Cringed as feck type of bloke.. good footballer though.
Benjamin Mendy
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik and Imran hold a long overdue conversation about United's awful league form with 1 win in 7. They discuss a disappointing draw at Bournemouth, a not so disappointing draw against Liverpool and a crushing defeat at Chelsea - Is time nearly over for Erik Ten Hag?
Then in a special second half of the pod, Nik welcomes Natalie ( https://twitter.com/natalie_17) to discuss the fortunes of Manchester United Women as they booked a place in the FA Cup Final after a historic first ever win vs. Chelsea.
Pace, energy, determination and fantastic crossing. If he learns to defend better, he can become the best left back in the world.
Yeah we didn't did we ? It's pointless to chase targets, that aren't even that hard to get from a financial point of view, only to not sign them in the end. Yes Inter probably wanted too much for him but in the end we didn't get him, we didn't get anyone and that is risky IMHO. Lack of quality width from full back areas is a major concern.
It's not obvious at all, Shaw hasn't had an easy time with Jose even when he was fit. Shaw's injury problems isn't a novelty nor a surprise either, he's clearly injury prone and it may be better for him to have a change of scenery. He wouldn't be the first nor the last player who revived his career with a change of club. Even if at his best, Shaw has never been a quality player on the offensive aspect of his job, he cannot cross, he doesn't link up well. He's way too raw.
I love Young and having him as an option for the RB/RWB is good enough for me. On the left, not so much, he is way too predictable there, always wants to cut in on his right and he doesn't feel as natural as he does on the right. I don't rate Shaw as much as many caftards
No man, you got it all wrong.
Luke Shaw is already the best LB in the World. This elevation in status occurred, not while he was proving it on the pitch, but while he was injured, on his back and eating lots of food.
And the Ballon Dor....sorry man, that belongs to Martial. He has already won it and will be winning it for the next 5 odd years. Our left flank is the best ever seen in footballing history.
Now back to reality: we are weak on the left and we do need an experienced and specialised LWB. Martial and Rashford seem to be sharing the LW role and appear to be doing fine. But that LB/LWB position is currently on a time share basis, using players who are aren't particularly good in that position. Mendy would've been ideal but who knows what Jose was thinking.
Exactly. Mendy is young and he isn't the best defensively but neither is Marcelo for instance but he's a player everyone would love to have in his team. Like you said for attacking (not having the need for one player to do everything but more having a good system with combinations), the same goes for defending. If the general defending system is fine, a player can get away with it and Mendy isn't terrible, he is just better at attacking. He cost a lot of money but City saw a need and tried to correct it.
It's worth remembering Mourinho bought Coentrao despite having Marcelo there. I don't think Mourinho ever trusted Marcelo, and Mendy wouldn't be his type too.
Even though he bought Coentrao, I don't think he was ever first choice.
Reading my own post seems so ridiculous now. If we couldn't address this issue for so long, how come we would do it now.
Oh hes better than Shaw but Luke Shaw at Soton was potentially the best LB in the prem behind Cole. In both those CL games, and against Liverpool he looked good going forward but poor defensively. Thats just clear to see if you re-watch either games. Says a lot when even their own fans agree. And Walker is never ever ever ever worth his fee. I never believed there was a great gulf between him and Trippier if im honest. Genuinely if I had the option id have signed Danny Rose before Mendy for City
As a backup, Marcelo has been the starter.
But he played marcelo ahead of coentrao... So it's silly to suggest he did not trust him...
Apparently, he has made more crosses in 3 league games that Kolarov/Clichy for the entirey of last season 
Easily the best LB in the PL.
Fabulous, fabulous player.
Fabulous, fabulous player.
Interesting stat. If there's one thing Kolarov does well, it's whipping in an early cross towards the near post.Apparently, he has made more crosses in 3 league games that Kolarov/Clichy for the entirey of last season
He's assisted a lot of goals for Roma already this season. He played a lot of games at CB last season.
Paddy Crerand said Luke Shaw is the best left back in the country. In his unbiased opinion of course
.In Kolarovs defence he played CB when he played last season. Sometimes he even played CB with Fernandinho playing LB. I think Kolarov playing the Wingback role Mendy currently is gets a lot of assists, his problem was his lack of pace to cover the counter so Pep would never play him there. Kola's final ball is still superior to Mendy's and by some margin. In a system where he can play LB but not have to play at break neck speed Kola will still be very useful.
I did mention it in the post?
