Jules Koundé | Signs for Barcelona
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That goal is proof of him being out of position.
It's opinions, but at the end of the day he or Konate will be judged on their defending if we sign either and you just have to have a look at the player performance threads and the criticism our CBs receive for their actual defending to see that. Breaking lines or dribbles are not important when errors leading to goals are what they will ultimately be judged on in our country.
Well, it is a lot about being tall isn't it. That's why goalkeepers and centre backs have the tallest average height, because they benefit from it the most.
In this United team in 2021, we're not getting away with a 5ft 10 centre back.
Anyone with any sense knows there has to be some sort of limit. If you don't think it's about being tall why don't you say you'd happily have a 5ft 7 centre back?
Of course but Kounde's goal is just wonderful whereas Konate's is more normal, it's just the initial turn that's good.
Both goals were good but IMO Kounde could've easily lost the ball on two occassions during the dribble and was a bit fortunate to actually get through to goal. One of the Sevilla players off the ball also helps by running across the path of a Barca player which takes the Barca player out of the picture and opens the game up for Kounde. And thats without mentioning the dreadful defending from the Barca players.
Konate also scuffed his effort with his weaker foot so his dribble wasn't perfect either.
No point for me to repeat myself.
I'd take this guy over Konate. very impressed when we played them last year. He is very good in the air too!
Jules Kounde would be an obvious first choice of any top club, I think. But he is also the most expensive choice, and probably one we can only dream about in this market.
He is, in my opinion, quite similar to Sergio Ramos in style (but more level-headed). Very few attackers in the PL would cause Kounde problems in the air, and those who do would be just as big a problem for Lindelof/Bailly. The difference is that Kounde would be great against the type of attackers we most often face (Salah, Mane, Sterling, Foden, Vardy, Werner, CHO, Pulisic, Antonio, Grealish/Watkins, Ings/Adams/Walcott, Saka/Lacazette/Martinelli/Auba, Zaha etc). Yes, maybe against a small amount of teams we would be up against a manager who decided to target Kounde for his height. First, I think very few would succeed and very rarely. Second, most of these teams we will beat comfortably anyway. Third, Kounde, with his ability on the ball, would hurt these teams more with his passing ability, than they would be able to hurt us by targeting him in the air.
I think the notion that a centerback have to be tall runs back to when the attackers where bigger and less mobile. You would usually put a big tough guy, maybe less adept with the ball, at CB to answer that threat. You obviously need a CB to be physical adept, but having a low center of gravity and great agility is really underrated. And you can have that at 5'10. Obviously, you want some height in your team and there is also the case of marginal benefit; at some point being too short starts being a problem. But I doubt that is at 5'10 considering how well players like Cannavaro, Puyol, Ayala or even Jagielka did against bigger players.
The fact that he has made it at such a young age as centerback at a club like Sevilla, despite his height, speak volumes. Ideally, he would be an inch taller. Ideally, most centerbacks would have the on the ball ability, agility or ability to read the game that Kounde has. And that is even more important.
He is, in my opinion, quite similar to Sergio Ramos in style (but more level-headed). Very few attackers in the PL would cause Kounde problems in the air, and those who do would be just as big a problem for Lindelof/Bailly. The difference is that Kounde would be great against the type of attackers we most often face (Salah, Mane, Sterling, Foden, Vardy, Werner, CHO, Pulisic, Antonio, Grealish/Watkins, Ings/Adams/Walcott, Saka/Lacazette/Martinelli/Auba, Zaha etc). Yes, maybe against a small amount of teams we would be up against a manager who decided to target Kounde for his height. First, I think very few would succeed and very rarely. Second, most of these teams we will beat comfortably anyway. Third, Kounde, with his ability on the ball, would hurt these teams more with his passing ability, than they would be able to hurt us by targeting him in the air.
I think the notion that a centerback have to be tall runs back to when the attackers where bigger and less mobile. You would usually put a big tough guy, maybe less adept with the ball, at CB to answer that threat. You obviously need a CB to be physical adept, but having a low center of gravity and great agility is really underrated. And you can have that at 5'10. Obviously, you want some height in your team and there is also the case of marginal benefit; at some point being too short starts being a problem. But I doubt that is at 5'10 considering how well players like Cannavaro, Puyol, Ayala or even Jagielka did against bigger players.
The fact that he has made it at such a young age as centerback at a club like Sevilla, despite his height, speak volumes. Ideally, he would be an inch taller. Ideally, most centerbacks would have the on the ball ability, agility or ability to read the game that Kounde has. And that is even more important.
Is your argument then that cannavaro and Bruce would not cut in Uniteds defense in 2021 because of their aerial ability?
If we change our goalkeeper we could probably settle for Kounde.
If we keep de Gea as our number 1 then buying Kounde is shooting ourselves in the foot.
If we keep de Gea as our number 1 then buying Kounde is shooting ourselves in the foot.
Depends on the player. Cannavaro would instantly be our best CB and a brilliant addition to this team. 2021 has nothing to do with it. Football was more aerial back in the day.
Maradona could’ve lost the ball so many times during his run against England... he didn’t. It’s seriously one of the weirdest criticisms that I’ve seen on here.
It's not a criticism just a observtation of a goal that could've easily have been prevented.
Maradona's goal on a technical level was superb with his close control in combination with his dribbling which was supreme.
