Varane seems to be another defender who needs an organizer next to him from what I have seen. Don't think him and Kos may necessarily work, which I expect is the point.

Don't think it's an organizer Koscielny needs. He worked well with Djourou too and he's even more quiet.

I think Kos just naturally gets these tall lumbering centerbacks. He knows what they need and how they think and he finds it easy to play with them.

IMO it is mostly that Kos is really aggressive in his defending, likes to attack the ball a lot. To compliment that you need someone a bit more measured. Varane is certainly that, but I also think you need a proper vocal organizer back there, and that he is not.

Ricky1985 wrote:

Has anyone actually seen this fella play a bit?

He's a German defender Ricky, what's to see.

Klaus wrote:

He hasn't played much and he isn't really Ancelotti's kind of defender. If they need to finance a summer target and we offer good money for him odds are they will bite. One can dream at least.

Why do you think so?

Varane fits every defensive system IMO, the boy's got it all. Injuries have fucked up his season, that's why he's not played a lot. He missed the the 1st 2 months of the season, and I think he was the main stay in defence after his return from injury. Pepe and Ramos were the ones being rotated from what I can remember, Ramos was even moved into midfield to accommodate them all in the El Classico. However he picked up another injury shortly after his comeback and only reappeared in February this year. Real went on a ridiculous number of games without conceding a goal in his absence and their defence has been one of the best in Europe in the past 5 months (although I'd attribute that to the return of Alonso and moving Di Maria to a CM role), so it's only logical Ancelotti sticks with the same players that have helped build up that defensive solidity. Ancelotti also seems to be far more cautious with him this time around.

I think we should not even waste our time enquiring for him, there's no way Real are going to sell him IMO. Pepe on the otherhand...

Rex wrote:

Varane seems to be another defender who needs an organizer next to him from what I have seen. Don't think him and Kos may necessarily work, which I expect is the point.

They looked good together for France against Spain last year. Only 1 match I know, but I think there is so much potential in that partnership. France should go with those two at the world cup, will be very difficult for Kos to get in though after his performance against Ukraine.

Varane does have similarity with Kos, but he's also similar to Merte (very calm, intelligent, doesn't dive into tackles, hardly gets booked etc). He plays a similar sort of role for Madrid which Merte plays here; Pepe and Ramos are aggressive CBs who go after the ball just like Kos does for us, and Varane mostly mops up (he could do the other role though). I have always felt Madrid are better at the back with Varane and one of Pepe and Ramos (due to the way they both like to defend), but the Ramos-Pepe Partnership has been very good this season despite some comical defending from Pepe of late.

Varane also reminds me of Blanc on the ball, seen him play some ridiculous 1st time passes from the back. He's the best ball playing French CB since Blanc (amazing technique!) IMO.

We don't need, or want, that psychopath. On top of that, he isn't very good. Pepe that is.
If the France manager has any sense, he will play Kos and Mangala in the WC. Then those two should continue playing together at Arsenal for years to come.

Yeah Pepe has deteriorated the last two seasons, and that is likely to continue. Wouldn't say no though if we are looking for a Vermaelen replacement.

Varane is on another level compared to Mangala, far more talented IMO.

Mangala looks very good from what I have seen, but I'm not totally sold on him. Looks very rash to me, isn't great on the ball and isn't all that when it comes to smart defensive positioning. I must confess I don't follow the Portuguese league, this is all based on CL and Europa league games, so I can't make a definitive judgement on him at this point. Would like to see him at a top club to see what he's truly made of.

Mangala is top class on the ball, mate.

Not from the matches I have seen (again I should point out, I don't watch him week in week out), but let's agree to disagree.

I don't watch him week in week out either, but I have seen enough to say that with conviction.

Varane is the best young centreback about

That Marquinhos is rubbo

If we can't get Varane go for Fazio, Schar or Stones

Or Winston Reid