davek
Player Valuation: £150m
Yes, but I wouldn't say City hand out too many defensive masterclasses either. They just outplay the opposition and have them pinned most of the game.We've been over this countless times.
Fitness was an issue under Martinez, but not the only one. My main complaint was always that he clearly spent little to no time drilling his players on shape off the ball - something which has been vital to success in England since Mourinho's arrival.
Watching City from the Top Balcony, it was evident that the attention to detail was on another level. It obviously helps that Guardiola can just go out and buy whoever he wants, but it would only be money wasted if the players weren't buying into his methods wholeheartedly. The difference between their Goodison performances this season and last were night and day. They now have players that are at their physical peak, being drilled to press and squeeze at the right times and in the right areas.
Another example would be how Gasperini had his Atalanta team playing. They were fantastic from front to back, and that was a side put together on basically a shoe-string budget.
The general trend in our game has been to place way too much emphasis on attack and not enough about the art of defending, and Martinez was a product of that thinking.
BTW, I liked Atalanta very much. But it's a lot easier selling defensive qualities in that league than the PL.
I'm really hoping Silva comes in and gets the balance right. I reckon he has half a chance.