Silly Season Starts - Llorente

[Im_Spartacus]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... arget.html

Manchester City are closing in on a £30million deal to sign Athletic Bilbao's Spain international striker Fernando Llorente.

Manager Roberto Mancini is ready to let Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund target Edin Dzeko leave the club, while the futures of fellow front men Carlos Tevez and Mario Balotelli hang in the balance.

As a result, Mancini is in the market for a striker and he has identified the 6ft 5in World Cup winner as his preferred choice. The Sun claim that the two clubs are deep into negotiations over a deal.

Despite a run to the Europa League semi-finals, which saw them knock out Manchester United, Bilbao are struggling in seventh place in La Liga and are looking to cash in on their prize assets.

Llorente - who has seven goals in 20 games for Spain and is likely to feature at Euro 2012 - is a long term target of Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp. But Spurs will not be able to compete with the £200,000-a-week salary that City are prepared to offer the 27-year-old.

[Wooders]

if true that will be the 3rd lanky striker that doesn't fit into mancini's system in a row

[Fullartj]

He is a great player but £30 million and £200,000 a week is a joke. Talk about putting pressure on the guy!

He plays like a spanish version of Niall Quinn.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

if true that will be the 3rd lanky striker that doesn't fit into mancini's system in a row

I have never believed what is in the Sun and I won't start now. The style of football we are trying to play just isnt suited to that type of front man.

[Goaters 103]

Yawn - its a bit early for this isnt it?

At the weekend it will be Cavani for the same monies, and come the end of April it will be Lavezzi.

[Ted Hughes]

Lllorente is Bilbao's frontman & perfectly suited to our style of play as he plays, scores & assists in a more complicated system of it every single game.

He also plays for Spain.

[Bianchi on Ice]

From what Ive seen of Llorente hes better than adebayor or Dzeko. Could he strike up a rapport with Silva, Aguero, and dare I say, Tevez?...unfortunately anyone we sign is going to cost a lot if its upgrades we are looking for.

Aguero
Tevez
Llorente
Balotelli

not bad.

[Im_Spartacus]

Lllorente is Bilbao's frontman & perfectly suited to our style of play as he plays, scores & assists in a more complicated system of it every single game.

He also plays for Spain.

From the two games I have seen, he seems to be very mobile given his size and puts himself about. But, if Bilbao as a team played like they did against the munes week in week out, they would have walked la liga, so I am skeptical.

I have said it before, but a decent front man prepred to do the dirty work with (dare I say it) Tevez and Aguero buzzing around is, I think what Mancini is aiming for ultimately, with Yaya, Silva supporting, and a quarterback style player behind them.

[gillie]

Lllorente is Bilbao's frontman & perfectly suited to our style of play as he plays, scores & assists in a more complicated system of it every single game.

He also plays for Spain.

From the two games I have seen, he seems to be very mobile given his size and puts himself about. But, if Bilbao as a team played like they did against the munes week in week out, they would have walked la liga, so I am skeptical.

I have said it before, but a decent front man prepred to do the dirty work with (dare I say it) Tevez and Aguero buzzing around is, I think what Mancini is aiming for ultimately, with Yaya, Silva supporting, and a quarterback style player behind them.

The perfect quarterback style of player imo would be Javi Martinez who also plays for Bilbao.

[Im_Spartacus]

Lllorente is Bilbao's frontman & perfectly suited to our style of play as he plays, scores & assists in a more complicated system of it every single game.

He also plays for Spain.

From the two games I have seen, he seems to be very mobile given his size and puts himself about. But, if Bilbao as a team played like they did against the munes week in week out, they would have walked la liga, so I am skeptical.

I have said it before, but a decent front man prepred to do the dirty work with (dare I say it) Tevez and Aguero buzzing around is, I think what Mancini is aiming for ultimately, with Yaya, Silva supporting, and a quarterback style player behind them.

The perfect quarterback style of player imo would be Javi Martinez who also plays for Bilbao.

