Sinclair and Nastasic - the Mystery

[Wonderwall]

Sinclair and Nastasic seem to be the forgotten men at City, but if Sinclair goes in Jan (which he will) do we NEED to buy English to ensure we meet our quota?

Sinclair said in a recent interview..............

MANCHESTER CITY'S forgotten man Scott Sinclair admits a lack of first-team football means he will have to look for a transfer in January.
The 25-year-old, formerly of Chelsea, has not made a Premier League start for over two years and has played just 22 minutes in two matches this season, one of which was the Community Shield.
Sinclair has made only 17 appearances since being signed by former manger Roberto Mancini for £6.2m in the summer of 2012 and spent an equally fruitless loan spell at West Brom last season.
The ex-England Under-21 international has since been linked with a move to top-flight rivals Southampton and Everton, and is seemingly trying to catch their attention.
"It has been very frustrating for the last couple of years," Sinclair said.
"I have tried to do as well as I can in training and hope to get a chance but at this moment in time it is hard for me to get a game.
All I can do is re-evaluate in January and go from there
There are some world class players here so I can't do much more than keep working hard in training.
"I don't feel I've had the best of chances; I just want to get out there and show why City bought me but I've not had that opportunity.
"I made the decision (to move to City) and I have to deal with it, I can't look back and say it was a mistake but the only thing I do miss is playing football.
"I made the decision to come to City and fight it out with all the big players and it hasn't really worked out this far.
"All I can do is re-evaluate in January and go from there."

Nastasic seems to be the victim of a mysterious injury of Bojinov and Michael Johnson proportions. It has been reported to be muscular or calf, but there seems to be little to no information on him. Also, if he goes, does he need replacing? There was an MEN Article on him recently below

Matija Nastasic could finally leave the Etihad Stadium.
Nastasic has not played since the Community Shield. Still only 21, Nastasic joined City from Fiorentina in 2012 and appeared to attract interest from a number of Serie A clubs in the summer.

Nastasic, nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Year in his debut year at Eastlands, has made only one appearance all season - in the Community Shield - and played just 20 times under Manuel Pellegrini last term. A baffling knee injury derailed his progress at City, yet the additions of Martin Demichelis and Eliaquim Mangala have effectively forced him into the departure lounge at the Etihad Stadium.

Even Dedryck Boyata has been on the bench ahead of Nastasic for the last four games.

I thought Sinclair looked like he could make a good impact this season, his form pre-season was good and he looked sharp, then the season starts and its up yours son?

[I Just Blue Myself]

We don't need to replace Sinclair with an English player, his place in the squad could just as well be left empty (and nothing of value would be lost).

And I'm not having Nastasic's "injury". Three starts for Serbia, two of those over the full 90 minutes, in September & October. Not once in the squad (!) after the Community Shield. Looks like a fish, smells like a fish...

[Ted Hughes]

Boyata was better than Nastasic when they went head to head pre season. Iheanacho was a world better than Sinclair. I would guarantee that if you played Sinclair, then replaced him with Brandon Barker, then Barker would be better. When Sinclair first signed, & played in the EDS he was nowhere even remotely close to the level of Barker or Ambrose now, nor as good as Devante Cole for that matter.

When those lads were younger, perhaps there was a reason for having him, but now, he is just in the way, as is Nastasic.

[Mark Garrett]

Nastasic showed potential and did well for us with Kompany in 12-13 season.

He isn't injured as there are pictures showing him training again today. Would like to see him given an opportunity again but clearly Pellegrini has fallen out with him/doesn't rate him as shown by him selecting Boyota at Sunderland last week.

[Ted Hughes]

Nastasic showed potential and did well for us with Kompany in 12-13 season.

He isn't injured as there are pictures showing him training again today. Would like to see him given an opportunity again but clearly Pellegrini has fallen out with him/doesn't rate him as shown by him selecting Boyota at Sunderland last week.

Not for me he didn't. He just avoids having to do anything thus makes fewer mistakes than someone who does.

Boyata did more actual defending in the last game than you would ever see from Nastasic. He would find a way of being somewhere else whilst all the important challenges were made, then pick up the loose ball & have a cigar..

[Cocacolajojo1]

Nastasic showed potential and did well for us with Kompany in 12-13 season.

Agree.

[Dameerto]

I lost any faith in Nastasic when he ducked out of a 50/50 aerial challenge close to our goal, totally unforgivable. Thankfully it didn't cost us.

[Mase]

Nastasic showed potential and did well for us with Kompany in 12-13 season.

Agree.

Chris Greenacre showed potential...

