The College Dropout

A) He doesn't, although he got pretty close in his first season. B) He doesn't. He was 11th/9th/4th overall last three seasons, or 6th/6th/2nd if you just want to consider players involved in 20+ games. C) Questionable, especially if you're in a team or position that revolves around keeping the ball. Depends on the context, of course. D) Surely that's an absolutely key function of a defensive midfielder in a passing side? E) 1/5 ain't bad. 90% was generous. In his last 4 of his last 5 games last season he had a pass completion rate of 84-87%. Although in the other game it was 67% which is terrible. I didn't look but i'm certain that's higher than any of the other midfielders in our side except perhaps Jonas. I saw a stat somewhere that said he had the highest pass completion for us. I'd like to see evidence to the contrary. C-D is the same point. If you're the deepest midfielder of a 3 and your job is to keep it simple, you'll have a fairly high pass completion rate. Tiote manages pass completion higher than most of our players and he's not one of the better passers in our side. I'm certain Arteta has a higher pass completion rate than Pirlo but Arteta keeps it very, very simple. At 85% and above I doubt the incremental value of a higher pass completion rate visa other factors.

Tiote averages a 90% pass completion rate. Tiote has the highest pass completion rate of any of our players. Having a high pass completion rate doesn't really matter. Especially if it's the DM in a passing side, he gets the ball the most. Having a low pass completion rate is very worrying though.

Anita shows nothing when he plays. He doesn't move the ball any faster than Siss/Tiote, his passing is equally as limited and he can't compete physically. I've been more impressed with Bigi who has a decent range of passing on him.

Mata and Jose isn't going to work is it?

Cisse lets the midfielders down more than they let him down. He doesn't give them a chance to play facing goal wards for more than one pass. The times he does - we create chances.

Thanks. What are Sissoko's footballing abilities? His range of passing is Tiote-esque although we know he can play a through ball. He, like Tiote needs a real rangey passer alongside him to succeed. I like his bursts of pace but I fear he's more Diame than Toure which probably isn't a bad thing. He wasn't terrible on Monday tbf.

I have the utmost respect for SAF, he's wasn't likeable as an opposing manager at all. I can see why someone would say that about someone like Martinez but SAF? AVB? Nah. Especially at Chelsea AVb seemed a bit rude. I guess he's a bit "cool"

From what i saw Martinez played him in the hole behind the striker and ahead of Fellaini in the team.

Every side big team in the league has a striker that si handy in the air man. I'm pretty certain Stoke conceded less goals than us last season. Defenders play on the deck is of tertiary importance to me. Especially as we have a ball playing CB anyway. Defenders that can defend is all that really matters. Tony Adams was hardly Franco Baresi. Nemanja Vidic is hardly a great footballer but he's an awesome defender. I'd have one of Huth/Shawcross starting

Probably correct, but then again Debuchy is a proven and experienced international player, so we know this bad period is more form than lack of ability. Proven in France. There's better and more experienced international players that have failed in the Premiership. He hasn't proven himself in the PL. And he isn't even proven at international level - he has 1 more cap than Danny Welbeck and he has 5 years on him. He only made his international debut in 2011. Unlike MYM or someone, he wasn't pointed out as a tremendous player from a young age.

Taylor's not marginally better though is he. He's significantly better in the air. He's not Ivanovic or Vidic.. but he's good in the air. Colo is weak in the air. Not average. But for a CB, he loses a lot of headers.

I'm just shocked that people are downplaying the importance of heading for CB's. It's one of the first things you should look for in a CB. It's not just strikers, defenders/midfielders are a danger too. IMO a team should have AT LEAST 4 players that can be classed as good headers of the ball. In general, people on this board under value the importance of physicality in football. City have an all star team. They are strong, fast and good in the air along with being great footballers. When we can't compete physically, we don't stand a chance.

There's plenty of goal scored with the feet that occer due to a flick-on or aerially contested ball. Losing headers just puts your team on the back foot. We lose headers upfront with Cisse/Gouff and at the back with Colo. It's a big reason why we are always on the backfoot. Unable to relieve pressure.#

http://thepowerofgoals.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/mode-of-scoring-epl-201011part-2.html

Looks like at least 20% of goals scored are from headers..http://www.kickoff.co.uk/998/scoring-trends/

The new S'hampton lad looks handy in the air too. A team that is useless in the air better be brilliant on the deck. I do miss the physicality our first PL season back side had.

Wow. I should do some work. Ian is a looney.

I've seen a fair bit of him and he's a much better footballer than Taylor. Problem is, he doesn't seem to compliment Colo to well. When they played in the middle together couple months back, none of them won any headers. I don't know how much of an issue that is TBH. They aren't monsters in the air, but Colo has improved a lot in that area, and there aren't as many big strikers around now anyway. I just think the benefits of playing them outweigh that weakness. Dezko. Negredo. Carroll. Benteke. Altidore. Anichebe. Lukaku. Torres. Soldad. That's just off the top.

Is he a better defender? Is he a better partner for Colo? I guess WHU will be a great test. I'm sure Debuchy is a better footballer than Simpson. But from what i've seen so far. He's an inferior defender.

How much have you seen of MYM?

The players are very frustrated. A lot of our red cards/bookings are down to frustration. Some of them have personal problems (Colo last year), some of them are stupid (Tiote, Taylor) some are naturally rash (Debuchy) but all of them are petulant and do silly frustrated things. I don't blame Pardew for everything. But the discipline of his side reflects poorly on him. For such a dirty team we are weak as piss. Cabaye/Debuchy sum up our lot. BVut at least Cabaye/Tiote put a foot in.

MYM did look pretty good at CB. His pace helped Colo out one time glaringly. WHU willl be a great test for him.

I think Debuchy neesd to sit on the bench and just think about things.

He's clearly a talented manager. So was SAF. But he's not likeable in the slightest