Banker to join Chelsea.
N'Golo Kante | Off to Chelsea
- Thread starter Sultan
- Start date
- Status
They can't be worse. Hazard was brilliant for the most part at the Euro's and both he and Costa had already improved greatly as the season wore down.
I think both will be back to their 2014/15 selves.
Looks like he's going to Chelsea, seriously don't know why we aren't in for him. Pogba - Kante could have been something great.
He really impressed every game I watched last year, work horse who'd constantly win the ball back and redistribute it quickly into starting attacks,
We should be seriously, seriously looking at him, particuarly for that price, considering our best no.6 is currently 34/35 years old and oft injured.
We should be seriously, seriously looking at him, particuarly for that price, considering our best no.6 is currently 34/35 years old and oft injured.
They'll be a right ball ache to break down defensively with him and Conte next season.
The Euros beg to differ
Will be interesting to see if they go with his preferred 352. If so, I don't see them conceding many goals, especially with Kante breaking down every play.
Wouldn't be so sure you aren't. I'm not getting excited at all yet until he's holding up a Chelsea shirt.
Too good to be true that one of the best DM's around can be had for a reasonable fee and we're basically the only ones after him. I think there's a twist yet in this saga.
I am ok with him, but he's a sort of limited Makelele, the problem is that despite the energy he seems much less technical and tries to keep things simple. Sometime, you need the game to open up from the defensive line and he's capable of offering that unfortunately. And he's had one good season, I would be very cautious. Yes, some potential, but the guy is old and he could be one of those players who thrive in a familial environment a la Leicester.
If he goes Chelsea I'll be fairly pleased. Yeah he's a good player but I don't rate him as highly as a lot of you do on here. That said I do rate Conte and I reckon if Batshuwhatever his name is has a cracking season they could actually sneak the league this year. City might start slow with Pep implementing his style on the squad and our squad isn't exactly unbeatable.
Old? He's 25.
As for his limitations, he's a specialist. You put players around him that can do the things he can't do.
That's exactly my point, he's old. At 25, you don't think in term of potential, you need to have confirmed seasons, and it was the first year he had a "good" year.
Specialist maybe but a 6 needs to have a football brain at least, not just physical attributes. So far, Kante has only the physical attributes, but his control of the ball is not good, and his passing or movement with or off the ball, awful.
De Rossi, Pirlo, Xavi Alonso, Schweinsteiger... in their prime, those are the best defensive midfielders. They have much more than physical attributes and if they lack physicality, they compensate with a football brain to anticipate the ball move. Being a specialist never meant being limited.
If he signs, could we get Matic?
Someone at 25 isn't close to old. "Old" in football terms is what Zlatan is. Or Schwiensteiger. Or Carrick. All players who will play significant minutes for you next season. A 25 year old can play on at the highest level for another 5 years +.
Kante's ability on the ball is very underrated. He's not going to dance past someone with a fancy dribble but that isn't what he's going to be asked to do.
Not a single one of the players you've just named are DM's, btw. Xabi Alonso and Pirlo are deep lying playmakers. De Rossi and Schweinsteiger are more box to box.
Kante will be asked to sit just in front of the back 4 and be a shield. He'll have Fabregas or others next to him to do the more technical work.
Schweinsteiger is only 31 going on 32 he isn't exactly overly old. If he can stay fit this season and get past the little injuries he could be brilliant in the coming season, miles better than Kante.
I agree, but such a 6 still needs to have more than energy. And that's precisely the problem with Kante. Now maybe in the EPL, where the tactical intelligence has been awful recently, he will thrive because he just need to challenge the ball, but a 6 needs to launch the attack properly and he doesn't do that.
It's not even a matter of having Fabregas or not, he needs to take good decisions once he recuperates the ball and he doesn't have that. He covers the bare minimum as a 6, and that's why he will become a liability.
With France, he initially had Pogba as the creative midfielder but he could not make it work as a 6 and finally, he was dropped (Pogba being used as a 6, can you see the craziness here? That's how "bad" Kante was).
With Leicester I think he was more used as a box to box so you might need to check that. As a box to box, the comparison is even "worse" for Kante.
Basically my problem is that he only runs, and uses a lot his physical attributes. That's a problem for a player who has to understand the game to cut the opponent's move and move the ball forward for his team.
Nevertheless, he could bring something. I just don't have too much expectation. Hope it works out for you in your club.
Meh. I think he has declined significantly. Of course he can still contribute and be a good player but I'd have Kante who will play each and every game of the season than Schweini who will be a squad player for you guys.