[Tokyo Blue]

Nastasic showed potential and did well for us with Kompany in 12-13 season.

Agree.

Chris Greenacre showed potential...

True. And so did Gary Mason.

[Wonderwall]

Nastasic showed potential and did well for us with Kompany in 12-13 season.

Agree.

Chris Greenacre showed potential...

True. And so did Gary Mason.

Willo Flood, Lee Croft, Stephen Elliott...them were the days eh!!

[Foreverinbluedreams]

Nastasic showed potential and did well for us with Kompany in 12-13 season.

He isn't injured as there are pictures showing him training again today. Would like to see him given an opportunity again but clearly Pellegrini has fallen out with him/doesn't rate him as shown by him selecting Boyota at Sunderland last week.

He did but that was in a system wherein the centre backs were afforded a lot more protection than they get now. He was found wanting last season.

[Mikhail Chigorin]

Just as an aside, in the last few years we've bought some putatively indifferent defenders; Garrido, Corluka, Savic, Boateng and Nastasic immediately spring to mind.

I wonder which one of our purchases could be considered to be the worst ??

[Cocacolajojo1]

Just as an aside, in the last few years we've bought some putatively indifferent defenders; Garrido, Corluka, Savic, Boateng and Nastasic immediately spring to mind.

I wonder which one of our purchases could be considered to be the worst ??

Lescott is by far the worst.

[nottsblue]

Just as an aside, in the last few years we've bought some putatively indifferent defenders; Garrido, Corluka, Savic, Boateng and Nastasic immediately spring to mind.

I wonder which one of our purchases could be considered to be the worst ??

Nastastic. Simply for the money he cost. At the time there were better alternatives. We will be lucky to get a fraction back of what he cost

[Mikhail Chigorin]

Just as an aside, in the last few years we've bought some putatively indifferent defenders; Garrido, Corluka, Savic, Boateng and Nastasic immediately spring to mind.

I wonder which one of our purchases could be considered to be the worst ??

Lescott is by far the worst.

My goodness CCJJ, you might be risking life and limb by that assertion.

You'd better go and put your tin hat on.

'Det var trevligt att veta att du'.

[Cocacolajojo1]

My goodness CCJJ, you might be risking life and limb by that assertion.

You'd better go and put your tin hat on.

Det var trevligt att veta att du.

Haha, perhaps and it was good to know you too, you charmer!

Joking aside, I never thought of Corluka as a bad defender when he played for us and adored him and his running style but I think he would've frustrated the fuck out of me had he played for us now, as I'm at least a bit better at judging players' abilities now. I guess what I'm saying is, ignorance is bliss. Plus Corluka's running style is awesome.

[Wonderwall]

My goodness CCJJ, you might be risking life and limb by that assertion.

You'd better go and put your tin hat on.

Det var trevligt att veta att du.

Haha, perhaps and it was good to know you too, you charmer!

Joking aside, I never thought of Corluka as a bad defender when he played for us and adored him and his running style but I think he would've frustrated the fuck out of me had he played for us now, as I'm at least a bit better at judging players' abilities now. I guess what I'm saying is, ignorance is bliss. Plus Corluka's running style is awesome.

he never went for a shit for two days before the game and took laxatives 2 hours before kick off!

[Cocacolajojo1]

http://sportbild.bild.de/fussball/2014/fussball/torres-rueckkehr-perfekt-nastasic-will-zu-schalke-39131990.sport.html

In the end it says that Schalke and City are moving closer to an agreement re Nastasic.

Der Wechsel des serbischen Nationalspielers Matija Nastasic vom englischen Meister Manchester City zu Schalke 04 rückt derweil offenbar näher.

„Ja, wir sind an ihm dran. Unser Trainer Roberto Di Matteo hat ihn für seine Planungen im Fokus. Auch der Spieler will unbedingt zu uns”, sagte der Schalker Aufsichtsratschef Clemens Tönnies der „BILD“. Der 21 Jahre alte Abwehrspieler besitzt bei Manchester noch einen Vertrag bis 2017, spielte bei Trainer Manuel Pellegrini zuletzt aber keine Rolle mehr.

I don't know how reliable Bild are but it seems something is finally happening. Hope it works out.

[South Stand Balti]

If Nasti does go then yes, I do think we need to replace him either now or at the end of the season. MDM can't go on forever, though he is playing very well, and Boyata is not good enough if we have ambitions to rule the world.

[blues2win]

Sinclair supposedly interesting Crystal Palace and QPR. Please no loans for Nastasic or Sinclair. Let's get them both off the wage bill once and for all.