Our Defenders

[Mase]

Kalidou Koulibaly 'set to join Manchester City in £72m deal'...

Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly is reportedly joining Manchester City this summer in a £72m (€80m) deal, after turning down interest from Newcastle United.

Kouliably is one of Europe's most sought-after centre backs, after six impressive years in Naples and despite interest from PSG, Barcelona and Real Madrid too, the 29-year-old looks set to join the Premier League.

Newcastle, who could soon be under fresh ownership involving the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund, are also courting the Senegal international but the lure of working with Pep Guardiola at the Etihad has made Koulibaly's mind up, according to Italian outlet Il Mattino.

The report details that the Napoli defender will be sold by chairman Auerlio De Laurentiis in order to keep the club's finances in check and fund new signings.

The price is around €80m (£72m) for Koulibaly, who starred as Napoli won the Coppa Italia last week after beating Juventus on penalties, and he will reportedly sign a five-year deal at the Etihad.

A separate report in Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo explains that the defender has also rejected interest from Ligue 1 in Paris Saint-Germain, and LaLiga in Spanish heavyweights Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Guardiola is the lure for the Senegalese, over other English options which reportedly include Liverpool and Manchester United, as well as the Magpies.

[carl_feedthegoat]

72 million for a 29 year old.

Madness.

[Mase]

72 million for a 29 year old.

Madness.

I imagine it will be £72 million tops, with a chunk of it based off trophies we win in the future etc.

Unfortunately he’s in high demand. I’ve not seen enough of him to know if he’s decent or not though? Italy is such a slow game, I worry any defender coming from there will struggle to get up to speed with the Prem. Smalling looks like a world beater over there

[City64]

Fernandinho was 28 or 29 years of age when we signed him ?

[Hazy2]

72 million for a 29 year old.

Madness.

I imagine it will be £72 million tops, with a chunk of it based off trophies we win in the future etc.

Unfortunately he’s in high demand. I’ve not seen enough of him to know if he’s decent or not though? Italy is such a slow game, I worry any defender coming from there will struggle to get up to speed with the Prem. Smalling looks like a world beater over there

It’s a chunk of dough but we need a player of stature ready to go, he is that, PSG did it with Silva, scum with Van Persie, Garcia on the right Laporte left this lad in the middle, looks great. I’ve seen a lot of him he is Quality we need IMO. If we did not do it our rivals would, watch v the scousers he was Not fazed and got right into them. Also nice to do it on this day !

[carl_feedthegoat]

Fernandinho was 28 or 29 years of age when we signed him ?

He cost 30 million.

[Hazy2]

Fernandinho was 28 or 29 years of age when we signed him ?

He cost 30 million.

This lad has every fucker linked with him, fair play 5o Pep if he has him, he is as good as Laporte imo. We need improvements he is that.

[PeterParker]

After the Jorginho saga we still try to make deals with Napoli ...
Read something that they want 70+ mil and Jesus.

I somehow understand this, but really, who the fuck can you sign?
I would rather buy Ake. I have a feeling he might work great here.

Isn't Koulibaly slow as fuck?

[Hazy2]

After the Jorginho saga we still try to make deals with Napoli ...
Read something that they want 70+ mil and Jesus.

I somehow understand this, but really, who the fuck can you sign?
I would rather buy Ake. I have a feeling he might work great here.

Isn't Koulibaly slow as fuck?

Ake is at Bournemouth for a reason, Check out K v the Scousers for a refresh on his ability PP.

[Mase]

After the Jorginho saga we still try to make deals with Napoli ...
Read something that they want 70+ mil and Jesus.

I somehow understand this, but really, who the fuck can you sign?
I would rather buy Ake. I have a feeling he might work great here.

Isn't Koulibaly slow as fuck?

To be fair, it was Jorginho that fucked us about. He accepted and then went back on his word once Chelsea appointed the smoker.

I’ve watched some highlights on Koulibaly and he looks like he brings the ball out of defence really quickly. But like I’ve said, I’ve not seen enough of him.

[Foreverinbluedreams]

After the Jorginho saga we still try to make deals with Napoli ...
Read something that they want 70+ mil and Jesus.

I somehow understand this, but really, who the fuck can you sign?
I would rather buy Ake. I have a feeling he might work great here.

Isn't Koulibaly slow as fuck?

Pace is one of his strengths. Looks tailor made for a high line defence from what I've seen.

[PeterParker]

After the Jorginho saga we still try to make deals with Napoli ...
Read something that they want 70+ mil and Jesus.

I somehow understand this, but really, who the fuck can you sign?
I would rather buy Ake. I have a feeling he might work great here.

Isn't Koulibaly slow as fuck?

Ake is at Bournemouth for a reason, Check out K v the Scousers for a refresh on his ability PP.

I know, but even that cunt Robertson, who I despise, was at Hull.
The thing is that the world is missing world class defenders like they were in the 90s. Van Dyke isn't even Costacurta or Baresi in a mediocre day. So would want someone that is Premier League material and could fit right in.

At Bournemouth they are constant in danger, but the squad is really poor. Surrounded by decent players, I think he can do it here.
I wouldn't mind that the money for Koulibally we buy Ake and Mings and invest in a top class left back, like Alaba or Sandro from Juventus.

We weren't as rich as today, but we bought our legend Vinnie from Hamburg, because the scouting was excellent and remember that Vinnie started in the Champions League super young.
The key is to find player that can fit the system, not world class overpaid.

