Welcome Abdukodir Khusanov

Can he play right back? Also can he invert or would he stay as centre half as Josko inverts?
 
Manc in London said:
I hope he is strong in the air. Since Vinny left, we have not had a defender who is dominant in the air. His head was like a ball magnet. You just knew when desperate teams threw the ball in the mixer, he would clear the danger. We do miss that. The lack of aerial dominance has been really obvious this season.

With his pace, being new to the league and appearing raw, I wouldn't be surprised if he plays RB to start with.
Click to expand...
Absolutely agree where our lack of aerial dominance is concerned. Not sure this fella is the answer though given that his figures suggest he's good but perhaps not great in the air. It is clear, however, that he's a natural defender!
1000022760.jpg
 
TheGhost said:
Can he play right back? Also can he invert or would he stay as centre half as Josko inverts?
Click to expand...
I think because of his age he will spend some time in training. The FA Cup might be the first chance for him to play.
 
Manc in London said:
I hope he is strong in the air. Since Vinny left, we have not had a defender who is dominant in the air. His head was like a ball magnet. You just knew when desperate teams threw the ball in the mixer, he would clear the danger. We do miss that. The lack of aerial dominance has been really obvious this season.

With his pace, being new to the league and appearing raw, I wouldn't be surprised if he plays RB to start with.
Click to expand...

It's funny, isn't it? Johnny, Rúben, Akanji, Aké, — if you look it up, not one of them is short. They're all six foot at least. And yet they are not dominant on high balls. Not infrequently, we get beaten on corners and dead balls into the box, and it creates some chaos for Ed or Stef to have to deal with.
I confess I yearn for the days of Dave Watson. But that's just my generation. The guy was like a rock. Just don't ask him to play out from the back like a midfielder…
 
Lovebitesandeveryfing said:
It's funny, isn't it? Johnny, Rúben, Akanji, Aké, — if you look it up, not one of them is short. They're all six foot at least. And yet they are not dominant on high balls. Not infrequently, we get beaten on corners and dead balls into the box, and it creates some chaos for Ed or Stef to have to deal with.
I confess I yearn for the days of Dave Watson. But that's just my generation. The guy was like a rock. Just don't ask him to play out from the back like a midfielder…
Click to expand...
Interestingly, Dave Watson played the first 2 seasons at Sunderland as a centre forward.
Also, as great as he was in the air he was only 5’11, compared to Vinny at 6’3.
 
Lovebitesandeveryfing said:
It's funny, isn't it? Johnny, Rúben, Akanji, Aké, — if you look it up, not one of them is short. They're all six foot at least. And yet they are not dominant on high balls. Not infrequently, we get beaten on corners and dead balls into the box, and it creates some chaos for Ed or Stef to have to deal with.
I confess I yearn for the days of Dave Watson. But that's just my generation. The guy was like a rock. Just don't ask him to play out from the back like a midfielder…
Click to expand...
Does zonal marking lead to this?

We usually stood about waiting for the ball to come in

Against Arsenal they steamed in on us and just roughed us up

Would man to man not be better?
 
Lovebitesandeveryfing said:
It's funny, isn't it? Johnny, Rúben, Akanji, Aké, — if you look it up, not one of them is short. They're all six foot at least. And yet they are not dominant on high balls. Not infrequently, we get beaten on corners and dead balls into the box, and it creates some chaos for Ed or Stef to have to deal with.
I confess I yearn for the days of Dave Watson. But that's just my generation. The guy was like a rock. Just don't ask him to play out from the back like a midfielder…
Click to expand...
Stones, Dias are both dominant in the air and Ake is quite good too. What stood out for me about Kompany was his ability to defend one on one. Very few forwards would beat him. Stones can do that too, but Stones doesn't play much. Dias and Ake can struggle for pace when exposed one on one. I think Khusanov will partner Dias in the long term.

I liked Dave Watson too. Tony Book's side of the 1976 was the first City side I remember. They were good for about 4 seasons maybe and those were the last good times we would know for about 30 years apart from the briefest of interludes with John Bond, Kendall/Reid and Brian Horton. The good times returned under Joe Royle, Watson's old team mate. I think they would have played together?
 
mayo31 said:
Does zonal marking lead to this?

We usually stood about waiting for the ball to come in

Against Arsenal they steamed in on us and just roughed us up

Would man to man not be better?
Click to expand...
Ordinarily, I would say yes but, let's be honest, we've not been served too badly by the existing system in recent years.
 
Lovebitesandeveryfing said:
It's funny, isn't it? Johnny, Rúben, Akanji, Aké, — if you look it up, not one of them is short. They're all six foot at least. And yet they are not dominant on high balls. Not infrequently, we get beaten on corners and dead balls into the box, and it creates some chaos for Ed or Stef to have to deal with.
I confess I yearn for the days of Dave Watson. But that's just my generation. The guy was like a rock. Just don't ask him to play out from the back like a midfielder…
Click to expand...

Probably because 6ft isn’t particularly tall for a PL centre back these days. Though having a good leap can compensate for that.

Need one centre back to be about 6ft 4 and getting his head on everything including the opposing strikers face if need be.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Unread Posts

Don't have an account? Register now and see fewer ads!

SIGN UP
Back
Top