Boyata - the new Richard Dunne?

[The Man In Blue]

The Arsenal game and tonight have been big learning curves for him, but considering the number of games he has played at the top level, his performances up to then were as promising as I have seen from one of our youngsters in many years.

As long as he learns from these mistakes (i.e. not going to ground so easily, heading the ball high and clear) then there is no reason he can't make it.

A bit of patience with the lad please.

My thoughts exactly mate, good post.

[horlock2000]

Personally, i dont think Boyata should be anywhere near the first team!!!!
Very very clumsy player who is always a mistake waiting to happen...Resembles a baby giraffe to me, never quite seems in control!

The fact that Lescott was on the bench against Arsenal and he got a start was trgic, i said it yo my dad when we arrived at the game he was a mistake waiting to happen and was goes and happens.................. The is history!

You can say he is only 19 etc etc but if hes supposedly good enough for the first team and keeping people like Lescott out of the team...he should be pretty decent. We shouldnt be taking risks with kids now...and the fact that Mancini does shows a complete lack of winning mentality...so how does he expect his players to gain that winning metality! Doesnt impress me at all though!

PLUS.... with last 2 games lost and a losing streak on our hand...why didnt he play a much stronger team and win the game and then once we were up and running again and qualified...play players like bridge, SWP etc?!

It really winds me up that our club continues to be run be clowns

[superkev8705]

I would only play him when we really need too. Needs to rebiuild his confidence. I would buy a decent centre half in January and send him out on loan to a Championship Club.

[Beeks]

Frown into games against Arsenal and Poznan is no easy feat

You're telling me!

[Twobob]

Sometimes my mind boggles, maybe I was in lala land or had a pop through the looking glass to see my old friend Alice, but I could have sworn that people on here, prior to the Arsenal match, were stating how much Boyata was showing good promise and that Lescott was looking shite.

I don't rememebr too many people spitting venom at the kid then, nor do I recall too many people suckling on Lescots plums so much either ... strange what Hindsight can do to peoples confidence to throw up over a player.

He's a kid, he's a talented player and will be a great defender if he can keep his head through this blip and ignore the witchfinders.

[Ted Hughes]

Sometimes my mind boggles, maybe I was in lala land or had a pop through the looking glass to see my old friend Alice, but I could have sworn that people on here, prior to the Arsenal match, were stating how much Boyata was showing good promise and that Lescott was looking shite.

I don't rememebr too many people spitting venom at the kid then, nor do I recall too many people suckling on Lescots plums so much either ... strange what Hindsight can do to peoples confidence to throw up over a player.

He's a kid, he's a talented player and will be a great defender if he can keep his head through this blip and ignore the witchfinders.

As usual, some people were crucifying Lescott for single mistakes whilst ignoring the ones Boyata was making & fortunately getting away with; lavishing him with largely undue praise instead. He is a kid & a promising defender. He stood up to Drogba superbly but was also incredibly lucky not to lose us that game like he has several others. Satzburg was the game for him to play in, if we'd won last night.

[Dubaimancityfan]

True he made a mistake yesterday and against Arsenal but we've seen the best, most experience defenders making similar mistakes.
Example Kolo's clearance for Wolve's 2nd goal !
We'll always concede goals and that's a given in football. The differnce with top teams is that they make sure to score more than the opposition and that's what we are not doing recently. We are not even creating enough scoring chances let alone actually scoring.

So it's not fair to single him out for yesterday's loss.
If you want to blame anyone, then it would be Mancini for putting too much trust in Boyata. Last night's was avery important match for City. Win it and we're into the knock out stage and then you can relax for the remaining last 2 matches. So why not start with Vinnie ??
Why not put Boateng in that position. A full German international who is probably more used to these European games.
And my other choice is no longer with us now. He is currently doing well at Sunderland !

