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What will we do after this season?

MDM is obviously off, but from what I hear Denayer is not exactly tearing it up in Turkey.

Kompany is such an injury risk, approaching 30, yet he's also so vital being in form this season again, and particularly in organising and leadership that we look lost when he's gone.

Otamendi has been on and off, but surely he's staying and needs more time to bed in.

Mangala still could become something, but his decision making is poor too often, and seems nervy. Yet, I worry if we sell he'll blossom elsewhere and we may regret it (Chelsea, the club he originally wanted to join, I suspect might be interested).

Who else is really available anyway? My concern there also seems that we keep making changes or dealing with injuries that are hurting our consistency.

Can 'em all and buy Thiago Silva, Sergio Ramos, and John Stones. Come on Spafia, get it together.

I'd be ok to see mangala go and someone world class come in to partner the otter - I love vinny k but he's a bit of a liability injury wise so I'd prefer he took the Demi role in the team

I actually I would buy a defender that has EPL experience, not a star.

Vinnie and Hipster Nick should be our first choices, with Mangala as a sub. Maybe someone like Fonte. Not class, but solid.


But I think we will finally get Pepe.

I think we shouldn't spend another penny on this position for a few years at least. I also think that it won't make too much difference who's brought in, the same problems will persist because it's more a case of the system than the personnel.

That said there is personnel issues too, Demi's legs have gone so he's becoming a bit of a liability despite his excellent leadership abilities, he should only play now if he must.

The main issue with Mangala is he needs someone else doing the organising, as we saw at the start of the season when he had Vinnie beside him he was fine.

Otamendi looks potentially a good centre back but he is still getting used to this league and it shows, some of his decision making is ludicrous. I don't believe him and Mangala work yet because Ota hasn't been here long enough to have the confidence to assert his authority over him.

Denayer for Demi next season and then let the rest get used to playing with each other and it'll naturally improve. It's not healthy to be bedding in a new centre back every season.

We have two outstanding young English centre backs coming through so we need a couple of years to get them integrated properly. Denayer is playing RB and doing OK, he is a very good back up.

I like Shawcross at Stoke, no nonsense and is miles better than Mangala. We need to find a partnership and fast as our season could very quickly be over. It's a huge worry IMO.

Shawcross would be useless in the Champions League imo.

Isn't Shawcross a filth fan?

Good defender.

Another lumbering centre back who will not improve the defence at all.

We ask a lot of our back 4, the full backs run miles the two in the middle need a holding MF who can snuff out danger like we could a couple of years ago, the squad is getting older add that to the counter attacking style if teams, scoring and winning on 30% possession. We have to adjust, the season is also crazy, I think a seasons biggest game is here and Pellers and the team need this week to get it sorted or Arsenal might just establish themselves as the team to beat this season.

The problem with the defence is the midfield.

The centre is so soft, everyone's in on the act, slide a ball between the CB's or the CB & full back and you're in.

That ball shouldn't be allowed to be played, if it is the defence should be able to hold shape and not be pulled apart

Hazy2 wrote:We ask a lot of our back 4, the full backs run miles the two in the middle need a holding MF who can snuff out danger like we could a couple of years ago, the squad is getting older add that to the counter attacking style if teams, scoring and winning on 30% possession. We have to adjust, the season is also crazy, I think a seasons biggest game is here and Pellers and the team need this week to get it sorted or Arsenal might just establish themselves as the team to beat this season.

This is pretty much it for me. Asking CB's to defend with fullbacks bombing on who aren't 25 anymore and without an intelligent shield ala Barry or De Jong and still keep the same sort of stats is silly. We need to either get younger FB's, a proper DM or adapt the system a little.

Or even better start scoring 6-7 goals again and fuck the one we let in.

Either way committing so many players to a blunt attack and leaving so few in a struggling defense isn't much good.

Agree.
The defence look worse than they are because the get exposed due to the dreadful cover provided from midfield.
This makes them look worse than they are.
Then Joe gets exposed and he is making numerous great saves most games. Without him we would be shipping +4 goals per game.

