Fernandinho

Cina said:
I suppose that proves that at least Chelsea actually (bar Torres and a few others) spend their money on really good or potentially world class players. City just seem to feck all their money at whatever is currently hot.
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It's not a massive amount, 13 in 11 summers since Abramovich took over (I forgot Joe Cole and Petr Cech from the original list), but they all got runs in the side apart from Matic and Lukaku (who deserves a go next season to be honest).

Since they struck it lucky the first time (Shinawatra at the start of 2007/8) the under 23s that City have brought in have been

Gelson Fernandez (aged 21, 2007)
Vedran Corluka (aged 21, 2007)
Felipe Caicedo (aged 20, 2007)
Javier Garrido (aged 22, 2007)
Vincent Kompany (aged 22, 2008)
Jo (aged 21, 2008)

Since Sheikh Mansour took over right at the end of that transfer window and signed Robinho (aged 24) a pattern emerges.

Mario Balotelli (aged 20, 2010)
Stefan Savic (Aged 20, 2011)
Matija Nastasci (Aged 19, 2012)
Aguero and Johnson were both 23 when transferred (I should point out I'm going purely off birth year because I can't be arsed going back and double checking transfer date against birth date).

Especially when you consider that most of the pre Sheikh batch of young players were gone by the summer of 2010 apart from Jo (who left 6 months later) and Kompany it's not hard to see why they're having trouble maintaining success and evolving the side, and why they're copping flak for basically attempting to replicate the summers of 2010 and 2011 again. 3 players bought under the age of 23 in five years, with their youth academy adding... no players. Short term thinking breeds short term success - you can't build a side that will sustain success by only buying players in their prime for a few transfer windows then closing the cheque book.
 
Our record since 03/4 compared to Chelsea

David Bellion (aged 21, 2003)
Dong Fagzhuo (aged 18, 2003)
Eric Djemba Djemba (aged 22, 2003) (not the best start, I will admit)
Cristiano Ronaldo (aged 18, 2003) (better)
Wayne Rooney (aged 19, 2004)
Ben Foster (aged 22, 2005)
Anderson (aged 19, 2007)
Nani (aged 21, 2007)
Possebon (aged 20, 2008)
Fabio (aged 18, 2008)
Rafael (aged 18, 2008)
Richie de Laet (aged 21, 2009)
Zoran Tosic (aged 22, 2009)
Gabriel Obertan (aged 20, 2009)
Chris Smalling (aged 21, 2010)
Javier Hernandez (aged 22, 2010)
Bebe (aged 20, 2010) (:lol:)
David de Gea (aged 21, 2011)
Phil Jones (aged 19, 2011)
Nick Powell (aged 18, 2012)
Wilfried Zaha (aged 21, 2013)

(didn't count Pique, Rossi, Macheda in the same way I didn't count Gai Assulin for City and Piazon etc for Chelsea)

Manucho was 25 (!!!) when we inexplicably bought him. Howard was 24, as was Valencia. Diouf was 23 when he joined us, as was Kagawa.

So there we go, 21 in 10 summer transfer windows + various youth products that have come through. Obviously it's easier to do this kind of thing when you're not building a winning side but trying to keep one that already exists constantly developing.

EDIT: Christ, when you look at that our record with young transfers since the Kleberson Djemba era has been really good. After 2003 only five real busts (Tosic, de Laet, Obertan, Bebe, Possebon).
 
Last season City's CM was even worse than ours so I suspected they'd buy a big-name/expensive CM.

Thought they'd go for someone a bit better/higher profile than this guy. It's not a signing that will strike fear into United or Chelsea.
 
Last seasons feck up with transfers mean that they have to do the same as before and sign players at the height of their potential rather than do what Chelsea/United do and buy players U-25 who have a lot of their potential still to reach. If they were more smart in the window last year they wouldn't have this problem but they waited far too long and then panic bought people. This stinks of panic buying in a different sense though. I've not seen much of this bloke but he's 28 and i haven't heard much speculation of him leaving before?
 
He was player of the year in Ukraine a couple of years back, then had maybe a year out with an injury. Came back either last season or for 18 months or so, was one of the top performers in the champions league. But yes he's 28 and we arent talking about Xavi here. He's a good player, would have improved our midfield too. But he is not a £30 million player
 
He's a 30m player for City. Javi Garcia was close to 20m and wasn't an improvement at all. Fernandinho is proven in the CL, something they'll be looking at when signing players.
 
