Otamendi

[london blue 2]

Otamendi needs to understand that when under pressure, it is absolutely ok to welly the ball into row Z.

If a professional player at his level needs to be told that I suspect he's probably not likely to change anytime soon.

[iwasthere2012]

I'm not overly worried about Otamendi to be honest. He's only a wet week in the club and looks solid enough to me.
I think the real weakness in defence is down our left flank and also the slowness of MDM. I like him and still think he has a part to play, but he is not a starter in my book. Just a year too far for him.
It makes no difference now, but if Denayer had not gone out on loan, I think he would get plenty of game time this season.

I think the defence will be better over the season than last year. I think our real problems at the moment stem from the front.
We are creating tons of chances to win games but we are not ruthless enough. When we have the upper hand which invariably we have had in most games, we need to put these teams away. Don't give them hope.
2-0 up and us picking teams off on the break is a lot different to us having to press forward and being picked off. A totally different dynamic.
Maybe Vinny and Mangala would have handled it better, but I do think Otamendi will settle in and over the course of the season we will steady the ship and press on.

[Moonchesteri]

after Daft Martin proved me wrong I decided that from now on I will always give new CB's one full season in the Prem to settle. I did that with Mangler and I will do that with Otamendi too.

[sheblue]

I see Otamendi, just a handful of weeks from being a super signing is now completely written off by some..............Next.

[blues2win]

He's already shown plenty of class. He was the best centre back in the Primera Liga last season FFS. People are absurdly pouncing on every mistake. He was not responsible for the defeat by Spurs.

[BoltFromTheBlue]

Fuck me, he's played how many games?! Give the guy a chance to settle, he'll come good!

[zuricity]

Otamendi needs to understand that when under pressure, it is absolutely ok to welly the ball into row Z.

If a professional player at his level needs to be told that I suspect he's probably not likely to change anytime soon.

I didn't write that he needs to be 'told that'. Rather that he needs to understand it.

At that point in the second half ,things were somewhat chaotic in defense. It helps to take a breather and regroup.

[nottsblue]

Once he adjusts his game to both the pace of the Premier League and our high line he will be just fine and dandy. No need to worry. You don't get to be a full International for Argentina and voted into the leagues team of the year by not being immense.

[london blue 2]

Otamendi needs to understand that when under pressure, it is absolutely ok to welly the ball into row Z.

If a professional player at his level needs to be told that I suspect he's probably not likely to change anytime soon.

I didn't write that he needs to be 'told that'. Rather that he needs to understand it.

At that point in the second half ,things were somewhat chaotic in defense. It helps to take a breather and regroup.

My point stands though. I know it, you know it. If he doesn't "understand" that, then what the fuck is he doing at a top class football club.

All players cock up from time to time, I don't think he can have any excuses there mate. Just a case of trying to be too clever.

[zuricity]

Otamendi needs to understand that when under pressure, it is absolutely ok to welly the ball into row Z.

If a professional player at his level needs to be told that I suspect he's probably not likely to change anytime soon.

I didn't write that he needs to be 'told that'. Rather that he needs to understand it.

At that point in the second half ,things were somewhat chaotic in defense. It helps to take a breather and regroup.

My point stands though. I know it, you know it. If he doesn't "understand" that, then what the fuck is he doing at a top class football club.

All players cock up from time to time, I don't think he can have any excuses there mate. Just a case of trying to be too clever.

Some professionals are not too bright. Yet great instinctive players. Tevez for example.

Clearly Vince is an intelligent guy.

It simply puzzled me seeing Otamendi wait and wait and then commit a very weak and unnecessary foul in a zone that enables dangerous free kicks / crosses to be made.

When he made the feeble tackle, i could see Klattenfart chomping at the bit , waiting to blow for a foul. We just can't allow ourselves to give cnuts like Klattenballs a chance, never mind the opposition.

[london blue 2]

Agreed. Schoolboy stuff.

