Nicolas Otamendi - 2016/17 performances

[mosssideblue]

Or we could spend some money and supply Nico with some serviceable fullbacks and stop giving up on our investments before they even play two seasons. Maybe, just maybe buying a new CB every year and quitting on the previous isn't a good strategy. Especially with the way we pick em. Boateng, Savic and Nastacic combined for a whopping 84 appearances combined then we followed that up with Demichelis as a stop gap that was destined to end poorly. Otamendi's been the most capable CB we've bought in the last 7 years and we're already shoving him out the door?! 50 appearances surrounded by kompany, yaya, fernandinho who isn't a typical DM, mangala, kolarov at CB AND LB!!!, 4 past it fullbacks in total, John "Mr lackadaisical" Stones and also let's top it off by installing a new system that's devastatingly error prone to the back line if not executed properly. Fuck it. Nico's the problem! Yep. Nico's gotta go. He's too aggressive. Virgil Van Dijk will solve everything surely. I'm not entirely serious here but it's an absolute joke that he's the scapegoat here.

Spot on mate and whilst you have caveated as to not being totally serious, there are a lot of truths in your post

 

[mosssideblue]

I think he's been immense for us. Not flawless obviously, but no-one is.

Totally agree. I think with Vinnie not being avail and John being the new toy, Nico is becoming the default scapegoat.

 

[waspish]

He might be rash at times but for me he is a top defender.

 

[mosssideblue]

He might be rash at times but for me he is a top defender.

He is, and he's very adept at bringing the ball out

 

[Kinkladze 1]

In my humble opinion, he's an absolute liability who is well below the quality needed for a team hoping to win the CL sometime soon. I see we're now blaming the fullbacks he has to play with and the new system. This is Mangala all over again. Blame everything else but the player! I'm astounded at how many people have been duped into thinking he's a superstar. Perhaps it's because of his superstar haircut and beard.

AND, what gets me the most is that he's a diving cheating pussy. He struts round like ten men then when he gets touched you can cue the dying fly act.

 

[Newman Noggs]

Totally agree. I think with Vinnie not being avail and John being the new toy, Nico is becoming the default scapegoat.

That, together with Kolarov putting in some excellent performances too. Joint 3rd best defence in the division with Vinnie out. Only 2 goals more conceded than Chelsea and Spurs. Whilst, admittedly, one or two of the errors that led to goals have been catastrophic, for me, such problems as we may have are more to do with balance in the midfield.

Anyway, Otamendi (and Kolarov) are doing us proud.

 

[mosssideblue]

In my humble opinion, he's an absolute liability who is well below the quality needed for a team hoping to win the CL sometime soon. I see we're now blaming the fullbacks he has to play with and the new system. This is Mangala all over again. Blame everything else but the player! I'm astounded at how many people have been duped into thinking he's a superstar. Perhaps it's because of his superstar haircut and beard.

AND, what gets me the most is that he's a diving cheating pussy. He struts round like ten men then when he gets touched you can cue the dying fly act.

In my humble opinion, your humble opinion is bollocks

 

[Saddleworth2]

If I'm completely honest, he is my least favourite city player. I can recognise that he at times plays well and in one or two games saved our bacon. That doesn't make up though for the lack of judgement in challenges, the fact he can't seem to stay on his feet, his play acting and diving. And yes his stupid haircut and beard doesn't help either. It's too much to ask that every one of our squad is a role model for kids like Dave and Zaba but for me this guy stands out as 'not a city' type player. All very subjective and just a personal opinion, but that's how I feel.

 

[jamesha]

He has done ok imo but could drastically improve. I think that many fans mentally compare CBs to Vinnie in his pomp and very few come out favourably.
The season before we bought him he was voted the best defender in La Liga so he obviously has something. There are some signs of improvement under Pep but he does revert to typical behaviours too often (not staying on his feet, playacting).

A settle back four would benefit the team enormously but it is difficult when playing two games a week, fitness issues and aging fullbacks.

Like him or loathe him Ota is going to be a key player for us this season.

 

[ADegenerate]

In my humble opinion, he's an absolute liability who is well below the quality needed for a team hoping to win the CL sometime soon. I see we're now blaming the fullbacks he has to play with and the new system. This is Mangala all over again. Blame everything else but the player! I'm astounded at how many people have been duped into thinking he's a superstar. Perhaps it's because of his superstar haircut and beard.

AND, what gets me the most is that he's a diving cheating pussy. He struts round like ten men then when he gets touched you can cue the dying fly act.

It's cool. He's about as polarizing as they come and both sides make valid points. How he is an absolute liability? Stones is definitely a liability but we deal with it because he'll improve. When will people realize that you can't buy a world class CB? We found one and tried to unload trucks of money on Juve and it didn't work. We've bought one for 10 years straight and it's never panned out because they're all flawed and we have unrealistic expectations. Exactly what people did to Mangala and now with Nico. Somehow you expect the replacement to stick though?

***Edit. Bobby Manc had the right idea though. Buy em young. Boateng is considered WC. Savic is doing well at athleti and is young. Nastasic is doing ok at Schalkae.