Jerome Boateng to Bayern Munich?

[Wooders]

Bobby manc said there is no way we're gonna sell him. Add to that bayern want to pay less than we want and we have ourselves a non starter

[DoomMerchant]

Just been watching the game again. He was definitely there on Saturday and was definitely wearing NHS glasses.

what's wrong with NHS glasses? just sayin

cheers

[avoidconfusion]

Considering that Kolo is looking at a long ban probably we really should keep Jerome.

[dazby]

If we sold Jerome and bought Mertesacker I'd be very pleased.

[Colin the King]

I think Boateng has a lot of good attributes, it's just that, none of them are particularly relevant to a defender. I imagine he'd be a good central midfielder with his composure and ability on the ball, but his positioning is woeful, he has no determination and never anticipates anything.

But to play Devil's advocate, he is only 22 and this was not only his first season in England, but an injury plagued one. I'm just inclined to think that if the raw materials aren't there, they never will- like you can see qualities in Boyata, who's two years younger, that Boateng just doesn't have.

It's not a crucial situation anyway- if he stays, he has the opportunity to progress and learn from better and more experienced players, with no pressure as such. If we sell him, he won't be dearly missed. But there's always that chance he could come back in August with a renewed desire and prove the doubters, myself included, wrong.

[kinkylola]

Hope we don't sell, young player with potential. We can afford to give it a little longer these days. First season here was really bad with injuries, add that to moving to a new country and playing in the fastest most physical league around and it's going to be a bumpy beginning. No need at all to usher him out quickly, makes absolutely no sense.

[avoidconfusion]

Quotes from Bayern's manager also saying that negotiations are underway apparently. Real shame imho.

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

I think Boateng has a lot of good attributes, it's just that, none of them are particularly relevant to a defender. I imagine he'd be a good central midfielder with his composure and ability on the ball, but his positioning is woeful, he has no determination and never anticipates anything.

But to play Devil's advocate, he is only 22 and this was not only his first season in England, but an injury plagued one. I'm just inclined to think that if the raw materials aren't there, they never will- like you can see qualities in Boyata, who's two years younger, that Boateng just doesn't have.

It's not a crucial situation anyway- if he stays, he has the opportunity to progress and learn from better and more experienced players, with no pressure as such. If we sell him, he won't be dearly missed. But there's always that chance he could come back in August with a renewed desire and prove the doubters, myself included, wrong.

Love to have you back around here mate.

Like I said when we signed him, having tried to watch as many of his games as possible after the deal was basically done after 2010 january window, he is raw as fook. I thought it was too early for him to move as he needed to develope and play regular football. I agree with CtK. He has got tons of good features about him but I'm not entirely sure that will make him top defender ever. Equally though given time to blossom, he could turn out to be bees knees. I just wonder when and how we are going to be giving him chances?

[avoidconfusion]

Well with Kolo's ban, what happens if Lescott gets injured again or worse yet, Kompany?

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

Well with Kolo's ban, what happens if Lescott gets injured again or worse yet, Kompany?

I'm almost 100% positive we are looking to bring another centerback in. Otherwise I don't quite understand your point. Length of Kolo's ban is still a question mark but if they buy the whole diet pills shit (I don't by the way, but I'm eternal cynic with this stuff) I think he'll be back when the season kicks off. Vinnie is obviously starter next season again. Lescott is kept in the squad mainly because he can cover as leftback. Mancini (And I myself for that matter) rate Boyata really highly so I think he is "the developemental project" that Boateng would be. Also Boyata, having been with us since he was 16 fills homegrown quota.

There's also the fact that Boateng wasn't played as centerback by Mancini so it seems he was brought in as fullback which I thought was a mistake. I don't think he projects as a fullback but centerback in the future. Anyway, we are sorted at rightback and he isn't that good of a leftback even if people who only saw him in WC thinks he is one.

