The Mang

[Mase]

Anyone been watching the big man whilst he's been on loan?

How's he faired? I know Otter looked like a fantastic defender over there so it's fairly meaningless, but I still hope that Mangala comes good. He's had Costa and Zlatan in his pocket. Shame he's not consistent.

[Foreverinbluedreams]

haven't seen him play for the Mase but was reading this last night

http://www.mcfcwatch.com/2017/01/23/cit ... ot-enough/

In Spain, Eliaquim Mangala is continuing to turn around his fortunes at Valencia. Under new interim manager Voro, the Frenchman has started to find some form and put in a man of the match performance away at Villarreal. Mangala made 10 clearances, won all of his tackles and didn’t commit a foul as Valencia defied the odds to pick up their first clean-sheet since April 2016. Mangala has formed a solid partnership with Ezequiel Garay in recent weeks and has heads turning in Spain. Does he still have a future at Manchester City?

[Fidel Castro]

He was and always will be better than that soft, diving prick Otamendi

[gmercer1]

He was and always will be better than that soft, diving prick Otamendi

I'll second that!

[nottsblue]

I like him. He has everything in his locker that a centre half should have for my money. Fast, strong, good in the air and doesn't get bullied. Details like accuracy of passing can be worked on as he is stil young and positional awareness come with experience.

Really hope he gets another chance

[carl_feedthegoat]

He was and always will be better than that soft, diving prick Otamendi

If this cunt is still here for next season Ill go fuckign mental...a la Lescott mode.

[Wonderwall]

All mangala needs is consistency. We know he has the ability as he has shown it quite a few times, which is what makes it frustrating. His pace at the back is a big miss too.

[Mase]

He was/is fairly raw. He's still only 25 though and could have a good 5-8 years left in him to make an impact as a top quality defender.

He's left footed. In all honestly would he have had a worse season than Kolarov or Clichy if he'd been kept and played as a left back? I don't think he would have.

[Moonchesteri]

He was and always will be better than that soft, diving prick Otamendi

I'll second that!

I'm with you guys on this one.

[Tokyo Blue]

He'd have been a much better bet at center half than Kolarov but I wouldn't play him at left back under any circumstances. I hope he comes back and makes it with us.

[sheblue]

Can he play out from the back the way Pep will demand. Not convinced.

[Mikhail Chigorin]

haven't seen him play for the Mase but was reading this last night

http://www.mcfcwatch.com/2017/01/23/cit ... ot-enough/

In Spain, Eliaquim Mangala is continuing to turn around his fortunes at Valencia. Under new interim manager Voro, the Frenchman has started to find some form and put in a man of the match performance away at Villarreal. Mangala made 10 clearances, won all of his tackles and didn’t commit a foul as Valencia defied the odds to pick up their first clean-sheet since April 2016. Mangala has formed a solid partnership with Ezequiel Garay in recent weeks and has heads turning in Spain. Does he still have a future at Manchester City?

Would there be any benefit in making a bid for Garay, in the summer and bringing back Mangala to play alongside him, if their current partnership continues to prosper ??

[Piccsnumberoneblue]

One of Pep's big mistakes. He got shut of the wrong centre half.
It's true that he isn't great with the ball at his feet, but we could certainly do with a proper 'stopper' right now.
Otamendi? Rank rotten defender. Brushed aside so easily by a strong forward.

[Dameerto]

I was certain Pep was going to have a good look at him - he had the makings of a good Prem defender (and a left footed one at that) if he could have been more consistent.

[Mikhail Chigorin]

haven't seen him play for the Mase but was reading this last night

http://www.mcfcwatch.com/2017/01/23/cit ... ot-enough/

In Spain, Eliaquim Mangala is continuing to turn around his fortunes at Valencia. Under new interim manager Voro, the Frenchman has started to find some form and put in a man of the match performance away at Villarreal. Mangala made 10 clearances, won all of his tackles and didn’t commit a foul as Valencia defied the odds to pick up their first clean-sheet since April 2016. Mangala has formed a solid partnership with Ezequiel Garay in recent weeks and has heads turning in Spain. Does he still have a future at Manchester City?