Maybe, and what would be funnier with that is that Rags I speak to seem convinced he would go to them. Even if Bilbao get £50m in their coffers, do they not have limitations on the nationality of the players they sign. Losing players of such quality with restrictions on signing replacements would surely be a devastating blow, especially if Munain goes too.

Maybe we could send them a couple of players on loan if their rules allowed it?

[Ted Hughes]

From what Ive seen of Llorente hes better than adebayor or Dzeko. Could he strike up a rapport with Silva, Aguero, and dare I say, Tevez?...unfortunately anyone we sign is going to cost a lot if its upgrades we are looking for.

Aguero
Tevez
Llorente
Balotelli

not bad.

Not bad at all.

Thje difference between Lllorente & Dzeko is that he will at least try to get on the end of any kind of ball (cross, diagonal, near post, far post, high, low, good, bad) & is much much stronger & more fearless to do it. He will also look to link up with pass & move football especially in the box as he plays always in pass and move teams.

If Barca had him in their squad, I recon they would have battered Chelsea without changing their style.

We, on the other hand, will try to improve our width options I recon, so I still think Dzeko could possibly stay.

Gray just talking about it this very second, says Dzeko has everything, but needs to be more aggressive, use his strength & be less greedy. Couldn't agree more.

[Ted Hughes]

Lllorente is Bilbao's frontman & perfectly suited to our style of play as he plays, scores & assists in a more complicated system of it every single game.

He also plays for Spain.

From the two games I have seen, he seems to be very mobile given his size and puts himself about. But, if Bilbao as a team played like they did against the munes week in week out, they would have walked la liga, so I am skeptical.

I have said it before, but a decent front man prepred to do the dirty work with (dare I say it) Tevez and Aguero buzzing around is, I think what Mancini is aiming for ultimately, with Yaya, Silva supporting, and a quarterback style player behind them.

The perfect quarterback style of player imo would be Javi Martinez who also plays for Bilbao.

Maybe, and what would be funnier with that is that Rags I speak to seem convinced he would go to them. Even if Bilbao get £50m in their coffers, do they not have limitations on the nationality of the players they sign. Losing players of such quality with restrictions on signing replacements would surely be a devastating blow, especially if Munain goes too.

Maybe we could send them a couple of players on loan if their rules allowed it?

Is it just me who thinks Martinez looks like a tall, shit Carrick when in midfield ?

[Mikhail Chigorin]

Irrespective of how skilful and, technically, how accomplished Llorente is with the ball at his feet, at 6' 5" there will always be a temptation for some of our players (Hart, Lescott ??), at various times, to play the long ball up to him as per Stoke and to cut out the midfield altogether, which would be the very antithesis of how we play and how we should play.

Given that scenario, I'd rather have our Aguero/Tevez/Silva collection of 'midgets' up front any day, as in the last couple of games.

Anyway, at 27 years of age, he doesn't quite fit our purchasing profile under Bobby Manc and, when all is said and done, it is a 'story' in the Sun, after all. End of..........

[Ted Hughes]

Irrespective of how skilful and, technically, how accomplished Llorente is with the ball at his feet, at 6' 5" there will always be a temptation for some of our players (Hart, Lescott ??), at various times, to play the long ball up to him as per Stoke and to cut out the midfield altogether, which would be the very antithesis of how we play and how we should play.

Given that scenario, I'd rather have our Aguero/Tevez/Silva collection of 'midgets' up front any day, as in the last couple of games.

Anyway, at 27 years of age, he doesn't quite fit our purchasing profile under Bobby Manc and, when all is said and done, it is a 'story' in the Sun, after all. End of..........

Bilbao play it long to him sometimes, that's the beauty of it. Rather than just setting up to stop the tippy tappy, teams have to worry about a big fucking hoof down the pitch because he can score from it or set off the tippy tappy right outside your penalty area or score from a cross. It makes stopping the pass and move so much harder if you have other things for them to worry about.

The side who becomes better than Barca will be the side who can do that as well.

