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Transfers Summer 2021 - Transfer Thread

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El Magnifico said:
Wasnt looking at his goal scoring but that in Conte's 3-5-2 system, between the central trio of Barella, Brozovic and Vidal, Barella is the most advanced and Brozovic the deepest. Hakimi and Perisic are the WBs.
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He's played as the 'half-winger' as they do in Italy.

But it's not particularly advanced in a way the term 'advanced midfielder' would assume. Certainly no more advanced than Inter like their wing backs and their forwards.

But he's also played deep midfield too this season.
 
To Dare Is To Do. said:
In all seriousness though, the deal makes perfect sense. 1 year left on contract which Levy will love, versatile which Jose will love, and a great goal scoring record which the fans will appreciate.
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Five said:
Nagelsmann is gonna want a team of sprinters. Barella's not the most athletic, is he?

My other question is this-surely we can upgrade our creative midfield options without having to fork out huge money? We forked out big for Lo Celso and Ndombele, and we haven't yet had a proper return on our investment. I'd be worried about doing it again.
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Nigelsman or whatever he’s called isn’t coming here. Quote me.
 
Five said:
If we were to insist on spending

Meaning:

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meaning overpriced?

Doubt Lazio will get anything close to their delusional valuation in the current market. They are currently limited in their transfers dealing due to the figc liquidity index and he is probably the one player they can sell to raise significant money.

Its is very difficult to get a player of that quality and maturity without bleeding a bit.
 
El Magnifico said:
meaning overpriced?
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What I mean is the guy reminds me of Andy Carroll. I watched him a few times last season (to see what all the fuss was about), and I almost self-combusted. He did not meet the criteria I look for in a midfielder. I could go into more detail, but I don't want you to take it as a personal attack.
 
Five said:
What I mean is the guy reminds me of Andy Carroll. I watched him a few times last season (to see what all the fuss was about), and I almost self-combusted. He did not meet the criteria I look for in a midfielder. I could go into more detail, but I don't want you to take it as a personal attack.
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Interested to hear your opinion of him. Its an online football forum, I dont take things personal.
 
El Magnifico said:
Interested to hear your opinion of him. Its an online football forum, I dont take things personal.
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Ok. Well, it's his mobility. That alone means it's a straight no from me. But apart from that, I would say he is not good enough at manipulating the ball in a tight space, and doesn't have a great deal of vision. And his ball retention also boiled my piss. So many passes going astray. I couldn't cope with it. But what he does give you is serious goal threat, cos he has that target man and shadow striker thing going on, and a thunderous shot, of course. I think David Moyes would love him.
 
Five said:
Ok. Well, it's his mobility. That alone means it's a straight no from me. But apart from that, I would say he is not good enough at manipulating the ball in a tight space, and doesn't have a great deal of vision. And his ball retention also boiled my piss. So many passes going astray. I couldn't cope with it. But what he does give you is serious goal threat, cos he has that target man and shadow striker thing going on, and a thunderous shot, of course. I think David Moyes would love him.
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I have a different view, as I basically see him as a poor man's pogba.

Its a DLP role and not a #8 or #10, positioning is more important than mobility, still he is more mobile than Hojbjerg. I dont want someone who operates in tight space or dribbles a lot, but someone who knows how to find space and knows what he wants to do with the ball before he receives it. He has very good vision and passing range.

He struggled with losing possession earlier in his career but has improved a lot in that respect. Think the cramped Lazio midfield also limits him as I think he would be better with more players and passing options ahead of him.

He is not world class but very high quality imo. Players that are better than him would cost so much that you might as well ask Levy for his first born. I think he has been unfortunate to have yet to play under a top manager and on a better team.

This is him against Juve and Inter last season

 
El Magnifico said:
I have a different view, as I basically see him as a poor man's pogba.

Its a DLP role and not a #8 or #10, positioning is more important than mobility, still he is more mobile than Hojbjerg. I dont want someone who operates in tight space or dribbles a lot, but someone who knows how to find space and knows what he wants to do with the ball before he receives it. He has very good vision and passing range.

