Youri Tielemans | signs for Villa

[Abraxas]

How is he a backup for De Jong? That makes zero sense, they are nothing alike.

Surely he's closer to a backup for Eriksen. Maybe he's even in addition, who knows. But a replacement for De Jong he is not.

 

[TrustInJanuzaj]

Yes please! Him and De Jong would give us unbelievable control of the ball through midfield. Think they would be awesome.

 

[GledTheRed]

In with a cheeky 20 mill bid

Which is fair but no doubt those daft cnuts would want 40.

 

[ShinjiNinja26]

MOTD player. Nowhere near consistent enough but maybe ETH could help change that.

 

[UnitedSofa]

The good news is if we signed De Jong and Tielemans it'd probably be the end of McTominay's chance at ever having regular gametime.

 

[Dazzmondo]

Think his pressing numbers are horrendous.

Pressures: 30th percentile, Tackles: 46th percentile, Interceptions: 23rd percentile.

Anyway, watching him on a bad day tells you all you need to know about him. He's not a guy who you want as a defensive #8 next to FdJ.

30th percentile is ok for a deep lying playmaker which seems to be what ETH is targeting. Based on who we are targetting, ETH seems to be focused on getting better passers who know how to receive and progress the ball, which when you consider he's a very possession-oriented manager make sense, especially considering our cms are abysmal at all of these areas for a team competing for top 4. Surely we'd have seen some reliable links to some more press-heavy tackler if this was the type of player ETH was targeting?

 

[Andrew7582]

30th percentile is ok for a deep lying playmaker which seems to be what ETH is targeting. Based on who we are targetting, ETH seems to be focused on getting better passers who know how to receive and progress the ball, which when you consider he's a very possession-oriented manager make sense, especially considering our cms are abysmal at all of these areas for a team competing for top 4. Surely we'd have seen some reliable links to some more press-heavy tackler if this was the type of player ETH was targeting?

We aren't signing a second centre midfielder, that's why there are no reliable links.

 

[Abraxas]

30th percentile is ok for a deep lying playmaker which seems to be what ETH is targeting. Based on who we are targetting, ETH seems to be focused on getting better passers who know how to receive and progress the ball, which when you consider he's a very possession-oriented manager make sense, especially considering our cms are abysmal at all of these areas for a team competing for top 4. Surely we'd have seen some reliable links to some more press-heavy tackler if this was the type of player ETH was targeting?

I think as a possession team you do actually have to press though. Otherwise it's pretty hard to maintain possesion of the ball if it takes an age to win it back. Generally teams like that want to monopolise the ball and you need a certain intensity to force that. I think it's a legitimate concern that we get players that can press, but maybe it's very coachable.

 

[Berbaclass]

With good coaching he can be a valuable squad player IMO.

 

[RedRonaldo]

Maybe we will have midfield 3 of FDJ, Tielemans and Eriksen for total midfield control

 

[Rolaholic]

Signing him up for £25m would be smart business tbh.

Going from the likes of Fred and McTom as our main recognizable midfield options to the likes of FDJ, Eriksen and Tielemans would be such a raise in quality.

Even VDB under ETH should bring out the best in him

 

[Dazzmondo]

It 100% will not be Eriksen for the reasons I already mentioned, you must know very little about him as a player if you think that's a viable option in the premier league. I am expecting it to be Fred who plays next to him as that's the best option we've got barring another signing. De Jong will be the deepest midfielder collecting the ball during build up play, that's not the same as being the most defensively responsible player out of possession, those are two different things.

I've watched Eriksen constantly for the last decade. I don't think it's his best position, but he has played as a cm plenty of times before. At Brentford last season he played as a cm in a midfield 3 which wasn't exactly the same role as a midfield 2 behind a 10 would be for us, I'd imagine there'd be more defensive responsibility put on him if he was playing this deep for Utd. When De Jong played as a dm for Ajax, he played alongside a deep lying playmaker, not some sort of Ndidi destroyer/pressing machine. FDJ made far more tackles and interceptions than his midfield counterparts during this time. His role at Barca was completely different. Tielemans would certainly be comparable to Schone in terms of being first and foremost a good passer, used to possession football who also generally has good positional understanding (which was more important than Schone's actual pressing anyway). Knowing when to stay back while FDJ gets forward would be the essential thing and that part both Eriksen and Tielemans would probably be capable of.

