3
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 38
- Clean sheets
- 19
- Goals
- 0
- Assists
- 0
- Yellow cards
- 9
- Red cards
- 2
- Status
This. Especially in the last few years, when they had 3 tournaments in 5 years. Low level competition in the middle of the club season, I still can't understand how the clubs tolerate this. There is a time for the international football and there is a time for the club football
Awesome again. He helped with our push for the last half hour by nipping out every counter before it could even get started. His agression in defence is long overdue since Vidic's prime here.
Shaw and De Gea too. We're up to 6 excellent players and you'd fancy Martial or Rashford to get there considering their productivity, skills and age.
The reason for 2 tournaments in 2 years was because the organization wanted to shift AFCON to odd years(because it coincided with the world cup some years which was too much) hence the need to play 2 years in a row or as you take it 3 tournaments in 5 years.
Ivory Coast still have one more game to play next week against Sierra Leone which they have to win or draw in order to qualify for AFCON.
We might not lose him after all!
We might not lose him after all!
Completely understandable reason, but it makes more sense to just skip the 2012 tournament and have one 3 year gap.
Been thoroughly impressed with him so far. Thought he would take a bit of time to get settled but that's clearly not the case.
Well Ivory Coast certainly aren't gonna concede many with him in the team!
Given the issues Arsenal and Chelsea seem to have been having recruiting a centre-back in this window, then this signing seems all the more fantastic
When we signed him people said he was "raw", but so far he looks like the finished article to me. Has hardly put a foot wrong yet, obviously it's early days but he just seems to be an extremely good defender without any real weaknesses. I don't imagine he'll be able to keep this up forever, but at the moment he looks like an incredibly astute signing. We're starting to look like a very good team
I'm loving this guy so far. Basically a much better version of Smalling.
Is he playing for Ivory Coast next week?
Great signing. Another great performance too. He's so physically dominant, rarely loses a duel.
Am delighted for him to have settled so quickly. Will help when he has a dip, which will come at some point soon.
Wonder if Mourinho will trust him against top quality opposition like City. Personally I would not: he's had a great confidence boosting start to the season vs relatively easier teams, allow him some time on the training pitch so Smalling can now also get into the groove. Once he is also match fit, we can then rotate along with Blind, according to specific match needs.
Wonder if Mourinho will trust him against top quality opposition like City. Personally I would not: he's had a great confidence boosting start to the season vs relatively easier teams, allow him some time on the training pitch so Smalling can now also get into the groove. Once he is also match fit, we can then rotate along with Blind, according to specific match needs.
This lad is unreal. I know he wasn't exactly cheap, but I hadn't heard of him before we signed him so I had no idea what to expect. Certainly wasn't expecting him to be so good so soon though.
Huge confidence. Sometimes goes in too hard. I have full faith in him facing City.
Our signing of the summer IMO.
I can't think of a defender that I'd compare him to. I've seen the Vidic-comparisons being made but they are not similar at all in my opinion. If anyone, his defending can be compared to Neuers goalkeeping style. He's bound to make a few mistakes during the season because of his aggression and the way he goes "all in" in some situations. But overall he is preventing loads of attacks before they are actually happening and it also starts a lot of counters. He is definitely one of the most "entertaining" CB's I've ever seen.
He is also a lot better passer then I first thought. Keeping in mind he is yet to come up against the best strikers in the leauge, but the overall signs so far are very promising to say the least.
He is also a lot better passer then I first thought. Keeping in mind he is yet to come up against the best strikers in the leauge, but the overall signs so far are very promising to say the least.
I have seen him for a total of four games only and yet i feel he is one of the most complete defenders i have ever seen. Pace, power, anticipation of the ball, playing out from the back and his intensity are his key strengths.
Boateng?
He's been amazing, but I can't help thinking he's gonna mess up big time any second.
He plays with so much risk and right now it is coming off amazingly. He wins every 50/50 challenge, but I fear it won't go as smoothly against City's nimble attackers.
Will be a huge test for him.
He plays with so much risk and right now it is coming off amazingly. He wins every 50/50 challenge, but I fear it won't go as smoothly against City's nimble attackers.
Will be a huge test for him.
My favourite moment from him yesterday was after Smalling was subbed on and we won the ball back, he just pushed Valencia aside and charged upfield with the ball. He could become a real leader for us.
I love his passing, his decision making process, the weighting and accuracy of it. He can hit one to the feet of the attacking player with speed or one in front of Valencia to change the urgency.
If he performs to this level right the way through, I think he will be talked about as the signing of the season (along with Kante) as far as value for money goes.
When I watched him for Villareal I knew that he was good, regularly outshining Musacchio who quite a few talked about as a transfer target, but these on the ball skills wasn't as obvious back then.
Would it be OTT to say that together with Laporte he is the hottest young CB talent in the world? With talent I mean 18-22 year olds, since you are expected to be pretty solid at age 24 these days. Varane is 23 so he can probably be included as well.
I don't think Stones is in the same bracket as them. I haven't seen enough of this Umtiti to comment on him, but I know Barcelona supporters are impressed and that he got some skills on the ball.
Would it be OTT to say that together with Laporte he is the hottest young CB talent in the world? With talent I mean 18-22 year olds, since you are expected to be pretty solid at age 24 these days. Varane is 23 so he can probably be included as well.
I don't think Stones is in the same bracket as them. I haven't seen enough of this Umtiti to comment on him, but I know Barcelona supporters are impressed and that he got some skills on the ball.
Don't you think it should be moved. We constantly hear about top players trying to maneuver their way out of it. Move it to the summertime and make it every four years.
Moved to when?
It's on at a time in the season when there's no European, FA Cup or title deciding PL games.
The usual climate in the country is optimal, warm, occasionally humid but the players should be adjusted to it.
You can't move it to the summer because of other international competitions and pre-seasons.
It's the useless internationals that we have to play this week and in March/April that are frustrating.
The narrative against the ACON is unfair imo, yes any player having to miss club players is unfortunate but they should still get a chance to represent their country, and the money it brings to the home nations is valuable.
When I went to the recent competition held in Ghana it was fantastic, amazing atmosphere.
Why not just keep it summer 2017 and hold it every four years? I don't think there's anything going on then.
This guy reminds me of Pepe without the sadistic side. Can turn out to be a true world class defender.
He was a big part of why we were attacking so relentlessly, anytime Hull cleared the ball or had the chance to ease the pressure Bailly would pop up and take the ball back.
Early days, but he looks a fecking player this lad.
Early days, but he looks a fecking player this lad.
Glad someone else noticed this, I burst out laughing when I saw it, Bailly winning the ball off a team mate
His form is undoubtedly going to drop at some point. There's definitely a red card in him this season. But he's young and learning, good signs so far.
Yup. He just doesn't give strikers the chance to hold the ball up, so it removes the option of an out-ball for opponents and puts us back on the front foot. It remains to be seen how he handles the better teams, who will put our defence under more consistent pressure, but against teams that try and sit back he really will be a huge asset.
At some point this season, he will frustrate people and have them judge him the wrong way.
Was my MOTM against Hull. What a wonderful defender he is. High risk play though. Can be made to pay against more cunning opponents.
- Status