Disagree. Kante's best role is different to Makelele's. Makelele is very limited in attacking technically. Makelele keeps thing simple in attacking and build up play. However Makelele's tactical intelligence and discipline are top class. Makelele reads the game extremely we'll and is also strong,fast and good in duel. He plays solely in front of the 2 CBs as deep lying defensive midfielder.
Kante is all action midfielder. In Leicester set up, Drinkwater has a more calming holding role while Kante was allowed to run a lot. Kante is strong in duel. Kante has more tools in term of technicality compared to Makelele. However, Kante has only showed his tactical discipline in Leicester set up which solely stays compact and maintain a certain mid to deep defensive line. If taking France set up in Euro and Kante was asked to fill the Makelele role, then Kante is very inexperienced and shows lack of tactical discipline, even intelligence. In France set up, France needs to attack more and play a higher defensive line, Kante's run a lot style backfires. In defense, he was too caught into personal duel and left gap in France defensive positions. In attacking play, Kante steps in other players's territory as his running style is similar to Matuidi's, but Kante is more limited and lack presence.
If talking about breaking up play in a double pivot system, then Kante hasn't shown enough. In recent time, Javi Martinez, the Polish guy PSG just signed which I can't spell his name, Thiago Motta, Vidal, Khedira, (even) Matic... IMO showed a higher level in the past.
Someone brought up Kante card/booking record, which showed Kante was booked so few. It may look positive but same time negative. Negative is that a sole deep lying midfielder more likely needs to take one for the team with systematic foul. Kante is more about pressing and win the ball. In the Ireland game Kante showed the issue. After Kante got booked, he lost his head and all over the place. He may improve but for now he has a long way to go while there is question on his ceiling and he's not very young to expect a huge improvement.
He struggled a bit last season but he looked great at the Euros.
Kante can play all the time but not at a level even close to Schweinsteiger.
United would be foolish not to go for Kante. If Conte wants him, then that should tell you something. And besides, he's just been a key part of a title-winning side.
To be willing to spend mega-bucks on Pogba, but not willing to spend a fraction of that on Kante doesn't make sense. CM is the weakest part of your squad and has been for a long while now.
To be willing to spend mega-bucks on Pogba, but not willing to spend a fraction of that on Kante doesn't make sense. CM is the weakest part of your squad and has been for a long while now.
Mate, Kante was brilliant for France early in the tournament. Arguably their best player after Payet. They didn't look nearly as good without him. Having him at the base of their midfield allowed Pogba to get forward where he's most effective. Without him Pogba was forced to play deeper where he was invisible and useless.
I think France would've won the tournament had Deschamp not had a mare and dropped Kante.
Don't agree at all here. Bayern wouldn't have let him go so easily if he was still near his best. Don't think you'll find many football fans around who would agree with you here. He's not close to world class anymore.
Can't believe I'm agreeing with Glaston here but I am.
Luckily for Chelsea Mourinho/Woodward/United are obssesed with sexy, star names instead of what makes the most sense.
I really, really hope we succeed in signing him before others get involved.
Bullshit. A player is better in another set up doesn't mean he would do the same in another set up. Conte had a master class vs Del Bosque doesn't mean he is all the best tactician. Low had Conte in his pocket with back 5 tactic in friendly and in Euro game. If not for Boateng's hand ball, Italy hardly threatened Germany at all as time passed. If Germany attacking option was in form Italy could be in serious trouble. Then Deschamps in turn had Low in his pocket...
Conte clearly fell back on Kante after missing Naigolan, who is not being called world class by anyone. Weird when Kante is called by this term by quite some PL fans. Hmm..
Last edited:
The 6 job at United is for Schneiderlin, TFM, and Schweinsteiger / Carrick will still still play such a role. Yes you would like to think they're dead but I think it all depends of instructions.
Anyway for Kante, again, if you can give him a football brain, fine, he would kill it, otherwise, you'll have a player who runs a lot but will not move you forward. The problem will be bigger next year if you play the C1 as those teams are far move advanced tactically. Again, in the EPL, yes, he might be useful to get back the ball from times to times.
Remember that the best 6s in the world are not necessarily physical. They follow the game and anticipate it.
And yes, I can believe you agree with Glaston, I mean, come on!!!
Anyway for Kante, again, if you can give him a football brain, fine, he would kill it, otherwise, you'll have a player who runs a lot but will not move you forward. The problem will be bigger next year if you play the C1 as those teams are far move advanced tactically. Again, in the EPL, yes, he might be useful to get back the ball from times to times.
Remember that the best 6s in the world are not necessarily physical. They follow the game and anticipate it.
