You're pulling these stories out of your arse.
Eliaquim Mangala
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) and Imran (@Annihilate Now!) are here to discuss Amad saving our blushes in a win against Southampton as well as our now annual loss at home to Brighton. They discuss Amorim's post-match comments, revisit how mid-table we may or may not be, and discuss some transfer news.
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You're pulling these stories out of your arse.
Where are these stories from?
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Goal.com from Duncan Castles who was actually the first to report the breakthrough in the Mangala deal so it appears there could be some truth behind it.
Strange that the deal isn't done yet. We already confirmed Indi.
coolest name ever
I've read it is down to the fact he has three different owners if you could confirm that? Deal presumably agreed but it is just the precise aspects of the deal that need ironing out.
I can confirm he has 3 different owners indeed. Porto is only entitled to 56% of the transfer value and the remainder is from two funds, or one fund and one agent. Makes sense then, given that the Premiership doesn't allow that.
Looks pretty certain to join City now that Indi has joined Porto. I dont know enough about him to wish him to United, and i'd certainly take a combo of Evans-Varane over Mangala. If they want to spend €30-40m on a player whose actual value might rise even higher due to agent-ownerships and dual-entitlements, I'm alright with it. He's a big lad, but, that's no guarantee he'll succeed, though I think he just might.
Won't harm his development playing beside Kompany but the question is whether he will start as Demichelis had a very good end to the season. I can see Mangala sitting on the bench quite a bit.
Ok, thanks. And having only seen Mangala and Fernando play once, I was wondering what your opinion is of them? Good signings suited for the Premier League?
Nastasic is the better defender.
Nastasic is very good, but he's always injured.
Koscielny is. Sakho is not "very good" yet at all. He has potential to be.
I don't think spent 32m on a CB, like him, to sit on the bench. He's younger, they can utilsie this, while having Demichelis on the bench, as backup which makes more sense.
Sakho is very good too, but this is a discussion for another thread.
Alrighty.
France do have some top CB prospects though with Sakho, Varane and obviously Mangala.
Not to mention Zouma and Umtiti's not bad either. Compare that to the upcoming English talent in this area...
Quite a lot of money to spend on a CB though, especially one who still isn't proven in a top league (Though I do rate the portuguese league). Think Benatia would've been a better option.
Fernando is a specialist player, his utility resides in staying in front of the CBs and allowing more freedom to other midfielders. He's sublime in this defensive role, with excellent reading of the game, positioning, and good tackles. He doesn't offer much with the ball on his feet. You'll have to change your tactics to accommodate him or I think you'll suffer the same disappointment you had with Javi García. Fernando always excelled at the back of a midfield triangle here, and fit like a glove in our formation, but has no experience in other roles. This season when we inverted the triangle he looked a bit lost.
Mangala seems to have the tools to become a beast of a defender, but still lacks consistency. This season was poor from everyone, with a lousy manager at the helm so I think it was a missed step on his development. He's not a 40m defender yet, I think there's a good chance he will soon, but his valuation here is more based on future potential than actual ability.
Thanks a lot for that. Seeing from what you say about Fernado it suggests Pellegrini is going to change from the 4-4-2 into a 4-3-3, or at least Fernando provides us with the option of doing so. Hopefully Mangala will live up to his fee then but if he takes a while to adapt Demichelis is more than adequate and so is Nastasic should he stay.
I'm expecting Fernando to be utilised away from home and in the CL more, rather than in the home games - but at the same time he offers cover for Fernandinho/Yaya in the midfield two role that we played this year which is always healthy for the squad. I hope to see something like this away from home to stop us dropping some silly points and being caught open time and time again, with Yaya further forward when he doesn't have to cover ground and can just run at defenders (if he stays).
Fernando - Fernandinho
--Silva - Yaya - Nasri
--------Aguero
I like that, a lot.
I'm expecting Fernando to be utilised away from home and in the CL more, rather than in the home games - but at the same time he offers cover for Fernandinho/Yaya in the midfield two role that we played this year which is always healthy for the squad. I hope to see something like this away from home to stop us dropping some silly points and being caught open time and time again, with Yaya further forward when he doesn't have to cover ground and can just run at defenders (if he stays).
Fernando - Fernandinho
--Silva - Yaya - Nasri
--------Aguero
I like that, a lot.
No width whatsoever.
Zabaleta and Kolarov?
We just won the league with fullbacks providing all of our width, I don't see why we'd change that when we do it as well as we do.
Barely won the league - with United out of the picture and Chelsea having a transition season with Mourinho. You were taken all the way by Liverpool and that's quite embarrassing considering your investment. Should've walked the league last year with the two main challengers down and Arsenal being Arsenal.
Still useless in Europe as well. The league will be a much different picture next year to boot.
Interest point, how come Chelsea were in transition with Mourinho but we weren't with Pellegrini? I'd say we were.
We were behind United after 11 games in 7th, and our form from that point on was fantastic. That's how you deal with transition in my view.
Embarrassing that Liverpool took us all the way yet we won the league? Fingers crossed for another embarrassing season then!
Why do Chelsea get a transition year under Mourinho but we don't get one under Pellegrini?
Because your squad was already fantastic
And Chelsea had an average squad assembled on a shoestring budget?
We only finished 3 points above Chelsea in the previous season. Pellegrini improved us 8 points, Mourinho improved Chelsea 7.
They are hardly managing a squad of mugs down there!
Chelsea were average in some positions. Having your central midfield options at the beginning of the season to read: Lampard, Mikel, Ramires, Essien is hardly frightening.
Either way, this has gone very off topic. I think if you finish above City you win the league, with Chelsea best placed to do so.
I still stand by it that this is a great option to have away from home, with fullbacks supplying width.
Fernando - Fernandinho
--Silva - Yaya - Nasri
--------Aguero
Shocked he and alex sandro have lasted this long on the market considering just how little quality there is in the respective positions. He'll be great for whoever signs him, quality defender.
Not a chance
Rumours today that he's stalling the deal to try get other clubs interested.
If we've already offered him more money and got turned down then who is he waiting for? Chelsea?
If we've already offered him more money and got turned down then who is he waiting for? Chelsea?
And this happened when?
I wasn't there that's why I said if. Journalists wrote the story a few days ago.
Ive never heard a thing about us making a bid for Mangala and at those prices, it doesn't make sense.
If we were going to spend over 30M on a CB I'd buy Benetia or hopefully Hummels.
That is quite arrogant. I genuinely feel there will be at least 4 teams involved in a title shoot out and there are no guarantees that City will be top two.
It's just my opinion of course, no facts there - as always 4 will eventually whittle its way down to 3 then 2 - I just look and think that we are the only team not really going through major changes this summer yet still strengthening our weak areas sufficiently, other sides are going to have to adjust systems and rely on new players hitting the ground running - we are perhaps the most settled side and Pellegrini isn't new to the job anymore. We could easy finish outside of the top two because it's a tough league, but it's just my prediction; 1. City/Chelsea 2. City/Chelsea 3. Arsenal 4. United.
Looks about right to me, except I'd have Chelsea as the 'team to beat', and you guys as the team trying to beat them. Fabregas, Costa, Courtois and Luis is an absurdly good summer for them.
I'd have them as slight favourites too, as it goes - very interested to see how Mourinho shuffles things around over there.
Chelsea the team to beat for me as well.
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