Jesus Navas to tickle our sidelines

[Nickyboy]

I don't get this. What's not beautiful about a bit of wing wizardry, a tantalising cross and an emphatic finish leaving the ball nestling on the onion bag? Poetry in motion.

Here here.

[blues-clues]

Wingers and dzeko doesn't fit the bill for "attractive football" so we won't be going that.

Plus navas is shit and old. His best days, which weren't very impressive anyway, are behind him.

Sucked balls this year for sure. Whether that was just slump in form or permanent drop in quality remains to be seen.

If we try to use him in any other way than traditional winger going past fullback and putting crosses in this is going to turn out pretty bad. Good but very one dimensional player. Zero versatility.

Ideally you want someone like Arjen Robben and then get the set up right to use him properly.

[kinkylola]

I don't get this. What's not beautiful about a bit of wing wizardry, a tantalising cross and an emphatic finish leaving the ball nestling on the onion bag? Poetry in motion.

Here here.

good crossers of the ball are extremely rare, especially in the prem now. When your team can't cross, all the opponent needs to do is clog the middle and it's fairly simple to nullify each attack. Guess what happened to us so many times this season?

[Blue Philistine]

He hasn't done it right and it's broken.

As for Navas, I see him as a huge risk with his well documented problems.

Sorry about the link. Not familiar with his history, perhaps you could fill me in? Hope he's not another Maicon :(

[Blue Philistine]

He is 27 which in football terms and especially for a winger is old. He has never looked world class, just decent. At that age I can't see him getting any better in a harder league.

Don't think he is the type of guy we need to be bringing in. Seems like de ja vu with the chaff we got last season. I don't see him taking us to the next level so i don't see the point in signing him.

Everyone seems to get really excited these days when we sign a player and all the sudden he is great when deep down we all know we haven't signed anyone above average since aguero and signing navas would just carry on that trend.

Edit: Especially at the prices being talked about.

Franck Robert is 30. Arjen Robben about 27/28 I think.

[Nigels Tackle]

He is 27 which in football terms and especially for a winger is old. He has never looked world class, just decent. At that age I can't see him getting any better in a harder league.

Don't think he is the type of guy we need to be bringing in. Seems like de ja vu with the chaff we got last season. I don't see him taking us to the next level so i don't see the point in signing him.

Everyone seems to get really excited these days when we sign a player and all the sudden he is great when deep down we all know we haven't signed anyone above average since aguero and signing navas would just carry on that trend.

Edit: Especially at the prices being talked about.

Franck Robert is 30. Arjen Robben about 27/28 I think.

robben will be 30 in january

[Tokyo Blue]

If he has had a shit year, it might bring his price down a smidge.

[avoidconfusion]

15m?

Something like, I reckon. Arsenal got Keith Harris for about 16M twelve months ago. Expect a similar sort of price for Navas.

Bloody hope so, if we spent 30m on him I'd be quite disappointed actually.

[Im_Spartacus]

good crossers of the ball are extremely rare, especially in the prem now. When your team can't cross, all the opponent needs to do is clog the middle and it's fairly simple to nullify each attack. Guess what happened to us so many times this season?

How do you account for how many united score from that very tactic then?

Its a bit of variation, an option to pull players out of position, wheras as the moment with a narrow formation, we end up needing to pass the ball through 4 defenders tucked in and around the 6 yard box, with a winger who goes for a cross, that takes a minimum of 1, often 2 defenders out of the mix leaving space in the middle rather than a clogged goalmouth

[Alioune DVToure]

How do you account for how many united score from that very tactic then?

Its a bit of variation, an option to pull players out of position, wheras as the moment with a narrow formation, we end up needing to pass the ball through 4 defenders tucked in and around the 6 yard box, with a winger who goes for a cross, that takes a minimum of 1, often 2 defenders out of the mix leaving space in the middle rather than a clogged goalmouth

To be fair, isn't that basically what he was saying? And Stretford ALWAYS play with width as Plan A.

[kinkylola]

How do you account for how many united score from that very tactic then?

Its a bit of variation, an option to pull players out of position, wheras as the moment with a narrow formation, we end up needing to pass the ball through 4 defenders tucked in and around the 6 yard box, with a winger who goes for a cross, that takes a minimum of 1, often 2 defenders out of the mix leaving space in the middle rather than a clogged goalmouth

To be fair, isn't that basically what he was saying? And Stretford ALWAYS play with width as Plan A.

