Why Maicon?

[whistler]

According to the BBC we are about to sign four players on deadline day.

• Scott Sinclair - Deal done apparently and a natural replacement for Adam Johnson.
  
• Javi Garcia - With the news that Nigel de Jong is probably on his way out, this makes sense as Javi is a DM who can also play at CB. So a natural replacement for Nige who is versatile (and we know that Mancini likes players who are versatile).
  
• Matija Nastasic - Mancini has wanted four CBs that he can interchange throughout the season and Savic has just not made the grade. This makes sense too because Savic is apparently being used as part payment. Nastasic is highly rated and should be the fourth man that Mancini has wanted.
  
• Maicon - Now this I really don't understand. Apparently as cover for PabZab - do we need a 31 year old as cover? We had Vierra and Hargreaves in the squad as extra DMs who could close out a game towards the end of matches and both did it well (PV was much better at it though). I really can not figure out why we should want a player described as a Right Wing Back unless either Pablo is leaving or Micah is not going to be available for one reason or another (injury or departure). Incidentally Maicon is definitely leaving Inter - their President has said so on their web site!
  

Does anybody else have a view?

Could be an interesting deadline day!

[Bluemoon]

Maicon signed - more to follow.............

[Bluemoon]

Brazilian defender Maicon has joined Manchester City on a permanent contract.

The right-back moves to the Blues from Inter Milan for an undisclosed fee.

Roberto Mancini is an admirer of the 31-year-old having worked with him for two seasons while in charge at Inter and the defender is familiar with the 3-5-2 formation the City boss has been experimenting with in pre-season.

Player Info:






The Brazil international, who can play in defence or further forward, spent the last six seasons at the Italian club making 235 appearances and scoring 20 goals.

He began his career at Cruziero in 2001 before moving to French side AS Monaco in June 2004.

Maicon was called up to the Brazilian national team in 2003 and has won 66 caps for his country.

One of his finer moments at international level was scoring a stunning goal against North Korea at 2010's World Cup.

The defender will meet Blues manager Mancini and his new teammates when he returns from international duty next week.

[trautmansdropkick]

I do reckon that Maicon will be a good buy for us, in the same way that Patrick Vieira was a great buy.

Maicon has played (very well) as an attacking right-sided MF and, injury permitting, he will also be able to pass loads of tips on to Micah Richards, who has never really had a top class mentor in his position during ALL of his time at City.

Maicon has also played CB for both Inter and Brazil in the last six months and does a good job there as well.

Finally, I'd say that, having reduced our average age substantially in the last two years that a good bit of experience to replace that of Vieira and for so little money will be a good move.

Definitely Final Flyer (;D) - I'd say that Maicon was signed very much with Europe in view.

[jrockblues]

The one signing I can't see much sense in. We have 2 out-and-out right back's already either of which can adjust to the back 3 formation which is also covered by Milner. At 31, he also seems to buck the trend of signing players that will fit long-term with the club.

[eaststand]

Like TDK said, i reckon it's a signing made mostly with Europe in mind but also i think it's been done to solve a long standing problem of ours - a lack of width, a lack of a really different 'Plan B'. We've had obvious problems in the last two years of playing too narrow, in alot of games it has worked but in a few, like the QPR game for example, they set up to push us wide and in reality it works almost perfectly as it forces Aguero, Nasri, Silva & Tevez to all play within the area they like, but in an area which was filled constantly with 9 opposing players and thus canceling/limiting their effect on the game. This forces Clichy and Zaba to provide the threat down the flanks and as we saw they weren't quite up to the task. What i think Mancini and the rest have done is actually quite clever, we looked at Johnson being the answer to this problem in the past but he kept coming inside and on the odd occasions he did get round the outside he failed to deliver. I think this 3-5-2 formation solves that; in Kolarov and Miacon we would arguably have the best wing backs in the world, both of which carry a pretty good goal threat and provide a lot of width, this will force teams to maintain a far wider shape in order to marshal Kolarov & Maicon and thus creating more space through the middle for Nasri/Silva, Tevez & Aguero to effect the game, whilst also making it harder to play 'mark the space/zonal defence' and forcing them to go more man-for-man which the aforementioned players can pass their way through. I think we will see a lot of this Plan B & Maicon coming on as a sub when games are not going our way this season and i also expect Maicon to be used in a different 4-5-1 formation for the difficult CL away games to provide cover & protection for the full backs.

In Sinclair we've added much needed raw pace, directness and a player that, if he gets his head down an works, might surprise a few people and if he doesn't he'll still make for a brilliant rotation option.

If my assumptions are right it only furthers my confidence that we have the best guy around to lead our club to consecutive, trophy filled seasons.

[trautmansdropkick]

agree with you there, Eaststand - I can't wait to see Evra trying to cope with Sinclar and/or Maicon...... I wonder if he'll even see them as they go past him.

I also think that we MUST expect to see more of Dzeko and, also, of Yaya playing further forward, as we do need guys who have good heading ability to get on the end of the crosses that we should expect to generate. It is pointless trying high crosses in the box to Tevez and Aguero.

[Bluemoon]

Past his best - possibly.

Good signing - maybe, but don't forget he has only played about 120 mins this season, and at 'only' £4m could be a bargain.

Picked up an early injury - so cannot really make any conclusion.

Let's see, remember when we signed Viera?

I'll leave my verdict until the end of the season.

[trautmansdropkick]

With the potentially serious injury to Richards, we noe need both Zabaleta AND Maicon fit and back on the pitch.

[Bluemoon]

Played well when he came on as a sub against Spurs.

[trautmansdropkick]

His Spurs performance will also ddo both him and the whole team good - from the point of view of confidence and determination. Maicon also sjowed that he has the grit for the Prem.