07 Feb 2021 22:35:54
City did what we should have done. They attacked Liverpool without fear and went for the jugular at Anfield knowing this Liverpool shorn of their centre backs are not the same team of the past two seasons.

What a missed opportunity when we went there compounded by the loss to Sheffield Utd and two points thrown away yesterday.
City played like the champions they are soon to be.

Klopp and Liverpool made a major mistake not strengthening their defence. At least they will have Van Dyke and Gomez for next season. If we don't sign anyone decent in defence we will have no chance of winning the title.

1.) 08 Feb 2021
08 Feb 2021 08:05:50
i think its clear to see why we are not title challengers and where we need to improve.

these cbs and GK need to be replaced,

2.) 08 Feb 2021
08 Feb 2021 09:36:24
Salford, City were able to go at Liverpool and play a more offensive and open game full in the knowledge that in Dias and Stones they have the best CB pairing in the league this season.

We all talk about the cavaliers all out attacking style of Manchester United, but we too easily forget that we have been able to play that style due to having a very solid defence. Bruce and Pallister early in Sir Alex's time. Then Stam and Johnsen, finally Ferdinand and Vidic.

Also our best sustained periods of dominance (doubles, trebles and back to back titles) all came when those great CB pairings also had a world class keeper at their peak behind them.

Sadly the Chuckle brothers currently at CB with their endless "to me, to you routine" style of defending with a declining DDG behind them means we have a castle built on sand.

We will never be able to implement a consistent attacking approach with the CB's we have currently.

3.) 08 Feb 2021
08 Feb 2021 09:42:26
Agree Bolger but who could we get for a keeper as my choice Oblak would cost an absolute fortune. We definitely need 2 centre half’s with Kuende and Konate being my choices but once again would cost a fortune but I bet they wouldn’t cost the ridiculous £80 million we spent on an oil tanker.

4.) 08 Feb 2021
08 Feb 2021 10:06:11
City also had Alison hand them two goals, whereas against us he made two good saves.

5.) 08 Feb 2021
08 Feb 2021 13:21:03
Shappy and Bolger I have been sayinf the same about our centre backs for years.

Its unrealistic to expect Utd to sell Maguire or use him as a backup given the money they spent on him. It would be admitting they messed up. But we definitely should get at least one top centre half in. I can see Utd buying Koulibaly for say 60m and short term it might help but i would prefer a younger player.

Also until we get another dominating midfielder we will still lose the big games too often. Pogba if he really put his mind to it has the potential but i fear he just lacks that extra bit of desire that Keane and Robson and even Henderson play with.

6.) 08 Feb 2021
08 Feb 2021 13:50:41
The first half was z pretty dull cagey affair to be honest .
Then Allison had a mare and goals change games.
I think people really judge acgame solely on result at times.

7.) 10 Feb 2021
08 Feb 2021 14:14:12
Blackpool Red, I think we should have given Henderson the No.1 spot this season. If you look at the statistics he out performed DDG in the league last season. If given a run of games and with the confidence gained from the backing of the manager he would easily be equal to what we are seeing from DDG currently, if not slightly better but with much more scope to improve and develop.

As for signing some new defenders, I don't think we necessarily have to go out and spend top dollar on the two most expensive CB's we can find. Good scouting can uncover some real gems. Look at Leicester with Wesley Fofana this season, 36m and he instantly looks like one of the top 10 CB's in the league, while at 20 years old he has huge scope to improve. Or Gabriel signed by Arsenal for 27m, which looks a steal.

We could have signed both for around 60m saving 20m on the fee we paid for Harry Maguire.

Liverpool have agreed a loan for Kabak with a 20m buy option for in the summer. Highly rated young player, even if he hasn't proven anything in the EPL yet.

So there are some great bargains out there if you scout well and are prepared to look beyond the obvious players.

One of our best ever CB signings was a 7m signing from Spartak Moscow, no one knew who he was but Vidic went on to become one of our best CB's of the EPL era.

So while players like Dayot Upamecano, Pau Torres or Jules Kounde might come with a 50-60m price tag, we could easily complement them with a well scouted player as well.

There are some great players with huge potential, players like Botman, Badieshille, Carmo, or Medina who could be available for potentially under 30m.

8.) 10 Feb 2021
08 Feb 2021 15:15:16
Salford, If we can get a top CB to play along side Harry as well as maybe getting someone like Declan Rice to protect the back four better then we might be able to limp b for the next couple of years until Harry tips 30 and we can legitimately phase him out.

9.) 10 Feb 2021
10 Feb 2021 11:31:16
Dias looks the business at City.