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There are persistent reports in Spain that City have offred 30 million euros for Pepe and that Real may finally be tempted. Pellegrini insisted on him last year and is continuing to do so. Seems a lot for a 31-year old, but then in that position he could give a good 3 or 4 years, and some of it will be the dreaded add-ons of course.

Plus Mangala seems a bit of an arse, so watch this space.

Unfortunately, he's told friends he would prefer to go to Chelsea or Man Utd.

Please God no. Just doesn't make sense

Makes loads of sense to me.

Imo he was the best defender around last season, best I saw regularly anyway. Some of the 1v1s he sorted out for Real, none of our defenders bar VK, would have even got near. But it does seem too much money for someone of his age.

If Pellegrini knows all about his physical condition & recons we can get 5 years out of him though, then it isn't too much money.

But Benatia seems to be making a big effort to get out of Roma, so I would imagine that is still the most likely signing.

31 and 30 mill NO. We could get Caulker, Vermalhen and Vertoghen for that two of which Vinny would be delighted with as partners.

Hazy2 wrote:31 and 30 mill NO. We could get Caulker, Vermalhen and Vertoghen for that two of which Vinny would be delighted with as partners.

I actually think Caulker is a very good shout and Vermaelen could be picked up at a pinch compared to Pepe.Vermaelen is a top player but his injury record would be my only concern.As for Pepe it's not that he wouldn't be a good signing but for that kind of money you'd be left scratching your head.His intensity and strength would certainly be a big plus for our defence.At a reasonable price he'd be ideal.

Green & Blue wrote:

Hazy2 wrote:31 and 30 mill NO. We could get Caulker, Vermalhen and Vertoghen for that two of which Vinny would be delighted with as partners.

I actually think Caulker is a very good shout and Vermaelen could be picked up at a pinch compared to Pepe.Vermaelen is a top player but his injury record would be my only concern.As for Pepe it's not that he wouldn't be a good signing but for that kind of money you'd be left scratching your head.His intensity and strength would certainly be a big plus for our defence.At a reasonable price he'd be ideal.

fuck me we will become arsenal soon for real!

I personally had a problem with Pepe.

I was convinced he was a dirty fucker, and he is, BUT, i saw he gives it all for the club and the national team. Maybe a cunt, but a great player on the field, reliable, not many mistakes and overall, very good with and without the ball. But still, 30 mil is a huge bid.

The main difference between Pepe, Vermalen & Vertonghen Caulker is that Pepe can actually defend & would get in our team. The other 3 can't & wouldn't.

Lescott is a fucking miles better cb than all 3 of those. Demi is better than all 3.

Caulker may be good enough one day, but so may Nastasic or Rekik or Denayer or several other kids. What would be the point of spendi g money on players who aren't good enough to get in our team ?

Ted Hughes wrote:The main difference between Pepe, Vermalen & Vertonghen Caulker is that Pepe can actually defend & would get in our team. The other 3 can't & wouldn't.

Lescott is a fucking miles better cb than all 3 of those. Demi is better than all 3.

Caulker may be good enough one day, but so may Nastasic or Rekik or Denayer or several other kids. What would be the point of spendi g money on players who aren't good enough to get in our team ?

I would not judge Caulker or Vertonghan so harshly, Vinny could make you look half decent, Pepe also needs a full rewire the other 3 don't if we are judging all aspects of each players game. Vermalhen has been his partner for years, Arsenal has been interesting for many a decent player who moves on and win things like Samir.. 30 mill for a loon sorry he is more of a gamble.Ramos yes despite his sending offs is the best defender for me with Vinny, but could we get him 40 mill is the BOC.

The real question is this, after what second part of the season Demi had, would you bench him? When he dragged Vinnie with him and was the leader of our defence?

PeterParker wrote:The real question is this, after what second part of the season Demi had, would you bench him? When he dragged Vinnie with him and was the leader of our defence?

For Pepe I would. For Thiago Silva. For some French kid ive seen twice or the Moroccan dude from Roma? Not at first...not a chance.

There are better defenders than MDM...such as Lescott.... But unless we find one who can play the role we need on our system then its not worth the change yet.

My horror nightmare is that we let Lescott leave and Nastacic is first choice again for whatever reason. Seems doubtful....

It doesn't matter how good he is if he ends up sitting out a lot of games due to red cards (and he WILL get carded if he comes here especially). I'm struggling to remember a game that I've seen where he hasn't done something crazy.

Dameerto wrote:It doesn't matter how good he is if he ends up sitting out a lot of games due to red cards (and he WILL get carded if he comes here especially). I'm struggling to remember a game that I've seen where he hasn't done something crazy.

On the other hand, the one thing our team lacks is a little nastiness. We're like a big cuddly bear. He'd add some of that alongside Sagna, who's also unpleasant.

Personally, I'd rather have kept Lescott for another season and a bought a younger player and then seen how Nastasic and the new one progressed. MDM and Kompany would probably have been first choice with cover from the others.

For £30m, I'd want a top class centre half who I was sure could cut it the premier league. Pepe is the only one close to that, but he's surely too old for that fee and then there's the issue that he's mental. He gets away with a lot because it's Madrid which isn't going to happen with us.

Dameerto wrote:It doesn't matter how good he is if he ends up sitting out a lot of games due to red cards (and he WILL get carded if he comes here especially). I'm struggling to remember a game that I've seen where he hasn't done something crazy.

He's moved on from that rep long ago in my mind.

DoomMerchant wrote:

Dameerto wrote:It doesn't matter how good he is if he ends up sitting out a lot of games due to red cards (and he WILL get carded if he comes here especially). I'm struggling to remember a game that I've seen where he hasn't done something crazy.

He's moved on from that rep long ago in my mind.

Have you been watching Real every week or is this another one of your PBL moments?

Demi was fucking brilliant last 2 months of the season when it really mattered . Solid and a leader , more than made up for his errors earlier in the season when he wasn't sharp and fit enough for the pace of the premier league . Absolutely another season for him partnering Vinny ! As for £30 million for Pepe , fuck that !!! Caulker or Vertonghen for half that price as cover makes much more sense , even a sneaky bid for Jagielka wouldn't go amiss .

Slim wrote:
Have you been watching Real every week or is this another one of your PBL moments?

Attack him all you want. And me.

I watch Real enough to know what I said is true. You do as well.

Cheers

City64 wrote:Demi was fucking brilliant last 2 months of the season when it really mattered . Solid and a leader , more than made up for his errors earlier in the season when he wasn't sharp and fit enough for the pace of the premier league . Absolutely another season for him partnering Vinny ! As for £30 million for Pepe , fuck that !!! Caulker or Vertonghen for half that price as cover makes much more sense , even a sneaky bid for Jagielka wouldn't go amiss .

Why have someone who is fast & exceptional 1v1, in a defence which plays 'open' & is needs cbs who are great 1v1, when you can sign someone slow & completely shite 1v1 for half the price ?

I fully expect Ron fucking Vlaar to appear on the 'good enough' list shortly.