The defence does need a bit of attention, but I'm not sure I agree with all of your points...
Nasty has had a great first season, he looks up to it already, so I'm not sure why he should be relegated to being a bench warmer? Do need a bit of cover in the middle with Lescott and Kolo both possibly gone by the time the window closes, but I'd hold on to Lescott if possible.
Have completely the opposite view of Clichy, first top left back I think I've ever seen at City, defensively reliable, and breaks forward well, bargain at 7m, can only think of one poor game and it was Wigan FA Cup final.
Kolarov looks like he will go, and for a reasonable fee too (have no idea why though!) But we have three decent fullbacks imo, with Zab able to fill in at LB comfortably. Need one or two players for cover, but no more I don't think. In terms of strikers and midfielders, we're probably one real quality player short in each department.
"In terms of strikers and midfielders, we're probably one real quality player short in each department."
Agree, Grated.
...but defence worries me.
When Vinnie was injured in the title season we almost missed it.
Bobby spent nearly 3 years at the club but continued with Hughes' defenders.
I hope Mancuel doesn't make the same mistake.
Bobby moved VK to cb, revitalised Micah, brought in Clichy and finally got Lescott playing at a higher standard. He turned Hughes signings into the strongest defence in the league for three years running, so I think it's a bit unfair to say he made a 'mistake'.
But I take your point with VK, when he was out injured earlier this season we were 5 points behind United, when he came back that gap had widened to 12 points. We do need to add some reinforcements at the back, maybe three players including a keeper, but no big money starting eleven signings. See that Pepe rumour has reared it's ugly head again, hope that doesn't happen!
United were leaking goals but outscored their opponents "granted a record amount of deflections helped massively" if our strikers had been firing then it would have been closer, we became predictable and easy to defend against.
Sorry but have to disagree on some points, as grated already stated:
- Clichy has been fantastic.
- Nasty slotted in as though he's been playing at this level all his life
I wouldn't be so quick to judge Micah yet. He's just come back from long-ish term injury. Micah can play RB and CB, and with Zabaleta, who can fill in pretty much anywhere including LB, Richards could be useful to have around. I trust him more than I did with Kolo anyway.
The rest, I would tend to agree with you.
Nastastic and Clichy both looked very good last season. Richards can cover RB and CB and I think Lescott would be worth keeping for you guys so maybe just a young LB ie Luke Shaw?
We defo need cover along the back 4. Has C. Pantillimon gone yet or his he still here. If he goes we need cover for J. Hart, who last season by his high standards was very poor. Yes he retained the golden gloves yet again, but he has to do better this season then last.
There will be a few more signings yet I imagine, unless they are thinking of promoting more youth than I thought.
Not only pantillimon, but kolo as well needs replacing.
Bear in mind though that the players aren't even back yet, there is plenty of time left in the transfer market!
a load of strikers, is a bit vague im afraid,only the very best will suffice if city want to win anything ,cant see the point in selling tevez
"a load of strikers, is a bit vague im afraid,only the very best will suffice if city want to win anything ,cant see the point in selling tevez"
Economic, to be honest. Due to amortisation, it allows us to spend a fair but more in the market. Given a choice of that compared to 12 million for one season of Tevez, I can see why they did it.
I'm with most on here I think clichy was an excellent buy for us and has proved himself to be a top class left back. The defence cant be that bad as we had the meanest defence in the prem last season. Ok I know we rode our luck at times but that will always happen. I do think Kolarov & Maicon are weak links and need to be moved on. I would be looking at a left back and center back only. Unless of course pants leaves then a back up keeper is obviously required.
He brought Hart back who Hughes had loaned to Brum and promoted him above Given. He moved Kolo out and moved VK into defence when Hughes used him as a DM with De Jong. He bought Korolov and before the groans he replaced the Hughes signing Bridge. He used Lescotts strengths and he alternated Zab and Richards. Indeed I think he revolutionised Richards play who had bulked into a CD under Sven so he hay used Hughes defence and under RM its been the best defence in the Prem for the last 2 seasons
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posted on 28/6/13
The defence does need a bit of attention, but I'm not sure I agree with all of your points...