[getdressedmctavish]

He might be fine. But at the moment I'm seeing amateur night.Why should we have to accept it, that foul for Spurs second was laughable. If your 9 year old had done it you'd be having a word. Its bizarre the excuses we make for these massively paid individuals. My mate is harder on the disabled volley ball players he coaches, lol.

[Blue Since 76]

Thought I'd bring this subject back up, as for me, he's not getting any better.

He occasionally does one big challenge which makes him look like the man, but for the basics of defending, he's schoolboy level. His latest appears to be to lie down in front of an opponent. I suspect it's supposed to be a block, but if you do that so early, the player just walks post you.

On the grounds he's often next to at least one player who speak the same language and doesn't have to deal with Kolarov getting caught up the pitch, I actually think he's worse than Mangala.

My main concern though is who really identified and bought him and Mangala. If it was Pellegrini, fine, roll on next season, but if it came from our director of football, then what difference will another £75m and Pep make.

[Wooders]

Pep will choose his own players
I hear mangala will be used in the swap for stones as well

[LookMumImOnMCF.net]

Let's face it. He's shite. Gets bullied, outpaced, out-thought almost every game. A touch of the VKs too recently when he's diving in stupidly halfway up the pitch.

Maybe all team's centre backs are shit and I don't just watch enough football, but City seem brilliant at picking the worst of them , usually for ludicrous prices.

[carl_feedthegoat]

Let's face it. He's shite. Gets bullied, outpaced, out-thought almost every game. A touch of the VKs too recently when he's diving in stupidly halfway up the pitch.

Maybe all team's centre backs are shit and I don't just watch enough football, but City seem brilliant at picking the worst of them , usually for ludicrous prices.

Was defender of the season in Spain but cannot cut the mustard here in the prem...same as that lanky cunt Mangala..both cost 70 odd million and both need fuckign off in the summer.

[Blue Since 76]

Pep will choose his own players
I hear mangala will be used in the swap for stones as well

What £50m for Stones or £60 plus Otamendi?

The only place him or Mangala are going is back to Europe, which means probably a loan and option to buy for about £10m. If we're lucky

[Mase]

We still pretending Otter cost £30+ million? Valencia owed us about £20 odd million still for Negredo. In reality the difference between them was about £8 million.

Otamendi is playing like an £8 million pound player at the moment.

[Piccsnumberoneblue]

Thought I'd bring this subject back up, as for me, he's not getting any better.

He occasionally does one big challenge which makes him look like the man, but for the basics of defending, he's schoolboy level. His latest appears to be to lie down in front of an opponent. I suspect it's supposed to be a block, but if you do that so early, the player just walks post you.

On the grounds he's often next to at least one player who speak the same language and doesn't have to deal with Kolarov getting caught up the pitch, I actually think he's worse than Mangala.

My main concern though is who really identified and bought him and Mangala. If it was Pellegrini, fine, roll on next season, but if it came from our director of football, then what difference will another £75m and Pep make.

Did he always do this or has he only just started the lying down in front of an attacker? I've only noticed it in the last handful of matches but he does it nearly all the time.

[Blue Since 76]

Thought I'd bring this subject back up, as for me, he's not getting any better.

He occasionally does one big challenge which makes him look like the man, but for the basics of defending, he's schoolboy level. His latest appears to be to lie down in front of an opponent. I suspect it's supposed to be a block, but if you do that so early, the player just walks post you.

On the grounds he's often next to at least one player who speak the same language and doesn't have to deal with Kolarov getting caught up the pitch, I actually think he's worse than Mangala.

My main concern though is who really identified and bought him and Mangala. If it was Pellegrini, fine, roll on next season, but if it came from our director of football, then what difference will another £75m and Pep make.

Did he always do this or has he only just started the lying down in front of an attacker? I've only noticed it in the last handful of matches but he does it nearly all the time.

I've only noticed it recently, but maybe he was getting away with it before. Might work at under-9s but at this level it's embarrassing