Sign Pizarro, yes or no?

[45 years of gloryhunting]

yes ,great squad player

 

[Neville Kneville]

Not unless he proves he can still run after playing football for 30 mins, which he couldn't yesterday (again).<br /><br />-- Mon Apr 09, 2012 5:22 pm --<br /><br />

I don't see Javi Martinez as a replacement for Pizarro either. Martinez would more than likely replace De Jong/Barry (demote Barry to the bench with De Jong leaving most likely), that's if we buy him as a midfielder and not a defender where Bilbao play him. Pizarro is a unique player and I'm sure Dax has a list of similar players as they are very hard to find. Most I know of are well known... Xavi, Scholes, Alonso, Pirlo are the most famous, Banega, Montolivo, and Pizarro are very good on a lesser level to those four (Banega could go on to great things if he can be more consistent). That pass that Pizarro did to Balotelli yesterday that the keeper anticipated well, not many midfielders could do that.

Sadly people underestimate how good Pizarro really is. He is as a passer on par with the Xavi, Alonso, Pirlo crew of passers. Way ahead of the Banega, Montolivo, Sahin bunch.

What we have on our hands is the equivalent of Pirlo. I can't remember how many threads on which folks were pinning for us to sign Pirlo last year. We have in fact signed his equivalent. And old, esquisite deep ball passer that has gotten up there in age. He is no different from Scholes for them. Why we wouldn' keep him if we can buggles my mind. At his advanced age he is only less talented overall than Yaya, Silva and Nasri (all potential superstars or superstars).
He came in for Yaya (our best player) and ou play improved! If that doesn't say something, I don't know what will.

I have watched different teams and scouted some exquisite passers. But few are as good as this guy. Frankly you get better at it with age. Even though you get slower. Xavi, Scholes, Pirlo e.t.c. are better passer now than they were 4 years ago. And used correctly, they can help a team reach its goal. Sure we can find a young up and coming replacement. But none of these guys are as refined as the old dudes at the art of controlling the game with a sharp mind and impecable ball passing technique.

Luca Cigarini is decent. Benat looks like a future Xavi but those are all projections. It is no different from how lots of French fans believe M'vila will surpass VIera. But we never know until they do it on the field. So there are no guarantee these guys will fit or have a similar effect. If Ferguson had o go dig out a 37 yearold from retirement, you know this skillset isn't easy to come across. DO we absolutely need it? No! But when you have it, it is just asinine to give it up because you don't want to pay a pittance for a fee. That is just laughable.

Scholes is fitter than Pizarro & can play for longer, provided nobody closes him down, in which case he's fucked as he was v our midfield at Wembley & at our place. Allow either to swan around unchallenged & they are both lovely passers of the ball, Scholes for 70 mins, Pizarro for 30/35.

 

[Dax777]

No... see Arse's goal yesterday....
Rather keep NDJ... and thats coming from me.

So how was he to blame for that shit Barry pass ???

He should have grown longer legs so he could control it properly

However, except for that one pass to Mario that Szczesny cut out, he was very poor

You are wrong, but since I know you'd insult me for giving you a minute to minute documentary. I'd pass on that.

That said. I think he was at fault for the goal. Barry's pass was not perfect, but Pizarro should have anticipated and taken the initial step before it bounced.

That said, he was still the best midfielder on the field yesterday. made better decisions, got open early and often, and made quick decisions. Something that seems to ail our team in general, especially our English players.
But just so you don't think I am bluffing. I'd give you two key instances. On both of Balotelli's yellow card offenses. City had just finished an attack. On the first Barry passed to Pizaman and he slid a pass thru 2 players to find Nasri who found Aguero deep in Ars territory. Aguero lost it and Balo got yellowed. That Piza pass was the key pass.

On Balo's other Yellow, we had a throw in Zaba to Milner who return it to Zaba under pressure in the corner, Zaba laid it back towards the line. Piza picked up the ball, faked like he was going to ping it into the box, and slipped it thru 2 defenders who were frozen by the pass. Zaba latched on to an open cross that went over Aguero and Balo chased Sagna and fouled him for his 2nd yellow.

Piza showcasse these type of intelligent decisions constantly. He simply is just smarter and better than your average run around CM. It is unfortunate we don't give him the props he deserves. Most understand the game in the simplistic situational cause and effect manner. "You give up a ball and they score, you are bad." "You run really hard and do nothing, you are good!"

 

[pudge]

So how was he to blame for that shit Barry pass ???

He should have grown longer legs so he could control it properly

However, except for that one pass to Mario that Szczesny cut out, he was very poor

You are wrong, but since I know you'd insult me for giving you a minute to minute documentary. I'd pass on that.

That said. I think he was at fault for the goal. Barry's pass was not perfect, but Pizarro should have anticipated and taken the initial step before it bounced.

That said, he was still the best midfielder on the field yesterday. made better decisions, got open early and often, and made quick decisions. Something that seems to ail our team in general, especially our English players.
But just so you don't think I am bluffing. I'd give you two key instances. On both of Balotelli's yellow card offenses. City had just finished an attack. On the first Barry passed to Pizaman and he slid a pass thru 2 players to find Nasri who found Aguero deep in Ars territory. Aguero lost it and Balo got yellowed. That Piza pass was the key pass.

On Balo's other Yellow, we had a throw in Zaba to Milner who return it to Zaba under pressure in the corner, Zaba laid it back towards the line. Piza picked up the ball, faked like he was going to ping it into the box, and slipped it thru 2 defenders who were frozen by the pass. Zaba latched on to an open cross that went over Aguero and Balo chased Sagna and fouled him for his 2nd yellow.

