation like in moving from a right centre back to a left centre back? Vinnie has always been better on the right, and in that video, Benatia also plays on the right side. I've never been a defender, so I don't know if that's an easy or difficult adjustment to make?

Not easy at all, there's a reason that Zab is one of Europes best right backs but wouldnt make the top 10 left backs, just the same as you would not be happy playing Kolarov at right back. The theory is simple but the application leaves the player exposed and any decent opponent will challenge their weaker side.
Now if Benatia is ambidextrous with his feet the change may be possible but why buy a square peg to fit a round hole ?

 

[KevR_7]

What's the adaptation like in moving from a right centre back to a left centre back? Vinnie has always been better on the right, and in that video, Benatia also plays on the right side. I've never been a defender, so I don't know if that's an easy or difficult adjustment to make?

Vinny plays on the left side for Belgium to accomdate Van Buyten on the right, he also played that side when Kolo was in our team. I think if Benatia comes in he will play right side and Vinny left. He can do it and dont think it will impact him much, Terry plays left side and is right footed and its never affected him.

 

[blueandy1mac]

I've played in all the back four positions, there is no comparison between playing full-back on your 'wrong' foot and playing 'wrong' side centre half.
If you can't use your other foot and play the opposite full back role you're in trouble from the first minute, at centre half it can be a disadvantage at times but not anywhere near the level of fullback.
Distribution is much simpler as your outlet is either sideways, to the full back, or short in to midfield. At full back you're expected to go on with the ball.
Tackling is more problematic but if you can't tackle reasonably well with your other foot on occasion, what are you doing playing at this level.
Everything else is much of a muchness, obviously it helps if your partner can interchange as well, but if he's a 'big one footed puddin' then its amazing how quickly it all becomes the norm.
As others have said, I think the real prob is when you have two players who play the same way, ie both looking to attack the ball etc.
We need someone to play off Vinnie, not as his twin.
Just my view.

 

[BlueDejong]

City Watch @City_Watch · 2h
Rome-based newspaper Il Tempo: Benatia has an agreement with City, but the clubs haven't even started negotiations yet. Player wants to go.

 

[mastermind]

What's the adaptation like in moving from a right centre back to a left centre back? Vinnie has always been better on the right, and in that video, Benatia also plays on the right side. I've never been a defender, so I don't know if that's an easy or difficult adjustment to make?

Vinny plays on the left side for Belgium to accomdate Van Buyten on the right, he also played that side when Kolo was in our team. I think if Benatia comes in he will play right side and Vinny left. He can do it and dont think it will impact him much, Terry plays left side and is right footed and its never affected him.

We like to a have a ball playing defender on the left, so I think Benatia will play on the left (if he signs for us).

Kompany is good with the ball play aswell , but it's probably better if he plays as the sweeper.

 

[Bluewonder]

What's the adaptation like in moving from a right centre back to a left centre back? Vinnie has always been better on the right, and in that video, Benatia also plays on the right side. I've never been a defender, so I don't know if that's an easy or difficult adjustment to make?

Not easy at all, there's a reason that Zab is one of Europes best right backs but wouldnt make the top 10 left backs, just the same as you would not be happy playing Kolarov at right back. The theory is simple but the application leaves the player exposed and any decent opponent will challenge their weaker side.
Now if Benatia is ambidextrous with his feet the change may be possible but why buy a square peg to fit a round hole ?

It's nowhere near as pronounced as it is for full backs.

 

[sam-caddick]

I would prefer to sign Benatia over Mangala but his involvment in FCON could really cause us some issues, especially if Yaya stays and decides that he still wants to remain playing for the Ivory Coast.

If we take in potential injuries around that time who knows what out team will look like, plus the fact that the January period of next season looks pretty decisive for us.

 

[whyalwaysyou]

Think Benatia or Mangala will be last signing. Maybe Caballero too, but Alexis Sanchez can be absolutely ruled out

 

[sam-caddick]

Think Benatia or Mangala will be last signing. Maybe Caballero too, but Alexis Sanchez can be absolutely ruled out

I disagree with Sanchez.

I have a feeling Negredo will eventually move to Atletico and that will open the door for us to go after Sanchez.

 

[TrueBlue1705]

Lots of reports we have agreed a deal with Roma - but they will only let him go if/when they find a replacement CB ....