[Im_Spartacus]

Irrespective of how skilful and, technically, how accomplished Llorente is with the ball at his feet, at 6' 5" there will always be a temptation for some of our players (Hart, Lescott ??), at various times, to play the long ball up to him as per Stoke and to cut out the midfield altogether, which would be the very antithesis of how we play and how we should play.

Given that scenario, I'd rather have our Aguero/Tevez/Silva collection of 'midgets' up front any day, as in the last couple of games.

Anyway, at 27 years of age, he doesn't quite fit our purchasing profile under Bobby Manc and, when all is said and done, it is a 'story' in the Sun, after all. End of..........

Bilbao play it long to him sometimes, that's the beauty of it. Rather than just setting up to stop the tippy tappy, teams have to worry about a big fucking hoof down the pitch because he can score from it or set off the tippy tappy right outside your penalty area or score from a cross. It makes stopping the pass and move so much harder if you have other things for them to worry about.

The side who becomes better than Barca will be the side who can do that as well.

Absolutely, there has to be the ability to vary things - and the strength in the team to not feel that it becomes the only option when backs are to the wall.

The story is being widely reported across the media today, not sure whom the original source was. At 27 I agree that he is at the outside of our parameters for recruiting players who will retain a sell on value, but if he comes and is shit, he will be 28, move back to spain and we recoup much of what we paid. Its when you are buying a Robin Van Persie at 29 for £40m, only get two decent years out of him and nothing at the end of it that I think the club baulk at

[Ted Hughes]

Irrespective of how skilful and, technically, how accomplished Llorente is with the ball at his feet, at 6' 5" there will always be a temptation for some of our players (Hart, Lescott ??), at various times, to play the long ball up to him as per Stoke and to cut out the midfield altogether, which would be the very antithesis of how we play and how we should play.

Given that scenario, I'd rather have our Aguero/Tevez/Silva collection of 'midgets' up front any day, as in the last couple of games.

Anyway, at 27 years of age, he doesn't quite fit our purchasing profile under Bobby Manc and, when all is said and done, it is a 'story' in the Sun, after all. End of..........

Bilbao play it long to him sometimes, that's the beauty of it. Rather than just setting up to stop the tippy tappy, teams have to worry about a big fucking hoof down the pitch because he can score from it or set off the tippy tappy right outside your penalty area or score from a cross. It makes stopping the pass and move so much harder if you have other things for them to worry about.

The side who becomes better than Barca will be the side who can do that as well.

Absolutely, there has to be the ability to vary things - and the strength in the team to not feel that it becomes the only option when backs are to the wall.

The story is being widely reported across the media today, not sure whom the original source was. At 27 I agree that he is at the outside of our parameters for recruiting players who will retain a sell on value, but if he comes and is shit, he will be 28, move back to spain and we recoup much of what we paid. Its when you are buying a Robin Van Persie at 29 for £40m, only get two decent years out of him and nothing at the end of it that I think the club baulk at

Personally I can't see them releasing him but there are rumours they need the money because of their league position, in which case GET MUNIAIN FIRST !!

The thing with Lllorente though is that he's not very quick so he's already learned to be effective without it. Therefore, I can't see any reason he shouldn't play on at the top level for another 5 years or so.

[Mikhail Chigorin]

Irrespective of how skilful and, technically, how accomplished Llorente is with the ball at his feet, at 6' 5" there will always be a temptation for some of our players (Hart, Lescott ??), at various times, to play the long ball up to him as per Stoke and to cut out the midfield altogether, which would be the very antithesis of how we play and how we should play.

Given that scenario, I'd rather have our Aguero/Tevez/Silva collection of 'midgets' up front any day, as in the last couple of games.

Anyway, at 27 years of age, he doesn't quite fit our purchasing profile under Bobby Manc and, when all is said and done, it is a 'story' in the Sun, after all. End of..........

