Andrea Pirlo - The New Grandpa Pat?

[Kiss_The_Goat]

Would be a fantastic signing. Still got years left in him yet! Absolutely no comparison to the Vieira signing.

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

Would be a fantastic signing. Still got years left in him yet! Absolutely no comparison to the Vieira signing.

You have got to be joking?!?!? No comparison to Vieira signing? Let's look at the facts shall we.

Vieira was 33 when we signed him vs Pirlo would be 32 by the time he joins us

Vieira was getting pushed out of Inter Milan starting line up after illustrious career vs Pirlo is getting pushed out of AC Milan starting line up after illustrious career

Vieira has won just about everything there is to be won in football and doesn't really have much hunger left vs Pirlo has won just about everything there is to be won in football (minus European Championship but we can't really help him with that now can we?) and doesn't really have much hunger left

I'd take Pirlo instead of Vieira because he can be used in similar role as Vieira as experienced central midfield back up but YES he'd be very similar signing to Vieira.

[CityFanFromRome]

My guess is that he's too slow for the Prem; could be useful in CL if we qualify, but he should be signed as backup, nothing more.

Do you mean too slow in terms of his actual pace or the pace at which he can play his game

Both; he's not fast, but most of all, being used to Serie A, at least in the first months he would hold the ball to much and invite pressure on himself, then lose the ball due to an opposition tackle. Prove of this is that AC Milan has struggled in the past few season whenever a side closed them down fast in midfield, mostly because their best passer was Pirlo and he suffered this situation.

I guess he could adapt given enough time but I doubt we could afford playing him, at 32, constantly enough for him to get used to that.

[LookMumImOnMCF.net]

the experienced playmaker they need

What an odd thing to say

[Rag_hater]

If he's brought in primarily as a back up to Silva then we could do worse.

I think it would be better to have him in addition to Silva.
Like Elano bought the best out of Ireland I think David needs someone like Pirlo to bring all his abilities to the fore.

[BmoreBlue]

pretty sure pirlo isn't out of contract until 2012

[Bridge'srightfoot]

We could do with another deep/defensive midfielder actually.
We could have a midfield of:

Barry..Dejong...Pirlo...Vieira...Zabaleta...Toure

[Original Dub]

We could do with another deep/defensive midfielder actually.
We could have a midfield of:

Barry..Dejong...Pirlo...Vieira...Zabaleta...Toure

I would have considered him more of an offensive player.

We really do see the game very differently - that's what this site is all about mate!

[Douglas Higginbottom]

We could do with another deep/defensive midfielder actually.
We could have a midfield of:

Barry..Dejong...Pirlo...Vieira...Zabaleta...Toure

I would have considered him more of an offensive player.

We really do see the game very differently - that's what this site is all about mate!

I havent read the rest of this thread but isn't Pirlo a genuine playmaker?

[Alioune DVToure]

We could do with another deep/defensive midfielder actually.
We could have a midfield of:

Barry..Dejong...Pirlo...Vieira...Zabaleta...Toure

I would have considered him more of an offensive player.

We really do see the game very differently - that's what this site is all about mate!

I havent read the rest of this thread but isn't Pirlo a genuine playmaker?

I'd use the term "deep-lying playmaker".

More like Xabi Alonso than Xavi.

[CityFanFromRome]

We could do with another deep/defensive midfielder actually.
We could have a midfield of:

Barry..Dejong...Pirlo...Vieira...Zabaleta...Toure

I would have considered him more of an offensive player.

We really do see the game very differently - that's what this site is all about mate!

I agree with you, Pirlo is anything but a defensive midfielder; he's a deep lying playmaker which is much different and is exactly what we have missed at times this season as a link between the backline and the attack.

[smurfsdabomb]

The best deep lying playmaker in the world. The people raising his age are showing their ignorance because his game was never about physical attributes which would be affected by age. (not to mention that hes only 31 anyway). His vision and passing are world class and hes one of the best for these thats ever played in the game.

He's having problems with fitness and injury right now which could limit his appearances but for when he does play it'll be a lucky team that gets him.

Was interesting to watch world cup 2010 and how abject Italy were in their first two games and for the first half against Slovakia. Suddenly Pirlo (who was struggling with injury) is brought on and its a different team, Italy become rampant and are very unlucky to not get the result they needed from that game.
Think AC Milan are the same, they're a very ordinary team without him. Pirlo could really make the attacking city players click and become a fearsome attacking force.

