"I need players. I hope that Vieira is fit for the return.
"Perhaps Real Madrid will give me Gago, maybe Milan (give me) Flamini..."
We've heard about the Flamini link before. I'm quite keen on it: he's tough, versatile, experienced at the top end of the Premier League and will give us cover in key positions. The rumour is further strengthened today by a Stuart Brennan article in the M.E.N. saying that MCFC sources have confirmed that Flamini is 'in their sights.' So I think this one is quite likely to happen.
The other rumour, though, is a real surprise. Fernando Gago is a 23 year old Argentine midfielder who has just been pushed out of the Real Madrid side by the arrival of Xabi Alonso. He's quite a nice player to watch, and has had a well-decorated career to date with trophies at Real and Boca Juniors. But I just can't see him being a success in the Premier League. His style is essentially a composite of criticisms people make of Michael Carrick. He's got a great eye for a pass, but he's not that quick, not that strong, needs time on the ball to be successful and he doesn't like being tackled.
How a squad with Nigel de Jong, Gareth Barry, Vincent Kompany, Stephen Ireland, Pablo Zabaleta, Patrick Vieira and quite possibly Mathieu Flamini is improved by Gago's arrival I don't know. On the positive side, if we signed him we would have three Argentines, which would be cool - four if we bought Cristian Ansaldi. Gago was in the same Olympics squad last summer as Zabaleta, and he grew up in the Boca Juniors academy alongside Tévez - playing together briefly in December 2004.
4 comments:
he's clearly looking for someone to pull the strings. I would welcome flamini certainly.
but wouldn't sniff at gago
Can't Barry pull the strings? Or Ireland?
Barry seems to go quiet in games sometimes like in the first half against united. His performance in the second half was excellent though. I think we have enough quality in centre mid but flamini could make a good addition.
barry hasnt so far, and ireland is'nt robust enough. Barry seems more of a tidy up player, holds it well, but we havnt seen much creativity from him.
Ireland is limited by his own physcial weakness, and is by no means the finished article. He's best sat behind the strikers..but surely tevez has filled that role with more verve and results!
Mancini had the greatest luxery at inter with cambiasso, who isnt simply a good defensive mid, but also a wonderful distributer of the ball and not afraid to drive forward!
For me, midfield is where games are won and lost.
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