In a rapid decline judging by what I've seen of him this year.
Bonucci - Juventus player
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Capello said an interesting thing — that Bonucci is the best Italian defender but he doesn't know how to defend. It's somewhat similar to Sanchez, despite them playing in completely different positions — he isn't very disciplined and usually goes straight for the ball (leaving the space behind him). When he played with Barzagli and Chiellini, they knew that, and they covered for him brilliantly, which highlighted his strengths and somehow shaded his weaknesses. Basically the old libero role — there is a steady defensive unit and he is an addition to it. From my understanding, that's why he struggled in Milan — because of the lack of this autonomous system.
He is still a top player though, just a unique one who needs team to adjust to him and his needs — and if it does, he is world class, as he shown for Juve/Italy.
Not my pictures, but:
Yeah the logic is to sign 31 years old defender who never had the taste of playing in PL before and who coincidently isnt being in his best this season. Very logical mate. i bet you must have watched him a lot this season.
And tell me again is there any serie A defenders who cut it in PL? The best was Silvestre, and he was french and relatively young at the time we signed him.
Well i've used all of my 3 posts so let me reply on same post.
Maybe you shouldve watch him at Milan then? Rather than judging him from his Juve's days. Oh before calling someone stupid maybe you can give some names to prove your point?
some players just couldnt adapt to some particular system, nothing wrong about that.
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Capello said an interesting thing — that Bonucci is the best Italian defender but he doesn't know how to defend. It's somewhat similar to Sanchez, despite them playing in completely different positions — he isn't very disciplined and usually goes straight for the ball (leaving the space behind him). When he played with Barzagli and Chiellini, they knew that, and they covered for him brilliantly, which highlighted his strengths and somehow shaded his weaknesses. Basically the old libero role — there is a steady defensive unit and he is an addition to it. From my understanding, that's why he struggled in Milan — because of the lack of this autonomous system.
Not my pictures, but:
Thanks for that... Capello, I'm still getting over his Russian tenure. Seriously, though, it's interesting; seems he's not much of a defender. I'm of the inclination that a defender should have his shit sorted out properly I.e Carvalho and then play. Why can't Jose find another one??
Well I said that in my O.P didn't I? But to imply that Italians can't do it anywhere else other than Italy is fecking stupid.
It's a bit lazy generalizing work here. Bonucci also played 2 at the back for Juventus and perfectly fine too. It's more about tactic where the coach being able to recognize players' preferred approach and have way to add balance to it. Milan as a team lacks all kind of balance.Capello said an interesting thing — that Bonucci is the best Italian defender but he doesn't know how to defend. It's somewhat similar to Sanchez, despite them playing in completely different positions — he isn't very disciplined and usually goes straight for the ball (leaving the space behind him). When he played with Barzagli and Chiellini, they knew that, and they covered for him brilliantly, which highlighted his strengths and somehow shaded his weaknesses. Basically the old libero role — there is a steady defensive unit and he is an addition to it. From my understanding, that's why he struggled in Milan — because of the lack of this autonomous system.
He is still a top player though, just a unique one who needs team to adjust to him and his needs — and if it does, he is world class, as he shown for Juve/Italy.
Not my pictures, but:
In 3 at the back system the CB's ability to step up higher up the pitch is important since the midfielders have more space to cover (helping out the attack). No mere coincidence David Luis was perfectly fine in the central role for Conte last season. If anything Smalling at the central CB role under LVG and under Mourinho is what the problem is. He can defend alright, but it stifles the flow of transition between the turn over of possession.
You make it look like Jones and Smalling have been playing Sunday league football this past year.
What? Where have I said that?
Yeah, it's not only about the back 5/4, it's also about personnel and how everything was fitted for him at Juve (and he showed that it was worth doing it for him) and nothing is at Milan. Barzagli especially is/was amazing at covering for him, even though he doesn't get enough credit.
Surely better than Smalling and Jones, after the relatively good season they both had, while Bonucci has been pretty average in middle tabled Milan. And not to mention Bonucci has always been very suspect in his defending, it looked like a cheap dig on our defenders, that's all.
Yes to Romagnoli. If we're going young CB, I wouldn't mind Upamecano either.
This is part of our problem at the moment. Should be looking for next Bonucci not paying out for someone who Juventus were happy to sell to a rival in the league.
No. Not cheap at all. I think Smalling and Jones are good defenders but I think Bonucci is better from what I've seen of him at Juve. And I've seen him a couple of times at A.C. and he did very well in those games. Looked assuring and composed. Granted, can't make a judgement on a few games but I think we need someone beside Smalling or Jones. I seem to remember them performing excellently beside Rio and Vidic who were past their prime but they had that experience.
Not sure why we would be after him, he's been fairly average at Milan, albeit at an average team.
He's main attributes are his distribution and positional play, very astute at reading the game.
Weaknesses is pace and he tends to need a solid partner,
Personally I'd rather stick with lindelof than buy Bonucci.
Milan are tricky to deal with too, even if he forces a move, which he won't, we will be looking at around 40 million euros, which is better spent elsewhere.
