I blame Clichy, I'd lose confidence in about 20 seconds if I had to play alongside him at Premier League level. Saying that, if I had to play at that level I'd probably only last about 30 seconds alongside anyone else.His transformation since he's become more confident has been revealing in some ways. After all, he was hardly a young, insecure player when he arrived: he was accompanying his old coach, who had wanted him.
We've had several incoming defensive players go to pot almost immediately after arrival: Mangala is another who lost confidence massively within a few matches of arrival ( and I still thick there a lot of potential there). Nastasic took a bit longer but certainly had more potential than he was able to show here. Bravo's problems have been obvious, Javi Garcia took ages to show any quality (although perhaps he was one of the weakest players listed here); Fernando took age to perform to any sort of standard.
I don't believe that it's just because these players were shit. It makes me wonder whether there was something about or club - whether the personalities among the defensive players or the coaches - that made it harder for some of these players to settle.
I can think of far fewer attackers who took so long to adapt.
I blame Clichy, I'd lose confidence in about 20 seconds if I had to play alongside him at Premier League level. Saying that, if I had to play at that level I'd probably only last about 30 seconds alongside anyone else.
His transformation since he's become more confident has been revealing in some ways. After all, he was hardly a young, insecure player when he arrived: he was accompanying his old coach, who had wanted him.
We've had several incoming defensive players go to pot almost immediately after arrival: Mangala is another who lost confidence massively within a few matches of arrival ( and I still thick there a lot of potential there). Nastasic took a bit longer but certainly had more potential than he was able to show here. Bravo's problems have been obvious, Javi Garcia took ages to show any quality (although perhaps he was one of the weakest players listed here); Fernando took age to perform to any sort of standard.
I don't believe that it's just because these players were shit. It makes me wonder whether there was something about or club - whether the personalities among the defensive players or the coaches - that made it harder for some of these players to settle.
I can think of far fewer attackers who took so long to adapt.
Clichy is finished. Used to be decent but he's lost his pace now, which ultimately means he's not even worth playing.
Now, now, now. He does attack, he's just fucking useless.The fullback who can't defend and doesn't attack.
New contract? Yes please, one year extension. And if he doesn't have any better job offers after next season then offer him a Richard Wright role, doubling as a third keeper. His experience will be perfect if Rulli does come, what with both being Argentine.
Maybe he will leave for at least a season, and we will promote Grimshaw/O'Brien as the third GK, who will have that one season to train under Pep's regime (or just an outsider a la Taylor, Wright).Goal's City correspondent Sam Lee, who's usually spot on, reported that there's little chance we'll be going in for Rulli this summer as Sociadad are still paying off the fee to us. Makes sense as to why we may be offering a contract extension to Willy. Offering him a the role that Wright had wouldn't be a good idea, he'd be taking up a foreign spot for no game time. Unless Gunn is getting loaned out or sold next season I think he'll be our third choice as he's club trained, it'd be a shame for his development though!