Welcome Pablo Zabaletta – Argentine right back, still a top defender and from all my Manchester mates tell me, a great bloke.
Yeah of course there will be the moaners who reckon he’s coming to us too late and already I hear the “arriving at the end of his career” grumbles.
Not many players get huge farewell ceremonies from their clubs – when they are foreign it’s even more unlikely – but such was ‘Zab’s’ cult hero status after nine years and 230 games on his last home appearance.
If “coming to the end of your career ” involves making 32 appearances for a top club – as was the case last year – let’s hope there are a few more like him out there.
It will be interesting to see how the manager uses him – whether he is first choice or shares the right back duties with Sam Byram who is clearly going to learn a lot watching him and playing on the same training pitch with the guy.
Had we signed the former Gooner Bacary Sagna (34) I may have had some misgivings.
But in Zab – a bloke who talks with a Manc accent, can be seen queuing up in the local chippie and shunned the upmarket side of the city for a more humble home I reckon the club has landed a great bargain.
He’s also a serious dressing room presence and has great leadership qualities. So well done – top signing now let’s bring in the strikers we need.
COYI
Zableta is a good player, one of the best right backs in the world. Shows real intent from the owners this one. A leader, a fighter when the chips are down & the City fans have genuine respect for this guy. He hasn’t come here to whittle down the years, not that sort of guy. He wants to play football. As the article says, someone up front, a genuine belief in ourselves, keep those that we need & we will be flirting with Europe qualification. Don’t underestimate what has happened here. Zableta is real coup. Stoked. Welcome Pablo.
I also think this is a good signing. I don’t like our link to Inneachio – I believe he has not proved himself and from what I have seen is not top notch to justify his 20m price tag. I would now focus on signing Martial from united or the Chelsea striker. Either one or the other and if possible both. I would also consider signing Harry Maguire from Hull to bolster our defence – he had a great season and if there was any money left someone like Sigurdson from Swansea who can play as a 8 or 10 – perhaps an up and coming player in the Sigurdson mould.
Well lets say ‘Was’ good player, as he really hasn’t played that much first team football last season, and is certainly the wrong side of 30. What’s done is done, however, and my hope is that he now can guide Byram to being the player we know he can be, and maybe put the ‘Umph’ into the changing room over the next two seasons.
32 appearances – not sure how mny as sub but 32 for Man City is hardly WAS
some people are never happy
I read an interview with him a few months back. As Hugh says he does indeed seem a great bloke. I have not seen him play much recently so can’t give an opinion on that, but I have felt several times this season that we need one or two big personalities to rouse the troops & he is certainly that. Also, he can be relied upon to be fully committed. Good signing. Well done to whoever it is decides these things – get back out there & get one or two more while stocks last!
Now you are talking. Agree with you lads, a real statement of intent. One down, no outlay, I’d say 3 or 4’more to come in and £80M in the coffers. What’s not to like?
By the way, this talk of only 3 or 4 coming won’t be the case. 3 or 4 top drawer quality players in but another 2 or 3 punts won’t do any harm. I think the moans about us bringing in 11/12 last season was unfair. 3/4 of those were punts, 3/4 supposedly top drawer. So we do need to chill a little about this, just so long as there are 3 or 4 Payet Lanzini and Antonios then it will be fine. A few others just to see what they got won’t do no harm. Fernandez was a punt I’d say and he ain’t bad is he?
I see in the Liverpool Echo they are saying Everton wont take up the option to buy Valencia.Not that it should come as a shock but now we will need to offload him somewhere.
Just watched the video man city tweeted and he looks like a real character. Will fit in with our lot well I think.
A great player on his day, lets hope Man city are making a mistake in letting him go.
I won’t agree about its a statement of intent as the facts are, his best days are behind him, but at his best he was world class so even though he’s not at his best, its still better than anything we’ve had in that position for years, possibly since Ray Stewart.
so far so good,
Maybe its not a statement of intent in some respects but lets hope it is a statement of intent in the transfer market that we are going to look for quality not quantity and lessons have been learned eh.
It’s a great signing alright, and the website ‘ http://owngoalnigeria.com ‘ are saying Ienacho ( whatever ) is having a medical tonight. They say he will be announced tomorrow at the Nigeria training camp.
could be a wind up with a website name like that lol.
Just put a new story up – been denied