Player Topic: Eliaquim Mangala (2015/16)

[Rolee]

I remember the outrage on here when the news broke we were getting Otamendi and Mangala was going to Valencia on loan.

Absolute outrage on the back of 2/3 good performances.

Football is a funny old game.

It's funny too that Valencia who aren't a bad side would want someone who's apparently so poor.

 

[Blue Hefner]

It's funny too that Valencia who aren't a bad side would want someone who's apparently so poor.

Well, they sacked the manager that wanted him.....

 

[bongsblue]

I want him to do well, and to be fair to him he has had a few decent games. However, he is impetuous and seems to lack positional awareness. Opponents wander away from him so easily and he recovers, most of the time, by using his strength and speed. I was hoping that spending £30m plus on a defender might secure us someone who was pretty near the finished article, an able support to Vincent, who as we all know has had his moments recently. You would hope that our coaching set up would be working hard with him, and that Manuel, a centreback himself, would be having a few meaningful words. Bottom line I guess is that if the lad doesn't get it or lacks the ability to implement what he is told then we truly have bought a pup. I haven't given up on him completely but I am moving in that direction, fast. Looking around the League there aren't too many central defenders who would fill me with any confidence. Best one I have seen at our club in 50 years plus of watching, Dave Watson.

 

[cityboy1]

Yes he's playing gash but alongside Demechelis at the end of last season and alongside Vinny at the start of this season he started to look the part. Need to remember that he's young and his confidence can't of been helped by us signing Otamendi who had been bought effectively to play ahead of him. Had Kompany not been injured he might have only got the odd cup run out this season.

Hes 24 and will be turning 25 soon so hes not exacly a kid anymore

 

[Steve68]

Hes 24 and will be turning 25 soon so hes not exacly a kid anymore

Quite.

We didn't pay so much money as a punt. The 7 mill Everton spent on Stones is a punt. 30-40 mill is what you pay for a toP class defender who makes an immediate difference.

If he's not good enough now, he never will be.

 

[blue ranger]

I did actually laugh out loud. It was brilliant! Haha!

Have to admit I giggled - it was ridiculous.

 

[TFC]

I want the lad to succeed and think he has all the tools to do so, but fuck me he has a long way to go. Our defence gets hung out to dry time and time again which doesnt help build any confidence, I bet he would thrive in a more defensive minded team. Unfortunately for him, thats not City and probably wont be for the foreseeable.

 

[blue ranger]

It's funny too that Valencia who aren't a bad side would want someone who's apparently so poor.

Well now Valencia are managed by Neville it won't be happening. Unless I mistaken isn't his agent Jorge Mendes who has a lot of influence at Valencia? I know one thing though. When he goes it will be a loan as nobody would pay big money for a stump.

 

[cityboy1]

Quite.

We didn't pay so much money as a punt. The 7 mill Everton spent on Stones is a punt. 30-40 mill is what you pay for a toP class defender who makes an immediate difference.

If he's not good enough now, he never will be.

Its becoming a joke now the guys almost 25 and people are acting like hes a kid and he'll turn into a world class defender even though he cant pass and his footballing brain is just generally shit but apparently pep is some miracle worker and can fix all of that

 

[ono]

Quite.

We didn't pay so much money as a punt. The 7 mill Everton spent on Stones is a punt. 30-40 mill is what you pay for a toP class defender who makes an immediate difference.

If he's not good enough now, he never will be.

I don't think that's quite true.

Quite.

We didn't pay so much money as a punt. The 7 mill Everton spent on Stones is a punt. 30-40 mill is what you pay for a toP class defender who makes an immediate difference.

If he's not good enough now, he never will be.

I don't think that is necessarily true of a defender. Some mature more than others. At 24 Thiago Silva was back in Brazil after failing to make the grade in Europe at Porto and Dinamo Moscow. Otamendi was back in South America after failing to make the grade in Europe. A defender can look world class in one system and then look a shambles in another. I'd reserve judgement on him until we improve as a unit because let's face it, Kompany aside, our entire backline has looked a complete joke.