Maybe ETH does see Eriksen as a more advanced squad player but it seemed weird to me that there were no other links to a deeper cm before Tielemans. If that always was the plan and it just wasn't reported, fair enough. I didn't see anybody in our current squad who suited the cm position though. Also think it's a bit weird for us to be signing a #10 when that is VDB's best position by far and he's already not going to get the game time he wants because Bruno's best position is also #10. Also think it's strange that Spurs seemingly dropped out of contention but Utd interest remained with Brentford. I'd imagine the reason for Eriksen not wanting to join Spurs again is because he was told he would only be a squad player. If he was similarly told he would only be a squad player for Utd, combined with the talk of him wanting to ideally stay in London, surely he'd have already confirmed his move to Brentford and the murmurings around us wouldn't be continuing on?

 

[hobbers]

Yeah he is integral to the squad. Because right now we have 2 midfielders.

Obviously if he's integral to the starting eleven this time next season we'll be finishing 6th+ again and Ten Hag will probably be facing down the barrel of the English press.

 

[Dazzmondo]

I think as a possession team you do actually have to press though. Otherwise it's pretty hard to maintain possesion of the ball if it takes an age to win it back. Generally teams like that want to monopolise the ball and you need a certain intensity to force that. I think it's a legitimate concern that we get players that can press, but maybe it's very coachable.

Tielemans can press though. Leicester also tend to have relatively high possession which in turn makes the pressing numbers of a team look lower because they're actually controlling the ball so consistently. This means there are less presses because the other team barely has the ball. I think most would accept City are a very effective pressing team right? Well here's how Tielemans compares to the City midfielders (source: https://fbref.com/en/stathead/playe...1-2022&player_id6=6434f10d&p6yrfrom=2021-2022)

Tielemans - pressures per 90: 16.7
Eriksen - pressures per 90: 14.4
Bernardo - pressures per 90: 15.1
De Bruyne - pressures per 90: 14.7
Gundogan - pressures per 90: 9.51
Rodri - pressures per 90: 15.0

I just don't see people's issues with it tbh. He doesn't seem very dissimilar to Schone to me (and is far more talented imo) which is who partnered FDJ under ETH at Ajax. In any case if we are actually interested in him, ETH clearly believes he can bring something and we should probably trust him.

 

[UnitedSofa]

Yeah he is integral to the squad. Because right now we have 2 midfielders.

Obviously if he's integral to the starting eleven this time next season we'll be finishing 6th+ again and Ten Hag will probably be facing down the barrel of the English press.

….& that will be all McSauce’s fault will it?

 

[Dazzmondo]

We aren't signing a second centre midfielder, that's why there are no reliable links.

Playing with at least one midfielder who is poor at receiving and progressing the ball just doesn't seem likely for a manager who is so focused on one-touch and possession football. Fred and McTominay are both really bad at this

 

[Mainoldo]

If true. Surely a midfielder would have to be sold.

Pogba - De Jong
Matic - Tielemans
Mata - Eriksen

But maybe not. We do also have 5 subs.

 

[hobbers]

….& that will be all McSauce’s fault will it?

? Well, partly obviously. I'm just saying it's obvious if we're still starting McTominay a year from now we won't have progressed.

 

[Andrew7582]

Playing with at least one midfielder who is poor at receiving and progressing the ball just doesn't seem likely for a manager who is so focused on one-touch and possession football. Fred and McTominay are both really bad at this

We aren't going to get everything that ETH wants in the first window, he'll have to make do with some of the current players. He knows that, hence his comments about the second place finish and potential of current players.

 

[Redcy]

I think Eriksen if he comes will act a bit like Berghuis at Ajax, he will either play in place of Ronaldo, as that false 9 like Berguis did back in the day, or he will swap out for Fernandes. Tielemans might be viable alongside de Jong, but I think he will make a 3 way group of Fred/De Jong/Tielemans if he does for two spots, with McT likely leaving

 

[DWelbz19]

I think Eriksen if he comes will act a bit like Berghuis at Ajax, he will either play in place of Ronaldo, as that false 9 like Berguis did back in the day, or he will swap out for Fernandes. Tielemans might be viable alongside de Jong, but I think he will make a 3 way group of Fred/De Jong/Tielemans if he does for two spots, with McT likely leaving

Do you mean Tadic? Don’t think Berghuis ever played as a false nine.

Tielemans can press though. Leicester also tend to have relatively high possession which in turn makes the pressing numbers of a team look lower because they're actually controlling the ball so consistently. This means there are less presses because the other team barely has the ball. I think most would accept City are a very effective pressing team right? Well here's how Tielemans compares to the City midfielders (source: https://fbref.com/en/stathead/playe...1-2022&player_id6=6434f10d&p6yrfrom=2021-2022)

Tielemans - pressures per 90: 16.7
Eriksen - pressures per 90: 14.4
Bernardo - pressures per 90: 15.1
De Bruyne - pressures per 90: 14.7
Gundogan - pressures per 90: 9.51
Rodri - pressures per 90: 15.0

I just don't see people's issues with it tbh. He doesn't seem very dissimilar to Schone to me (and is far more talented imo) which is who partnered FDJ under ETH at Ajax. In any case if we are actually interested in him, ETH clearly believes he can bring something and we should probably trust him.

