Pepe.
Just kidding, Nelson…
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That’s a ridiculous fee for him and puts a lot more pressure on him. Just doesn’t feel like value for money right now. Might prove to be the case in the long run but right now it feels like they are over paying.
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Ajax rinsed United knowing that Ten Hag really wants him. Almost double what our opening offer was 
Funny thing is he didn’t really want him. It was Timber he wanted and Lisandro was apparently not that high on the list a few weeks ago. It wasn’t till they learned of our interest in him that they jumped in the race.
Totally reactionary stuff here and poor planning. Same with Malacia.
Now they’re evaluating Tielemans after they scratched him off the list when Ralfie wanted him.
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I haven’t watched any Ajax to really have an opinion tbh.
probably will be a good signing for them but it’s funny how it started as about 25 million, they really overpayed
This is bullying now.
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Wait he’s only 5"9?! Lol
Premier League has got a fetish for defenders being 1.90 tall and build like a brick.
Meanwhile Martinez runs circles around these oil tankers and is a better defender than most of them.
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Tbf, how many short CBs have actually been successes in the PL?
Otamendi was shit, Azpi was mainly a full back and featured as a CB in a 3 man defence, Mascherano was a DM in Prem, etc.
Ah the old short defender argument, ok not PL but some of the greatest CBs weren’t exactly tall, Baresi Cannavaro and Puyol come to mind
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How many high level “short CBs” have played in the PL? You’ve listed one CB, a full back and a DM.
Azpi was a huge success as a third CB btw.
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Nacho Monreal is 1.79m and he was doing okay as a part time there.
Height is important but not the most.
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If Martinez was lightning fast I’d feel better about his lack of size but I really don’t think he is that quick, at least based off clips I’ve seen.
He just looks like a small, unexceptional athlete. You look at the CBs of top teams playing lots of high line football in the PL and he really sticks out in terms of physical profile.
You can hide that kind of limited athlete player at FB much more easily than CB when playing a high line.
I bet he ends up being outstanding in England lol
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Nah, Azpi was a solid player but I always found him overrated.
Defense is a lot about positioning, anticipation, one v one defense… a lot of stuffs.
Unless you can put the ball in the air for 90 minutes long, the game of football still spend most of the time on the ground, not in the air.
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Short CB’s work well in a 3. Put him in a 2 and he’ll suffer I reckon.
Azpi at 3rd CB played a pivotal role in a team that won the most games in PL history in a single season (up until City broke the record). He was very good at anticipating threats, he was excellent with the ball and never looked panicked and out to position
Conte loved Azpi at 3rd CB
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He’s a great defender. An absolute rarity these days, a full back who can properly properly defend. Positionally safe and aware, aggressive and tough in duels. Never liked (to see our players) playing against him.
Solid going forward, at least in his best years, probably lost a bit of pace these days.
He’s perfect as a CB in a 3 atb.
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