£30m to a Ukrainian club for a 28 year old with 5 international caps. It could easily go wrong.
 
Says something when City fans aren't happy with their signings. Although, they don't want to criticise the very people who made their success possible but I think more are starting to realise what a joke of a club they are becoming. When you're considering giving up your season ticket at "the people's club", something isn't right.

Their youth project is no project at all. Just cashing in on young prospects.
 
Amost £60m spent on Fernandinho and Navas...feck me they could have surely done a lot better for their money.
 
Let's say that's Cavani......does the difference from the Mancini team to Pellegrini really seem £100m difference? I don't think so really.

Still a force mind you, but you'd reckon they'd be a shoe in for the title if just bought Ronaldo or something worthy of £100m. Not that they would of got Ronaldo.
 
Suedesi said:
Fernandinho will play as a DM, Yaya moved further up, no need for Isco.
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Ah right, maybe in the big games but I think if they were to get Isco it would be

-- Fernandinho - Yaya --
Navas ---- Silva ----- Isco
----------- Aguero --------

Aguero is much better leading the line than dropping deep, it was always Tevez who was chosen for that role when they were both paired and it was far better for Aguero. If City splashed £50million on Cavani or whoever it wouldn't get the best out of Aguero IMO, going for Isco would be the better option I think

Those three AM's have perfect balance, Navas providing the most natural width, Silva is the archetypal number 10 and Isco can cut inside
 
Zen said:
Let's say that's Cavani......does the difference from the Mancini team to Pellegrini really seem £100m difference? I don't think so really.

Still a force mind you, but you'd reckon they'd be a shoe in for the title if just bought Ronaldo or something worthy of £100m. Not that they would of got Ronaldo.
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I was not going to tempt fate by putting Cavani in there... I agree it's a lot of powder wasted on two 10M euro players
 
Hopefully this chap takes the obligatory half a season to fit in.

Otherwise if they've replaced Barry with an actual good player, we could find them a whole lot trickier next year
 
Theon said:
Ah right, maybe in the big games but I think if they were to get Isco it would be

-- Fernandinho - Yaya --
Navas ---- Silva ----- Isco
----------- Aguero --------

Aguero is much better leading the line than dropping deep, it was always Tevez who was chosen for that role when they were both paired and it was far better for Aguero. If City splashed £50million on Cavani or whoever it wouldn't get the best out of Aguero IMO, going for Isco would be the better option I think

Those three AM's have perfect balance, Navas providing the most natural width, Silva is the archetypal number 10 and Isco can cut inside
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The scary thing about this would be that Silva will be "the first" CAM who can also slide out wide as well. Theoretically that trio of AM's would be the perfect complement for each other like you say.

I hope for our sake that you are wrong.
 
Annahnomoss said:
The scary thing about this would be that Silva will be "the first" CAM who can also slide out wide as well. Theoretically that trio of AM's would be the perfect complement for each other like you say.

I hope for our sake that you are wrong.
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All three being Spanish is surely a bonus as well, would probably help them strike up a good understanding!
 
Theon said:
Ah right, maybe in the big games but I think if they were to get Isco it would be

-- Fernandinho - Yaya --
Navas ---- Silva ----- Isco
----------- Aguero --------

Aguero is much better leading the line than dropping deep, it was always Tevez who was chosen for that role when they were both paired and it was far better for Aguero. If City splashed £50million on Cavani or whoever it wouldn't get the best out of Aguero IMO, going for Isco would be the better option I think

Those three AM's have perfect balance, Navas providing the most natural width, Silva is the archetypal number 10 and Isco can cut inside
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All fancy and stuff but Aguero would have to score 90% of the team's goals. And while he's quality, its not as if he's been in perfect goalscoring form this season
 
And that line-up is so British it hurts my eyes.

Even when you add in the backline: Hart-Zabaleta-Kompany-Richards-Clichy, still just 2 English players out of 11. Just wow.
 
Ekeke said:
All fancy and stuff but Aguero would have to score 90% of the team's goals. And while he's quality, its not as if he's been in perfect goalscoring form this season
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That is not very true though? Touré/Fernandinho slot in with 15~ goals per season, Isco got 12 last season and will probably increase it to near 20. Navas and Silva will get their 1-10 each and Aguero will get 20-30.

They certainly have enough goals in their team, even though Silva and Navas both like assisting more than scoring themselves.