Yeah, he's nearly 32. He's still got decent pace. But he won't be as explosive as Mendy over a season. Playing in Italy is suiting him. 3 assists already.
Don't mind me I'm blind lol.
What does he know. Mendy is the shit. I would even say he's the best LB in the world right now. Even better than Marcelo. I'm sick seeing all those WC players at City esp with us having so few.Paddy Crerand said Luke Shaw is the best left back in the country. In his unbiased opinion of course
Mendy is not near Marcelo's level yet. Top fullback, yes. Marcelo was one of the best players in the CL two seasons running.
What the feck
You're wrong.
More like 7 seasons running.
Hey knock it off stop underrating our players. Did you forget our world-class fullback, Luke Shaw?
Marcelo is a lot better than Mendy, but Mendy is the best in the premier league.
Alonso a close second.
Alonso a close second.
From what I have seen so far he's an ideal full back for EPL. Great signing by City tbf. We shouldn't keep crying on not getting him, though.
We have just two wc players.
Well, sort of. He's made fewer crosses that have actually hit their target. What he's done really well so far is make loads of inaccurate crosses. 22 in total. Exactly the same amount as our crossing master, Antonio Valencia. He's managed to do that in almost half as many games too. Pretty impressive eh. If you look at the number of crosses that have actually reached a team-mate, he's made exactly half as many as Blind in the same number of games. Gotten the same number of assists too.Apparently, he has made more crosses in 3 league games that Kolarov/Clichy for the entirey of last season
Mendy's actually made almost as many misplaced crosses in 3 league games as both Clichy (19) and Kolarov (4) combined last season. Who cares about being accurate though, right? At least they look good. When they're not being fired into the side netting, of course. We'll just ignore those. Being wasteful isn't important. It's just about firing them in there hard and with lots of curl. Everything else is irrelevant.
Yeah, I think though Alba was probably better than him there for a couple of years in the CL, maybe Alaba when he played there too. One of the best LB's last 7 seasons, i would say clearly the best LB and one of the best players since Zidane.
Just my opinion though.
Not according to everyone else in this thread. I hope you're right though.
Does this statistic include crosses that got as far as the opponent fullback's tibia?
I will disagree on judging cross by just meeting a teammate. A good cross into good area can be wasted by teammate who fails to make the run to attack the cross. Watching him, he's serious good crosser of the ball. And no, I am not into getting this guy at all. People can quote me I prefer getting a winger than adding left back despite acknowledging our left back is not good enough and those with potential need to work and realize their potential.Well, sort of. He's made fewer crosses that have actually hit their target. What he's done really well so far is make loads of inaccurate crosses. 22 in total. Exactly the same amount as our crossing master, Antonio Valencia. He's managed to do that in almost half as many games too. Pretty impressive eh. If you look at the number of crosses that have actually reached a team-mate, he's made exactly half as many as Blind in the same number of games. Gotten the same number of assists too.
Mendy's actually made almost as many misplaced crosses in 3 league games as both Clichy (19) and Kolarov (4) combined last season. Who cares about being accurate though, right? At least they look good. When they're not being fired into the side netting, of course. We'll just ignore those. Being wasteful isn't important. It's just about firing them in there hard and with lots of curl. Everything else is irrelevant.
I don't really understand why we didn't buy a decent LB for a medium fee like Inter did with Dalbert or a bid for Hector from Koln (Now playing in midfield?) or Wendell from Leverkusen or try to tap up Ghoulam or convince Theo Hernandez he had a real shot at starting here unlike at Madrid.
I guess Mourinho figured that he could get by using Blind, Darmian and Young for specific jobs at the spot when/if Shaw isn't around.
Very similar to Alonso insofar in that both can be exposed when 1v1 against wingers, but both offer huge amounts of production going forward against weaker opposition. Mendy has the higher ceiling for sure though, and both will be less exposed in a 3 man backline (credit to Conte for figuring this out).
For me the positioning of the wingbacks is so key to how a match will go-even this past 0-0 vs Arsenal was a perfect example. For the first 15 minutes, we dominated and Alonso pushed into Arsenal's half, but once Bellerin got in behind him twice he was much more conservative with his positioning and that stunted our attack down the left side all game (especially coupled with Cahill's total inability on the ball). Mendy has been very aggressive thus far when he's played, much more so than Walker, which has been interesting to see (and justifiable; his delivery is world class while Walker's is thoroughly average). I do think though that with aggressive positioning you could find joy between Otamendi and Mendy-before Mane was sent off Liverpool should have been at least a goal to the good, and this was largely through exploiting the space Mendy was vacating.