I dunno if I was unclear, but yes playing with width is the most basic way to vary your play, and allows you to come inside if you want, as it will be open. I am for us getting in a real wide player. I was going to mention valencia in my original post ... he is as one footed as kolarov, and has 2 speeds, walking and sprinting. But he is a danger out wide, and can ping in a decent ball. Improve them no end and allows them to do whatever else they want to do on the field. I did want to keep them out of it, though.

Who do you reckon was the last true wide man that we've actually had, and who was the last one we had that could actually cross? Guess it was petrov? wasn't that long ago. I don't want to open that can of worms but I don't remember him being that great of a crosser.

Anyhow, it would help stop teams just setting up a block of 10 in the middle infront of their box.

[Piccsnumberoneblue]

I dunno if I was unclear, but yes playing with width is the most basic way to vary your play, and allows you to come inside if you want, as it will be open. I am for us getting in a real wide player. I was going to mention valencia in my original post ... he is as one footed as kolarov, and has 2 speeds, walking and sprinting. But he is a danger out wide, and can ping in a decent ball. Improve them no end and allows them to do whatever else they want to do on the field. I did want to keep them out of it, though.

Who do you reckon was the last true wide man that we've actually had, and who was the last one we had that could actually cross? Guess it was petrov? wasn't that long ago. I don't want to open that can of worms but I don't remember him being that great of a crosser.

Anyhow, it would help stop teams just setting up a block of 10 in the middle infront of their box.

Oh shit, should I?
No just leave it.

[blues-clues]

Oh shit, should I?
No just leave it.

Were you going to say that Kolarov can put in a decent cross but nobody ever gets on the end of it?

Cos if you were then you may as well just go ahead and say it. You wouldn't be wrong.

[kinkylola]

Oh shit, should I?
No just leave it.

Were you going to say that Kolarov can put in a decent cross but nobody ever gets on the end of it?

Cos if you were then you may as well just go ahead and say it. You wouldn't be wrong.

Kolarov can cross quite well, I agree. I also agree that no one gets on the end of his crosses ... But i really don't think either point really hits on what I was saying, because kolarov is not a winger, he is played as a left back 99% of the time.

And even though he plays quite attacking as a fullback, he really does not put in that many crosses per game.

[Saul Goodman]

At this juncture i feel confident that the club is vetting these players and figuring out who will fit what and everything else. i very much doubt that they will let something like last season with sinclair happen again. theyre not in the mood to waste money. i dont believe that they will be signing someone that is shit or too old to contribute for more than a season.

have a little faith in the club.

[Risby]

At this juncture i feel confident that the club is vetting these players and figuring out who will fit what and everything else. i very much doubt that they will let something like last season with sinclair happen again. theyre not in the mood to waste money. i dont believe that they will be signing someone that is shit or too old to contribute for more than a season.

have a little faith in the club.

I think you are right. We can all have our opinions on these players and pass on our judgements on whether or not they will contribute well to our team, but at the end of the day, there will be people in our club who will be doing their homework on each possible target.

I think the club will have had meetings with these players agents and drawn up a list of realistic and financially suitable targets. Pellegrini will come in and prioritise the said list and soon after, hopefully, the players will arrive.

[Saul Goodman]

yeah, i dont think any player will agree to come here nor will the club bring in anyone before the manager the installed

[Slim]

He hasn't done it right and it's broken.

As for Navas, I see him as a huge risk with his well documented problems.

Sorry about the link. Not familiar with his history, perhaps you could fill me in? Hope he's not another Maicon :(

He had horrendous problems with homesickness, to the point that he had to leave a Spanish training camp, IN SPAIN, because it was too far from his home. I think if we signed him it's too much of a risk that we would immediately have an unhappy player on our hands who just wants to go home.

[Slim]

I dunno if I was unclear, but yes playing with width is the most basic way to vary your play, and allows you to come inside if you want, as it will be open. I am for us getting in a real wide player. I was going to mention valencia in my original post ... he is as one footed as kolarov, and has 2 speeds, walking and sprinting. But he is a danger out wide, and can ping in a decent ball. Improve them no end and allows them to do whatever else they want to do on the field. I did want to keep them out of it, though.

Who do you reckon was the last true wide man that we've actually had, and who was the last one we had that could actually cross? Guess it was petrov? wasn't that long ago. I don't want to open that can of worms but I don't remember him being that great of a crosser.

Anyhow, it would help stop teams just setting up a block of 10 in the middle infront of their box.

Oh shit, should I?
No just leave it.

Oh go on, I'll be waiting.

[Yaya Toure is a LAD]

@City_Watch: Navas: "I'm open to anything and aspire to win titles. Manchester City is a team that I really like. Let's see what happens."