Piza showcasse these type of intelligent decisions constantly. He simply is just smarter and better than your average run around CM. It is unfortunate we don't give him the props he deserves. Most understand the game in the simplistic situational cause and effect manner. "You give up a ball and they score, you are bad." "You run really hard and do nothing, you are good!"

Nasri was our best midfielder but that's not saying much, Pizarro just waited for the ball to come to him too many times, plus he didn't jump once to challenge for the ball in midfield. Take the blinkers off Dax, we all know you love him but to put him up there with Xavi, Scholes and Alonso passing wise is taking it too far.

If you're going to cherry pick single moments in the game what about when we were breaking into their half and he attempted a foolish, first time back heel pass to no one, that gifted the ball to arsenal. One that is Mario had done it he would be castigated.

He's decent against teams that sit back or are tiring, but against teams like Arsenal that didn't give our midfield a second to breathe, the game passes him by.

 

[Dax777]

Not unless he proves he can still run after playing football for 30 mins, which he couldn't yesterday (again).
Scholes is fitter than Pizarro & can play for longer, provided nobody closes him down, in which case he's fucked as he was v our midfield at Wembley & at our place. Allow either to swan around unchallenged & they are both lovely passers of the ball, Scholes for 70 mins, Pizarro for 30/35.

I have had this discussions often with friends, it is a fallacy that a professional player can't last 30, 35 minutes. He went comfortably for 70 yesterday. And was not dragging as poorly as Milner (who supposedly has an engine was after 55 minutes of play). The truth is as a player you get tired based on how much energy you expend. For some players, intense running is their talent (Milner) so he get very tired quickly, when he does get to do his thing. Which he did yesterday and tired for it. Yaya is the same way when he engages his, I am going to run pass the stadium mode. Piza is not that kind of player, and really all these claims of tiredness are fabrications that are not supported by the facts. Against Sporting his passes did not get worse, and I documented that in a different thread. He misses 3 early (first 20) 2 in the middle and 2 in the second half. Clearly this is not a sign of tiring, just simply making a mistake like anyone else. When he misplaces a pass, it is because he is trying a high risk high reward play. Which works as often as it fails. He is not fast, but he is extremely intelligent. And yes, if you close him down early, and his teammate do not show the required intelligence to get open earlier, sure you can dispossess him of the ball. But this is true of almost every player on the ball.

FOr example, on the Barry pass, watch him, as soon as Barry turned, he got open raised his arm, while every other player in a CIty shirt was still standing around gawking. The space closed, he moved again to create the lane for Barry, but Barry chose to make a poor pass instead of a simple grounder. He does this so often, and our players do it so infrequently, that it is painful to watch.

He could play 90 minutes this way. It is how Xavi and Pirlo do it. Teammates just have to show more intelligence on and off the ball.<br /><br />-- Mon Apr 09, 2012 12:52 pm --<br /><br />

Nasri was our best midfielder but that's not saying much, Pizarro just waited for the ball to come to him too many times, plus he didn't jump once to challenge for the ball in midfield. Take the blinkers off Dax, we all know you love him but to put him up there with Xavi, Scholes and Alonso passing wise is taking it too far.

If you're going to cherry pick single moments in the game what about when we were breaking into their half and he attempted a foolish, first time back heel pass to no one, that gifted the ball to arsenal. One that is Mario had done it he would be castigated.

He's decent against teams that sit back or are tiring, but against teams like Arsenal that didn't give our midfield a second to breathe, the game passes him by.

I am not cherry picking. You said "Except for that one pass to Mario that Szczensny cut out, he was very poor." So pointing out 2 instances off my head where this is not the case isn't cherry picking, it is proof of your claim being factually wrong.

And I am not wearing blinkers, he is as good as those guys as a passer.

 

[pudge]

Nasri was our best midfielder but that's not saying much, Pizarro just waited for the ball to come to him too many times, plus he didn't jump once to challenge for the ball in midfield. Take the blinkers off Dax, we all know you love him but to put him up there with Xavi, Scholes and Alonso passing wise is taking it too far.

If you're going to cherry pick single moments in the game what about when we were breaking into their half and he attempted a foolish, first time back heel pass to no one, that gifted the ball to arsenal. One that is Mario had done it he would be castigated.

He's decent against teams that sit back or are tiring, but against teams like Arsenal that didn't give our midfield a second to breathe, the game passes him by.

I am not cherry picking. You said "Except for that one pass to Mario that Szczensny cut out, he was very poor." So pointing out 2 instances off my head where this is not the case isn't cherry picking, it is proof of your claim being factually wrong.

And I am not wearing blinkers, he is as good as those guys as a passer.

If you think he was our best midfielder yesterday, and put in an overall decent performance as well as being as good a passer as the likes of Xavi then you're crazy cakes.

 

[haugemcfc]

Would you buy Pizarro permanently, yes or no?

He seems to help out in training alot (judging from inside city), and has changed games.

Simple yes or no.

Me: Yes.

But not for a fee.

No. Not good enough

 

[BlueBradders]

No, he's not the sort of player we need, at his age he'll never be any good for us apart from a League Cup player.

Hargreaves was a mistake, so was bringing him in.

 

[quiet_riot]

No.

We had success with the 'old head with Prem experience' in Viera, but both attempts since then have failed (Hargreaves and Pizzaro).
I can see why Bobby wants someone in that mould, but it does need to be a Viera type, who has hacked it in the prem before, and certainly not a crock.

 

[the blue panther]

No.

Let me explain why - err - nah, can't be arsed.