And yes, I can believe you agree with Glaston, I mean, come on!!!
he might not be world class anymore, but do you think Kante is? Really? Schweinsteiger didn't fit in with Pep but as I said if he stays fit next season then he'll be one of the best midfielders in the league. Kante isn't wasn't and will never be world class or close to world class.
Or we could spend nothing on Kante and go with Schneiderlin, Carrick and TFM sharing and competing for that role.
He can if he becomes Makelele (he's not a Vieira type of player). But to become Makelele, he needs to develop a better brain when on a pitch, especially in term of game anticipation. That would be my take.
Now Conte could give him that too, let's not dismiss that. So far, Ranieri, despite his intelligence, has not managed to fully transform Kante into that role.
Kante would be great for us but we still have schneiderlin who we've certainly not seen the best of and a player I feel Mourinho could really get the best out of. Then there's Fosu-mensah who is a beast in the making and Carrick can play there too.
Plenty of options available for that position which is why I believe we're happy to see this one slide.
Plenty of options available for that position which is why I believe we're happy to see this one slide.
Firstly, I'm not even sure why we're comparing the two directly. They don't play the same positions. They don't have the same skill sets. They won't be asked to do the same things.
Secondly, I highly doubt Schweinsteiger will have the kind of impact you're suggesting, fit or not. He won't even be a regular. Especially with Pogba likely to arrive.
As for Kante being world class, I'd have to say yes he is as a defensive midfielder. Struggling to name any others who are at his level at tackling, breaking up play, intercepting the ball, covering the entire pitch, and tireless work rate. Remember Matic in our title wining season a couple of years ago? Kante is like a more mobile and athletic version of that. So, world class.
Schweinsteiger is also a 6 and will play behind Pogba. He will just anticipate better and relaunch the ball in a more proper way if fit. As I said, Kante will need to develop a football brain. You do have a good coach so he might be able to bring that out too.
I didn't say will I said could. For all we know Pogba could come, flop and Schweinsteiger end up starting ahead of him.
As for Kante being world class if you think he is you're simply wrong it's not even up for debate. Imagine you were making a best world Xi with a 2 or 3 man midfield he would absolutely not be in it.
What makes me laugh about Kante is all the things you mentioned (work rate, interceptions, tackling and the tedious cliche you see bandied about of 'covers every blade of grass') were said about Schneiderlin a year ago. Literally 12 months ago he was the 'best midfielder in the league' world class etc etc. We've seen so many players have a good season and then not step it up. To suggest Kante belongs with the current top midfielders in the world is ludicrous.
Saying he's world class doesn't mean he's the best. Hell, defensive midfielders aren't even considered in world XI's usually. That's a dumb metric to consider. All I'm saying is that there aren't many better than him at what he does.
The lack in quantity of better options doesn't elevate one who still ain't there yet to be called world class. That's lowering standard practice. If that's the case, David Luiz is definitely world class, which is very debatable.
Nainggolan is higher in Conte priority list than Kante (I agree Nainggolan shows more dimensional in his play than Kante). I hardly hear anyone call him world class. Why is Kante though?
If we sign Pogba, along with Schneiderlin, Herrera, Carrick and BFS, we have more than adequate resources for no 6 and no 8, especially in a season outside the Champions League.
Mourinho should only sign players that are an upgrade on existing resources and I don't think Kante offers that, likeable and hardworking a player he might be.
Else we should off load one of the above.
Mourinho should only sign players that are an upgrade on existing resources and I don't think Kante offers that, likeable and hardworking a player he might be.
Else we should off load one of the above.
Okay, that's fair enough. I'll say he a top class player then. He's very, very good. He's in the conversation as one of the best in his position.
Yes. That's a fair point. Kante is very good, best midfield performer in PL last season. Will be interesting time seeing whether Conte can elevate Kante further.
Doesn't world class literally mean the best? It's not 'dumb' to consider a players quality by comparing him to other players. There are a lot of players who do what he does but are actually effective with the ball. That's why Kante isn't 'world class' and never will be.
Could you give a couple names, please?
So anyone not in the FIFA World XI isn't world class? Simply not true.
World class to me means that someone is one of the 5 or so best in the world in their position. It can vary by position, obviously. Agüero and Hazard are world class for example but aren't the best in the world.
The obvious ones are the defensive midfielders playing for the top teams in Europe. The first that springs to my mind is probably Matuidi. He is very similar and much better at moving with the ball. Not a lot of top teams play with out and out defensive mids though because they're not as effective in a lot of situations. It works well for Leicester when they defended so much, but at a team what generally dominate they're not as useful.
- Status