Ruben Dias - Benfica confirm sale to City

[Neville Kneville]

Tbf I think having Stones as a backup option when you consider a Garcia or Harwood-Bellis is quite a massive difference. He's not world class but he'd be a starter at most clubs in Prem bar top 6 (I'd even say Chelsea right now), this can only be good for him and push him to work hard. Also benefits us, if he stays fit he will no doubt be involved, having less pressure and being out of the spotlight will definitely help him as well.

I've been saying for a while, Stones would be the best 4th choice cb in the world, & start for most PL teams, wheras Garcia, THB wouldn't currently play in any PL side.

 

[r.soleofsalford]

Spot on. Not only do they want things their way, but their way is also determined by information from social media and the alleged word of chairmen who are attempting to shift players on. I do not know much about Dias at all and neither did I know much about Koulibali or Kounde. What I do know is that I trust the management team to make decent signings as we have become the decade's most successful English club and have many things that are the envy of football, even though some on here seem intent on rubbishing any move we make.

I’m glad you trust the management and I hope your trust in them is rewarded.

Imo we are getting weaker while the opposition is strengthening Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool,

I feel we are sleep walking into the season and can’t see us getting any more players in.

 

[Rammy Blue]

Did we sell Mendy whilst I was asleep last night or have you put him in the same bin as Gundo ?

I like Benj but let’s be honest, he’s hardly been a success has he? Would you class him as first choice left back?

 

[riley347]

I like Benj but let’s be honest, he’s hardly been a success has he? Would you class him as first choice left back?

decent athlete- poor footballer imo..

 

[Neville Kneville]

4 strong CB- Ake, Stones, Dias, Laporte. We can mix and match them up however pep wants, I see us repeating the fourmidable season again. Just need to ride out the injury phase, I think its a good thing we are having these injuries right now, looking at our run of games, the only tricky game we have is the Arsenal game, by the time we play the dippers, dinho would have fully settled back into his natural position, Ferran would have adjusted to the league and who knows maybe the dippers might have a couple injuries of their own (hardly happens though, I wonder if they are a team of super humans).
We just need to be at the top or at least 2 or 3 points behind the top team when we face the "greatest pl team of all time".

If we are close after Christmas we are favourites imo.

The legs of centre mids would be my biggest concern if we have fixed the centre backs. We've never had a left back so no change there.

The rest of the team; I think Delap being involved is a much bigger plus than people realise. Delap, Aguero, Jesus available over the final months of the season, is scary. A solid defensive unit, Foden, KDB & those 3 plus Sterling for goals, plus Foden's goals. Awesome.

Get Braaf in there too.

 

[leo_city]

I’m glad you trust the management and I hope your trust in them is rewarded.

Imo we are getting weaker while the opposition is strengthening Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool,

I feel we are sleep walking into the season and can’t see us getting any more players in.

Chelsea and Arsenal are not done rebuilding. Wouldn't worry about them, both have areas to improve still.

Liverpool I can agree with, they already have an established team and they've added good depth in areas they are lacking, especially getting Thiago. But long way to go, don't think we are worse off than last season with the new players in.

 

[Rammy Blue]

decent athlete- poor footballer imo..

I know injuries have ruined him, which is a huge shame, but he just doesn’t excel at any part of his game now.

 

[Neville Kneville]

I know injuries have ruined him, which is a huge shame, but he just doesn’t excel at any part of his game now.

His crossing is nowhere near what it was & he's lost a yard of pace.

If he gets his cross back it will increase his value to the team by quite a lot.

 

[Rammy Blue]

His crossing is nowhere near what it was & he's lost a yard of pace.

If he gets his cross back it will increase his value to the team by quite a lot.

He seems to hit 1 in 5 decent crosses nowadays whereas in his pomp it used to be 4 in 5. There was one the other night against Bournemouth that my dead granny could have made a better effort at.

 

[Cityzen_89]

Big, strong and very good defensively. Not bad in the air too. Get him in, no pussy footing around now as time is rapidly dissapearing. He was a previous target too so I'm sure the club know everything they need to and know how he will slot in. £70m, £80m whatever. Pay it. Fuck Napoli.