Nicolas Otamendi - 2016/17 performances

[Dax777]

How do you think he played yesterday ?

Lol

 

[Dax777]

It's not really about me or my opinion, or whether I like it or not, Pep has made it really clear himself:

“I don’t like it when central defenders go down on the pitch. I don’t know about last season because I wasn’t here, but we are here to get him better."


​

Speaking about Otamendi in August. If he carries on diving into tackles, he'll be out the door.

So far I don't see him any more restrained than he was last season. For the first few weeks he was, but it's reverted to normal since September.

And yet he is the first defensive name on the team sheet. Perhaps that's a clue.

 

[Dax777]

Genuinely believe he is the bestdefender we have avail atm, and also believe we will see him here next season

It's not even close. Better than Kompany, Stones, Kolarov, Sagna, Clichy and Zaba. Imperfect? Yes. Do we have anyone as good? Not even close. No one has been as good since he started wearing the blue. No one.

So all these whinning and pointing out goals he got beat on, is all fine and good. But when he is not around we ship goals and chances by the boatload.

As far as defense is concerned, warts and all, Ota is #1 everyone else is at best a distant 2nd.

 

[BlueTG]

'He's a good defender when he's not having one of his crap moments'.

I'd be a good centre forward if I didn't miss 30 chances for every goal too.

 

[steviemc]

Nope I did not say that at all.

But our back four played very little part of us keeping Sanchez out of the game, it was the front 6 who completely dominated the game in midfield and ensured our poor defence only got exposed once in the game.

That should have been obvious to everyone watching, the centre backs did very little defending after arsenals goal.

Oh yes they did! (I know it may be almost pantomime season - but I'm really trying hard not to be condascending). You do realise we press as a unit don't you? That involves everybody doing their job. If you don't understand the very absolute basics of Guardiola's style of pressing, which involves the centre backs moving forward whilst still defending, then you're in for quite a tough time these next few seasons. Defending isn't just about tackling - it's about positioning which often ensures that you don't need to tackle. When quality oppostion strikers don't get a sniff during 90 minutes it's not all down to luck you know? Unless of course you listen to the modern tactical genius Mr Hoddle.

 

[MarsLlama]

But is Kolarov's high position really down to his lack of discipline? It happens so often that you have to wonder why, if Pep doesn't want him to go forward, why he doesn't do something about it. Pep is not a manager who stands for disobedient players.

Anyway, Otamendi. I think he tends to be criticised for his mistakes far more than he is credited for his good performances.

 

[MarsLlama]

It's not even close. Better than Kompany, Stones, Kolarov, Sagna, Clichy and Zaba. Imperfect? Yes. Do we have anyone as good? Not even close. No one has been as good since he started wearing the blue. No one.

So all these whinning and pointing out goals he got beat on, is all fine and good. But when he is not around we ship goals and chances by the boatload.

As far as defense is concerned, warts and all, Ota is #1 everyone else is at best a distant 2nd.

Not better than Kompany, but Kompany gets injuries to his injuries so that's irrelevant. Defensively the only player I trust more than Otamendi is Sagna, who's probably in his last season with us.

Stones has great potential but occasionally forgets who he's supposed to be passing the ball to.
Kolarov is an absolute monster at times but he's also incredibly inconsistent and frustrating.
Clichy seems to have regressed this season, though to be fair he's picked himself up in recent games.
Zabaleta is Zabaleta. I love the guy but he really does struggle against pacey players.

For every mistake Otamendi makes, he makes thirty brilliant tackles, headers, blocks and interceptions.

 

[Tbilisi]

Ota is our best defender by a long way.

 

[domalino]

Oh yes they did! (I know it may be almost pantomime season - but I'm really trying hard not to be condascending). You do realise we press as a unit don't you? That involves everybody doing their job. If you don't understand the very absolute basics of Guardiola's style of pressing, which involves the centre backs moving forward whilst still defending, then you're in for quite a tough time these next few seasons. Defending isn't just about tackling - it's about positioning which often ensures that you don't need to tackle. When quality oppostion strikers don't get a sniff during 90 minutes it's not all down to luck you know? Unless of course you listen to the modern tactical genius Mr Hoddle.

Yeah, you failed miserably if you were trying not to be condescending, but everyone is involved in pressing?! - Oh my, that's such revelatory news! Did you need a doctorate to work that out? Thanks for educating me, mister, I could never have grasped that extremely basic principle without your help.

The centre-backs did no active defending, they pushed the line up but the ball rarely reached them when arsenal had possession. That's literally the bare minimum you'd expect from anyone. If Aguero was put in the back 4 you'd expect him to do that. They were untested.


They had nothing active to do. As a back 4 they faced almost no attacks or breaks from Arsenal. It was great work from the team to protect them and exactly what Pep will want, but it's not good defending by the centre-backs.

 

[Zin 'messiah' Zimmer]

Oh yes they did! (I know it may be almost pantomime season - but I'm really trying hard not to be condascending). You do realise we press as a unit don't you? That involves everybody doing their job. If you don't understand the very absolute basics of Guardiola's style of pressing, which involves the centre backs moving forward whilst still defending, then you're in for quite a tough time these next few seasons. Defending isn't just about tackling - it's about positioning which often ensures that you don't need to tackle. When quality oppostion strikers don't get a sniff during 90 minutes it's not all down to luck you know? Unless of course you listen to the modern tactical genius Mr Hoddle.

Just to clarify, Steve, are you stating Ota has good positional sense?

You're indeed right about the press, however, it's coming across as disjointed as a few variables in the team are unable to execute it in tandem, Ota is one of them, he literally does it in the wrong position 7/8 a game, at the least..... It can't be applied 20 yards away from the man, that to its very core is flawed, and totally against what Pep is trying to achieve!!!!