Bilbao play it long to him sometimes, that's the beauty of it. Rather than just setting up to stop the tippy tappy, teams have to worry about a big fucking hoof down the pitch because he can score from it or set off the tippy tappy right outside your penalty area or score from a cross. It makes stopping the pass and move so much harder if you have other things for them to worry about.

The side who becomes better than Barca will be the side who can do that as well.

Hi Ted,

It's all well and good in theory, but even thinking about it gives me nightmares of Niall Quinn....Uuugghhh.

Rather than the Stoke/Wimbledon/Watford heritage, give me the "tippy tappy" Barcelona style all day long. Mind you, last night against Chelsea, Barca weren't completely "tippy tappy" as I did like the way that, on occasions, Mascherano brought the ball out from the back and played some longish passes, on the ground and to the feet of players in wide positions.

When we sign him (please read this thread Bob), Neven Subotic will be good doing that kind of thing for us, from the back and we'll have no reason to ever even consider banging it long, in the air, for a lanky carthorse up front to 'fight for it'.

[Ted Hughes]

Irrespective of how skilful and, technically, how accomplished Llorente is with the ball at his feet, at 6' 5" there will always be a temptation for some of our players (Hart, Lescott ??), at various times, to play the long ball up to him as per Stoke and to cut out the midfield altogether, which would be the very antithesis of how we play and how we should play.

Given that scenario, I'd rather have our Aguero/Tevez/Silva collection of 'midgets' up front any day, as in the last couple of games.

Anyway, at 27 years of age, he doesn't quite fit our purchasing profile under Bobby Manc and, when all is said and done, it is a 'story' in the Sun, after all. End of..........

Bilbao play it long to him sometimes, that's the beauty of it. Rather than just setting up to stop the tippy tappy, teams have to worry about a big fucking hoof down the pitch because he can score from it or set off the tippy tappy right outside your penalty area or score from a cross. It makes stopping the pass and move so much harder if you have other things for them to worry about.

The side who becomes better than Barca will be the side who can do that as well.

Hi Ted,

It's all well and good in theory, but even thinking about it gives me nightmares of Niall Quinn....Uuugghhh.

Rather than the Stoke/Wimbledon/Watford heritage, give me the "tippy tappy" Barcelona style all day long. Mind you, last night against Chelsea, Barca weren't completely "tippy tappy" as I did like the way that, on occasions, Mascherano brought the ball out from the back and played some longish passes, on the ground and to the feet of players in wide positions.

When we sign him (please read this thread Bob), Neven Subotic will be good doing that kind of thing for us, from the back and we'll have no reason to ever even consider banging it long, in the air, for a lanky carthorse up front to 'fight for it'.

Lllorente is no carthorse, in fact he's a much better exponent of pass and move than Balotelli.

[Dubciteh]

Job lot from Bilbao on Minuain, Llorente and martinez and thats most our shopping done this window!

[Mikhail Chigorin]

Hi Ted,

I was being unfair with the 'carthorse' reference so I'll retract that comment, if I may, but it's just that I absolutely loathe and despise the longball style of play and I always have, even when I was young.

Back in the 1971/72 season when we got Wyn Davies, I wasn't very happy at the prospect of City utilising his aerial skills 'ad nauseam' and, because he was so effective at it, we did play to his strengths a lot which greatly upset me.

I remember in the Spring of 1972, we played at Bramall Lane and earned a 3-3 draw and all the Sunday newspapers were waxing lyrical about what a fine game it was and how Sheff Utd and City were 'the great entertainers'. I couldn't believe all the praise being showered on us because, watching the game, City had played the longball down the middle all afternoon and, apart from only drawing, I came away from the game totally disenchanted because we'd played in such a mindless and unskilful manner.

I was as happy as anything when, the following season, we palmed off Davies (who was then 31 and pushing 32) onto the Scum for the same fee we'd paid for him twelve months previously; the Rodney Marsh saga notwithstanding.

All in all, it's just my own personal phobia which gives me a distaste for large, potentially lumbering centre forwards. I prefer a Messi to a Drogba, but then who wouldn't ??