Buffon says..

[Lee_R]

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/football/vie ... four-flaw/


GIANLUIGI BUFFON – a one-time Manchester City transfer target – last night told Roberto Mancini: You haven’t got any decent ­defenders.
The world’s most-expensive goalkeeper – who cost Juventus £32.6million from Parma in 2001 – was wanted by Mancini earlier this year.

But the Italy No.1 reckons that unless mega-rich City buy at least two world-class defenders, they won’t even break into the Premier League top four – never mind win the title.

Mark Hughes and Mancini have spent £87m on defenders since Sheikh Mansour’s big-money takeover in August 2008.

The former Inter Milan coach, 45, spent just over £10m on ­German international Jerome Boateng from Hamburg and £16m on Lazio full-back ­Aleksandar Kolarov.
But he also inherited big-money defenders like Joleon Lescott, Kolo Toure, Pablo ­Zabaleta, Wayne Bridge and Vincent Kompany from Hughes’ reign at Eastlands.
And, on top of those, he also has England star Micah Richards in his ­defence.
But Buffon, 32, who has been voted best Serie A keeper for eight seasons, doesn’t rate a ­single one of them.

He said: “I knew of Manchester City’s interest in me a couple a years ago and, while I was never close to signing, I can now see that I made the right decision.

“They have signed some great players but I do get the feeling they are signing great players just for the sake of signing them.

“Carlos Tevez, David Silva, Yaya Toure and a few others would make it into any squad in the world.

“But they don’t have one ­defender that would even get near the Juventus, Real Madrid, ­Barcelona, or Manchester United team.

“Great teams are always built from the back and I am really ­surprised they are not trying to do that, considering their coach is an Italian.”

Spanish champions Barcelona have World Cup winners Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique, as well as Brazil international Daniel Alves and France’s Eric Abidal.

They have also just splashed out on Brazilian utility man Adriano.

Real Madrid have just bought experienced full-back Ricardo Carvalho to play alongside World Cup-winner Sergio Ramos.

They also have Pepe, Marcelo, Ezequiel Garay and former Liverpool player Alvaro ­Arbeloa at their ­disposal.

Juventus only ­finished seventh in Serie A last term.

But in front of Buffon are Italy internationals Giorgio Chiellini, Fabio Grosso and Marco Motta – plus new man Leonardo Bonucci.

Manchester United, meanwhile, have Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic anchoring the back line, with plenty of options at full-back, including Frenchman Patrice Evra and Brazilian duo Fabio and Rafael.

And that’s not mentioning new man Chris Smalling.

Buffon has won four Serie A ­titles, a UEFA Cup, three Italian Super Cups – and the World Cup in 2006. And he believes the depth of defensive talent is a long way short at City.

He added: ­“Whenever I have been successful for either club or country it’s because I have had great defenders in front of me.

“Players like Alessandro Nesta and ­Fabio Cannavaro.

“Without defenders of that ­quality I would not have won what I have won.

“If they don’t sign at least two world-class defenders before the transfer window shuts, I am not sure they will even make a top-four finish, let alone win the ­Premier League.

“They have so much quality there now that, if they sign these defenders, I think they can make a real impact.”
Buffon’s Juventus side could face City at some stage in this ­season’s Europa League.

And one player who does ­impress Buffon is City ­goalkeeper Joe Hart, 23.

He believes Hart could one day surpass himself and Real ­Madrid’s Iker Casillas, 29, as the best ­stopper in the world.

Buffon added: “They do really have a great ­goalkeeper in Joe Hart. I don’t see any reason why, in five years when Iker and I are old men, he can’t be the best in the world.

“I have watched a lot of him over the last year and he really does have all the qualities.

“I am sure he will be England’s keeper for the next decade and, if City put the quality of ­defender in front of him that he deserves, they can be very successful.”



A gobshite but makes some fair points about our defence. Its not as bad as hes making out but I do think we should have brought in a solid CB this summer.

[Wooders]

this fascist is obsessed with us but, sadly, what he says is true - we're poor a the back

Kolorov and Boateng were great buys imo (the former turned real down, so adolphs arguement falls down there) - although I do think Kolo being stripped of the captaincy might indicate that Mancini is looking to replace him

[Dameerto]

Lescott looks like a fine stand-in leftback until Kolarov is fit again - Kompany and Kolo have both played well so far this (brief) season and Nige is patrolling the back four like a guard dog, our only problem is rightback. Buffoon is talking out of his (bruised) arse.