I don't think we need to replace our central defenders - unless we replace Vinny due to his injury record (and where will you get another as good as him?)
Long term I have great faith in Mangala. He needs a mentor, time and confidence i.e. a season beside a fit Vinny.
When Mangala has that and Otti gets used to PL - they will be a very good pairing - one that will work for PL and CL.
Coming through we have Denayer who is gaining experience and looks like he will make it.
Plus whatever is coming through from the academy?

In the short term we are in really bad way - no Vinny and its legs akimbo every game - with only Joe to save our virtue.
Shows how awesome Vinny is. He organises the defence and provides cover so well that the lack of cover from mid-field is not apparent.
All that and leadership, will to win and inspiration as well.

Crossie wrote:The problem with the defence is the midfield.

The centre is so soft, everyone's in on the act, slide a ball between the CB's or the CB & full back and you're in.

That ball shouldn't be allowed to be played, if it is the defence should be able to hold shape and not be pulled apart

I do agree with the point you make about the centre mid, but when a basic ball is played into the channel a centre half should deal with it. If he has no pace or strength then he can't. Mangala is not good enough which is why he was not even a regular for Porto.

South Stand Balti wrote:

Crossie wrote:The problem with the defence is the midfield.

The centre is so soft, everyone's in on the act, slide a ball between the CB's or the CB & full back and you're in.

That ball shouldn't be allowed to be played, if it is the defence should be able to hold shape and not be pulled apart

I do agree with the point you make about the centre mid, but when a basic ball is played into the channel a centre half should deal with it. If he has no pace or strength then he can't. Mangala is not good enough which is why he was not even a regular for Porto.

He was a regular at Porto, captaining them at one point too.

As I see it citys defensive problems are:
1. The coach tactical "rule" that the four-backline always should stop dropping at the 16 yard line. Ridiculous to see many times.
2. Most of our defenders strength is attacking skills, not defending. World upside down.
3. The coach low awareness of periodization which leads to accumulation of fatigue which leads to injuries and constant changing of defensive players.
4. Demichelis (shocking).
5. An attacking playing style will always cost in the defensive areas. For example the midfield is very offensive balanced.

Pretty Boy Lee wrote:

Hazy2 wrote:We ask a lot of our back 4, the full backs run miles the two in the middle need a holding MF who can snuff out danger like we could a couple of years ago, the squad is getting older add that to the counter attacking style if teams, scoring and winning on 30% possession. We have to adjust, the season is also crazy, I think a seasons biggest game is here and Pellers and the team need this week to get it sorted or Arsenal might just establish themselves as the team to beat this season.

This is pretty much it for me. Asking CB's to defend with fullbacks bombing on who aren't 25 anymore and without an intelligent shield ala Barry or De Jong and still keep the same sort of stats is silly. We need to either get younger FB's, a proper DM or adapt the system a little.

Or even better start scoring 6-7 goals again and fuck the one we let in.

Either way committing so many players to a blunt attack and leaving so few in a struggling defense isn't much good.

De Jong sent off today and gave away a pen.

If we started scoring 3/4/5 goals a game our defence would certainly have less pressure and probably concede less.

Wonderwall wrote:

Pretty Boy Lee wrote:

Hazy2 wrote:We ask a lot of our back 4, the full backs run miles the two in the middle need a holding MF who can snuff out danger like we could a couple of years ago, the squad is getting older add that to the counter attacking style if teams, scoring and winning on 30% possession. We have to adjust, the season is also crazy, I think a seasons biggest game is here and Pellers and the team need this week to get it sorted or Arsenal might just establish themselves as the team to beat this season.

This is pretty much it for me. Asking CB's to defend with fullbacks bombing on who aren't 25 anymore and without an intelligent shield ala Barry or De Jong and still keep the same sort of stats is silly. We need to either get younger FB's, a proper DM or adapt the system a little.

Or even better start scoring 6-7 goals again and fuck the one we let in.

Either way committing so many players to a blunt attack and leaving so few in a struggling defense isn't much good.

De Jong sent off today and gave away a pen.

His age has crept up as well, we just never replaced him for my money.