[nottsblue]

Old school thought. Play a settled back four. The players will learn each other’s strengths and weaknesses, when to cover, when to go forward, make angles for the pass etc. Playing with different personnel every single game does not help, indeed its to the detriment of the side

It’s a difficult one to keep a settled back four as we are usually fighting on all fronts which means loads of games and absolute need to rotate. Bin dippers chuck a couple of cup tournaments to focus on PL and CL and basically play the same 11 or 12 players week in week in out because their squad is piss poor and lacks depth. TAA and Robertson deffo drug cheating with the miles they clock up !

I totally get we aren’t going to play 55+ games with an unchanged back four. That is just unrealistic. But, we do chop and change a lot. In the two games since the first game back we changed 7 players out of 8. That is crazy and it isn’t just since the restart we have done this. It just doesn’t work making so many changes. The results speak for themselves.

[carl_feedthegoat]

Old school thought. Play a settled back four. The players will learn each other’s strengths and weaknesses, when to cover, when to go forward, make angles for the pass etc. Playing with different personnel every single game does not help, indeed its to the detriment of the side

It’s a difficult one to keep a settled back four as we are usually fighting on all fronts which means loads of games and absolute need to rotate. Bin dippers chuck a couple of cup tournaments to focus on PL and CL and basically play the same 11 or 12 players week in week in out because their squad is piss poor and lacks depth. TAA and Robertson deffo drug cheating with the miles they clock up !

I totally get we aren’t going to play 55+ games with an unchanged back four. That is just unrealistic. But, we do chop and change a lot. In the two games since the first game back we changed 7 players out of 8. That is crazy and it isn’t just since the restart we have done this. It just doesn’t work making so many changes. The results speak for themselves.

Most top teams do not make changes in their defense like PeP does - this is PePs weakness and hes too pig headed to change...Continuously putting Fernandhino in the back is the biggest fuck up he has ever done and he continues doing it.

[mr_nool]

We keep looking at spending tens of millions on finding a world class left back. Why don’t we just look at a left back that’s decent and can do the job? Look at Liverpool with Robertson. United have that Williams coming through.

Don’t spend £80 million on Ben Chilwell ffs. Our scouts need to earn their money and just recommend someone that can do the job.

Playing Fern CB just to force Rodri in the team has been Pep’s biggest downfall this season btw.

Rodri hasn't filled Fernandinho's boots at all, needs to sharpen up, everything is too laboured with him.

As much as the defence is a problem the intensity is just not there across the board, we're being countered on far too easily.

Agreed. Like a knife through butter. Its down to Fern not being in DM and making those “tactical” fouls that other fans moan about. He breaks up the play brilliantly.

Rodri has shown glimpses. I’m more than happy to give him another season - if you look at Fred now he’s got used to the Prem he’s not a bad player for United. So I’m hopeful for Rodri. My worry is though that’s he’s more of a Barry type player, and Barry could get away with it because he had De Jong next to him. That DM position for us leaves the person doing it vulnerable

I agree with this. Rodri is not fast enough to work as a single pivot, and we just don’t do well with two sitting midfielders.

In my opinion, trying to accommodate Rodri in this team has been a big part of our downfall this season. Especially at the start of it.

[Hazy2]

Let’s not write if Rodders we have enough to worry about like winning the CL which would be nice.

[sheblue]

If we want to win the title back next season we need to get rid of, mendy, zinch, stones and otter.
They are all just not good enough. It fact fucking abysmal.
I would sign the Napoli lad hes class and he could get 4 + good years out of him.

Then get a proper full back. A decent one who can defend, not like the two useless cunts we have, one is a court jester and the other a mid table light weight midfielder. Its laughable how shit they are.

We wont be consistent enough in the league with a bit part ramshackle makeshift defence. This season has proved that.

[carl_feedthegoat]

If we want to win the title back next season we need to get rid of, mendy, zinch, stones and otter.
They are all just not good enough. It fact fucking abysmal.
I would sign the Napoli lad hes class and he could get 4 + good years out of him.

Then get a proper full back. A decent one who can defend, not like the two useless cunts we have, one is a court jester and the other a mid table light weight midfielder. Its laughable how shit they are.

We wont be consistent enough in the league with a bit part ramshackle makeshift defence. This season has proved that.

Even if we did replace all of them , baldie will still put Fernandhino at the back now and again.

[sheblue]

Of all our regular senior defenders not counting kids, Walker and Laporte are the only two I have any faith in at all.
I like the look of Garcia, but a long way to go there.

Cancelo, 60 million, really? Somebody should be deeply embarrassed about that one.

[PeterParker]

If we want to win the title back next season we need to get rid of, mendy, zinch, stones and otter.
They are all just not good enough. It fact fucking abysmal.
I would sign the Napoli lad hes class and he could get 4 + good years out of him.

Then get a proper full back. A decent one who can defend, not like the two useless cunts we have, one is a court jester and the other a mid table light weight midfielder. Its laughable how shit they are.

We wont be consistent enough in the league with a bit part ramshackle makeshift defence. This season has proved that.

Even if we did replace all of them , baldie will still put Fernandhino at the back now and again.

Maybe it comes down to his assistants also. I wonder if any of them pointed this issue with Fern out, or even if he listens to them.
Arteta looks clueless for me, I don't think he ever said: Pep, we should play Fern on his usual position and let's not fuck around with the defence that much.