Mehdi Benatia

[cookster]

Are you all forgetting how much Roma dug their heels in when we were after De Rossi? We won't be signing Benatia unless he really kicks off about the move. Don't hold your breath when dealing with Roma.

De Rossi never wanted to leave Roma.

 

[Rammyblues]

And don't forget Boyata has signed a new two year deal. :-)

 

[hgblue]

Did he struggle anymore than others ? MDM who is older and slower eventually came to terms with the pattern and style. Nasty didn't really get a chance to adapt before his injuries. After the injuries, MDM was comfortable in the role and so there was no point rocking the boat especially as we only had the league to focus on and didn't need to rotate.

Also Hart was having problems in the first half of the season which can't have helped the back 4 playing any system - the Torres goal in the dying seconds being the prime example.

I'm not so sure we are desperate to have to splash £35 million on a centre back.

We absolutely, 100%, definitely, must sign a top quality centre back. This has to be priority number 1 imo.

Why?

We lost Kompany for a 1/3rd of the season, lost Nasty for almost all of it, lost Hart for 6 weeks, introduced Demichelis yet still ended up with the 2nd best defensive record in the League.

Long term we need a centre-back, but if Mangala, or Benatia are not available we can go with hat we have - maybe give Rekik a chance. He'll be 20 next season

You're on from today ;). We're a long term injury to Kompany away from winning nothing. Simply not good enough for a squad aspiring to be champions again and competing for the champs league.

 

[LoveCity]

We absolutely, 100%, definitely, must sign a top quality centre back. This has to be priority number 1 imo.

Why?

We lost Kompany for a 1/3rd of the season, lost Nasty for almost all of it, lost Hart for 6 weeks, introduced Demichelis yet still ended up with the 2nd best defensive record in the League.

Long term we need a centre-back, but if Mangala, or Benatia are not available we can go with hat we have - maybe give Rekik a chance. He'll be 20 next season

You're on from today ;). We're a long term injury to Kompany away from winning nothing. Simply not good enough for a squad aspiring to be champions again and competing for the champs league.

Our defence, as it is, is capable of mounting a PL challenge for sure - we just saw it happen.

But time and time again, it has been exposed in the Champions League against high quality teams who have found it piss easy to find gaps and flaws in our defence, and the club is clearly pretty obsessed with this competition, hence a world-class defender being the priority this summer.

Over two games:

4 goals conceded against Real Madrid
5 goals conceded against Ajax (not even that good)
4 goals conceded against Barcelona
5 goals conceded against Bayern Munich

Our 'best' record against a top team is 2 conceded against Dortmund, but let's be honest if not for one of the greatest goalkeeping performances of modern times by Joe Hart, "it could've been 10".

And this is why Fernando, to shore up the midfield, and a top class defender whoever that may turn out to be are the priorities, not luxury signings.

 

[cookster]

Why?

We lost Kompany for a 1/3rd of the season, lost Nasty for almost all of it, lost Hart for 6 weeks, introduced Demichelis yet still ended up with the 2nd best defensive record in the League.

Long term we need a centre-back, but if Mangala, or Benatia are not available we can go with hat we have - maybe give Rekik a chance. He'll be 20 next season

You're on from today ;). We're a long term injury to Kompany away from winning nothing. Simply not good enough for a squad aspiring to be champions again and competing for the champs league.

Our defence, as it is, is capable of mounting a PL challenge for sure - we just saw it happen.

But time and time again, it has been exposed in the Champions League against high quality teams who have found it piss easy to find gaps and flaws in our defence, and the club is clearly pretty obsessed with this competition, hence a world-class defender being the priority this summer.

Over two games:

4 goals conceded against Real Madrid
5 goals conceded against Ajax (not even that good)
4 goals conceded against Barcelona
5 goals conceded against Bayern Munich

Our 'best' record against a top team is 2 conceded against Dortmund, but let's be honest if not for one of the greatest goalkeeping performances of modern times by Joe Hart, "it could've been 10".

And this is why Fernando, to shore up the midfield, and a top class defender whoever that may turn out to be are the priorities, not luxury signings.

