Looks like the media have got wind of this now, always thought this one would Kounde the radar
Jules Koundé | Signs for Barcelona
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Looks like a classy CB.
This is the shop window we should be looking in.
This is the shop window we should be looking in.
My immediate thoughts based on never having heard of him before:
1) He's short for a CB and him winning more aerial duels than anyone else in his team might be a result of teams targeting him aerially.
2) He must therefore be generally really good if teams are willing to overlook a basic height weakness and value him at such a high price.
1) He's short for a CB and him winning more aerial duels than anyone else in his team might be a result of teams targeting him aerially.
2) He must therefore be generally really good if teams are willing to overlook a basic height weakness and value him at such a high price.
One of those things, isn’t it? We clearly need an established and proven CB, but there really aren’t many out there. So we’ll have to go big on one of these young but talented ones — just like we did for Bailly and Lindelof.
Here’s hoping the next one actually works, and we can stop the cycle of constantly buying CBs for a little while.
Here’s hoping the next one actually works, and we can stop the cycle of constantly buying CBs for a little while.
I think OGS has played Pogba deep due to his passing. Having a CB that could make those type of passes would be important for him. I think this is what Liverpool miss the most from van Dijk now.
Top quality IMO, absolutely convinced by him. Still only 22.
Better than Upamecano, Kounde is class
Better than Upamecano, Kounde is class
Do you think at 1.78 he isn’t too short?
Like the look of this lad. I also like Fofana and think he will turn into a top CB as well.
That’s a good point about his potential to be a DM.
How easy would it be for a CB to transition into DM, in theory it seems easy when you can tackle and pass like this lad.
If he could use his attributes as a DM he would be perfect for what we need.
He looked good when we played them. I can’t remember what he looked good at, just that he looked good.
He has the ideal qualities to partner Maguire, I think the height aspect is overstated, he has a good leap and there aren't as many teams with Duncan Ferguson type #9's in the PL these days.
I think fans figured Ole wanted a LCB as Maguire is right footed, but Maguire has been made such a main part of Ole's plan that if he wanted to play on the right of the partnership he already would be and Lindelof would be LCB as he played there for Benfica and for us when he partnered Smalling. I think Maguire likes playing LCB as he can drive inwards and play that crossfield ball to the RW.
I think fans figured Ole wanted a LCB as Maguire is right footed, but Maguire has been made such a main part of Ole's plan that if he wanted to play on the right of the partnership he already would be and Lindelof would be LCB as he played there for Benfica and for us when he partnered Smalling. I think Maguire likes playing LCB as he can drive inwards and play that crossfield ball to the RW.
Last thing we need is another CB who’s weak in the air we already have Lindelof & Axel
Agreed. He was great even though I’d never even heard of him until 24 hrs ago.
Get it done
Having seen the usual amazing YouTube highlights reel, he’s great in the air for someone so small
That’s a good point about his potential to be a DM.
How easy would it be for a CB to transition into DM, in theory it seems easy when you can tackle and pass like this lad.
If he could use his attributes as a DM he would be perfect for what we need.
In theory it’s easy, hence why you see it suggested so often in fan forum’s.
In practice it’s difficult, which is why so many of the worlds best DM’s are transitioned CB’s.
Best CB in LaLiga this season, based on whoscored.com ratings. https://www.whoscored.com/Regions/2...18851/PlayerStatistics/Spain-LaLiga-2020-2021
He was very good against us.
He was.
He is good in the air for someone so small, better than any CB we have except Maguire.
More importantly, he would be our best CB at defending and passing, not even close there.
Him and Maguire together would be mint
Was really impressed with him when we played them in the Semi of the Europa.
I know that's only one game but he did stand out.
I know that's only one game but he did stand out.
Who was the last truly top class CB to play in the league at his height? It's a pretty big gamble to have someone that small come in.
Who was the last truly top class CB to play in the league fullstop? There’s a total dearth of them regardless of height.
Lindelof regularly makes those passes.
Wasn't overly impressed when we played them.
Good point.
We've only seen a short video of him passing long. Does he consistently deliver those long passes like van Dijk?
Anyway, these long passes would only work when teams play high up the pitch. We generally have an issue with teams flooding the midfield and defence with a bank of 5 and 4. Go back a few years when we had Lukaku and Zlatan. Pogba was constantly playing those long balls due to the type of forwards we had in the team. Even, Maguire has now stopped these long passes which he was playing with great effect when he played for Leicester with Vardy.
In fairness, his latest hairstyle is this. I just wanted a close-up picture for the OP.
:focal(913x241:915x239)/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2020/11/24/2942363-60403228-2560-1440.jpg)
Buy him!In fairness, his latest hairstyle is this. I just wanted a close-up picture for the OP.
He and Laird are the same height! Funny, Kounde seems massive and Laird looks small
Remember him against us last season, he impressed me with his quiet air of authority, while Diego Carlos ran around like a lunatic sything people down, this lad was cool calm and composed, played with a lot of intelligence, the rolls Royce type of defender Rio was.
I think it'd be an astute signing, although I dread him in the air against the likes of Salah, Sterling, Aguero, Vardy, Ings etc the days of huge lumps of a striker are over, I think we're too hung up on physical attributes in this country, and his lad isn't tiny by any means, his stats totally put to bed the heighht doubts.
At £50m it'd be a solid signing.
I think it'd be an astute signing, although I dread him in the air against the likes of Salah, Sterling, Aguero, Vardy, Ings etc the days of huge lumps of a striker are over, I think we're too hung up on physical attributes in this country, and his lad isn't tiny by any means, his stats totally put to bed the heighht doubts.
At £50m it'd be a solid signing.
He's absolutely quality. City tried to buy him but opted for Dias instead for less money.
another potential star we meet in the EL and won’t sign.
Really hope we are interested in either this guy or Konate but until I hear from the usual suspects will reserve judgement
Looked alright when we played them. Certainly better than his partner who everyone was purring about at the time but he was still throwing himself all over the shop constantly going to ground so that isn’t a particularly great trait.
Size really isn't of a massive importance especially with a virtual living example in Lindelof. Who at around 6'2 would have you think he's closer to 5'11 in his presence and physicality. Puyol is exactly the same height as Kounde to my knowledge, that's not a comparison but if you know how to read the play, position yourself and manoeuvre your good enough to make the fold. The mentality is also an important aspect look at the likes of a Tim Cahill aerially.
I genuinely think city have a good record for recognising talent in centre half more recently too. Laporte one of the league's best in form, Dias has been a good addition. Kounde is going under the radar slightly in terms of hype but if it's coming from Spain he's a standout defender we should be considering.
He’d be over 60 million, pretty sure City had 60 million turned down.
Regardless of his height, do you think he could hold on his own aerially and physically, without needed to babysit by other stronger CB?
Godin was top class.
Feels like it could be our Fofana in terms of age but admittedly would be at least double the price
Is he really 1.78 ? I see some sources putting him at 1.81.
He looks above average in height to me so I tend to think he may be 1.81.
Even at 1.78, perhaps we can use him in a rotation and ensuring we have other tall players to help in corners etc.
He looks above average in height to me so I tend to think he may be 1.81.
Even at 1.78, perhaps we can use him in a rotation and ensuring we have other tall players to help in corners etc.
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