A record-breaking signing from Monaco, Benjamin Mendy comes over to fill a huge gap in the team. Will he live up to his price tag?
The much anticipated Benjamin Mendy is a part of City. While he will miss the first match of the season due to injury, he is expected to be a very important and influential piece of the City first team this year. He was signed from Monaco this summer after impressing in his lone season there last year. The Frenchman is known as a very attacking fullback. In fact, Man City fans should remember him for putting on a show when Monaco knocked out City in the Champions League. Mendy is a character and will bring some flare to City this year. While he is the only true left back on the roster, Danilo’s versatility gives Pep an option.
Mendy will be a left back in both 4-3-3 and 3-5-2. Undoubtably will be very attacking in both formations. He will hug the touchline and send in crosses. In fact, he sent in 116 accurate crosses from open play since August 2014 in Ligue 1. It is no accident that he is known as the best crossing fullback in the world. His dribbling ability and pace should prove him to be a real threat going forward.
Defensively he is a fierce tackler. However, he often gets caught out of position, though he has enough pace to make up for it. I can see Guardiola making his formations fluid throughout the matches where if City are playing with two center backs, Walker and Mendy can act as the third CB interchangeably. Because Mendy is good at one on one challenges and technically gifted, I think Guardiola will attempt to make him another Alaba. Mendy will become a versatile player throughout the year.
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In the modern game fullbacks are so expensive because they are so important.Michael Cox wrote an excellent piece on the price of modern fullbacks and why they are so important to today’s game. Guardiola demands a lot from his fullbacks. They must be versatile enough to attack and tuck in while being technical enough to create chances. Mendy is a rising talent who checks all the boxes of modern and should prove to be well worth the investment City made. Expect Mendy to be a key fixture in City’s side. Also, for the fantasy players out there I am going to predict that Mendy will be the top assister from the fullback position.