2024/25 Orel Mangala

[Zatara]

Did you watch your mate Onana today?

Mangala looks like a Prem player. That’s more than some we have currently.

Was he bad?

Many years back when Milan were doing poorly and we were spending money i wanted us to sign Tonali...also Guimaraes around when he joined Lyon.

Have to say, theyre currently far superior to Onana.

He does on the ball, so did Andre Gomes when he joined. The fanfare on both is virtually identical.

How quick is Alexis McAllister? How quick was Paul Scholes? How quick was Gareth Barry? How quick is Bruno at Newcastle? Having midfielders who are competent on the ball so you don't need to chase it so much is far more important than having pace. Garner has far more pace than Mangala but Mangala gives us much more control as he is miles better on the ball. A blend is obviously needed though throughout the team.

Barry was a midfield sitter who also played LB and LCB. He could pass and had great positional sense. Difference between him and Mangala -- Barry made and was successful tackling, 'dueling' and was great defensively.

Guimaraes and Tonali can be as effective as Barry defensively and are top passers of a football short and long. They can also drive forward with the ball.

Think back to Gomes. He signed and we were all very excited and some of us hoped he could get his Valencia form back when he used to drive with the ball...in the end though he was simply a composed passer that couldnt run or defend.

Do you think Mangala is more similar to Barry, Guimaraes, Tonali...or Gomes?

The guy came off the pitch today having not won a tackle, not won an aerial and lost 4/6 duels. That to me could have been Andre Gomes stats.

 

[Zatara]

Absolutely pitiful analysis.

What other central midfielders have we had that come off a pitch when were defending most of the game against City and theyve not won a tackle? Not won an aerial and won 33% of their ground duels?

None?