Player topic: Eliaquim Mangala (2014/15)

[cleavers]

Re: Mangala

I think his price is the reason people get all defensive about him and imagine all these qualities that he just doesn't posess. He's 23 ! That is not young in my opinion, I think nastasic showed just as much if not more potential than Mangala and where is he now ? Consigned to the scrap heap because he dropped a bollock against Chelsea. Easier to discard than mangala because he didn't come with the hefty price tag I guess

You can't compare the two players because the football we play has changed greatly from the style that Nastasic was brought in for, and that is why Nastasic is nowhere near the team, he simply can't play the way this team/manager wants to play.

MP wants defenders who can tackle, and put us on to the attack, he wants our defenders to start the attacks, Mangala can do this, Nastasic couldn't. Nastasic is a good defender, but that's all he does, MP doesn't want that, he wants other attributes (whether fans like it or not).

Most CB's don't get anywhere near their best until about 28, so Mangala has 5 years to mature , he's also learning from two great CB's with vast experience, and needs time alongside both to learn, and while he will make mistakes, he'll get better at it.

Nastasic is on the "scrap heap" because he was advised to find another club, and he failed.

 

[NorthamptonBlue]

Re: Mangala

He's not overly young though is he. I fear we're going down the Balotelli route with him. Up until the age of 21 is where you look at potential. After that they are either reaching it or not.

At 23 and looking at the fact his game relies heavily of pace and strength he'll be on the decline in his early 30's. However, I do think he'll have the MDM factor and be top drawer next season. If we can get 4 top seasons from him then recoup some of his fee then its money well spent.

that is my worry and why I drew comparisons with Nastasic earlier. Nasty isnt fast but had the positional awareness and intelligence that I dont see in Managala.

I think Nastasic has a much better reading of the game than Mangala and both defenders perfectly summarise the managers style of football who bought them.

Nastasic performs better with a defensive outlook to the team and is exposed in the high line system. Where as Mangala is a front foot defender and performs better high up the pitch.

Sums up my views exactly

 

[Ray78]

Re: Mangala

Jerome Boateng was the last defender we had doubts about and gave up on him after a season and he ended up as a Champions League and a World Cup winner. I am unsure whether Nastasic can repeat that feat, but good luck to him at Schalke. However if we did let Mangala go that early we would be again rueing that decision imho.

 

[LesDiablesRouges]

Re: Mangala

Jerome Boateng was the last defender we had doubts about and gave up on him after a season and he ended up as a Champions League and a World Cup winner. I am unsure whether Nastasic can repeat that feat, but good luck to him at Schalke. However if we did let Mangala go that early we would be again rueing that decision imho.

Extraordinary physical gifts, which if he developed could make him a top notch CB. Right now he's extremely raw.

 

[bobmcfc]

Re: Mangala

Jerome Boateng was the last defender we had doubts about and gave up on him after a season and he ended up as a Champions League and a World Cup winner. I am unsure whether Nastasic can repeat that feat, but good luck to him at Schalke. However if we did let Mangala go that early we would be again rueing that decision imho.

You do remember that he hardly even kicked a ball for us and then engineered his own move away. Nobody got a chance to even give up on him.

 

[LoveCity]

Re: Mangala

Player joins City
Player has settling problems
Player gets written off
Player eventually does settle and turns out a great asset

How many times has this been repeated in recent years? From Nigel De Jong to David Silva to Fernandinho (aka Flopinho)...

Do you really think Mangala will still be struggling against unfamiliar style of players like Ings in 2-3 years from now? He said himself many of these smaller teams play a brand of football completely foreign to him.

 

[Ray78]

Re: Mangala

Jerome Boateng was the last defender we had doubts about and gave up on him after a season and he ended up as a Champions League and a World Cup winner. I am unsure whether Nastasic can repeat that feat, but good luck to him at Schalke. However if we did let Mangala go that early we would be again rueing that decision imho.

You do remember that he hardly even kicked a ball for us and then engineered his own move away. Nobody got a chance to even give up on him.

Still played 24 times and looked just as shaky as Mangala .

 

[Bill]

Re: Mangala

go on i'll bite. forget the price tag.

who do we prefer.
magala or nasty?

 

[MeatHunterrr]

Re: Mangala

Very early days yet. but Txiki has history at Barca of buying expensive centre backs for big money that didn't turn out as expected.

I'm still confident that he will turn out be world class defender.

 

[Ray78]

Re: Mangala

go on i'll bite. forget the price tag.

who do we prefer.
magala or nasty?

Mangala.