[trueblue64]

Its a shame, I thought given time he might make it. If this is true than good look to the lad, think he is more suited to the German game. We can bring in someone a lot better.

[Blue Blood]

Well with Kolo's ban, what happens if Lescott gets injured again or worse yet, Kompany?

If Boateng goes I bet we move on Cahill.

Solid player, probably just shades Lescott in quality and would join in a heartbeat. Certainly an upgrade on Jerome.

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

Well with Kolo's ban, what happens if Lescott gets injured again or worse yet, Kompany?

If Boateng goes I bet we move on Cahill.

Solid player, probably just shades Lescott in quality and would join in a heartbeat. Certainly an upgrade on Jerome.

I'm not nearly as high on Cahill as most people seem to be. He is good player, in fact really good, but imo not much of an improvement on Lescott. I fully understand that people want us to have more English players but there are better and younger defenders out there.

[Nigels Tackle]

i laughed when baconface paid north of £10m for a player with practically zero premier league experience when he bought smalling.... i know who'd i'd rather have now.....

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

i laughed when baconface paid north of £10m for a player with practically zero premier league experience when he bought smalling.... i know who'd i'd rather have now.....

Smalling was no unknown quantity. He was defender version of Wayne Rooney or Joe Cole who every scout had boner on since he was playing youth football. He was unknown quantity only to wider audiences. Taggart made it clear they had followed his developement for a long time and picked him up when he was ready.

[avoidconfusion]

I still think it is far too early to judge him, he hasn't really had a chance to bed in.

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

I still think it is far too early to judge him, he hasn't really had a chance to bed in.

Did it occure to you that this might be swap deal for your boy Lahm?

Fuck that would leave our defense as complete mess. Kolarov on the left and Lahm on the right.

[Blue Blood]

Well with Kolo's ban, what happens if Lescott gets injured again or worse yet, Kompany?

If Boateng goes I bet we move on Cahill.

Solid player, probably just shades Lescott in quality and would join in a heartbeat. Certainly an upgrade on Jerome.

I'm not nearly as high on Cahill as most people seem to be. He is good player, in fact really good, but imo not much of an improvement on Lescott. I fully understand that people want us to have more English players but there are better and younger defenders out there.

I agree he is just a solid player, a slight improvement on Lescott. This said its all about squad depth next season and I'd rather have Cahill being rotated in and out the squad with Lescott than Lescott and Boateng.

Boateng for me has really been average this year. He doesn't inspire much confidence for me.

[Mike J]

I still think it is far too early to judge him, he hasn't really had a chance to bed in.

Did it occure to you that this might be swap deal for your boy Lahm?

Fuck that would leave our defense as complete mess. Kolarov on the left and Lahm on the right.

i honestly dont think there are many RBs mancini would swap micah for now...... and rightly so.

[Ted Hughes]

I think Bob is looking for footballers as CB's, probably to keep the tempo of the play flowing once we get it together. (There were definite signs of a concerted effort to play faster v Stoke)

Lescott, imo, is currently a much better defender than Boateng but Boateng is a quality footballer (much better than he's shown us so far) & I agree he almnost looks like a potential midfielder. I also agree, he hasn't got a fucking clue about defending in our league but he's big, strong & fast. 'FAST' being important as we have no pace at CB & teams will try to exploit that like they have our aerial problems, if they see it as a weakness. Cahill is a better footballer than Lescott but not much quicker if at all & not as strong in the air. I don't see why we'd want him. But re Boateng, the question is; can Boateng learn?

When Hughes put Vinny at CB, he immediately got taken apart at a corner kick & looked in trouble (he still does on occasion now). We shifted him back out as he was getting battered in the air & taking up some odd positions in general play but he got better at it. He's not perfect at it yet but he's improving & his natural talent is coming through. Perhaps over a couple of seasons, Boateng could do the same. Just ease him in gradually & don't put too much trust in him until he's earned it. If he's still shit then, dump him.