Maicon.

[Slim]

I would assume Maicon is first choice right now, limping or not. Don't think we paid money for a Hargreaves, Pizarro, Pat sort of player/mentor.

[Ted Hughes]

I would assume Maicon is first choice right now, limping or not. Don't think we paid money for a Hargreaves, Pizarro, Pat sort of player/mentor.

I don't see him as being 1st choice as fullback but certainly at wingback. He could easily play wide right ahead of a fullback too.

I'm pretty sure he won't turn in a worse performance than Kolo's little cameo in any case, so we can see already how it's a good move .

I wonder if there are any 40 year old left backs we can replace Kolarov with.

[Slim]

I would assume Maicon is first choice right now, limping or not. Don't think we paid money for a Hargreaves, Pizarro, Pat sort of player/mentor.

I don't see him as being 1st choice as fullback but certainly at wingback. He could easily play wide right ahead of a fullback too.

I'm pretty sure he won't turn in a worse performance than Kolo's little cameo in any case, so we can see already how it's a good move .

I wonder if there are any 40 year old left backs we can replace Kolarov with.

Wonder if Paulo Maldini feels like pulling on his boots again, he was singularly the best defender I have ever seen.

[Blue Since 76]

I've been saying for long that I see Micah as the best allround defender since Paolo Maldini.

Mentioning Micah and Maldini in the same sentence should be banned. They've got more in common in terms of their colour than they have in terms of their defensive capabilities. And I like Micah.

Zab is a better defender than Micah, but struggles for height and pace. Micah is a great athlete and is able to use that to cover for his poor positional sense and concentration.

[Swales4ever]

I've been saying for long that I see Micah as the best allround defender since Paolo Maldini.

Mentioning Micah and Maldini in the same sentence should be banned. They've got more in common in terms of their colour than they have in terms of their defensive capabilities. And I like Micah.

Zab is a better defender than Micah, but struggles for height and pace. Micah is a great athlete and is able to use that to cover for his poor positional sense and concentration.

OmG...

[Blue Since 76]

OmG...

Do are you seriously trying to claim that Micah is the best defender since Maldini? I mean seriously?

[Green & Blue]

Do are you seriously trying to claim that Micah is the best defender since Maldini? I mean seriously?

No Maldini but I would rate him as the best right back in the league last season.He put in some unbelievable performances.If it was not for Redknapp constantly blowing smoke up Kyle Walkers ass Micah might have got the recogniton he deserved.

[Swales4ever]

OmG...

Do are you seriously trying to claim that Micah is the best defender since Maldini? I mean seriously?

what I claimed is the Micah, has a set of abilities and features that qualifies him as the best potential since Paolo Maldini.
Most of it has already been developed out of him, as last season has clearly and steadily shown. some part is still there to be fulfilled and i think he is up to that challenge, particularly when he will learn to contain his physical exuberance.
Your painting of a poor positional sense and lapses in focus, could have, harshly, applied to the Micah of 2-3 seasons ago, despite You partly refute Yourself by saying of his ability of using his athletic power to cover when caught in the counter.

then if you want me to agree on that a defender with a huge powerful body can get caught by a tricky super-fast light winger ala SWP of old memory.... well, I reckon even Paolo Maldini would have suffered there.

[blues2win]

If you're going to play three at the back you need the left and right centre backs to be comfortable going wide which they will have to not infrequently. Can't see that suiting Lescott. Theoretically Kolo would be ok but he was shit when Mancini tried it. I'm still doubtful it suits us but Mancini still seems keen.

[Blue Blood]

If you're going to play three at the back you need the left and right centre backs to be comfortable going wide which they will have to not infrequently. Can't see that suiting Lescott. Theoretically Kolo would be ok but he was shit when Mancini tried it. I'm still doubtful it suits us but Mancini still seems keen.

Nastic played all last season as the LCB of a back three at Fiorentina. Seems we have one CB who could fill the role comfortably.

[blues2win]

True. I assume he's been bought to replace Lescott at some point. How quickly depends on how quickly he adjusts to English football but we'll be lucky if he adjusts fully before next season. I'll be delighted to be proved wrong though.

[Blue Since 76]

what I claimed is the Micah, has a set of abilities and features that qualifies him as the best potential since Paolo Maldini.
Most of it has already been developed out of him, as last season has clearly and steadily shown. some part is still there to be fulfilled and i think he is up to that challenge, particularly when he will learn to contain his physical exuberance.
Your painting of a poor positional sense and lapses in focus, could have, harshly, applied to the Micah of 2-3 seasons ago, despite You partly refute Yourself by saying of his ability of using his athletic power to cover when caught in the counter.

then if you want me to agree on that a defender with a huge powerful body can get caught by a tricky super-fast light winger ala SWP of old memory.... well, I reckon even Paolo Maldini would have suffered there.

