Football 2015/16

[The Nal]

14 minutes ago, pink_triangle said:

How many had heard of kompany before he signed . The reason city invest big sums into a scouting system instead of paying the likes of us, is they are meant to see what we don't.

He was actually signed before the big investment. They were signing the likes of Jo and Tal Ben Haim at that time. They fluked it with Kompany. And Zabaleta actually. 

[sdvruxk]

7 minutes ago, pink_triangle said:

How many had heard of kompany before he signed . The reason city invest big sums into a scouting system instead of paying the likes of us, is they are meant to see what we don't.

They've also tried buying players who were still in the early stages of their career (Savic, Nastastic) who also haven't worked out. Other big clubs have invested money in scouting systems also to find that their signings aren't good enough, it's nothing new. 

The defenders are easy targets at the minute, the manager should give them cover. A number of times yesterday they were left exposed by the lazy midfielders. There are always going to be problems for your defenders if players are allowed to run at them in the centre of the pitch. Why he still insists on playing Yaya in one of the holding positions is beyond a joke.

[kaosmark2]

Jerome Boateng is a pretty damn good young centre back. I wonder why City didn't sign him.

Oh wait...

[thetime]

Jose to Arsenal rumour, now that would be class.

[ThomThomDrum]

What will be interesting is to see Pep try and build something at City. I dont think he has been this challenged in the transfer market with need. I wonder if he can do it.

[TheGayTent]

14 minutes ago, sdvruxk said:

Why he still insists on playing Yaya in one of the holding positions is beyond a joke.

Mainly because Pellegrini doesn't trust Fernando - and rightly so - bar the odd game he's been pretty mediocre. Similarly Javi Garcia was shit. 

City are still looking for a replacement for Nigel de Jong. 

[sdvruxk]

I've not seen enough of Fernando but surely he would do some running unlike Toure.

[TheGayTent]

5 minutes ago, sdvruxk said:

I've not seen enough of Fernando but surely he would do some running unlike Toure.

As would I but you're not advocating playing me and paying me 100k a week? 

[pink_triangle]

33 minutes ago, The Nal said:

He was actually signed before the big investment. They were signing the likes of Jo and Tal Ben Haim at that time. They fluked it with Kompany. And Zabaleta actually. 

How do you know they fluked it? Maybe they scouted them, thought they would adapt and were correct. No doubt man utd signed duds around the time they bought Ronaldo.

[eFestivals]

Just now, pink_triangle said:

How do you know they fluked it? Maybe they scouted them, thought they would adapt and were correct. No doubt man utd signed duds around the time they bought Ronaldo.

Doesn't every club looking to climb the ladder buy players mostly with the idea that they've been undervalued in their current role?

So they'll always be a few that will prove that correct, while plenty of them will prove themselves as only worth what was paid at the time.

[The Nal]

2 minutes ago, pink_triangle said:

How do you know they fluked it? Maybe they scouted them, thought they would adapt and were correct. No doubt man utd signed duds around the time they bought Ronaldo.

Course Utd did. Kleberson, Bellion, Djemba Djebma and Dong Fangzhuo (yeah that happened) were bought in the same season. 

No doubt they scouted Kompany but they weren't the potential scouting force they are now.

[pink_triangle]

36 minutes ago, sdvruxk said:

They've also tried buying players who were still in the early stages of their career (Savic, Nastastic) who also haven't worked out. Other big clubs have invested money in scouting systems also to find that their signings aren't good enough, it's nothing new. 

The defenders are easy targets at the minute, the manager should give them cover. A number of times yesterday they were left exposed by the lazy midfielders. There are always going to be problems for your defenders if players are allowed to run at them in the centre of the pitch. Why he still insists on playing Yaya in one of the holding positions is beyond a joke.

I agree you can't focus on just defenders. There recruitment of midfielders and forwards has been crap in the last few years as well.

When you look at their squad nearly all their key players have been there since around 2010/2011. Since then there has been an influx of mediocrity. I know all scouting systems will hit and miss, but when you have that level of success with those finances, you need to ask questions.

[WS_Jack_III]

Anyone else think Palace will get dragged into the relegation scrap?