TBF it wasn't just down to the defence. We have a mentality issue when playing sides in Europe, almost akin to an Inferiority complex. We need to retain the ball better and not spend 80% of the game on the back foot.

 

[hgblue]

Why?

We lost Kompany for a 1/3rd of the season, lost Nasty for almost all of it, lost Hart for 6 weeks, introduced Demichelis yet still ended up with the 2nd best defensive record in the League.

Long term we need a centre-back, but if Mangala, or Benatia are not available we can go with hat we have - maybe give Rekik a chance. He'll be 20 next season

You're on from today ;). We're a long term injury to Kompany away from winning nothing. Simply not good enough for a squad aspiring to be champions again and competing for the champs league.

Our defence, as it is, is capable of mounting a PL challenge for sure - we just saw it happen.

But time and time again, it has been exposed in the Champions League against high quality teams who have found it piss easy to find gaps and flaws in our defence, and the club is clearly pretty obsessed with this competition, hence a world-class defender being the priority this summer.

Over two games:

4 goals conceded against Real Madrid
5 goals conceded against Ajax (not even that good)
4 goals conceded against Barcelona
5 goals conceded against Bayern Munich

Our 'best' record against a top team is 2 conceded against Dortmund, but let's be honest if not for one of the greatest goalkeeping performances of modern times by Joe Hart, "it could've been 10".

And this is why Fernando, to shore up the midfield, and a top class defender whoever that may turn out to be are the priorities, not luxury signings.

Completely agree, and I suspect the club see it this way too. I bloody hope so.

 

[dachoosen1]

Cesc is the pirority! He is world class and in my opinion if he does return the the EPL whoever signs him will win it! Chelsea Matic, Cesc, Ramires, Hazzard, Oscar. Liverpool Gerrard, Henderson, Cesc, Coutinho, Sturridge. Arsenal Wiltshire, Cesc, Ramsey, Ozil, Walcott. Whoever get him will instantly have the best midfield in the league. A centre back would be a useful addition but for more money then Cesc definatly not. We have 50mil to spend 30 mil on Cesc 15mil on Shawcross, Sokratis or Garay, Sagna and Westwood for free, Zullicini for 1.5 and then sell Rodwell, Richard, Guidetti and Sinclair to fund the Fernando tranfer. Useless of course Boyata moves to NYCFC for 100 Mil then get both.lol

 

[Thenumber1blue]

Cesc is the pirority! He is world class and in my opinion if he does return the the EPL whoever signs him will win it! Chelsea Matic, Cesc, Ramires, Hazzard, Oscar. Liverpool Gerrard, Henderson, Cesc, Coutinho, Sturridge. Arsenal Wiltshire, Cesc, Ramsey, Ozil, Walcott. Whoever get him will instantly have the best midfield in the league. A centre back would be a useful addition but for more money then Cesc definatly not. We have 50mil to spend 30 mil on Cesc 15mil on Shawcross, Sokratis or Garay, Sagna and Westwood for free, Zullicini for 1.5 and then sell Rodwell, Richard, Guidetti and Sinclair to fund the Fernando tranfer. Useless of course Boyata moves to NYCFC for 100 Mil then get both.lol

I agree,also if you keep strengthening the midfield with this kind of quality,it always puts less emphasis on the defence .Although I wouldn't buy players like Shawcross though !

 

[dachoosen1]

Was looking for a CB linked with us without a 30mil price tag!lol

 

[citytillidie24]

Are you all forgetting how much Roma dug their heels in when we were after De Rossi? We won't be signing Benatia unless he really kicks off about the move. Don't hold your breath when dealing with Roma.

De Rossi never wanted to leave Roma.

So? Benatia has been quoted as saying he wanted a new contract and told fans he 'wasn't leaving'... Sounds like he just wants a bumper new contract... Exactly the same thing happened with De Rossi.

Do not hold your breath on signing this guy, if we do sign him, we'll have to pay big money and I don't think we're willing to. Same goes for Mangala, we won't pay over the odds for anyone anymore.