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Post by Gianni Infantino on Apr 18, 2014 19:46:29 GMT
Xavi is average defensively, but he's a victim of his team really. Barca's style means they do little defending. You can find many defenders better than Alves and Alba (or Abidal, if we're going to Barca three years ago for example) but they're constantly up there for superlative recognition because the style Barca have allows them to stand out as outstanding full backs.
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Blue Moon
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Post by Blue Moon on Apr 18, 2014 19:48:16 GMT
Abidal was an excellent defender! Alves isn't bad either imo, Alba can be got at a bit more though. But I agree on the whole yes, it's more important for Man City to have a solid midfield than Barcelona.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 18, 2014 20:03:16 GMT
Someone told me to pay more attention to Toure in full games last season, I never really bothered tbf if they were playing it was mostly just background noise. But a lot of the time in those games Toure would go on some huge lung-busting 40 yard run with the ball, and tbf it would be pretty awesome and worthy of praise but then for a good 15-20 minutes he'd be fucked afterwards, stood around with his hands on his hips and pretty ineffectual in general play. Best example of this was Madrid away a while ago. Players just running past him time and again after these runs and they ended up losing but he got MOTM for eye-catching plays.
Personally I think quite a few of the City team have had hot wind up their arse since they won the title. There's a few things from their players - see Kompany talking about a fucking quadruple - that seem to show this. They've never been as good as some have liked to make out. I don't think it would've taken a particularly great team to claim the title this season and quite a lot of people expected City to walk it.
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Jmste
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Post by Jmste on Apr 18, 2014 20:22:17 GMT
He might have a point about defending, it seems that he's been told to attack from midfield most of the time this season. He showed when he was at Barcelona that he could defend and some other midfielders don't seem to get criticised as much if they make a mistake defending. When you score 18 goals in the league from midfield, something has to give the other way. You could ask him to sit and guard the defence every game but City would have a significantly lower goal tally. But I thought he was considered one of the best midfielders and he got into the Ballon d'Or shortlist last year based on a poor year which I doubt he would have been in if he wasn't African. Don't know what he's complaining about there. Eto'o and Drogba were great strikers but they were never the best in the world. I don't know what he expects really. defensively hes very average, hes being used as a box to box midfielder, fair enough he scores goals but when he has to defend he looks fairly average and rightly so he gets criticised for his defensive work, i dont believe he is just told to go out and attack considering they only play the two in the middle
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U R GAY
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Post by U R GAY on Apr 18, 2014 20:33:21 GMT
It's almost like Yaya read my twitter this morning I mentioned to JuniorMessi that I thought he wasn't all that. He's very, very good, I don't think he's world class and I think his best attribute is his versatility, he can be defensive and get forward, he can be attacking and still strong in the tackle, but I don't think he's world class in either of those areas. Has he been one of the best midfielders in the league this year? I'd say so, but at their peaks I could probably think of at least 30 or so midfielders over the past 10 years who I'd much more likely take over him. I'll take Vieira as a similar-ish player, I think Vieira was a better enforcer and had a better all round game as far as passing, tackling and always being effective goes. Toure has his big performances and has certainly returned very well goals-wise this season. If I were him, I'd keep my head down and keep collecting my £250,000 P/W and not worry about being 'undervalued'.
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Mycon
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Post by Mycon on Apr 18, 2014 23:42:27 GMT
I still think to gain a little you have to give a little with Toure. He wouldn't be as dangerous attacking if he was more focused on his defending.
Him playing centre midfield in such an attacking way has allowed City to take points off smaller teams consistently this season by outscoring them. Whereas they have been found lacking in some bigger games for the same reason. If you look at Chelsea, their style works for the big games but that bit they gain in bigger matches fails them when they draw 0-0 or 1-1 against someone they should beat. You saw the same limitations with Benitez's Liverpool.
If Toure sits in front of the defence, they probably score 10-15 goals less over the course of the season.
I think he is a fearsome midfielder at full flow, one of the best of the past 5 years. The two goals vs the top 6 this season is harsh to use against him considering that he basically won them the league in their first year through goals in big games that mattered. I can remember him being involved in goals at United, Arsenal and City, he mightn't have scored or got a direct assist. The game against Arsenal where he hit that beautiful outside of the boot pass to Zabaleta who crossed it in comes to mind. But that doesn't come down as anything on the stats either. I think he's a must for best midfielders in the league but not as a defensive midfielder which is what a lot of people still put him down as in their teams.
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