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He's got something. He just needs coaching in the right way and he could be a very good defender imo.

If you look at our CBs over the last few years a lot have been dodgy looking, but when given an extended run in the side they have all improved thier game. Even MDM, Lescott and Nasti!

I wonder if the problem is constantly changing them.

All told, he has had a pretty decent season. If he kicks on next season he will be a tough opponent

Another tip notch performance notched up today.

Great start, bad middle, triffic finish.

He's starting to come around.

He seems to turn in good performances against Chelsea. Can he play them every week.

He's got to be allowed to play and develop. We are now seeing a player because he is being allowed game time. We can't continue to give up on players like we have done. I am made up for the lad. Hope he retains his place on Tuesday when VK returns.

I've been his biggest critic but he looks like a proper footballer now. I would keep playing him now, including when Vince returns. I'm proper happy for him.

Zlatan in his pocket last week, Costa in his pocket this week. I don't care if he misplaces a pass every now and then, that's simply good defending. If he played for Leicester he'd be a contender for player of the year.

Sister of fu wrote:He's got to be allowed to play and develop. We are now seeing a player because he is being allowed game time. We can't continue to give up on players like we have done. I am made up for the lad. Hope he retains his place on Tuesday when VK returns.

I expect Mangala and VK to be first choice.
They compliment each other as shown in the first 5 matches this season, no goals conceded and 5 wins.

Mangala is fast, strong, agile, brave and can tackle and head a ball - all the attributes of a very good defender.
He needs to develop his organisational skills and ball distribution but that is not an issue playing with VK.
Previously, I have posted defending him when other posters say he is an awful player.
He is not awful, he is a very good defender that needs to develop some aspects of his game to become exceptional.

I expect Pep will give him a decent chance to develop. I think he is good enough to take it.
I expect Mangala to be a key player during Pep's reign.

He looks more and more like a seriously good defender. Can't wait to see how he develops under Guardiola.

I don't thin Vinnie walks straight back into the team.
Honestly the problem is all this chopping and changing.

Mangala and the Otter two clean sheets in a week against PSG and Chelsea. Why change that?

Cheers

Seems when Mangala is up against a big, powerful forward he relishes the physical battle and he invariably comes out on top.

nottsblue wrote:Seems when Mangala is up against a big, powerful forward he relishes the physical battle and he invariably comes out on top.

He certainly didn't allow Costa to bully him

DoomMerchant wrote:I don't thin Vinnie walks straight back into the team.
Honestly the problem is all this chopping and changing.

Mangala and the Otter two clean sheets in a week against PSG and Chelsea. Why change that?

Cheers

This 100%
I really don't think Vinnie getting injured and then coming straight back in to the team or helped. Mangala and Otter have probably had that hanging over their heads when they've been playing - knowing that one of them will be dropped, and it's not helped.

At the start of the season when we didn't have Otamendi and we kept about five clean sheets on the bounce Mangala was fantastic.

Piccsnumberoneblue wrote:

nottsblue wrote:Seems when Mangala is up against a big, powerful forward he relishes the physical battle and he invariably comes out on top.

He certainly didn't allow Costa to bully him

Nor Zlatan. If his decision making improves he will be Kompany's long term replacement. He is still a young centre back who is still learning. You can't teach physical attributes and he had those in spades. You can teach positional awareness, decision making and such like. Let's see what Pep can do with him

I hope I'm wrong in thinking a decision may have already been made. A monumental mistake if so. Just in passing desperately sad to watch Zabba's display yesterday.

getdressedmctavish wrote:I hope I'm wrong in thinking a decision may have already been made. A monumental mistake if so. Just in passing desperately sad to watch Zabba's display yesterday.

Zabbas aging. It happens.

Also do you mean a decision to sell Mangala? I think thAts preposterous as he has little value sales wise vs his actual value to our team. So it's unlikely even if we wanted to that we could sell him at even 1/3 of what we paid.

I'm not ready yet to agree that Zaba's form is down to age. Isn't Sagna older? I would put it down more to having an injury-ridden season.

Let's praise, but remember the likes of Zlatan & Costa are not running in behind, Bale and Tranny are far more of a threat to him and us, they run at you and beyond you. To stop that is a whole new ball game.