He struggled with losing possession earlier in his career but has improved a lot in that respect. Think the cramped Lazio midfield also limits him as I think he would be better with more players and passing options ahead of him.

He is not world class but very high quality imo. Players that are better than him would cost so much that you might as well ask Levy for his first born. I think he has been unfortunate to have yet to play under a top manager and on a better team.

This is him against Juve and Inter last season
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The Pogba comparison is interesting. Of course I cannot expect us to have the same taste in players or style of football. For me, Pogba is a bit of a nightmare in a double pivot. He is not without skill, but his passing from deep upsets me (almost inexplicably sloppy at times). And it has been said to me by someone whose opinion I have good time for that Pogba is actually too tall to be a midfielder in a league as hectic as this. He is not without skill, but those longs legs come at a price. If pushed, I would say Pogba is probably at his best with a sort of free role in a midfield trio.

I want someone who can ideally take the ball on the half turn quite a lot/does not give a shit about receiving the ball under ferocious pressure. I saw Bennacer a good few times last season, and I liked his style. I also have an erection for Renato Sanches at the moment, but I prefer to shop a bit cheaper.

I saw that game against Inter. Don't think I saw the one against Juventus.

As far as Hojbjerg, I did not want him and it bothers me that he is an automatic starter for us. The guy just doesn't have enough football in him, and doesn't have the type of engine that allows him to do the defensive work of three players. But does he really have worse mobility than SMS? If anything, I would have said he probably has a slight edge on him, but it is hard to know without seeing them on the same field, I suppose.
 
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Five said:
The Pogba comparison is interesting. Of course I cannot expect us to have the same taste in players or style of football. For me, Pogba is a bit of a nightmare in a double pivot. He is not without skill, but his passing from deep upsets me (almost inexplicably sloppy at times). And it has been said to me by someone whose opinion I have good time for that Pogba is actually too tall to be a midfielder in a league as hectic as this. He is not without skill, but those longs legs come with a price. If pushed, I would say Pogba is probably at his best with a sort of free role in a midfield trio.

I want someone who can ideally take the ball on the half turn quite a lot/does not give a shit about receiving the ball under ferocious pressure. I saw Bennacer a good few times last season, and I liked his style. I also have an erection for Renato Sanches at the moment, but I prefer to shop a bit cheaper.

I saw that game against Inter. Don't think I saw the one against Juventus.

As far as Hojbjerg, I did not want him and it bothers me that he is an automatic starter for us. The guy just doesn't have enough football in him, and doesn't have the type of engine that allows him to do the defensive work of three players. But does he really have worse mobility than SMS? If anything, I would have said he probably has a slight edge on him, but it is hard to know without seeing them on the same field, I suppose.
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When I look at midfield trios, my notion is to have a complementary set of players that check all boxes and not necessarily just having very good players.

One can compare great midfield trios like Alonso+Khedira+Ozil, Busquets+Xavi+Iniesta, Casemiro+Kroos+Modric, Pirlo+Gattuso+Ambrosini etc and its obvious that each is composed of different type of players even in similar positions, but they each complement the others.

Given that we have PEH and Ndombele, a players like Sanches or Bennacer (and they are different types of players imo) do not complement them well enough while I think players like Pogba, Sergej or Tonali do. Its more about looking at what I think we are missing and the players that can provide it.

Pogba is not too tall as he is shorter than Matic and Soucek. Pogba's problem is purely in his head- he is simply not professional enough to put in consistent performances every game 2x a week and would rather go for the tv highlights. If he was consistent, he would be the best midfielder of this generation and in the conversation for great midfielders of all time. Unfortunately for Mourinho, used to coaching more reliable and consistent players, he made Pogba the core of his midfield but didnt see the mental failings of Pogba and that doomed his United tenure from the word go (but I digress).

There are different types of DMs and PEH is more busquets than Kante, relying more on reading the game, good positioning and interceptions, as opposed to high mobility, work rate and tackling. (Of course players like Makelele who combined many of those traits are all time greats). I usually prefer DMs like PEH on a value level as they tend to decline less with age, while the Kantes will often decline faster with age and injuries. (and yes PEH has limited mobility but makes up with great positioning)
 
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