Massive Spanner
The Football Grinch
All this proves is that we should have gotten Carroll for £35m instead of Zlatan for free.
I know, I know, but unless I can somehow get to be an insider at Chelsea it's the best I've got. My impression was that the 38 million bid had been made though, the prospective 45 million one not so much. As to Sterling being better than Coman, it's hard to say since Coman's only played about 40 first team games. My original point though was that I don't think anyone would pay anywhere near 47 million for Smalling and I still honestly believe that to be the truth.Daily Mail and Express! Really?
In any case, that is not really a significant thing as English players are always hyped and overpriced. Sterling went for 50 million pounds. Would you consider him better than the likes of Coman for example?
Yeah maybe, although I think Stelring and Nolito will prove to be better than Mata and Lingard this year. I think Mikey is good though and obviously dicks all over Navas!In that case, we will edge you in attack since Martial is better than Sterling, Nolito/Navas are behind Mata/Lingard/Mkhitariyan while Aguero and Zlatan are about the same.
Kill! kill! kill! That's essentially what I said. Get your tin hat on mate.My combined 11 when players are full fit would be this:
De Gea
Sagna Kompany Stones/Bailly Shaw
Ferds
Pogba Silva
De Bruyne Aguero Martial
Kompany should not get in ahead of Smalling as he has been better than Kompany the last two years. Rest I think is fair enough although Blind has been comfortably better than Stones last year.My combined 11 when players are full fit would be this:
De Gea
Sagna Kompany Stones/Bailly Shaw
Ferds
Pogba Silva
De Bruyne Aguero Martial
@NK86 post summed up the contradictions, that was the original post I quoted.I'm trying to be fair here and believe it or not enjoying this discussion, so please can you be specific?
Wait, so you excluded De Bruyne and Silva in City attack, placing them in their midfield and you think an attack of Ibra, Rashford, Martial, Mkhi, Mata could only potentially be as good as Aguero, Sterling, Sane, Navas and IheanachoGoalKeeper: United. Nothing to discuss really.
Defence: I think its fairly even. Bailly looks promising, but is yet to be tested against a quality attack. And I am not convinced about either Smalling or Blind being a top quality CB. I thought Stones looked good in the opening fixture. We do have got the better option in Shaw.
Midfield: It depends on whom you choose to include or rather which positions. De Bruyne and Silva are both AMF. So if you do include them then again its hard to call. De Bruyne/Silva/Fernandinho/Gundogan look better than Pogba/Fellani/Herrara/Carrick.
Attack: I think this is interesting. IMO it depends upon how long Mourinho puts up with Rooney or conversely does Rooney find some semblance of form. Also if Martial can replicate his form from last year and hopefully improve on it, considering it is his 2nd year, then we could have a very tasty attack. Ibra/Rashford/Martial/Mkhi/Mata/Rooney/Lingard could potentially be as good as Aguero/Sterling/Sane/Navas/Iheanacho.
I replied to his post though (see below). The bold is my response to his critique.@NK86 post summed up the contradictions, that was the original post I quoted.
You're entitled to that view but I'm not sure how you could come to that conclusion looking at both midfields. Essentially Gundogan is their standout and Pogba is ours. No contest between the two. Then you have Fernandinho, Fernando as there next best vs Fellaini, Carrick and Herrera who all bring something different to the table for us. We have far more than just quality over them there.Goalkeeper:
Defense: Our set is comfortably better. Both in terms of quality and quantity.
Midfield: Even with Pogba coming in, city's is better, assuming Gundogan is a hit. City have better quality, we've quantity.
Attack: Fairly even in terms of quality. City have the quantity advantage probably.
Fair enough. If you're choices are based on potential/peak I can see where you are coming from. On current form/injury status I can't see how you'd have Sagna above Valencia, Stones ahead of Bailly or Kompany ahead of anyone (as he seems to be really struggling to stay fit.). And Smalling may be over rated on here but you seem to under rate him.I replied to his post though (see below). The bold is my response to his critique.
NK86 said: ↑
The amount of contradictions in that post to "prove" the point of your original post is baffling.
On the one hand you are unsure about Shaw because he is coming back from an injury but Kompany's constant injury problems are not noteworthy.
If you note, I choose both of them in my best choice defense. So I give both the benefit of the doubt.
Then you say Bailly has played "two" games (but conveniently forget he was excellent for Villareal last season), but are saying Stones is better than him because Pep has bought him (again after conveniently forgetting that Jose bought Bailly so unless you are saying your opinion is better than Jose's, it's again lopsided and contradictory).
The reason I give Stones more of the benefit of the doubt is that he has already played about 80 games in the Premiership and so the transition to City SHOULD be easier. If you look at Managala for example, he was excellent for Porto but has had a lot of trouble moving to the Premiership. As to Eric Bailly, this is what Jose said just after he joined the club; “Eric is a young central defender who has great natural talent. He’s progressed well to date and has the potential to become one of the best around... We look forward to working with him to help nurture that raw talent and fulfil his potential. Eric is at the right club to continue his development.”
Smalling is "average to good and overrated here" but you are doing just the same with Stones. Blind has been very good for us last season and yet you simple cast him aside because the caf thought he wasn't good enough earlier (the same caf whose opinion you shrugged off in Stones' case).
I think Stones is over-rated, certainly over-priced but I still think he is a better player than Chris Smalling. I suppose, I'll just have to chalk that up to "IMHO" but right now IMHO I'd choose Stones of the two. As to Daley Blind, he's a good but not great player. He's done well for United - I think we could do better.
There ate many more such which I really cannot be bothered to put it here as I am on my phone. In short, your analysis was very lame.
One mans "humble opinion".
