He has plenty of physical development time left. I watched the first leg, where PSV were equal to Milan. Would I back him against Aguero and Negredo? No. I wouldn't back any 18 year old against them.Neville Kneville said:pee dubya said:Yes, his mentality, attitude, physique and composure.Neville Kneville said:Can you please describe to me, which things you see in Rekik which make you feel he is the player to which a club aiming to regularly win the Champions league & Premier League will one day entrust the job of central defender ?
Other than the fact that he is 'young' what else has impressed you ? What was so good about Rekik when he played for our reserves ? What has he done this season, in Holland, which makes you think he can be the future for City ? You thought he showed something v Milan which tells you he will be the kind of player we need ? What ? What is it that impresses you ?
We are looking for the absolute best players on the planet to come through & play as our future central defenders.
Can any of you describe to me, which things in Rekik's game, make you feel he is likely to reach that standard ?
Against Balotelli he was not intimidated in any way, he tried to impose himself, be the dominant player in their duel. He got beaten at times, but he's an 18 year old with 10-20 competitive games, playing against one of the best strikers around.
His comfort and ability on the ball is absolutely essential for a top central defender these days, he's good enough in that department already.
For an 18 year old he's strong and agile, not the fastest but you don't need to be.
Sometimes he makes mistakes with his positioning and can rash in tackles, but in general he's a good one on one defender.
The reason I think he can make it, is because there are areas of footballer you can develop and things you can't develop, they have to be there naturally.
I think Rekik has what can't be developed in a footballer and his deficiencies are things which can be worked on and will naturally improve with experience.
I'm certain he'll turn out a very good player, he already is good enough to play at a high level (I watched both games against Zulte, one against Milan and one in the Eredevise, he didn't look out of his depth in any). There's absolutely no certainty it will be with us, but he has a good chance.
Also, in defence, you actually don't need to have the best players on the planet. Obviously they need to be at a certain level, but the unit as a whole is more important than the individual. Individual quality is far more important in the attacking positions.
For example take Athletico Madrid, they have the best defence in La Liga, in the centre they have Miranda and Godin, good players, but they are not special players, they wouldn't be in a World 11.
Anyway Rekik's confidence and fearlessness are why I think he can make it. He has the ability, but you need the mentality to utilise it, I think he has the correct mentality.
I am specifically talking about City.
I don't doubt Rekik will make a career in football.
I honestly don't know what part of either game against Milan you thought was an indication of a future City central defender. He was positionally shocking, slow, weak in the air & prone to giving away fee kicks. as well as being responsible for at least one goal & missing an open net at the other end.
I just don't understand how anyone watches that & thinks it's an indication of future success. I've never seen Balotelli spend so much time actually stood up, he's usually on his arse at the first challenge but he beat Rekik so easily he just stood & controlled the ball without going down.
I see Rekik as a reasonable prospect in some position, he is a decent footballer & with the right coaching/attitude, it's quite possible he could do the job DeJong for instance does. Or perhaps he could be a strong fullback, I doubt Gary Neville had any more ability. But at centre marking players of the calibre of Aguero or Negredo in Premier League matches ? I would be delighted to see him at cb for another team v those two.
Surely if we are one day trying to win the Champions League with homegrown players, we should be looking for a player of similar ability who is bigger, stronger & faster, as our future cb ?
If Rekik then becomes so good that he forces his way past such players then well done to him, but imo, we should be looking at something different for the cb job.
You're clearly entitled to your opinion, but I think the potential he has is extremely obvious. I'm not sure what your expectations are of such a young defender are, what you've said seems very unrealistic.