Would there be any benefit in making a bid for Garay, in the summer and bringing back Mangala to play alongside him, if their current partnership continues to prosper ??

Just checked up and Ezequiel Garay is 30 now (when I posted, I thought he was a bit younger than that), so it makes no sense to sign someone of that age, when we're looking to the future.

On that basis, please ignore my previous post.

[PeterParker]

I was always on the boat that he is a good defender. A bit distracted at times, but good defender. Some of the critics around him were harsh. I remember his debut with Chelsea. If was one of the best starts for a defender in the last years. We saw a lot of classs after Zaba was sent off.

I would recall him in a heart beat rather than going after that prick Laporte again.

[Mikhail Chigorin]

I was always on the boat that he is a good defender. A bit distracted at times, but good defender. Some of the critics around him were harsh. I remember his debut with Chelsea. If was one of the best starts for a defender in the last years. We saw a lot of classs after Zaba was sent off.

I would recall him in a heart beat rather than going after that prick Laporte again.

I'm with you on this PP.

Moreover, I also think it's about player combinations.

Get the right centre-back partner for him and the whole becomes greater than the sum of its parts, added to which he's already ours so bringing him back wouldn't impact on any transfer budget limitations we might have imposed upon us.

Would a Stones-Mangala partnership work ????

[nottsblue]

I was always on the boat that he is a good defender. A bit distracted at times, but good defender. Some of the critics around him were harsh. I remember his debut with Chelsea. If was one of the best starts for a defender in the last years. We saw a lot of classs after Zaba was sent off.

I would recall him in a heart beat rather than going after that prick Laporte again.

I'm with you on this PP.

Moreover, I also think it's about player combinations.

Get the right centre-back partner for him and the whole becomes greater than the sum of its parts, added to which he's already ours so bringing him back wouldn't impact on any transfer budget limitations we might have imposed upon us.

Would a Stones-Mangala partnership work ????

I don't think a Stones/Mangala partnership would work, or at the very least it would need two different full backs to what we have. That said, until it's been tried and either proved or failed we won't know.

I can see Mangala/Stones/(?) as a back three tough. One tough guy, one ball player and one overall leader (Kompany if fit), Bonucci maybe if not, Godin from Atletico perhaps.

One thing is for sure though and that is we are going to see a different defence in terms of personnel than this year and time will tell whether the results will be different

[aaron bond]

Big mistake to get rid of him considering the 3 turds we currently have to choose from.

[PeterParker]

I was always on the boat that he is a good defender. A bit distracted at times, but good defender. Some of the critics around him were harsh. I remember his debut with Chelsea. If was one of the best starts for a defender in the last years. We saw a lot of classs after Zaba was sent off.

I would recall him in a heart beat rather than going after that prick Laporte again.

I'm with you on this PP.

Moreover, I also think it's about player combinations.

Get the right centre-back partner for him and the whole becomes greater than the sum of its parts, added to which he's already ours so bringing him back wouldn't impact on any transfer budget limitations we might have imposed upon us.

Would a Stones-Mangala partnership work ????

I am certain it could. The thing is, our defence lacks a leader. Chelsea has that, Cahill, that is why they are top. Vinnie should had been that leader for us, but with his injury record, things are looking bad. Stones needs to step up, even if he is young.

If I was Pep, I would go and try to get that fucker Bonucci, pay them 40 mil and get him. We need dirty fuckers on the back who can show opponents who is the boss, not soft players like Otamendi.

As a plan B, I was always curious why Howedes was not on Guardiola”s list. Benny is the leader of Schalke for 5-6 years now, solid defender, 28 or 29 now (without looking), world champions and most of all, sold and semi cheap (for our standards). Pep praised him a lot when he was at Bayern and I was certain he was going to put a bid on him. Weird.