and you are ignoring the fact hat the makes us defensively vulnerable. his tracking back is slow and ponderous, he doesn't control a game or dictate a game (that is done by Silva, KDB and even Sterling to a lesser extent and the fullbacks.
As a fan I was really excited by his signing but he has shown very little in 3 years (Ok some of it blighted by injury which is unavoidable). There have been few stand out games and unfortunately he is in a team where his other midfielders are 8/10's regularly and better. He isn't. Of course I hope this changes and he can change it but he needs to step up massively in the next couple of months as he will get more game time than he would have previously with KDB being out. (Im not saying he is replacing KDB and that we should expect the same type of performances). For me he is the weak point in our midfield. I wouldn't be satisfied with his contribution so far in the last 3 years.
Why is it a concern people like you can see it? Surely if you can see it our many coaching staff will be able to see it too.the problem with mendy (and maybe its not him but the system we play with him in it) is that everyone knows against better teams it will be exploited. He is a fantastic player going forward but Mendy is an average defender at best and the way we play leaves him one on one which he is very weak at. it also leaves so much space down our left side for teams to take advantage of. The concern is that people like me can see what will happen when we play against better teams.
True if sane is playing well he slots into one oMendy needs to improve defensively but his ability to cross is a natural gift from the gods. He's also played some delicious through balls. In this game, he also made the most tackles of any City player so he is hardly a lost cause as a defender! He seems like an intelligent committed guy so I would expect him to improve how he defends under the tutelage of Mr Guardiola. I'd also add that Traore is going to make a mug of plenty of full backs.
I don't believe playing Mendy should be any impediment to Sane getting into the team; it's just up to Leroy to find the appropriate level of form. What having Mendy in the side might mean though is Sane and Raz having to swap wings more often; plus there is now Mahrez to compete with for game time.
To be honest it was apparent at home against Liverpool last season when more salad kept getting in down the left in the first 15- 20 mins, that there were issues. But I'm not sure if the issue is Mendy or how pep sets the team up against certain teams, asking Mendy to do a certain job which leaves us open down the channels. However, I do think pep would have expectations of either the left of the back three or whoever is playing alongside Mendy in a 352, to slot in positionally when Mendy goes or needs support. Did not see that enough on Saturday.the problem with mendy (and maybe its not him but the system we play with him in it) is that everyone knows against better teams it will be exploited. He is a fantastic player going forward but Mendy is an average defender at best and the way we play leaves him one on one which he is very weak at. it also leaves so much space down our left side for teams to take advantage of. The concern is that people like me can see what will happen when we play against better teams.
True mate.Mendy needs to improve defensively but his ability to cross is a natural gift from the gods. He's also played some delicious through balls. In this game, he also made the most tackles of any City player so he is hardly a lost cause as a defender! He seems like an intelligent committed guy so I would expect him to improve how he defends under the tutelage of Mr Guardiola. I'd also add that Traore is going to make a mug of plenty of full backs.
I don't believe playing Mendy should be any impediment to Sane getting into the team; it's just up to Leroy to find the appropriate level of form. What having Mendy in the side might mean though is Sane and Raz having to swap wings more often; plus there is now Mahrez to compete with for game time.
City fans should read what a guy with no skin in the City game had to say about Ilkay.I read this on the Grauniad comments.
It's by a poster called ZeeZeeTopFulham
I found it interesting, and hope you will too.
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A very interesting game. City can rightfully feel aggrieved by the nature of the goal they conceded, but Guardiola will almost certainly be critical of the performance seen today.
The usually superb Kompany was sloppy with his distribution of the ball and off pace for much of the game, leading to Walker and Laporte at various times having to cover for him, perhaps depleting the effect Walker had along the flank. Laporte himself wasn’t brilliant, though given he scored the equalizer his criticism isn’t as strong. The two centre backs are undoubtedly among the finest in the division but today they were stretched and tested – the subsequent effort players around them needed to exert to repel counter attacks was clearly visible to the Wolves offensive line! Walker, meanwhile, might be one of the most intelligent full backs England has produced in a while – you can see how Guardiola has moulded him since his acquisition and subsequently the man has become crucial to this defence – how many might City have conceded if Walker hadn’t been there to mop up the loose balls and pacey runs posed to his side? Mendy was decent also, though like Walker you feel he might have had a greater impact if he wasn’t prohibited by the potent threat Wolves had going forward.
Continuing with the theme of players Guardiola has had an effect on, Raheem Sterling has gone from strength to strength under him and was once again the best attacker on the pitch for City. Tremendous, mazey dribbles mixed in with phenomenal quick passes, easily the player most threatening to the Wolves back line and perhaps the only player who can say they performed close to what their best is for the City lineup. Not only that, but his efforts across the entirety of the pitch are crucial – observe the way Sterling tracks back, uses his body against other players, never relinquishes a challenge, compared to Mahrez or Sane when they came on. I have no doubt in my mind that Sterling is one of the best attackers in the division at present and was perhaps the shining light of the team today – unfortunate to have had his first half effort saved, as well.
The others can’t be praised too much – Aguero had several chances that a player of his quality should have finished, both Silvas were surprisingly wasteful with the ball and were contained exceedingly well by their opponents, and while there were plenty of nicely constructed moves you could feel the tension and signs of panic trickling into their game, evidenced by the freakish mind lapses that led to misplaced passes, miscommunication and even foul throws. Gundogan distributed the ball nicely and perhaps would have had more statistical impact (in the form of goals/assists) if his teammates had been on the same wavelength today.
It was not that the quality wasn’t there for City… but that the efforts of a frankly superb Wolves performance was too much to overcome even for a side as talented as this. Boly’s goal was fortunate to say the least, but that doesn’t change the quality and composure of the performance, as any side that gives this City team a conundrum deserves substantial praise. Observe the splendid passing range of midfielders like Joao Moutinho and Neves, the breathtaking pace of Traore and Costa, the prowess and menace of Jota and Jimenez. Is that fortune, the mere roll of dice for a plucky underdog – or the cultivated formidability of a team ready to challenge any side in the top flight? Wolves continue the trend of demonstrating the Championship is no cakewalk – you top the division by being the best in the division, by recruiting well and melding a workable play style, and Wolves have shown just how talented a side they are with that performance. The one major sticking point for me is the officiating of the game – if we have the technology to ensure a goal illegally scored doesn’t stand, why not utilize it?
This is football, and one would be remiss to draw serious discontent from one draw for City – turn your focus to the composure and diligence of the Wolves performance, and consider that sometimes well drilled resolve and organization can beat the greatest of Goliaths.
Yes! A nutter for the truth. :)Haha, you’re a nutter aren’t you Dax.
Then you lose some creativity in midfield because if your playing to both delphs and sanes strengths for all intent and purposes your looking at a 433. Assuming fern is an automatic start in midfield, you got debruyne, Bernard, Silva, Jesus, aguero, mahrez, sterling and foden, fighting it out for 4 starting slots. Mendy's inclusion along with fern starting, allows a 352 freeing up 6 starting slots to our creative players, as opposed to only 4, if you go with Delph and sane. The whole point of going with Mendy is that you don't need the winger down the left, as he will do the job, allowing you to slot in further 2 creative ballers/players, which is required to break down the number of parked buses we face each week.
With Delph and sane starting the number of ballers you can squeeze into are team diminishes because of delphs limitations offensively and sanes limitations defensively, but of course it's all subject to form.