The defence

[john@staustell]

Just 13 league goals conceded.

Diaz the de facto captain for me, Stones playing like he only ever got close to once with us, like a man possessed, some fantastic tackles going in. Walker and Cancelo both playing well. Left back a real problem but once we get one of them......................

Long time since we had such good CBs

[salford city]

Has been a problem for a couple of years and now, left back aside, looks to be very good. The pragmatic approach will stand us in good stead in later stages of chumps league but serge needs to get back on the pitch to take what may be 1 of only 2 chances we may get against a scouse or bayern

[Wonderwall]

Has been a problem for a couple of years and now, left back aside, looks to be very good. The pragmatic approach will stand us in good stead in later stages of chumps league but serge needs to get back on the pitch to take what may be 1 of only 2 chances we may get against a scouse or bayern

Alphonso Davies is the player we need. Absolutely brilliant left back and will be the best in the world for a long time to come.

[Dubciteh]

If you had of told me up till recently three of our back four were cancelo, zinchenko and stones i would have thought we were fucked, just shows how great dias has been. Fair play to the others they have all stepped up. Zinchenko playing well is a bonus he is a perfectly good second choice left back just need to shift mendy and get a top class one in. He will do for time being though.

Stones made an amazing tackle/block on maupay yesterday that the commentators played down by criticising the striker but it was excellent. He has his confidence back and looks great.

[stupot]

If you had of told me up till recently three of our back four were cancelo, zinchenko and stones i would have thought we were fucked, just shows how great dias has been. Fair play to the others they have all stepped up. Zinchenko playing well is a bonus he is a perfectly good second choice left back just need to shift mendy and get a top class one in. He will do for time being though.

Stones made an amazing tackle/block on maupay yesterday that the commentators played down by criticising the striker but it was excellent. He has his confidence back and looks great.

Agree with most of that. Dias makes a 1-0 lead look safe and Stones is playing with more and more confidence next to him.
Cancelo had been good and he did some nice things going forward last night but he gave the ball away more than anyone else on the team.
I can't see what Zinchenko offers. People say he's out of position and should be an attacking midfielder but he offers nothing going forward and as a defender he doesn't tackle, he gets caught out of position and he panics constantly. That chip to Ederson could easily have cost us 2 points.

[john@staustell]

Zinchenko is a terrible player. Slow as God knows what and gives it away more than most. Every team we play is clearly targeting him. He isn't particularly good at basic defending. He can look neat at times and is well covered by the CBs and midfielders, giving an illusion of being half decent. But one of those players who, once he leaves a top club and becomes more exposed, will quickly disappear without trace - at least as a left back (which he isn't, to be fair)

[Scatman]

Zinchenko is a terrible player. Slow as God knows what and gives it away more than most. Every team we play is clearly targeting him. He isn't particularly good at basic defending. He can look neat at times and is well covered by the CBs and midfielders, giving an illusion of being half decent. But one of those players who, once he leaves a top club and becomes more exposed, will quickly disappear without trace - at least as a left back (which he isn't, to be fair)

A terrible player maybe, but so much better than the alternative

[PeterParker]

Imagine instead of Dias, we could have transfered Koulibaly or Kounde.

Fair play to Cheeky, he earned his money.
Fair play also to the fella who had a proper chat with Stonesbauer. At the moment I can't see a better pair in the world.

[stupot]

Zinchenko is a terrible player. Slow as God knows what and gives it away more than most. Every team we play is clearly targeting him. He isn't particularly good at basic defending. He can look neat at times and is well covered by the CBs and midfielders, giving an illusion of being half decent. But one of those players who, once he leaves a top club and becomes more exposed, will quickly disappear without trace - at least as a left back (which he isn't, to be fair)

A terrible player maybe, but so much better than the alternative

Think he's equally bad to be honest. Rashford murdered him against the rags and Dias saved his skin. Shocking again last night.
Cancelo at left back now Walker is fit or Ake there when he's back are both the sensible alternatives for me.

[s1ty m]

Zinchenko is a terrible player. Slow as God knows what and gives it away more than most. Every team we play is clearly targeting him. He isn't particularly good at basic defending. He can look neat at times and is well covered by the CBs and midfielders, giving an illusion of being half decent. But one of those players who, once he leaves a top club and becomes more exposed, will quickly disappear without trace - at least as a left back (which he isn't, to be fair)

A terrible player maybe, but so much better than the alternative

Think he's equally bad to be honest. Rashford murdered him against the rags and Dias saved his skin. Shocking again last night.
Cancelo at left back now Walker is fit or Ake there when he's back are both the sensible alternatives for me.

Zinchenko is very poor.

[Foreverinbluedreams]

We're playing 3 at the back now more often than not, when in possession, with Cancelo playing as a midfielder.

I can see Ake or Laporte playing that 'left back' role when they're fit.

[Harry Dowd scored]

We're playing 3 at the back now more often than not, when in possession, with Cancelo playing as a midfielder.

I can see Ake or Laporte playing that 'left back' role when they're fit.

Would like to se Ake at LB, think he plays there for the Dutch team

[Foreverinbluedreams]

We're playing 3 at the back now more often than not, when in possession, with Cancelo playing as a midfielder.

I can see Ake or Laporte playing that 'left back' role when they're fit.

Would like to se Ake at LB, think he plays there for the Dutch team

Yep, he offers little going forward but for that role where he's essentially a wide centre back I think he'd be ideal.

[salford city]

We're playing 3 at the back now more often than not, when in possession, with Cancelo playing as a midfielder.

I can see Ake or Laporte playing that 'left back' role when they're fit.

Would like to se Ake at LB, think he plays there for the Dutch team

Think we all would if we could actually get him on the pitch for a run of games. Think him rather than Laporte there may be the answer

[PeterParker]

We're playing 3 at the back now more often than not, when in possession, with Cancelo playing as a midfielder.

I can see Ake or Laporte playing that 'left back' role when they're fit.

Would like to se Ake at LB, think he plays there for the Dutch team

Ake all the way. I think Aymeric can't play there due to his speed.
Laport's future here, I think, will be discussed.

That fuck up vs Spuds really annoyed Baldie and I think we will not see him again in big games this season.

[Lees Alter Ego]

Dias has completely revolutionised our defence. He’s been immense. To come in and make such an impact is incredible and for me the reason stones looks so good.

Dias as stones have started 9 games together. Conceded 1 (away at Chelsea last min). Best defence in league and that’s after conceding 5 against Leicester (Ake and Garcia that day, shite)

[Kippax Sean]

Dias has become the player I thought Laporte was going to be. Vocal, passionate, a leader and committed to City and his teammates. Dream scenario for me would be Mendy sold and never seen around the place again. Ake as mentioned already can become our number 1 left back and that's as good a defense as you'll find anywhere when you add Ed to that.

[Foreverinbluedreams]

[Nick]

Zinch getting unfair stick here

[nottsblue]

In the last 9 games we have allowed the opponents just 13 shots on target. It's this sort of solidity that crushes the opposition before they've even kicked off as the mindset is how the hell are we going to score today