He's main attributes are his distribution and positional play, very astute at reading the game.
Weaknesses is pace and he tends to need a solid partner,
Personally I'd rather stick with lindelof than buy Bonucci.
Milan are tricky to deal with too, even if he forces a move, which he won't, we will be looking at around 40 million euros, which is better spent elsewhere.
Rather it be this than why the hell did we get him he’s finished.
Isn't CB supposed to do well until his mid 30's?
Seems like a typical Mou's dream signing.
Seems like a typical Mou's dream signing.
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He started the season poorly but didn't he redeem himself as it continued? Thought I read an article about it a few months ago. Would rather have Alderweireld personally since he's a known commodity in the PL but I can't pretend that signing Bonucci would make me mad
Yeah just mickey mouse competitions like the World Cup and Champions League.
Wasn’t there some medical issue with his wife or something which is why he moved to Milan/decided to stay in Italy because it was better for her treatment.
Thought it was his son who has a medical condition which is why he stayed in Italy last season when leaving Juve? Leaving Italy isn't really an option for him from what I understood.
In saying that, I'd take him for £10m.
Sorry, just saw this tag. Hmm, I dunno - Milan is a troubled team, so while Bonucci has been a subdued relative to his form over the last ~3 years and seemed quite vulnerable in the early goings, his performances there should be qualified by the poor organisation at his current club - especially considering he departed one of the best clubs in terms of defensive organisation for the last half-decade (with Atlético), not to mention - he had incredible chemistry with the likes of Buffon and Chiellini and Barzagli - which can't be immediately replicated at Milan.
As regards the proposed move to United, I'd be for it because Bonucci offers 2 key facets that are missing from our defense (sublime distribution from the back and a bit of leadership nous). However, he isn't a flawless centerback in the mold of Nesta - who could play in just about any scheme at a high standard, and José will have to build the defense around him, so to speak - instead of just dropping him into the XI in deep blocks like a conventional centerback and asking him to sink or swim. He's not the most natural in 1 vs. 1 situations - which could be a bit of an issue given the more robust nature of the Premier League, not the most robust despite his imposing stature, tends to have a blind spot when he proactively moves out of the defense (so you need a bodyguard for him - someone who's good in terms of sensing danger and covering for Bonucci), and ideally - you should have a holding midfielder who can move synchronously with him - maybe even drop deeper into defensive zones when Bonucci presses up the pitch (this aspect is kinda mitigated by Matić, to be fair).
José is a legendary defensive manager, but over the years - we haven't seen him employ a whole lot of finesse based defenses, so I'm a tad bit wary of the link. Alderweireld seems a more straightforward signing - not as good on the ball and not as good of an orchestrator as Bonucci, but he's more athletically capable and reserved/judicious in terms of maintaining the integrity of the defensive line if he does step up, and proven in the league - so he's more likely to hit the ground running - which is what United ideally needs in the quest to match City.
Cheers for that. Very informative.
Trying to build something that would work with Bonucci as first choice defender would surely take some time, considering his age it doesn't feel sustainable.
Do we really need a new central defender at all? If players like Bailly and Rojo can get a season without unlucky injuries i think we'd be just fine imo.
Remember Fergie signing a 35 year old CB called Laurent Blanc and we trusted the Manager, really think the same should apply here to be perfectly honest.
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We 1000% need a CB. Not sure Bonnucci is the guy but we definitely need one. Preferably an experienced one
I would be happy if we sign Bonucci, Alderweirld, Koulibaly or even De Ligt.
Who do you think is the best of those CBs?
Who do you think is the best of those CBs?
Big bald dunc has spoken... would be an interesting signing for sure!
Yeah, it's a shame when players suddenly decline. A friend of mine is a Milan supporter, he wouldn't mind one bit if we took Bonucci off their hands. Considering how bad Milan are right now that's some statement
Signed him on fifa. His pace cost me so many goals.
I'd take Castles exclusives with Yahoo with a pinch of salt. I know everyone's tired of hearing it but I do think he's knocking on a bit, by all accounts he's had a bad year with Milan. I wouldn't mind see us waiting for CB until we found the right fit, situations like Skriniar's and de Ligt's can change in a year.
Bonucci would be be a bad signing.
You see it with England how important it is is to have someone who can play a forward pass and is comfortably in the opposition half.
Stones has been fantastic, and Bonucci is better.
You see it with England how important it is is to have someone who can play a forward pass and is comfortably in the opposition half.
Stones has been fantastic, and Bonucci is better.
Castles isn't really making a big claim, he just says we're monitoring. That doesn't mean we're seriously interested enough to try to sign him let alone actually sign him, we probably monitor a crap ton of players.
Think he’d be a disaster of a signing.
Bonucci got plenty of stick because AC Milan expected to change an entire squad at one go and still do well. Similar to Lindelof he's more comfortable in a 3 men CB system then a 2 men one, so if we sign him up then I won't be surprised if we're switching to a 3-4-3 system similar to the one used by Spurs
With Tonio and Young as wingbacks?
Lord have mercy.
Buying a defender from the Italian league in his 30s is not prudent.
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