[smurfsdabomb]

We could do with another deep/defensive midfielder actually.
We could have a midfield of:

Barry..Dejong...Pirlo...Vieira...Zabaleta...Toure

Pirlo plays in the same position as a DM but he isn't a DM, he doesn't do tackling or any of the dog work. He's pure style.

The classic Ac Milan formation involved Ambrosini and Gattuso as DM's protecting Pirlo with every attack stemming from him unleashing runs from Kaka/Seedorf/Shevchenko.

City could play something like that. De Jong and Toure to bring the brawn, Pirlo the brains and I think they have the attacking power to use Pirlo's platform. Could be very effective.

[Kiss_The_Goat]

The best deep lying playmaker in the world. The people raising his age are showing their ignorance because his game was about physical attributes which would be affected by age. (not to mention that hes only 31 anyway). His vision and passing are world class and hes one of the best for these thats ever played in the game.

He's having problems with fitness and injury right now which could limit his appearances but for when he does play it'll be a lucky team that gets him.

Was interesting to watch world cup 2010 and how abject Italy were in their first two games and for the first half against Slovakia. Suddenly Pirlo (who was struggling with injury) is brought on and its a different team, Italy become rampant and are very unlucky to not get the result they needed from that game.
Think AC Milan are the same, they're a very ordinary team without him. Pirlo could really make the attacking city players click and become a fearsome attacking force.

Agree 100%

He has lost non of his drive, and ability to rip open a defence with a pass or create a goal scoring opportunity from nothing. On his day he is undoubtedly one of the best midfielders in the world and a born winner. He is certainly not and never has been a defensive midfielder.

[smurfsdabomb]

The only reservation about him is he needs a dedicated DM beside him because he won't contribute at all to the defensive side of things, though I reckon city have quite a few of them floating around.

I do think he'll go to Chelsea though, would expect Chelsea to offload Drogba in the summer, bring in Pirlo and return to their 4-3-3. Essien/Pirlo/Lampard midfield Malouda/Torres/Anelka attack.

[Slim]

Manchester City's dealings with Italy.
Weah
Dabo
Corradi
Bianchi
Bojinov
Mancini
Vieira
Balotelli

I think we have to ask ourselves whether it's worth it.

[CityFanFromRome]

Manchester City's dealings with Italy.
Weah
Dabo
Corradi
Bianchi
Bojinov
Mancini
Vieira
Balotelli

I think we have to ask ourselves whether it's worth it.

Well, most of them were before the takeover so they were either has-beens or mediocre players; Balotelli, as much as his personality and attitude irks many, has not been a disaster; not a complete success but far from a failure imho. Vieira, we knew he was old even before signing him, still he put in good performances this season, with the odd mistake, true, but he also scored some important goals and set up another couple. Mancini, well the jury's still out on him, the football is not great to watch and the results are slipping but we are still fourth and in the FA semi; the end of the season will decide whether he's been a success (moderate as it may be) or a failure.

[Dubciteh]

Manchester City's dealings with Italy.
Weah
Dabo
Corradi
Bianchi
Bojinov
Mancini
Vieira
Balotelli

I think we have to ask ourselves whether it's worth it.

Funnily vieira has prob been the best of the bunch which says it all really....

[Renato_CTID]

Please let Andrea walk as usually in so comfortable serie A grounds for the afterglow of his carrer!
I know everything of him as an AC Milan fan and believe me, Pirlo isn't the correct solution for our next midfield!
His brain run fast but his legs are even slower than Grandpa Vieira's.
Charlie Adam or Scott Parker: both should be fantastic for next season!

[CityFanFromRome]

Please let Andrea walk as usually in so comfortable serie A grounds for the afterglow of his carrer!
I know everything of him as an AC Milan fan and believe me, Pirlo isn't the correct solution for our next midfield!
His brain run fast but his legs are even slower than Grandpa Vieira's.
Charlie Adam or Scott Parker: both should be fantastic for next season!

That's what I said right at the start of the topic too; he would struggle to adapt to the Prem's pace. But, if he did, then he could be good backup, surely not the main solution to our problems.