[Ted Hughes]

True he made a mistake yesterday and against Arsenal but we've seen the best, most experience defenders making similar mistakes.
Example Kolo's clearance for Wolve's 2nd goal !
We'll always concede goals and that's a given in football. The differnce with top teams is that they make sure to score more than the opposition and that's what we are not doing recently. We are not even creating enough scoring chances let alone actually scoring.

So it's not fair to single him out for yesterday's loss.
If you want to blame anyone, then it would be Mancini for putting too much trust in Boyata. Last night's was avery important match for City. Win it and we're into the knock out stage and then you can relax for the remaining last 2 matches. So why not start with Vinnie ??
Why not put Boateng in that position. A full German international who is probably more used to these European games.
And my other choice is no longer with us now. He is currently doing well at Sunderland !

It was more his fault than anyone elses apart from Bob, who shouldn't be picking him. The back 4 should stay together as much as possible imo. Even if they get tired because of it. They need to learn to play together under pressure. Only one player should be rotated at a time imo & Lescott should be the main backup CB, not Boyata. Boyata's chance should be v shit teams at home.

[Wooders]

I was screaming at the telly to take him off last night - he was having a mare, giving balls away cheaply, getting in the way of goal chances, I think he would have welcomed coming off to be honest as he will have known he was having a shocker last night.
When I saw Kompany warming up I thought good move mancini, and I was gobsmacked to see milner coming off instead of boyata

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

This topic is extremely harsh on 19 year old Academy product. That's all I can say really.

[Tokyo Blue]

Every time ive watched Boyata I haven't thought much of him. I've put it down to his age and inexperience for now but come on the constant fuck ups have killed us in the last 2 games he has played.

Weird that, as every time I have seen him I have thought the exact opposite. I think he is a tremendous prospect, perhaps the best defender to come through our ranks for a good twenty or thirty years. However like all young players, he will make mistakes; he needs to make mistakes so he can learn from them, though I would rather he made them in training and not in matches.

I'd suggest "constant fuck ups" means more than two games, but there you go.

Just goes to show that a) we all see different things, and b) we all react to defeat in different ways.

[Ted Hughes]

Every time ive watched Boyata I haven't thought much of him. I've put it down to his age and inexperience for now but come on the constant fuck ups have killed us in the last 2 games he has played.

Weird that, as every time I have seen him I have thought the exact opposite. I think he is a tremendous prospect, perhaps the best defender to come through our ranks for a good twenty or thirty years. However like all young players, he will make mistakes; he needs to make mistakes so he can learn from them, though I would rather he made them in training and not in matches.

I'd suggest "constant fuck ups" means more than two games, but there you go.

Just goes to show that a) we all see different things, and b) we all react to defeat in different ways.

I agree with you on the prospect thing but the fuck ups aren't just in 2 games, there's the 2 pens he got away with v Chelsea & the WBA debacle where he was also at fault. How many games has he played this season where he's NOT been close to losing us the game? If we dropped Tevez & played Guidetti on Sunday & he missed 3 sitters, everyone would be asking why the fuck he was there. That doesn't mean he's written off, just that he shouldn't be starting such a game at this stage.

[petrov]

I'm all for the lad being given a chance, the Cheslsa game this season and some performaces at the end of last shows that he's worth investing some time in. What I'm struggling with is Bobby's insistance that he plays at Centre Half, he was superb against Cheslsea at RB, by far his best performance for us, so play him there and let him build himself up. He is costing us games playing through the middle and Bobby needs to see that.

Against Chelsea he was lucky not to be sent off and give away 2 stone wall penalties. Lets not get carried away.

Back to the topic, I'm not gonna write the lad off yet but I just don't see this potential. He's another Nedum, over hyped by us cause he's a blue. As said earlier, you could always see with Micah, Walcott and yes even a shade less with Ireland too that they had natural god given ability (albeit very different natural ability's). Micah, i've being very critical of cause hes frustrating but I just don't see Boyota's attributes. He's a trier I'll give him that but has very little else. As for the new Dunne, imho he'll never be the player Dunne at his peak was.