Nani/Young scored less this season than Isco and Valencia in form is similar to Navas.

So even though Silva would be a less frequent goal-scorer than Kagawa/Rooney, Fernandinho/Touré scores so much more than Carrick/Cleverley/Jones/Anderson that it evens out.
 
Toure scored goals when he plays behind the striker. He's not playing behind the striker there, he's playing his holding midfield role that everyone on the opposition will be happy to see him playing. Fernandinho is unlikely to get a sizeable amount from Garth Barry's position, covering gaps that the attacking players leave. He got 2 league goals last season.

Isco got 9 league goals, who knows what he'd get in the premier league. Silva's finishing is terrible.

Aguero is a top striker but I wouldn't back him for 40 goals a season
 
December_16 said:
And that line-up is so British it hurts my eyes.

Even when you add in the backline: Hart-Zabaleta-Kompany-Richards-Clichy, still just 2 English players out of 11. Just wow.
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One really, there is no way Richards will play CB ahead of Nastasic - he looks the real deal to be honest and at only 20 is nowhere near his peak
 
Ekeke said:
Toure scored goals when he plays behind the striker. He's not playing behind the striker there, he's playing his holding midfield role that everyone on the opposition will be happy to see him playing.
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You're talking complete bollocks Ekeke, because Yaya plays that exact same position now. Mancini already uses a 4-2-3-1 the only difference is the Pellegrini one is much more natural with a proper 10 in place of Tevez and Silva not being out on the left.

Last month against West Ham or before that againt Newcastle he scored and was partnering Barry in a two man midfield. And did you not watch the derby Ekeke? He scored against us despite partnering just Barry in CM, with Balotelli up top and Aguero playing deeper, so you're talking shite again.
 
Ekeke said:
Toure scored goals when he plays behind the striker. He's not playing behind the striker there, he's playing his holding midfield role that everyone on the opposition will be happy to see him playing. Fernandinho is unlikely to get a sizeable amount from Garth Barry's position, covering gaps that the attacking players leave. He got 2 league goals last season.

Isco got 9 league goals, who knows what he'd get in the premier league. Silva's finishing is terrible.

Aguero is a top striker but I wouldn't back him for 40 goals a season
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Fernandinho scored 6 goals last season, Touré got 9 this season, Isco 12.

It is a ridiculous statement that they would score too few goals especially as Isco is taking huge steps each season to score more and would be near "Rooney figures" for City if he continues his development.

I doubt they would be outscoring United, but they would have a very good balance and diversity. Isco/Navas/Silva/Aguero are all talented passers and dribblers and together they have pretty much every aspect you can demand from a front four except height and strength.

Width, crosses, through-balls, goal-scoring ability, runs past the defense, pace, all are great on 1 vs 1's, speak the same language.

We are really highlighting some small flaws if we want to pretend that they wouldn't be incredible(theoretically).

Isco=Nani
Navas>Valencia
Silva=Rooney(Too different)
Aguero<RVP

I feel very biased for United saying Nani=Isco as well.
 
Ekeke said:
Toure scored goals when he plays behind the striker. He's not playing behind the striker there, he's playing his holding midfield role that everyone on the opposition will be happy to see him playing. Fernandinho is unlikely to get a sizeable amount from Garth Barry's position, covering gaps that the attacking players leave. He got 2 league goals last season.
etty good summary of the state of play.
Isco got 9 league goals, who knows what he'd get in the premier league. Silva's finishing is terrible.

Aguero is a top striker but I wouldn't back him for 40 goals a season
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Pretty good summary of the state of play.
 
paceme said:
He will be a top talent. But city's problem last year in attack was too much fannying around around the box with no pace or directness. They desperately needed a winger.
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City's problem last season was Mancini. He played them too narrow and too defensive. Pellegrini will change that.
 
Toure is at his most dangerous behind the front man the year they won he would regularly move forward while Silva came off his strength, power and directness was too much for most teams. I feel they will sign a striker and have Aguero play off him. Aguero does fine in that role he is a good finisher, he is pacy, he can beat players and can link up well. He always reminded me of a latin Rooney. He was injured a lot this year. What they do in regards to Silva/Nasri/Isco will interest me a lot. They will be able to rotate Silva and Aguero and a striker in terms of playing time. Having Isco and Navas on the wings will be an upgrade and Fernandinho will be a very solid cm. He will make up for Yaya's laziness at times and make sure they are solid they will have enough goals in them.
 
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