Micah reminds me of Silvestre - unable to read the game but able to use his pace to get a tackle in. Then there are defenders who can read the game and be in good positions but haven't got pace. Those who have both are world class.

I've still seen nothing in Micah which shows he can read a game and I'm not sure it's easy to learn. At fullback, it's a lot easier - try to push the player to the outside and then match them for pace. When he's been at centre half he's been all over the place again - see GB at Olympics (although rest of defence was a shambles). When he first came through, his ability on the ball wasn't great but that's improved a lot, especially last season.

Micah is the best header of the ball we've got and provides power and aggression that neither Kompany or Lescott really have. I wish we could play him at centre half, at least for games against the likes of Stoke, but I'm not sure he'd cope with the ball on the floor. That's why he's played at full back where we make the most of his athletic qualities and his deficiencies have less impact.

[Swales4ever]

what I claimed is the Micah, has a set of abilities and features that qualifies him as the best potential since Paolo Maldini.
Most of it has already been developed out of him, as last season has clearly and steadily shown. some part is still there to be fulfilled and i think he is up to that challenge, particularly when he will learn to contain his physical exuberance.
Your painting of a poor positional sense and lapses in focus, could have, harshly, applied to the Micah of 2-3 seasons ago, despite You partly refute Yourself by saying of his ability of using his athletic power to cover when caught in the counter.

then if you want me to agree on that a defender with a huge powerful body can get caught by a tricky super-fast light winger ala SWP of old memory.... well, I reckon even Paolo Maldini would have suffered there.

Micah reminds me of Silvestre - unable to read the game but able to use his pace to get a tackle in. Then there are defenders who can read the game and be in good positions but haven't got pace. Those who have both are world class.

I've still seen nothing in Micah which shows he can read a game and I'm not sure it's easy to learn. At fullback, it's a lot easier - try to push the player to the outside and then match them for pace. When he's been at centre half he's been all over the place again - see GB at Olympics (although rest of defence was a shambles). When he first came through, his ability on the ball wasn't great but that's improved a lot, especially last season.

Micah is the best header of the ball we've got and provides power and aggression that neither Kompany or Lescott really have. I wish we could play him at centre half, at least for games against the likes of Stoke, but I'm not sure he'd cope with the ball on the floor. That's why he's played at full back where we make the most of his athletic qualities and his deficiencies have less impact.

That's a fair good point. I don't think Paolo Maldini had that great intelligence of the game when he was 24, tho. Also he had been a better FB than CB, at least since the pace assisted, then moved to the center, steadily. I think that experience teach and don't think that if Micah shall continue to improve with the same application he won't end up much different from what Maldini was after turning 30. I am also very curious to see Micah in the back 3, this season.
My original point was and still is that Micah is a superb Allround defender, not that he is, at the same time the best FB ever and the best CB ever.
In my book Silvestre, at his best, was half a Micah... ;)

[Mase]

Stick to your guns Mancio!

I think you could be right about Micah in the long term.

[Moonchesteri]

I don't think away games are the right ones for this lad.
At home against lesser sides maybe yes but from what I've seen of him so far in City's colours I'd rather have Micah or Zabba playing in the team for away games

Prove me wrong please!

[bobadji]

I know it's early days etc etc but I think he's going to be fucking shite. He hardly bombs forward he's not quick enough, he's clueless defensively and Zabba is better at all aspects imo.

[dazby]

We've yet to really see his qualities. Give him some time to settle in. Although why he kept letting Tranny come inside on him was befuddling.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

We've yet to really see his qualities. Give him some time to settle in. Although why he kept letting Tranny come inside on him was befuddling.

Looks like he taught Vinnie and Zaba to do it as well.

[london blue 2]

We've yet to really see his qualities. Give him some time to settle in. Although why he kept letting Tranny come inside on him was befuddling.

Looks like he taught Vinnie and Zaba to do it as well.

And Clichy on the other side with Maria.

[xavi6]

Also being reported he will sign a two year deal with an option for the club of a third.

Where is the risk in that?

£2.5 million / 2 year deal. BARGAIN!

The risk is if he plays, is shit and costs us goals/games.

Don't like this signing. Three years ago fair enough but his best days are behind him and we're better than that these days.

Feels like I'm going to be proved right, he was shit tonight.