I think we lose out at right back because Sagna is better defensively than Valencia. I think Valencia has had some good games there but personally (and this goes back to IMHO) I think he gets caught out too often defensively (often because he is so one footed) so for me as I said, I'd go with Sagna. As to left back, I don't think we actually lose out at all if you read what I wrote more carefully. I actually chose Shaw in my best defense. I believe it is is a risk because of his injury but I tried to base my assessment on all players being fit so Shaw gets in. The discussion of Stones and Smalling is debatable. I believe both are prone to errors but I thought Smalling played well last season after the City game and Stones I thought did well for Everton the year before. Of the two (at their best) I'd choose Stones but I know a lot of people disagree. As to Bailly being raw, even Mourinho said that when he signed him. I think he may be a very good player one day but right now I wouldn't choose him in a combined defense because I've only really got 2 games on which to base my assessment. As to Blind, the lad has played very well for United but I think both teams could and have done better. Last but not least, when I made my final choice I tried to end up with the players who I believe are the best when all are fit and when that is the case I feel that Vincent Kompany is the best defender on either team. It may turn out that he is indeed finished and if that is the case I'd re-evaluate when/if the time comes. So I end up with Sagna, Stones, Kompany, Shaw. I hope that gives a better insight as to my choices.
so we lose at right back because Valencia is an ex winger. That's your analysis... ok... we lose out at left back because Shaw was injured but has returned and looks even better than before... but he was injured so his actual performance is what... irrelevant? now we have a center back that's a brain Fart from doing something done as per your analysis... but stones is what exactly? a shining pillar if confidence and mistake less? and the rest is about Bailly being raw and you not knowing blinds best position... therefore City are better.... did you even read what you typed?
Willy > Romero
Clichy = Rojo
KDB > Pereira
Silva > Mata
Man City 2-1 Man United
1. No way, Romero is the starting keeper for Argie's NT and Caballero doesn't even have any capsNolito > Martial
How is Britney doing?Yeah for some reason it got me irked, it's been the most absurd thing I've read today and I've been sitting in Schweinsteiger's thread, read Spurs' thread for a bit and some wisdom from Britney Spears. Nearly forgot that I learnt about Joey Barton's biography too.
A lost cause sadly.How is Britney doing?
That's sad. She was quite beautiful back in the day. What is more sad is that I said back in the day. Both Britney and I are getting older. So it would seem.A lost cause sadly.
That's a new one. Do you know that DDG is David De Gea? pl's best goalie by some distanceRegarding Goalkeeper, a lot of folks in Spain have Bravo as the best goalkeeper in the world or at least next to Neuer....along with Navas....
If your comparing Bravo to DDG, than I would picked current Bravo over DDG.
What?Regarding Goalkeeper, a lot of folks in Spain have Bravo as the best goalkeeper in the world or at least next to Neuer....along with Navas....
If your comparing Bravo to DDG, than I would picked current Bravo over DDG.
Poor wum. Must try harder.Regarding Goalkeeper, a lot of folks in Spain have Bravo as the best goalkeeper in the world or at least next to Neuer....along with Navas....
If your comparing Bravo to DDG, than I would picked current Bravo over DDG.
God i feel sorry for you if thats your honest opinion.Regarding Goalkeeper, a lot of folks in Spain have Bravo as the best goalkeeper in the world or at least next to Neuer....along with Navas....
If your comparing Bravo to DDG, than I would picked current Bravo over DDG.
Fair enough, in that case I'd give us the nod in attack since after Aguero who would be your best attacker? Nolito?Considering De Bruyne and Silva are playing as central midfielders in Pep's system I think you should include them in midfield rather than attack and I would argue because of that we do have better midfielders. Also I'd argue we are at least even on defenders.
1. The Argentina managers have been clueless and made numerous horrible decisions over the years. Caballero is decent keeper, nothing great, but Romero is average on a good day.1. No way, Romero is the starting keeper for Argie's NT and Caballero doesn't even have any caps
2. Clichy is significantly better than Rojo
3. Where does the 1 for Man United come from?
4. No way, and I watched a lot of him last season.
I just can't see how anyone can say Stones is better right now, maybe potential to be yes but Stones hasn't shown it yet at all. Fellow United fan shweetI've never been a huge fan of Chris Smalling. He's just never done it for me. He played well last season (for the most part) I've got to admit. Another strong season and I may re-evaluate.
Believe it or not I'm a United fan. Just trying to be an objective one.
What are you smoking?Why is DDG better than Bravo????
Both are world-class goalkeepers but Bravo is 33 where as De Gea is 25 and Bravo has not played a single second in the PL. De Gea has the edge.Why is DDG better than Bravo????
I disagree with that. I thought he played very well the season before last and was pretty good up to the November/December time frame last season. Second half of the season he certainly had a drop off, but prior to the 2015-16 season he'd only played a max of 28 games in all competitions. Last season, he played 41. I think the extra games plus the added pressure of being talked about as a possible star took its toll. We shall see I suppose.I just can't see how anyone can say Stones is better right now, maybe potential to be yes but Stones hasn't shown it yet at all. Fellow United fan shweet
Because he routinely pulls off the sensational and single-handedly wins points. Because, aside from that, he also knows the Premier League inside out and has developed his skills to deal with the threats, such as high balls and crosses. Because he's shown these qualities at a consistently very high level for the last several years. Because he's achieved all of that behind often changing and questionable defences.Why is DDG better than Bravo????
Why is DDG better than Bravo????
By some folks you mean Barcelona fans? Also RM tried to buy DDG and SWAP Navas for him....Regarding Goalkeeper, a lot of folks in Spain have Bravo as the best goalkeeper in the world or at least next to Neuer....along with Navas....
If your comparing Bravo to DDG, than I would picked current Bravo over DDG.
Mainly ability.Why is DDG better than Bravo????
, Are you a City fan?Why is DDG better than Bravo????