[Tokyo Blue]

Every time ive watched Boyata I haven't thought much of him. I've put it down to his age and inexperience for now but come on the constant fuck ups have killed us in the last 2 games he has played.

Weird that, as every time I have seen him I have thought the exact opposite. I think he is a tremendous prospect, perhaps the best defender to come through our ranks for a good twenty or thirty years. However like all young players, he will make mistakes; he needs to make mistakes so he can learn from them, though I would rather he made them in training and not in matches.

I'd suggest "constant fuck ups" means more than two games, but there you go.

Just goes to show that a) we all see different things, and b) we all react to defeat in different ways.

I agree with you on the prospect thing but the fuck ups aren't just in 2 games, there's the 2 pens he got away with v Chelsea & the WBA debacle where he was also at fault. How many games has he played this season where he's NOT been close to losing us the game? If we dropped Tevez & played Guidetti on Sunday & he missed 3 sitters, everyone would be asking why the fuck he was there. That doesn't mean he's written off, just that he shouldn't be starting such a game at this stage.

Fair points, Ted.

Not seen the WBA game, so can't comment on that one.

The shoulder charge on Drogba however was never a penalty, mate. Yeah, the other one, the off the ball one, definitely was but not the shoulder charge. Sorry, mate, but I am not having that

Every young player will make mistakes, especially when up against Drogba who is a really special player. But not playing him isn't going to do a great deal for his development and it is in the club's interest now more than ever to have players come through from the Academy who are up to the task. How else is he going to learn?

The trust shown by his manager must boost his confidence as well. Which he really needed after the arsenal game.

Who else could we have played last night? As I see it, the defenders in the Wolves game didnt exactly cover themselves with glory.

[Ted Hughes]

Every time ive watched Boyata I haven't thought much of him. I've put it down to his age and inexperience for now but come on the constant fuck ups have killed us in the last 2 games he has played.

Weird that, as every time I have seen him I have thought the exact opposite. I think he is a tremendous prospect, perhaps the best defender to come through our ranks for a good twenty or thirty years. However like all young players, he will make mistakes; he needs to make mistakes so he can learn from them, though I would rather he made them in training and not in matches.

I'd suggest "constant fuck ups" means more than two games, but there you go.

Just goes to show that a) we all see different things, and b) we all react to defeat in different ways.

I agree with you on the prospect thing but the fuck ups aren't just in 2 games, there's the 2 pens he got away with v Chelsea & the WBA debacle where he was also at fault. How many games has he played this season where he's NOT been close to losing us the game? If we dropped Tevez & played Guidetti on Sunday & he missed 3 sitters, everyone would be asking why the fuck he was there. That doesn't mean he's written off, just that he shouldn't be starting such a game at this stage.

Fair points, Ted.

Not seen the WBA game, so can't comment on that one.

The shoulder charge on Drogba however was never a penalty, mate. Yeah, the other one, the off the ball one, definitely was but not the shoulder charge. Sorry, mate, but I am not having that

Every young player will make mistakes, especially when up against Drogba who is a really special player. But not playing him isn't going to do a great deal for his development and it is in the club's interest now more than ever to have players come through from the Academy who are up to the task. How else is he going to learn?

The trust shown by his manager must boost his confidence as well. Which he really needed after the arsenal game.

Who else could we have played last night? As I see it, the defenders in the Wolves game didnt exactly cover themselves with glory.

We've upset the organisation of the defence by making all these changes imo. If they were genuinely knackered & it was February or March, I could understand it & by then, the main back 4 would be a nice solid unit with a few players such as Lescott, Micah/Boateng/Zabba who come in & out. Boyata could then come in for the odd game as part of that unit, not like at the Arsenal game, right next to another novice against the cleverest team in the prem. How many times in someone's life would that ever work realistically?

