The first one.
Amadou Haidara
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I've watched him a good few times for Leipzig and he's always looked quite good. I didn't really concentrate specifically on him that much when I watched them in the past though and Leipzig haven't been great since the links with us started so not the best time to be scouting him I'd say. Not at the level of Rice or Bellingham obviously but significantly better than any of our cms. I think people here are significantly underestimating his ability on the ball tbh. He's a good passer that fits a high energy system. He wouldn't be able to play the dm role properly though imo, despite being quite a solid tackler and presser. I'd say he's a bit like Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, not sure if you've seen much of him? We were linked to him in the past a few times. Haidara's probably a bit better defensively and SMS probably gets into slightly higher attacking positions but they have a lot of similar attributes.
Precisely this. He is going to be a consultant and he knows exactly how the team should be. Only downside I see is spending 33m on him. He is here to find the gems like this and not buy them after someone else finds them.
On the other side, we badly need a midfielder. Like right now ,tomorrow.
Great, exactly what we need.
Not at the level of Rice and Bellingham ? What have they proved until now ?.
The overrating of those two players is just unbelievable.
We haven’t had football people make football recruiting decisions since last summer…….
People are that 'hungry' and fed up being served up McFred, they are prepared to sign players that probably at this point of the season are not going to make a difference. We know how difficult the Prem is get come to terms with at the best of times. We'll just end up signing players that don't improve the side, and then still be looking for the top draw players we needed anyway. Also the new manager might have his own ideas.....
So more defensive oriented compared to heidara?
Just glancing through his stats, I assume the above indicates some role/position change between last season and this?
Regardless, the things he's consistently posting highest for generally across the last three seasons are stats like progressive passes, through balls, passes into the opposition penalty area, passes under pressure, carrying/dribbling the ball forward, etc. So I guess those are the areas where he'd provide the upgrade in theory? I.E. getting the ball forward to our attackers?
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I haven't seen anywhere near enough of either. But from whatever Ive read, yeah, Zakaria more of a DM and Haidara box to box(?)
Whether Zakaria is a big upgrade on McFred, I don't know. I dont think anyone who hasn't extensively seen the player can suggest one way or another.
However what is clear is Lingard, VDB, Martial Cavani and maybe others will go. So i reckon there's space for another midfielder.
didn’t you call it that Varane was going to be rubbish too? You are some super talented scout.
He doesnt seem an obvious top quality player but then neither did Sadio Mane before Klopp got him. Perhaps Rangnick sees some useful qualities in him. He's not your classic holding player anyway, more of a box to box imo.
I would rather get an average player who is the perfect fit in a system than a great player who is an average fit in our system.
So for all the posts looking let down, lets just see how it works with the big picture.
So for all the posts looking let down, lets just see how it works with the big picture.
Tnx for the info.
Hopefully we get it right as we can't afford flopping in this regard any more.
No but thanks.
Have you not bothered considering he may suit the pressing system Rangnick looks to implement better than what we have?
Rice and Bellingham are both incredible talents. They're already 2 of the best midfielders in the world. Anyone who's watched West Ham this season should know how excellent Rice has been for them. He's brought his level up significantly this season and is playing a much more box to box role than previously.
Zakaria's not really a DM, he's very similar to McTominay. Big strong quick box to box player.
Ah, well there we go. I know even less.
Rangnick basically bought Haidara for both Red Bull clubs. Would be the third time he buys him.
Maybe, but he's not going to be here after the summer. Just my opinion we need a specialist DM and a CM, both very comfortable on the ball for a more rounded squad for the next guy.
I don't really agree with this tbh. McTominay is much better in the attacking part of the game but Zakaria is far more disciplined defensively. I wouldn't personally consider Zakaria to be a box to box cm. He does tend to dribble forward when spaces emerge, and he's quite good at this so maybe that's where you're coming from with the box to box description but I would still say he's primarily a dm who relies on his positioning. Zakaria tends to keep things quite simple with his passing which could be an underrated trait to have given how frequently we give away the ball. He is strong and doesn't tend to get bullied off the ball. More like a Carrick type dm imo (though nowhere near Carrick's level). In terms of what we need I actually think he fits the bill perfectly even if he could definitely be upgraded with someone like Rice in the summer.
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We need players who are technically good. Citys players are just another level up on everyone else. They are out of this world.
What we need is our own Kroos, Modric and Cassimiro.
What we need is our own Kroos, Modric and Cassimiro.
Crikey, the moaning begins.
Looking at Haidara's stats and his versatility I'm fairly confident he'd feature quite abit under our next manager, if he's a success that is.
He sounds like a player that the majority of managers would love to work with.
Looking at Haidara's stats and his versatility I'm fairly confident he'd feature quite abit under our next manager, if he's a success that is.
He sounds like a player that the majority of managers would love to work with.
Oh well, we're so starved that it's hard to turn up our noses at any decent midfielder right now, seeing as ours may be the league's poorest at the moment. Get Zakaria for peanuts too while you're at it. HaiZak should be a better combo than McFred behind Bruno, No?
Any progressive manager we appoint in the summer will implement a pressing system.
But I agree with you on what we need. We are crying out for a player that can pass the ball from deep and retain possession when we are under pressure.
Like said, how many players from a different league/country bought in January go straight into the team and hit the ground running? We already have a good example in Sancho and yes Bruno was brilliant but equally it's extremely rare. The Prem playing in midfield can take you a season to work out.....ask RR. Let's not forget, everyone says we need a midfielder but has RR? I personally don't think we'll sign one as there are bigger issues that need resolving.
He touched the ball like 20 times per game at ajax. So I would hope not
I know that. He didn't buy him for 33m at RBL clubs, is what I meant .
I would really like to smoke the same thing whatever you are doing. Two of the best midfielders in the world - having a laugh here mate.
I think if we go for Haidara, who seems an energetic box to box similar to Ramires the Brazilian lad who used to play for Chelsea, we still also need a guy who'll stay put to keep the shape. Kamara who seems a bit of a Carrick type is available this summer. We might want to assess Garner and the other loanees before making a decision there though.
Rice is another Maguire in the making if we buy him … seriously. Everyone hyped Maguire and he’s usually not bad but a big guy who’s had a lot of off days. Not athletic enough. I would take Reuben Neves over both of them.
A few seasons back Zakaria also played quite a bit at CB. He's different than Matic but would take his place in the squad, I imagine he would play next to Fred or McTominay.
You are complaining about Maguire not being athletic enough, but then in your very next sentence you say you want Ruben Neves who moves like an oil tanker and is like a midfield version of Maguire
If Ralf didn't manage rb, i wonder if we would even be linked with Haidara. How come no other top club are after him beside Newcastle . I m not sure on this signing. I rather we sign a more technical gifted midfielder that is good at by passing the press and have good passing ability.
. I m not sure on this signing. I rather we sign a more technical gifted midfielder that is good at by passing the press and have good passing ability.Oh.. a false 69 then.
James Garner looks better.
Big day today.
Just glancing through his stats, I assume the above indicates some role/position change between last season and this?
Regardless, the things he's consistently posting highest for generally across the last three seasons are stats like progressive passes, through balls, passes into the opposition penalty area, passes under pressure, carrying/dribbling the ball forward, etc. So I guess those are the areas where he'd provide the upgrade in theory? I.E. getting the ball forward to our attackers?
Think its more a case of replacing DVB who is also better at those things than our DMs but Ralph doesnt want to play him and presumably we'd let him go if we got a replacement. Think Fred and McTom are still going to be the better ball winners while Haidara is the better passer, but hes one Ralph might actually pick.
I still laugh at the people wanting to see VDB played as a 6 in the PL.