David "Deadline Day" Pizarro

[twosips]

You do realise that if you watched a video of Pirlo or Xavi then its pretty much all they do too as well? They keep play ticking over, passing it around, controlling the ball - feeding the more direct players. If it's so easy, why the fuck do we fail to keep the ball whenever Yaya isn't playing? De Jong and Milner, and to a lesser extent Barry, are terrible at just controlling possession.

[Fesan]

Feel quite confident that a showreel of xavi would show quite a few brilliant forward passes:-)

[CityGer]

his ability to pass either backwards or sideways is matched only by De Jong

the "free kick" where he goes up to lamp it at goal then meekly passes it sideways made me roar with laughter
The vid has surely got to be a pisstake ?

Has to be. Left me speachless. The free kick is magnificent in terms of comedy value.

[twosips]

Here ya go!

A much fairer video :)

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YALMuGsT5d8[/youtube]

Looks great in this. Yes, he gives the ball a way a couple of times - but who doesn't? In general though his control of the game is fantastic.

edit - doesn't seem to be working - click this - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YALMuGsT5d8

[CityGer]

You do realise that if you watched a video of Pirlo or Xavi then its pretty much all they do too as well? They keep play ticking over, passing it around, controlling the ball - feeding the more direct players. If it's so easy, why the fuck do we fail to keep the ball whenever Yaya isn't playing? De Jong and Milner, and to a lesser extent Barry, are terrible at just controlling possession.

By all means put a positive spin on it but being critical of three players, who are part of a table topping midfield, doesn't make for a very compelling case.

Also, I could compile a better highlights package of Xazi and Iniesta from 15 mins of play, never mind six games.

As I say, by all means be positive about the signing (I dont have a problem with it) but try to retain a sense of reality.

[Goataldo]

You do realise that if you watched a video of Pirlo or Xavi then its pretty much all they do too as well? They keep play ticking over, passing it around, controlling the ball - feeding the more direct players. If it's so easy, why the fuck do we fail to keep the ball whenever Yaya isn't playing? De Jong and Milner, [highlight]and to a lesser extent Barry[/highlight], are terrible at just controlling possession.

To a lesser extent? Much less. As in, he retains, regains, and controls possession, extremely well. Imho.

Can't work out whether it's a reluctance to praise him cos he's slow and has a fat arse, or that people really don't see what Barry gives the team. Really does my swede in.

[twosips]

I like all three players - I just think that we want to play possession football, and we struggle when Yaya's not in the team. Milner, De Jong and Barry aren't capable of dictating play. I'm critical of their ability to play possession football - not them as players. I like them all, but when they're not alongside a playmaker we're a little screwed. They all have many strengths - controlling play isn't one of theirs though.

I know Pizarro isn't Xavi - who is? But i'm almost certain he's as good as anyone in our squad at dictating play. He's something we haven't got arguably. I REALLY rate him. I think he's genuinely awesome. Was part of the best midfield partnership in Italy (De Rossi) for aggggges and i was a huge fan of his - hence my joy in his signing.

[DoomMerchant]

You do realise that if you watched a video of Pirlo or Xavi then its pretty much all they do too as well? They keep play ticking over, passing it around, controlling the ball - feeding the more direct players. If it's so easy, why the fuck do we fail to keep the ball whenever Yaya isn't playing? De Jong and Milner, [highlight]and to a lesser extent Barry[/highlight], are terrible at just controlling possession.

To a lesser extent? Much less. As in, he retains, regains, and controls possession, extremely well. Imho.

Can't work out whether it's a reluctance to praise him cos he's slow and has a fat arse, or that people really don't see what Barry gives the team. Really does my swede in.

i think 95% of City fans see that Barry is the "formerly unsung Gaz Baz" and is now one of the most critical midfielders in the Prem. Hands down...his positional sense is just impeccable most times. I believe that Mancini has made him so much more positionally aware...they've built upon that sensibility that he has which cannot be taught, but can be honed to a level of what we're seeing from him. It's a feeling in most sports and i don't think football is different.

I love me some Gaz Baz....love him.

[everyonehatesus]

bbc world news just said he has been given a work permit, so its on then.

[Goataldo]

I like all three players - I just think that we want to play possession football, and we struggle when Yaya's not in the team. Milner, De Jong and Barry aren't capable of dictating play. I'm critical of their ability to play possession football - not them as players. I like them all, but when they're not alongside a playmaker we're a little screwed. They all have many strengths - controlling play isn't one of theirs though.