So there are questions there I'd say-I really am not sure how he'd fare in a 4 man backline in England. He's obviously a top drawer player in many aspects, but I do think there are limitations that need to be taken into account. Having said that, I fully expect him to be the best LWB/LB in the PL in two or three years' time.
For me the positioning of the wingbacks is so key to how a match will go-even this past 0-0 vs Arsenal was a perfect example. For the first 15 minutes, we dominated and Alonso pushed into Arsenal's half, but once Bellerin got in behind him twice he was much more conservative with his positioning and that stunted our attack down the left side all game (especially coupled with Cahill's total inability on the ball). Mendy has been very aggressive thus far when he's played, much more so than Walker, which has been interesting to see (and justifiable; his delivery is world class while Walker's is thoroughly average). I do think though that with aggressive positioning you could find joy between Otamendi and Mendy-before Mane was sent off Liverpool should have been at least a goal to the good, and this was largely through exploiting the space Mendy was vacating.
So there are questions there I'd say-I really am not sure how he'd fare in a 4 man backline in England. He's obviously a top drawer player in many aspects, but I do think there are limitations that need to be taken into account. Having said that, I fully expect him to be the best LWB/LB in the PL in two or three years' time.
How does Jorge compare to him? Monaco signed the Brazilian leftback from Flamengo to replace him last year...
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I haven't seen much of him but I can see clear contrast. Mendy is more to the point player in his attack play: crossing;while the Jorge guy would try to dribble his way past the defende, overdribble and slow to release the ball. You can say Jorge doesn't like to pass. Mendy offered better width while Jorge try to cut in more. Jorge looks like has better shot/eye for shooting though. Not convincing by both player defensively. However, Mendy is well accustomed to European football so he has the right intensity to his game, while this Jorge guy can be seen as ghost walking and failed to realize the situation. The physicality difference is clear to see.
Thanks for those stats. But what does your post imply? He's a bit average and overrated? Nothing special?Well, sort of. He's made fewer crosses that have actually hit their target. What he's done really well so far is make loads of inaccurate crosses. 22 in total. Exactly the same amount as our crossing master, Antonio Valencia. He's managed to do that in almost half as many games too. Pretty impressive eh. If you look at the number of crosses that have actually reached a team-mate, he's made exactly half as many as Blind in the same number of games. Gotten the same number of assists too.
Mendy's actually made almost as many misplaced crosses in 3 league games as both Clichy (19) and Kolarov (4) combined last season. Who cares about being accurate though, right? At least they look good. When they're not being fired into the side netting, of course. We'll just ignore those. Being wasteful isn't important. It's just about firing them in there hard and with lots of curl. Everything else is irrelevant.
I think he's a very good crosser of the ball. Maybe not precise enough yet, he's new to the team and the league. perhaps not in his best form righ tnow. But I sense quality in his crossing. He's very good going forward.
This is exactly why stats alone should not be considered to judge players, a good cross does not always reach the expected target, that does not stop it from being a good cross, stats will tell you that a cross that led to a last ditch header to cut out a great opportunity and a cross that hit the first man are the same thing, but anyone with even slightest knowledge of football will tell you how wrong it is.Well, sort of. He's made fewer crosses that have actually hit their target. What he's done really well so far is make loads of inaccurate crosses. 22 in total. Exactly the same amount as our crossing master, Antonio Valencia. He's managed to do that in almost half as many games too. Pretty impressive eh. If you look at the number of crosses that have actually reached a team-mate, he's made exactly half as many as Blind in the same number of games. Gotten the same number of assists too.
Mendy's actually made almost as many misplaced crosses in 3 league games as both Clichy (19) and Kolarov (4) combined last season. Who cares about being accurate though, right? At least they look good. When they're not being fired into the side netting, of course. We'll just ignore those. Being wasteful isn't important. It's just about firing them in there hard and with lots of curl. Everything else is irrelevant.
I don't disagree that mendy is a bit wasteful, but to equate him to valencia is foolish, his crossing is miles better than valencia's, not to mention you are forgetting that valencia's crosses are expected to be met by likes of felliani, lukaku, pogba etc while mendy's crosses are supposed to reach aguero, jesus, silva and co.
Too many members are obsessed by stats. You don't need them when things are a bit obvious. The frustrating thing with Valencia is the perceived lack of effort from him in trying to aim at someone when crossing, specially when we know he can be so good at them. He's proved it before.