KaKa

9 minutes ago, Kanji said:

Arthur Melo is class. I’d absolutely be fine with a signing of that kind of player. But @KaKa, you described the style of player in probably an overly boring and dumbed down away.  I don’t consider Rodri or Busquets in this “play it simple” way like you described. Their game is far more technical, intelligent and nuanced. 

I was using the term 'boring' in an ironic way, as a lot of times they tend to be underappreciated. The likes of Busquets and Rodri will never get the plaudits that a Xavi, Iniesta, De Bruyne or Bernardo Silva get, but I really love a Rodri or Busquets because they allow those guys to shine by intelligently getting them the ball in areas where they can be most effective higher up the pitch.

Maybe I did a poor job of explaining before. But yeah, I like Arthur Melo a lot too. There's a small French midfielder at Sassuolo that plays this style as well that is very good and I think tremendously underrated, his name is Maxime Lopez. Like him a lot as well.

2 minutes ago, Ikon said:

Dont believe it. The same paper that said we were interested in the first place said that he had decided to stay this season. Not sure about Media Foot. Don't see it and don't want him.

Yeah, the article mentions that he had decided to stay at Madrid his last season, and so if a bid is eventually accepted, we would need to convince him to join us now.

Media Foot are saying we have bid 28 million euros for Asensio. Real Madrid were originally after 35 million euros. Discussions ongoing.

https://mediafootmarseille.fr/voila-ce-que-le-real-madrid-prepare-pour-cet-ete-info-media-foot/.html

19 minutes ago, Dr.Spaceman said:

I'd hate Traore, not a fan of his type of player - someone you're not confident could trap the ball after a 5 yard pass. He wouldn't improve us.

Yeah, he's incredibly entertaining to watch, but I'd rather watch him on another team. He's way too erratic in the final third.

1 hour ago, The Prophet said:

 

Like prime jogo bonito.

This is incredible man

They were already down a goal too 

6 minutes ago, Cronky said:

 

Not sure I like this concept of 'keeping things ticking over with the ball'. Every midfielder should be capable and willing to spot a forward pass that eliminates defenders. I'm not talking about a hopeful long ball, just a pass that forces defenders to move out of their formation to deal with a situation. Really, the CBs should also be capable of doing this, which of course allows all the midfield to move further forward. I think this is what Howe is aiming for. The opportunity to spot a good opportunity doesn't always fall to your more skilful players.

 

My nightmare is watching a Batty or a Scott Parker collecting the ball off the centre backs and exchanging pointless passes which don't put any pressure on the opposition.

 

 

Yes, I agree. The idea though, is that these shorter passes are played between the lines up the pitch, or to players alongside that are in space to progress the ball. It's about finding the best route to get forward from deeper positions, using shorter passes. The likes of Batty, Parker and Anita just play the ball to the person closest to them all the time, without any thought to it, and without actually looking to get their teams up the pitch. These are two very different things.

These kind of midfielders will also switch play when needed and will look for passes in behind when the team has moved forward and they are then also higher up the pitch too.

4 minutes ago, Shays Given Tim Flowers said:

Sounds like

 

Oh God ... poor Vurnon. 

As with every role in every sport, there's levels.

At the lower end of the scale Anita, and at the higher end of the scale Rodri/Busquets.

Here's a clip of the geezer we were linked with, Arthur Melo, that plays in that kind of style if it helps.

26 minutes ago, Jack27 said:

Stinks of Florian Grillitsch. Who is still a free agent. 

Haven't seen a lot of him in midfield so not sure what his game is like in that position to be honest, but if that's his game that might not be a bad shout.

13 minutes ago, TRon said:

 

I think those are really underrated qualities in a CM.

I think they are crucial. I've always like the overlooked midfielder that 'sets the table' for everyone else. I tend to prefer more risky plays taking place higher up the pitch in the final third. Love a 'boring' midfielder that plays it short between the lines from deep to progress the ball so the risk takers can then do their thing later on in the move rather than forcing things early too often.

Always wound me up when under Bruce, Shelvey would constantly go for the killer ball so early on and from deep in our own half, and just cede possession to the other team time and time again.

6 minutes ago, Tiotes Witch Doctor said:

A touch concerned that we might go into the season with no above average RW's an injury away from Wood playing a lot of the season and a Bruno injury away from our midfield looking distinctly lower mid table.

 

Really hope we are pushing for deals.

Sorry man ... I've heard they've found it all too taxing this summer and so just can't be arsed with anymore signings, and so are just going to leave it till next summer now! 

12 minutes ago, Paully said:

I absolutely love this lad! What a player and what a person he is!

 

 

We were very fortunate to get him man. Seems the sort to just lift everyone with positive energy all the time. The full clip for that is below. Looks like Botman was loving it too.

1 minute ago, alexf said:

I think I feel the same. 

Majority these days  seem to want instant gratification.

But I think in the same way I still prefer older films and slow burn storytelling. 

I think I'll enjoy the gradual progression more. As long as eventually success is guaranteed... I'm 33, I still want to see us win something in my life time ?

I'm 100% with you.

I genuinely think it will be so much more satisfying if we win something this way. Think the Man City style approach would have actually turned me off a bit.