I know Pizarro isn't Xavi - who is? But i'm almost certain he's as good as anyone in our squad at dictating play. He's something we haven't got arguably. I REALLY rate him. I think he's genuinely awesome. Was part of the best midfield partnership in Italy (De Rossi) for aggggges and i was a huge fan of his - hence my joy in his signing.

Maybe my interpretation of 'controlling play' is different from yours then mate. I tend to think of retaining possession, picking passes that drag the oppo into certain areas, getting them out of position and then giving it someone else (a creative, killer pass-making ball-player, e.g Silva) to unpick the lock with some deliciously weighted through ball, as controlling play, and integral to possession football.

[Fesan]

I like all three players - I just think that we want to play possession football, and we struggle when Yaya's not in the team. Milner, De Jong and Barry aren't capable of dictating play. I'm critical of their ability to play possession football - not them as players. I like them all, but when they're not alongside a playmaker we're a little screwed. They all have many strengths - controlling play isn't one of theirs though.

I know Pizarro isn't Xavi - who is? But i'm almost certain he's as good as anyone in our squad at dictating play. He's something we haven't got arguably. I REALLY rate him. I think he's genuinely awesome. Was part of the best midfield partnership in Italy (De Rossi) for aggggges and i was a huge fan of his - hence my joy in his signing.

I REALLY hope you are right, but a old player coming in during jan window to me means he will spend his time struggling to get used to tempo and if he plays he will give away the ball and not contribute at all. Anyways, better than having 6 players on th bench I guess:-)

[twosips]

You've got me wrong! I love Barry! I just think his effectiveness depends on who he's alongside. Sat alongside Yaya he's great - confident, composed and can get back and forth with ease. When he's alongside De Jong or Milner he tries to do more of the dictating kind of thing, and i don't think hes THAT good at it.

[Goataldo]

You've got me wrong! I love Barry! I just think his effectiveness depends on who he's alongside. Sat alongside Yaya he's great - confident, composed and can get back and forth with ease. When he's alongside De Jong or Milner he tries to do more of the dictating kind of thing, and i don't think hes THAT good at it.

Forced into attempting the playmaker role by default, is not his bag. Agreed.

[twosips]

Basically - what i'm trying to say is that I think all of us this morning had accepted that we wouldn't be signing anyone, and no one had any real problems with that. And we've actually added a player - a really highly related, very competent, ball playing midfielder with a touch of skill and vision for absolutely nowt! And for some reason people are complaining...I just don't get what we've possibly got to lose and how it can't be a good thing. I think we've all become a little spoilt because we've had it so good with exotic expensive signings. I sometimes enjoy a signing like this. It's potentially very shrewd, and that excites me just as much as any £20m recruit. It feels strategic and thought out. Tactical almost. I like it.

[Dubaimancityfan]

I like his name

Yeah, it's pronounced DAAvid. That's already a good sign !

[Spurge]

fuck it thats it then this signing is gonna cost us the title!

Yawn....

Bobby isn't signing big name players in the window because strangely enough he thinks we've pretty much got what it takes to win the title - why on earth would he think that.............hang on a minute, aren't we currently top of the pile? Shit on further investigation it appears we are!!!!

Reading this thread made me think Bobby Manc was incapable as a manager and we were struggling to challenge fora top 6 spot this season

[phips]

I see this guy as a Europa League regular in order to preserve our "big 3" midfield players of Barry, Yaya, and Milner for the prem.

At least I'm hoping.

[Goataldo]

You do realise that if you watched a video of Pirlo or Xavi then its pretty much all they do too as well? They keep play ticking over, passing it around, controlling the ball - feeding the more direct players. If it's so easy, why the fuck do we fail to keep the ball whenever Yaya isn't playing? De Jong and Milner, [highlight]and to a lesser extent Barry[/highlight], are terrible at just controlling possession.

To a lesser extent? Much less. As in, he retains, regains, and controls possession, extremely well. Imho.

Can't work out whether it's a reluctance to praise him cos he's slow and has a fat arse, or that people really don't see what Barry gives the team. Really does my swede in.

i think 95% of City fans see that Barry is the "formerly unsung Gaz Baz" and is now one of the most critical midfielders in the Prem. Hands down...his positional sense is just impeccable most times. I believe that Mancini has made him so much more positionally aware...they've built upon that sensibility that he has which cannot be taught, but can be honed to a level of what we're seeing from him. It's a feeling in most sports and i don't think football is different.

I love me some Gaz Baz....love him.

It's people's perceptions that have changed, not his performances. Some people are just slower learners than others ,')

[CityGer]

Just been on SSN going for his medical. He's wearing combat trousers and a fleece.

Doesn't bode well.

[Crossie]

IS he willing to shoot at goal?