A question for the La Liga experts on here because I have seen next to nothing of this guy. Is he a top notch centre back?
What are his best/worst attributes? Is he worth signing?
I ask because I can't be buggered watching endless Valencia matches or YouTube videos to form any kind of opinion.
I have a feeling that Madrid will tie Ramos to a new lucrative contract and then we are left to look elsewhere.
There is a real lack of top quality centre backs around at the moment, and Otamendi seems to be one of the highest rated who has been linked with us.
Aymeric Laporte was constantly mentioned a few months back but that seems to have died down, I'm sure he signed a contract extension and might be the reason why. Bilbao are hard to deal with and then you have the issue of whether he is of the required age and experience for what Van Gaal wants to invest in.
Suitable centre back suggestions would be highly appreciated as I have no strong opinion on who would realistically improve us. Gone are the days of Nesta, Stam, Cannavaro, Rio, Campbell, Thuram, Ayala etc... I think a peak Ayala would be just what we need! Very rarely see him mentioned, such a gifted defender.
Otamendi
posted on 4/7/15
Not too fussed on him . Would rather go for tried and tested CB's we have in the PL???
Strongly feel we need a Leader at the back . End off.
Our defensive record wasnt actually that bad once we got over that bsd spell of injuries in the first half of the season. But looking at the current squad i dont see anyone meet the criteria of Leadership skills
posted on 4/7/15
He acts like a hardman but he doesn't half go down easy when someone comes close to him when he has the ball
posted on 5/7/15
Otamendi (along with Garay) have been big hopes for Argentina in the CB department from their teens. Both players have really struggled to follow the trajectory their early promise had showed. He has been passed around for some time now, and last season was his first (at the age of 27) where he has received consistent plaudits as a centre back. He has developed a 'hardman' reputation but probably because he is quite quick to commit and go to ground from what I have seen of him.
However he was along with Ramos La Liga's best centre back according to their official team of the year.
I myself however feel uneasy about Argentinians at the back. Zabaleta aside I really wouldn't touch any of them with a barge pole (and that includes the technically and physically gifted Rojo whose positional sense can be a little odd! - getting better at United though). Would much rather spend the same fee on Hummels or Ramos. Hummels who is younger than both and has remained a cultured and well thought of centre back for club and country for about the last 3-5 years. Ramos who although older has matured into a fine centre back who can be no nonsense but also can be very elegant with a great range of passing and importantly is a goal getter!
But at upwards of 35 mil touted for each of the three we may well not get any of them
posted on 5/7/15
He's a good player. Not that tall - just a shade over 6ft - so you'd need a big hatchet man alongside him. Composed distributor of the ball, quite aggressive, good reader of the game. Pretty decent all round centre half really, the one area he's slightly lacking is height but he competes pretty well in the air regardless.