Nasty has had a great first season, he looks up to it already, so I'm not sure why he should be relegated to being a bench warmer? Do need a bit of cover in the middle with Lescott and Kolo both possibly gone by the time the window closes, but I'd hold on to Lescott if possible.
Have completely the opposite view of Clichy, first top left back I think I've ever seen at City, defensively reliable, and breaks forward well, bargain at 7m, can only think of one poor game and it was Wigan FA Cup final.
Kolarov looks like he will go, and for a reasonable fee too (have no idea why though!) But we have three decent fullbacks imo, with Zab able to fill in at LB comfortably. Need one or two players for cover, but no more I don't think. In terms of strikers and midfielders, we're probably one real quality player short in each department.
posted on 28/6/13
"In terms of strikers and midfielders, we're probably one real quality player short in each department."
Agree, Grated.
...but defence worries me.
When Vinnie was injured in the title season we almost missed it.
Bobby spent nearly 3 years at the club but continued with Hughes' defenders.
I hope Mancuel doesn't make the same mistake.
posted on 28/6/13
Bobby moved VK to cb, revitalised Micah, brought in Clichy and finally got Lescott playing at a higher standard. He turned Hughes signings into the strongest defence in the league for three years running, so I think it's a bit unfair to say he made a 'mistake'.
But I take your point with VK, when he was out injured earlier this season we were 5 points behind United, when he came back that gap had widened to 12 points. We do need to add some reinforcements at the back, maybe three players including a keeper, but no big money starting eleven signings. See that Pepe rumour has reared it's ugly head again, hope that doesn't happen!
posted on 28/6/13
United were leaking goals but outscored their opponents "granted a record amount of deflections helped massively" if our strikers had been firing then it would have been closer, we became predictable and easy to defend against.
posted on 28/6/13
Sorry but have to disagree on some points, as grated already stated:
- Clichy has been fantastic.
- Nasty slotted in as though he's been playing at this level all his life
I wouldn't be so quick to judge Micah yet. He's just come back from long-ish term injury. Micah can play RB and CB, and with Zabaleta, who can fill in pretty much anywhere including LB, Richards could be useful to have around. I trust him more than I did with Kolo anyway.
The rest, I would tend to agree with you.
posted on 28/6/13
Nastastic and Clichy both looked very good last season. Richards can cover RB and CB and I think Lescott would be worth keeping for you guys so maybe just a young LB ie Luke Shaw?
posted on 28/6/13
We defo need cover along the back 4. Has C. Pantillimon gone yet or his he still here. If he goes we need cover for J. Hart, who last season by his high standards was very poor. Yes he retained the golden gloves yet again, but he has to do better this season then last.
posted on 28/6/13
There will be a few more signings yet I imagine, unless they are thinking of promoting more youth than I thought.
Not only pantillimon, but kolo as well needs replacing.
Bear in mind though that the players aren't even back yet, there is plenty of time left in the transfer market!
posted on 28/6/13
a load of strikers, is a bit vague im afraid,only the very best will suffice if city want to win anything ,cant see the point in selling tevez
posted on 28/6/13
"a load of strikers, is a bit vague im afraid,only the very best will suffice if city want to win anything ,cant see the point in selling tevez"
Economic, to be honest. Due to amortisation, it allows us to spend a fair but more in the market. Given a choice of that compared to 12 million for one season of Tevez, I can see why they did it.
posted on 28/6/13
I'm with most on here I think clichy was an excellent buy for us and has proved himself to be a top class left back. The defence cant be that bad as we had the meanest defence in the prem last season. Ok I know we rode our luck at times but that will always happen. I do think Kolarov & Maicon are weak links and need to be moved on. I would be looking at a left back and center back only. Unless of course pants leaves then a back up keeper is obviously required.
posted on 29/6/13
He brought Hart back who Hughes had loaned to Brum and promoted him above Given. He moved Kolo out and moved VK into defence when Hughes used him as a DM with De Jong. He bought Korolov and before the groans he replaced the Hughes signing Bridge. He used Lescotts strengths and he alternated Zab and Richards. Indeed I think he revolutionised Richards play who had bulked into a CD under Sven so he hay used Hughes defence and under RM its been the best defence in the Prem for the last 2 seasons
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