Pressure stats are nice. For me, his general positioning from a defensive perspective, lack of mobility, and how he looks like he’s blowing out of his arse a lot of the time is the bigger issue for me.

 

[Dazzmondo]

We aren't going to get everything that ETH wants in the first window, he'll have to make do with some of the current players. He knows that, hence his comments about the second place finish and potential of current players.

And if we actually are actively going after Tielemans? What's the logic then? Where do you expect him to play? I'm pretty sure this is actually the 2nd time I've heard ETH likes him. Think I heard something like a week ago or something but don't know what the source was. If he is genuinely interested then would that not suggest he wants this type of possession based player and sees it as more of a priority than you seem to?

 

[AFC NimbleThumb]

I love tweets like these, telling fans what a coach thinks & so long as it aligns with said fans opinions it’s used as gospel.

This is not proof as to whether EtH rates the lad or not.

 

[izec]

Backup transfer in case Eriksen goes to Brentford

 

[T00lsh3d]

I love tweets like these, telling fans what a coach thinks & so long as it aligns with said fans opinions it’s used as gospel.

This is not proof as to whether EtH rates the lad or not.

One day, one day, an incoming coach will come in and say, “McTominay? You must be having a laugh….he’s fecking useless! I’d rather bring Chadwick back than play that tool! When I start playing him in midfield you know I’m after the severance package”

 

[yamo123x]

i hear many people BiggIng this lad up as a DM.....absolutely no chance is he a DM, he is a poor in the tackle, gave away 4 penalties last year for reckless tackles....thats why N'didi or Mendy play behind him, no way is he a defensive midfielder....much prefer Sangare

 

[Thoms]

Not good enough

 

[Dazzmondo]

i hear many people BiggIng this lad up as a DM.....absolutely no chance is he a DM, he is a poor in the tackle, gave away 4 penalties last year for reckless tackles....thats why N'didi or Mendy play behind him, no way is he a defensive midfielder....much prefer Sangare

Seriously, who is calling Tielemans a dm?

 

[Andrew7582]

And if we actually are actively going after Tielemans? What's the logic then? Where do you expect him to play? I'm pretty sure this is actually the 2nd time I've heard ETH likes him. Think I heard something like a week ago or something but don't know what the source was. If he is genuinely interested then would that not suggest he wants this type of possession based player and sees it as more of a priority than you seem to?

I'll cross that bridge if we come to it, not much else I can say.

 

[Nero]

The term plodder was made for this guy.

 

[Ralph1386]

Backup transfer in case Eriksen goes to Brentford

Is he a number 10? Thought he was more of an 8.

 

[ThanksBoss26]

Backup transfer in case Eriksen goes to Brentford

My thinking too

 

[izec]

Is he a number 10? Thought he was more of an 8.

Yes, but we would not play Tielemans and De Jong in a 2 man midfield, so he would be like an 8-10 in a 3 man midfield, hence instead of Eriksen in the formation. That is my opinion.

 

[2cents]

I haven’t paid much attention to him over the years, but he must be worth considering if he’s going on the cheap.

How do you guys think he’d work in a midfield three with De Jong and Bruno if we play 5-3-2 next season?

 

[Ralph1386]

Yes, but we would not play Tielemans and De Jong in a 2 man midfield, so he would be like an 8-10 in a 3 man midfield, hence instead of Eriksen in the formation. That is my opinion.

Ok. I thought there would be 2 midfielders behind a number 10 in a 4-3-3. Anyway, let’s see.

 

[BuzzKillington]

The term plodder was made for this guy.

Whenever we have played Leicester, and when we played Anderlecht, he’s looked the best midfielder on the pitch by some distance.

 

[fps]

Classic Football Manager declaration, you love to see it.

 

[forevrared]

He’s probably not the one player who will take us to the next level, but he’s absolutely better than most of our midfield options and would improve the squad significantly.

 

[UnitedSofa]

He’s probably not the one player who will take us to the next level, but he’s absolutely better than most of our midfield options and would improve the squad significantly.

What a wishy washy comment

 

[forevrared]

What a wishy washy comment

It may be, but it is what we need. What if we sign De Jong and he sprains an ankle? We’re back where we started. We need to add quality depth throughout the squad, especially in midfield.