The Mang

[Pretty Boy Lee]

I'm gonna play devils advocate and ask if we'd sent otter out and kept mangala would this thread be reversed by now?

[Foreverinbluedreams]

I'm gonna play devils advocate and ask if we'd sent otter out and kept mangala would this thread be reversed by now?

Is that rhetorical?

[South Stand Balti]

I'm surprised at that report. I've watched him a few times and he's been poor. I think he's a proper good chap but a poor player. It's inly a couple of weeks ago he had a nightmare and earlier in the season he was dropped. Maybe he has had a good game but for me this is a case of absence making the heart grow fonder but I would prefer him to the otter and he's no worse than stones

[Wonderwall]

When Vinnie was out st the back end of pellegrinis 2nd season., the otter and mandala pairing was excellent. We need to stop changing it every game.

[Foreverinbluedreams]

When Vinnie was out st the back end of pellegrinis 2nd season., the otter and mandala pairing was excellent. We need to stop changing it every game.

You mean Demichelis rather than Otter?

[fangsanalsatan]

I think there is some serious revisionism going on here. He might have the right 'tools' on paper, but so does Stones and the latter can pick a pass on top of it. The art of defending is equal amount quick thinking/decision making as it is physical attributes.

Mangala was bullied off the pitch by the likes of Hull or Palace. He's not a kid anymore, so won't learn to pass or play a high line to suffice at this level either. I guarantee he won't feature for a team managed by Pep, not by choice anyway.

And while Otamendi might not be good enough for different reasons, that does not excuse Mangala's shortcomings.

A clear No from me.

[Sideshow Bob]

mangala?? the same mangala we were slating left right and center last season??? he turns like a container ship! and passing out of the back?? lol.

as bad as ottamendi has been at times (and let's be honest he's had some v good games for us as well), he is still better than mangala.

[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 ????

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

Interesting thought NB.

Trouble is, Godin is 30 now (31 in February) and that is the same problem as with, say, Ezequiel Garay, when we're looking to the future.

However, both yourself and Peter Parker have suggested Bonucci (29 now and will be 30 in May) so the age criterion applies also to him and yet, completely illogically, I'd take Bonucci in a heartbeat, because of how he plays and what he does and the attributes he brings to a side.

PP's comments about us having a dirty thug who could dish it out really strikes a chord with myself.

I'd love to have defenders who aren't too polite and who would defend as though their lives depended on it and who would put the shivers up any forward who came their way. It would be a nice contrast with what we've become a little accustomed to seeing of late........and if they could play a bit, that would be icing on top of the cake.

A young Giorgio Chiellini type player would do quite nicely, thank you very much.

[Dubciteh]

Hes a richard dunne type defender, great backs to the wall old fashioned defending but terrible when ur defending on the half way line with 70% possesion.

Still far better than Otamendi, who is garbage.

[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

Interesting thought NB.

Trouble is, Godin is 30 now (31 in February) and that is the same problem as with, say, Ezequiel Garay, when we're looking to the future.

However, both yourself and Peter Parker have suggested Bonucci (29 now and will be 30 in May) so the age criterion applies also to him and yet, completely illogically, I'd take Bonucci in a heartbeat, because of how he plays and what he does and the attributes he brings to a side.

PP's comments about us having a dirty thug who could dish it out really strikes a chord with myself.

I'd love to have defenders who aren't too polite and who would defend as though their lives depended on it and who would put the shivers up any forward who came their way. It would be a nice contrast with what we've become a little accustomed to seeing of late........and if they could play a bit, that would be icing on top of the cake.

A young Giorgio Chiellini type player would do quite nicely, thank you very much.

Age is relative. Someone who is 30 and has looked after himself can last another three years. Considering most managers don't last that long I don't see it as an issue, providing the fee is right of course.

A young Chiellini was actually in my thoughts when writing my previous post MC. Spooky

[Foreverinbluedreams]

Agree with that Notts, I'm also of the opinion that Stones needs a mentor so someone of that age and experience would be ideal.

[Mikhail Chigorin]

A few years ago now, weren't we at one point linked with Chiellini NB, but nothing came of it ??

Or was it just paper talk as usual ??

[Foreverinbluedreams]

A few years ago now, weren't we at one point linked with Chiellini NB, but nothing came of it ??

Or was it just paper talk as usual ??

Probably were and most likely when he was involved in contract negotiations. Agents love to drop City's name to journos in order to strengthen their hand when negotiating terms with their client's club.

[phips]

cannot see him fitting in Pep's system. he is a terrible passer.

[nottsblue]

A few years ago now, weren't we at one point linked with Chiellini NB, but nothing came of it ??

Or was it just paper talk as usual ??

Probably were and most likely when he was involved in contract negotiations. Agents love to drop City's name to journos in order to strengthen their hand when negotiating terms with their client's club.

Vaguely seem to remember that as well. Probably at the time we got Lescott!

[Spurge]

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

Well that wasn't peps stance with hart. Appreciate you have said still young but we're not talking about a 19 year old

[Mikhail Chigorin]

A few years ago now, weren't we at one point linked with Chiellini NB, but nothing came of it ??

Or was it just paper talk as usual ??

Probably were and most likely when he was involved in contract negotiations. Agents love to drop City's name to journos in order to strengthen their hand when negotiating terms with their client's club.

You're right FIBD; these agents do like to use City's name.

Funny that they never seem to invoke the Scum as a lever in their bargaining tactics, but that's probably because players who go there "would play for £50 per week", to draw upon the knowledgeable Alan Shearer's MOTD insight into Shrek's motivations.

[Foreverinbluedreams]

A few years ago now, weren't we at one point linked with Chiellini NB, but nothing came of it ??

Or was it just paper talk as usual ??

Probably were and most likely when he was involved in contract negotiations. Agents love to drop City's name to journos in order to strengthen their hand when negotiating terms with their client's club.

Vaguely seem to remember that as well. Probably at the time we got Lescott!

Speaking of Lescott, I've just been reading that he's been training at City, apparently City officials made Moyes aware of his availability and he's now joined them.

Once a Blue

[Mase]

A few years ago now, weren't we at one point linked with Chiellini NB, but nothing came of it ??

Or was it just paper talk as usual ??

Probably were and most likely when he was involved in contract negotiations. Agents love to drop City's name to journos in order to strengthen their hand when negotiating terms with their client's club.

Vaguely seem to remember that as well. Probably at the time we got Lescott!

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/manchester-city-want-giorgio-chiellini-838013.amp

[Tokyo Blue]

A few years ago now, weren't we at one point linked with Chiellini NB, but nothing came of it ??

Or was it just paper talk as usual ??

Probably were and most likely when he was involved in contract negotiations. Agents love to drop City's name to journos in order to strengthen their hand when negotiating terms with their client's club.

Vaguely seem to remember that as well. Probably at the time we got Lescott!

Speaking of Lescott, I've just been reading that he's been training at City, apparently City officials made Moyes aware of his availability and he's now joined them.

Once a Blue

He's bottom of the league, he's bottom of the leeeeeague.