Even with Liverpool, I respect their recent progression a lot more than Man City's. They nailed the manager appointment with Klopp, which was the most important thing, but then I also like how he's built his team from a mix of youth players, players off relegated teams, freebie signings, and then they've spent money too but far more sensibly IMO.

15 minutes ago, Kanji said:

Doesn't seem the best use of a player on the pitch IMO. 

It's the kind of role Pep has had Busquets and now Rodri play for him. They are always leaders in the number of touches per game and the number of passes played per game to help dominate possession. Think it's more of a Spanish, Italian and South American style perhaps. It's also very effective for beating the press when playing out from the back.

11 minutes ago, rgk_lfc said:

 

I read somewhere, not 100% sure of the reliability of the source, that Delap was considered Sancho level talent. Not a bad strategy by Southampton, by the way. Targeting City and Chelsea youngsters. 

I think it's a very clever strategy that the German clubs have been increasingly taking advantage of in recent times. Think Southampton are really well positioned to take full advantage of it.

They're an attractive enough mid table Prem club to move to after leaving Man City, in order to get more playing time, especially as they have a pretty decent manager and they try to play a modern style of football. It's a club I could easily see a few of them doing really well and having their value sky rocket.

48 minutes ago, Conjo said:

 

Sooo...Bruno?

Not quite. Far more boring (not in a bad way!) than Bruno. More a midfielder that is always an available outlet deep and keeps things ticking over with the ball, continuously playing shorter more simple passes repeatedly around the pitch, finding the best route from which more creative players (like Bruno) can then seek to open up teams.

So the Athletic mentioned a little while back that the kind of midfielder Howe was after is a dynamic midfield metronome to improve our possession and control over games.

So someone that drops deep to receive the ball off the centre backs to help beat a press, and then intelligently and efficiently distribute the ball with shorter passes to players further ahead, while also being able to dribble out of tight spots when under pressure.

I was looking into these sorts of midfielders and interestingly we were linked with Arthur Melo in the winter window and then again in March.

Maybe a possible loan option before the window closes, as Juventus are trying to move him, and Arsenal have since moved on to other targets since being strongly linked in January.

Just now, rgk_lfc said:

 

Isn't this kid supposed to be super talented?

Yeah, I believe he is, but at some point they have to let some of these young talents leave because they want to play, and there just isn't the room or pathway for them to come through.

17 minutes ago, joeyt said:

Southampton and Burnley's transfer policy just seems to be hoovering up man city reserves

 

 

 

They're going to have the last laugh man. More clubs should have cottoned on to this by now. They just need a couple of them to hit and they will not only benefit in the short term, but they will rake in tens of millions.

1 hour ago, Manxst said:

Depends on the qualifying conditions I guess? £39m wouldn’t be so bad if £15m was added if he won the CL with us, for example. 

Yeah, true. There's been so many different fees reported for him it's hard to say which is accurate.

5 minutes ago, rebelrouser said:

PSG offer €27m for Ekitike.  HaHa

That article is saying our offer for him was a deal that could go up to 46 million euros. No chance, surely.

12 minutes ago, TRon said:

 

 

And Kalimuendo. I think there is talent out there, we just have to be savvy about picking the right one for us.

Yeah for sure. We should be keeping a keen eye out for big foreign clubs doing this too. 

The Diaby we are so keen on was a PSG discard, as was Nkunku. It's pretty crazy really.

I like the look of Kalimuendo a lot. He's more accomplished than Ekitike in actuality, as he has performed for Lens for two seasons now back to back. I'd be really pleased with him.

I don't mind these goofy clubs buying up so many players. At the same time they are going to be losing so many gems as they keep chasing the newest thing.

We need to be savvy enough to take advantage and pick some of them up. Chelsea at one point had both Salah and De Bruyne in their building and let them both go for goodness sake. That can never be forgotten.

Chelsea seem a bit of chaotic in their spending this summer. As plenty have mentioned already, Hudson-Odoi should be on our radar, just like Broja is already.

1 minute ago, TRon said:

 

This sort of signing will look a lot better once we actually get the forward positions sorted this summer. If we got a decent striker and RW then these will be seen as great future prospects.

Yeah, I agree. It's the kind of signing I love tbh. It's such a sneaky good pickup. 

When he came into their first team under Mourinho, he looked a really good prospect. Very strong, aggressive and quick defender that played with a lot of energy.

He's just got lost in all of the changes at Spurs recently with managers coming in and out and a number of centre backs coming in.

26 minutes ago, McCormick said:

Seems a strange one tbh, do we need another cb/rb? A nice back up option to Trippier sure, but I’ve always maintained that you don’t buy players to be back-ups; you buy improvements. It’s the one thing about Rafa’s transfer dealings that frustrated me.

I believe in getting backups provided they are younger and have room to grow and develop further, and they do not break the bank. Our right sided centre backs are all older guys, so I imagine he's a potential long term partner for Botman, provided he develops well.

Man, I can't even lie, I really prefer a more gradual build centred around clever scouting and young talents, so I'm enjoying the current process. 

Especially with the fact we have such a good young manager in place too. Think we are going to be a big surprise this coming season, and will be in great shape going forward.