[brite blu sky]

he may well have a point but right now im not so sure that Vince, Boyo, Kolo, Lescott and Micah dont make up one of the strongest CB options operating in the prem

oh and Kolarov n Bo when they are fit and tuned in

FUCXL OFF YOU OLD FART

[brite blu sky]

can i just add that i dont understand why an old geriatric has been stinky fart sees fit to comment on City.. a team of youthful enterprise.. unless of course the old fetid slow fat cunt was humiliated at some point by our own Bobby.

eh?

[ThisIsOurCity]

Every man and his dog seems to have something to say about us at the moment. Buffoon joins
a long list of football "experts" who seem to know exactly how we should be running our club. Hope
Gary is taking notes, he must be so grateful for all this input.

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

this fascist is obsessed with us but, sadly, what he says is true - we're poor a the back

Kolorov and Boateng were great buys imo (the former turned real down, so adolphs arguement falls down there) - although I do think Kolo being stripped of the captaincy might indicate that Mancini is looking to replace him

can't disagree with that bit. I do think we can just about make it to top four with these defenders but mounting a serious title challenge is very unlikely.

I do think that Kompany could do it alongside real world class centerback. Toure, I hope, will be on his bike and Lescott with his injuries and form is bit of a question mark but does have ability to good back up. But Buff Daddy is right that we need our own Carvalho or Vidic.

We'll see about Kolarov and especially Boateng. They look good buys but I'm not going to go overboard. Last spring Boateng was giving his best Micah Richards impression quite a few times in Bundesleague. He has great potential but I feel his future is as centerback rather than Rightback anyway.

[Slim]

And did his best Sun Jihai sliding tackle impression against Fulham.

[irblinx]

Didn't we have the second meanest defence in the league last season (behind Chelsea)? And that was with horrendous luck on the injury front

[Slim]

Didn't we have the second meanest defence in the league last season (behind Chelsea)? And that was with horrendous luck on the injury front

7th, and the filth were 1st.

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

Didn't we have the second meanest defence in the league last season (behind Chelsea)? And that was with horrendous luck on the injury front

without checking, I think we were seventh on goals conceded department.

[irblinx]

Didn't we have the second meanest defence in the league last season (behind Chelsea)? And that was with horrendous luck on the injury front

without checking, I think we were seventh on goals conceded department.

Think I was maybe going back more than a year, teach me for posting before I wake up properly

[Esky]

While I kind of agree with his basic point, Chiellini is the only Juve defender who's anything near world class. Players like Zebina, Legrottaglie, Grygera and De Ceglie wouldn't be anywhere near our first 11. Bonucci and Motta are good players from what I've seen of them though.

Also, didn't Juve try to sign Kolarov?

[Ted Hughes]

These blokes have never had chance to settle into a routine. Hughes asked a lot of them as he played very attacking football & we also had lots of injuries & enforced changes, then Mancini has totally changed the system, the CB pairings, keeper & signed 2 new fullbacks. I very much doubt if you grabbed Chiellini or anyone else & asked them to suddenly step in, that they'd do any better, in fact I recon Crouch & Co would have them for breakfast, Bobby Zamora did.

Lets have a season with a settled defence & no managerial sackings & then make a decision.

[john@staustell]

The twat's never even watched us I bet.

Not sure why every Tom, Dick and Buffoon running us down has to be turned into a thread on here.

[Ted Hughes]

The twat's never even watched us I bet.

Not sure why every Tom, Dick and Buffoon running us down has to be turned into a thread on here.

Don't kid yourself. They all watch us now mate. Messi was discussing our team line up just recently & Kaka was passing a similar opinion to Buffon at the end of last season. City well & truly on the map.

[Crossie]

The thing is , all those defenders he mentioned, were not born brilliant, they developed, most of them probably developed as the team grew and started winning things.

He should shut the fuck up anyway, match fixing twat, they only finished 7th last season despite them having world class defenders>

I agree with posts above, its just right back and toure (sometimes) that worry me. Right back should be ok once Boateng comes back, and if Toure starts to fuck up we have Lescott, dont tell me he isnt a good defender because we all saw it last season, once settled and fit, he was looking good.

A defence has to be more than the sum of its parts, play as a team, a unit, support each other. Add that ability into our first choice back 4 and its more than good enough.

[david yearsley]

Didn't we have the second meanest defence in the league last season (behind Chelsea)? And that was with horrendous luck on the injury front

without checking, I think we were seventh on goals conceded department.

Think I was maybe going back more than a year, teach me for posting before I wake up properly

What about our defence under Mancini though - right up there I would have thought no?

[Beeks]

Buffon is that obsessed with us he has to be a closet rag

[ant london]

Buffon is that obsessed with us he has to be a closet rag

he fucking is obsessed....he should sign for Arry....they'd be able to talk about City all day long