 

I honestly think in a few weeks it'll be 2 from 4 again.

[The Nal]

8 minutes ago, WS_Jack_III said:

Anyone else think Palace will get dragged into the relegation scrap?

Yes. They haven't won since the 19th of December and have only drawn 4 games since.

Next 4 games - West Ham away, Norwich at home, Arsenal away, Man Utd away. And Pards is cracking up. Having a pop at Jamie Carragher in the match day programme. 

Edited March 21, 2016 by The Nal

[WS_Jack_III]

Just now, The Nal said:

Yes. They haven't won since the 19th of December and have only drawn 4 games since.

Next 4 games - West Ham away, Norwich at home, Arsenal away, Man Utd away. And Pards is cracking up.

13 games isn't it since their last league win? They've been Pardewed.

Edited March 21, 2016 by WS_Jack_III
Clarity

[kaosmark2]

Hoping Palace will get drawn in, but they have a fairly hefty points total in comparison. They probably only need 4 points before the end of the season.

[The Nal]

4 minutes ago, kaosmark2 said:

Hoping Palace will get drawn in, but they have a fairly hefty points total in comparison. They probably only need 4 points before the end of the season.

They've only picked up 4 in their last 13 games. Norwich game is huge for all concerned. Newcastle and Sunderland need a Palace win there. 

Look at their position on December 26th. 5th on 30 points. 

And their position now. 16th on 33 points. 

Thats a complete meltdown. 

Edited March 21, 2016 by The Nal

[The Nal]

5 minutes ago, Scruffylovemonster said:

They also need to beat Norwich themselves. Those 3 games massive

They've a game in hand over Norwich, as do the north east clubs. Going to be a fascinating end to the season at the bottom. Palace were being tipped for the Champions League spots a few months ago!

[TheGayTent]

1 minute ago, The Nal said:

They've a game in hand over Norwich, as do the north east clubs. Going to be a fascinating end to the season at the bottom. Palace were being tipped for the Champions League spots a few months ago!

By whom?!

[WS_Jack_III]

1 hour ago, kaosmark2 said:

Hoping Palace will get drawn in, but they have a fairly hefty points total in comparison. They probably only need 4 points before the end of the season.

Yeah, they don't need many but they don't look like getting many at the moment.

 

Newcastle clinging in there but i do think it's too big an ask from those players.

[kaosmark2]

26 minutes ago, WS_Jack_III said:

Yeah, they don't need many but they don't look like getting many at the moment.

 

Newcastle clinging in there but i do think it's too big an ask from those players.

We have quality in the squad, it's just completely imbalanced. We had 6 attacking mids on the pitch at one point yesterday! 6!

Desperately need a fit left-back, as we have done all season really. Never understood the Santon sale, he'd seemed to settle well on Tyneside.

[WS_Jack_III]

9 minutes ago, kaosmark2 said:

We have quality in the squad, it's just completely imbalanced. We had 6 attacking mids on the pitch at one point yesterday! 6!

Desperately need a fit left-back, as we have done all season really. Never understood the Santon sale, he'd seemed to settle well on Tyneside.

Wasn't it because his contract was coming close to running out and he wanted extra £££

 

6 attacking mids? Wijnaldum and De Jong, i suppose Perez can go in that class too. Who are your others? Sissoko has always been better out wide if you look at his stats. 

[kaosmark2]

37 minutes ago, WS_Jack_III said:

Wasn't it because his contract was coming close to running out and he wanted extra £££

 

6 attacking mids? Wijnaldum and De Jong, i suppose Perez can go in that class too. Who are your others? Sissoko has always been better out wide if you look at his stats. 

I'm counting wide players amongst that. Shelvey is more of a sitting distribution mid, but he's still attacking rather than tempo-controlling.

[ThomThomDrum]

Reports out of Madrid that they have dropped their interest in de Gea. 

....... Balls! 

[thetime]

7 hours ago, ThomThomDrum said:

Reports out of Madrid that they have dropped their interest in de Gea. 

....... Balls! 

Expect many reports of him going and staying until 31st August.