If you asked any manager anywhere, they'd talk about the importance of a settled back 4. We were starting to get close to one & it looked good. Then we started taking liberties & all of a sudden Vinny/Kolo don't look the same players as they did. If someone gets injured fine, but don't change 2 more at the same time & also put a kid in there.

[gilford]

After having time to reflect I still stand by starting this thread regardless of what a couple have said. It is good to see I'm not the only one thinking it!

I do feel better today, and looking forward to a WIN on Sunday!!!!!!!!! CTID!!!!

[the_georgian_genius]

Every time ive watched Boyata I haven't thought much of him. I've put it down to his age and inexperience for now but come on the constant fuck ups have killed us in the last 2 games he has played.

Weird that, as every time I have seen him I have thought the exact opposite. I think he is a tremendous prospect, perhaps the best defender to come through our ranks for a good twenty or thirty years. However like all young players, he will make mistakes; he needs to make mistakes so he can learn from them, though I would rather he made them in training and not in matches.

I'd suggest "constant fuck ups" means more than two games, but there you go.

Just goes to show that a) we all see different things, and b) we all react to defeat in different ways.

I agree with you on the prospect thing but the fuck ups aren't just in 2 games, there's the 2 pens he got away with v Chelsea & the WBA debacle where he was also at fault. How many games has he played this season where he's NOT been close to losing us the game? If we dropped Tevez & played Guidetti on Sunday & he missed 3 sitters, everyone would be asking why the fuck he was there. That doesn't mean he's written off, just that he shouldn't be starting such a game at this stage.

The thing is though Ted, Lescott and Kompany have both made the same mistakes as Boyata and they are considered experience footballers. You'll see Vidic and Carvalho makes the same mistakes this season and they are considered world class.

Mark my words Boyata will partner Kompany for years to come, it could even happen as soon as next year.

[CheadleBlue]

I think it's an absolute bloody disgrace some of you coming on here slagging of Boyata. The lad is only 19. He's not a readymade top notch defender BUT he could grow into one. No lets not wait lets just slag him off after two bad decisions (tackle on Chamakh and the header yesterday). No lets not slag him off lets really have a go at him and undermine his confidence. No lets not do that lets really give him what he deserves and drive him out of the club altogether.

Some of you "so-called" City supporters make me sick. Leave the lad alone. he's learning he WILL make mistakes. A defenders mistakes can cost goals but an attackers don't so therefore they are highlighted more. Give the lad a break. he can become a top defender but he definitely won't with some of you sniping at him.

[Tokyo Blue]

the main back 4 would be a nice solid unit with a few players such as Lescott, Micah/Boateng/Zabba who come in & out. Boyata could then come in for the odd game as part of that unit, not like at the Arsenal game, right next to another novice against the cleverest team in the prem...

If you asked any manager anywhere, they'd talk about the importance of a settled back 4. We were starting to get close to one & it looked good. Then we started taking liberties & all of a sudden Vinny/Kolo don't look the same players as they did. If someone gets injured fine, but don't change 2 more at the same time & also put a kid in there.

Yeah, I wouldn't argue with any of that other than the very last bit. It does a lot for a young player to know that the manager has confidence in him.

[Tokyo Blue]

I think it's an absolute bloody disgrace some of you coming on here slagging of Boyata. The lad is only 19. He's not a readymade top notch defender BUT he could grow into one. No lets not wait lets just slag him off after two bad decisions (tackle on Chamakh and the header yesterday). No lets not slag him off lets really have a go at him and undermine his confidence. No lets not do that lets really give him what he deserves and drive him out of the club altogether.

Some of you "so-called" City supporters make me sick. Leave the lad alone. he's learning he WILL make mistakes. A defenders mistakes can cost goals but an attackers don't so therefore they are highlighted more. Give the lad a break. he can become a top defender but he definitely won't with some of you sniping at him.

While I do agree with you re Boyata, I think here is just the place to voice your concerns rather than getting on his back in the ground, mate. Have you heard anyone have a go at him at CoMS?