I've never seen Koulibaly listed as nor anybody suggest he's anything close to 6'5".
6 ft with his excellent hair imo. Looks like an great CB in the making. I've watched him 7-8 times and I think he could be even a good RB too.
You should try google searching what the Napoli President about his height being listed wrong online. I've also seen it listed as 6'5 in the past. Maybe they've got his height listed correct now after the comments from De Laurentiis.
Good goal too.I didn't know Konate so much.
Yes, they will be the next starts in the market.
I wouldn't mind some Ramos/Alaba-Koundé next year
I think he would fit in perfectly at your club mate and I hope he does well for you, but not at our expense.
haha. Do you mean Ramos, Varane or bothI think he would fit in perfectly at your club mate and I hope he does well for you, but not at our expense.
I think you could partner Kounde with either player but isn't there rumours about both Varane and Ramos leaving? I think if either player leaves I can see Flo and Carmona coming to a agreement. Kounde also seems to want to stay in Spain from what i've read.
Yes, they would surely reach an agreement.
They could include Isco or some kid.
yes, there are rumors about them leaving, and United is a very appetizing name for any newspaper.
Let's wait for the Pogba-Varane tweet
Agreed, we're on the same page here because i'm reading the situation the same.Yes, they would surely reach an agreement.
They could include Isco or some kid.
yes, there are rumors about them leaving, and United is a very appetizing name for any newspaper.
Let's wait for the Pogba-Varane tweet
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Not only strikers are allowed to score headed goals.
I agree, and I also agree that you, as a team, at some point will have a issue if you have to many small short players. Maybe more important, too many weak players. That is certainly the case at set pieces.
But at set piece, attitude is as important as height. I would have Roy Keane, Carlos Puyol or Cannavaro over Maguire/Lindelof any day defending a set piece.
You all focusing on his height, when it's his weight that should worry you if he comes to england. The guy is the size and weight of a wide forward, and England isn't Spain. Mauling is still a viable strategy for PL CB/CF in duels...
Looks immense in the clip at the top of the page. Sign him. Worst case scenario is he provides competition for Lindelof, bringing out the best in him and we have a better back up than Bailly
In any times, we can’t be spending 60+ million for someone who provides competition.
Need to see how's his heading. That's what we're struggling with.
Interesting observation from a La Liga fan.
I agree and believe he should stay in Spain which would best suit him.
I think the PL's physicality is overblown. Would you classify Firmino, Rashford, Aguero, Jesus, Aubameyang, Lacazette, Werner etc as physical forwards who bully centerbacks? Not everyone is Chris Wood or Ashley Barnes.
Maybe he means players in other positions like fullbacks, midfielders and opposing CBs who would potentially flood the box from open play or even from set pieces?
We had Yorke and Cole in the past including our current manager who weren't physical players. Liverpool had Fowler and Owen. Arsenal had Henry, Wiltord and Ljungberg who were all forwards and not particular physical players. So having forwards who aren't physical isn't only a thing now. But the difference was that the league from my observation is still littered with very physical players even if the general quality is much improved compared to 20 years ago and is probably what the poster is alluding to.
Personally I hope we target someone who is similar in profile to Van Dijk who was/is strong aerially and is quick and athletic.
Agreed. City hardly have big bruisers in stones / Dias / Laporte either. They're big enough to handle themselves but defending is more about positioning and timing anyway.
I agree you don't need bruisers and Rio Ferdinand definitely wasn't a bruiser and neither is Virgil Van Dijk.
What matters is how much they're allowed to get away with by the refs. Every single one of those guys outweights Koundé
This season sevilla are averaging 13 fouls for and 14 against per game. Nobody in the PL averages 13 fouls for, and only two teams average 13 against(spurs and villa). In fact, sevilla games average more fouls per game than any PL side. Meamwhile 10 spanish sides average more than them
Aerial ability is essential in the EPL. We can't afford to take another risk defensively
And who would that be exactly?
Everyone wants a Van Dijk, but is there a Van Dijk available.
Its easy to say we want this or that, but who exactly is available in that mould?
Ibrahims Konate IMO and I'm happy for the clubs medical department to make the call on his injury issues because they're the experts in that particular field.
The question if there's a Van Dijk available can only be answered if you sign the player that ticks all the boxes. And even when Van Dijk was available and showing potential to be that dominant CB, people on here said he was no better than Smalling and Jones. Some were even arguing that Smalling was better. Posters like @Robbie Boy and @Wayne's World were spot on in the thread below and were proven correct.
Wayne's world said this on page 6 below regarding Van Dijk.
"Some of the people here saying "He's not good enough for Utd" is absolutely crazy"
"He's one of the best centre-halfs in the Premier League and he has that key aspect that you need...HE CAN DEFEND! unlike some of the defenders I see in the league these days"
"We need to sign him in January and If we don't and Liverpool do, then Liverpool will win the league"
https://www.redcafe.net/threads/virgil-van-dijk.396976/
In my opinion, the most special thing about van Dijk is his passing. Specially the range of his passing. I’m not sure Konate has that in his locker, and that is why I would go for someone like Kounde over him.
One thing is his injuries, another is the fact that Nagelsman prefer two or three other defenders over him.
One thing is his injuries, another is the fact that Nagelsman prefer two or three other defenders over him.
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