Even if we sell two and buy one CB, he'll be far behind in the pecking order. We expected TFM also to get many chances this year but he has barely played. We can't repeat the same thing with Tuanzebe. A nice loan like Pereira at Granada would be the best option.
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Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 5
- Clean sheets
- 3
- Goals
- 0
- Assists
- 0
- Yellow cards
- 0
- Status
If we sell two and buy one we would only have 5 CBs including Tuanzebe and Blind who would play more at LB. He will definitely get games if that's the case. TFM hasn't got many chances before he actually below Valencia, Darmian and even Young for the RB position.
Really mature performance today. Impressed. Hope we see more of him in our remaining PL games.
Cool, full of composure in defending, good in one-on-one, and he doesn't do rash tackles, won't give easy free kicks.
Pacy and composed passer too, better in playing from the back to upfront with intent than Smalling and Jones.
Solid enough performance, obv tactics and the senior players helping him are big factors.
Highlight of the Day:
Sanchez failed to bully himlove how he took the ball from Sanchez more than once.
Yeah, Sanchez attempted a shoulder barge and literally bounced off him, Tuanzebe, entirely unperturbed by such a weak effort, nonchalantly strolls off with the ball as if nothing had happened. Made me chuckle anyway.
Like so many of our academy graduates, he oozes confidence and belief in himself. Warren Joyce worked wonders with our youth, it was a real shame to lose him.
A really impresive display.
To be thrown against Alexis and keep him in his pocket.. wow
To be thrown against Alexis and keep him in his pocket.. wow
Very promising performance from him. As said before, Mourinho has a keen eye for defenders.
This forum
Did well.
Great interview on MUTV. Came across very well. In response to Stuart Gardner's question about being nervous in front of 60,000 fans Axel says "I thought flippin 'eck".
Love it!
Love it!
Wow! He is really composed and his passing is probably better than any of our defenders. Also strong, fast, and technically very sound. I see quality in him that I never saw with CBJ.
Small sample size admittedly
Small sample size admittedly
One of our better players today,
Definitely earned a few more league starts in our final games.
Now the games are meaningless I'd prefer he was at CB instead of dead wood like Jones.
Now the games are meaningless I'd prefer he was at CB instead of dead wood like Jones.
Should start all our remaining games in the league.
Only bright spot today.
Doesn't he play for the England youth teams? Not DR Congo?
The most impressive thing was he played so well out of position in his PL debut, very composed.
Beast. A better player than TFM
He was pretty decent today. One of the few passable performances.
Great debut, the sole positive from today's match. Hope we get to see both him and TFM more next season.
Also have to mention it was against Alexis Sanchez.
Sorry if you disagree with the facts … in the spirit of "… the post not the poster" I'll just say: look up the definition of forum!
He should get a call up for the under 20 World Cup this month. First game is May 20th though so he might have a decision to make.
Agreed. League is meaningless now and Smalling and Jones shouldn't be here next year, so why bother with them?
Often the case that posters who are most likely to chuck out names (you calling Mourinho a cnut) are also the more sensitive souls when criticism is fired back at them.
Surely Jose will put more faith in Tuanzebe and Fosu-Mensah next year? They're both obviously physically ready. I genuinely think they're better than a couple of the options in their positions. What they need is opportunity.
He seems more composed than Mensah in the small samples we have seen of both.
Wouldn't be against selling Jones and/or Smalling, while promoting him to 4th option, as long as we get a new cb in of course.
Wouldn't be against selling Jones and/or Smalling, while promoting him to 4th option, as long as we get a new cb in of course.
Butt is the one who told Mourinho he's ready for the first team step up. When Mourinho took Tuanzebe to preseason he admitted he knew nothing about him.
Kudos to Axel, he looked on it today; I've been a critic of his this season because I feel he looked to have lost focus in the 23s, because with his talent it's criminal to do so.
Jose is possibly (rightly) reluctant to still him in the centre of the defence this early, and has intimated that rightback will be his role as he matures, but Valencia is currently the best rightback in the league, and will likely maintain those levels next season at least. One position that does need to be addressed is leftback.
Both his spells at Chelsea incorperated inverting, right-footed conservative leftbacks like Gallas then Azpilicueta; this season his neglect of Shaw while preferring Darmian support the theory that he prefers a primarily defensive, right-footed option there. Axel fits that criteria perfectly, and could easily make the transition into the top level in that role with enough experienced cover alongside him to guide him though the inevitable tricky spells.
Jose is possibly (rightly) reluctant to still him in the centre of the defence this early, and has intimated that rightback will be his role as he matures, but Valencia is currently the best rightback in the league, and will likely maintain those levels next season at least. One position that does need to be addressed is leftback.
Both his spells at Chelsea incorperated inverting, right-footed conservative leftbacks like Gallas then Azpilicueta; this season his neglect of Shaw while preferring Darmian support the theory that he prefers a primarily defensive, right-footed option there. Axel fits that criteria perfectly, and could easily make the transition into the top level in that role with enough experienced cover alongside him to guide him though the inevitable tricky spells.
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I'd agree with that. TFM is rash and could take longer to come good. I was impressed with Axel's composure today.
@AP88
Jose's line was that he knew Axel was the business after watching him the first time for only 10 minutes!
Fantastic game. Deserves to be given game time in the first team. Shone brighter than Zippy and Bungle alongside him. However I dont have a feeling Jose will give him much opportunities next season so would prefer to see him go on loan rather than sit on his arse
I'm actually mildly shocked at how good he was. He more or less neutralized a world class player during his full game debut.....in a tough away fixture to a top four contender opponent no less.
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Good performance, hopefully we can play him a few more times before the season ends. Southampton and Palace, for example.
Really impressed with him. His coolness in possession was superb. There was one occasion when he was surrounded by three Arsenal players and row z was the obvious answer but he managed to keep hold of it and slide a ball down the line.
Thought he did great and in that showing looks a player.
Thought he did great and in that showing looks a player.
Very impressive.
Dealt extremely well with Sanchez whenever he was isolated. Even shrugged him aside with ease when Sanchez went shoulder to shoulder with him.
Composed in possession too bar 1 or 2 misplaced passes.
Dealt extremely well with Sanchez whenever he was isolated. Even shrugged him aside with ease when Sanchez went shoulder to shoulder with him.
Composed in possession too bar 1 or 2 misplaced passes.
I want to see him and Bailly cb against Spurs.
Play him in all the remaining league games.
Play him in all the remaining league games.
Brilliant performance for a debutant. Strong, quick, calm.
That composure under pressure from a top-class winger like Sanchez is especially a precious asset for a young kid.
That composure under pressure from a top-class winger like Sanchez is especially a precious asset for a young kid.
His performance is the only positive thing that I can take from this game.
The lad seems to have it all. Height, pace, strength, coolness on the ball and a great mentality to handle the pressure at the Emirates.
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