Sicario wrote:
Big Willie wrote:
I'd rather it wasn't us. Looks a red card machine to me. Rash as fuck as well and extremely one footed. Not in the slightest bit impressed despite some of the praise he's getting.
Honest question, how many times have you seen him play?
Honestly, not much other than the comps and some touch vids when we were linked. I don't really watch links for people I don't know much about unless they're strongly linked to us so I was excited at the first links after hearing some of the praise sent his way. Once I watched a few vids I was a lot less impressed. Yeah, I know it's not a lot to go on but it's the impression I get. Him diving into tackles really scares me, especially with how refs treat us, calling bullshit freekicks and cards for the most minor things.
Coombs wrote:
Look at it this way Willie, we're going for potential in defense with at least the right physical attributes and raw ability, so that we can go big in midfield.
It was always going to be one or the other.
I understand that Coombs, and if we sign him, I'll be more than supportive and hoping he succeeds. I just feel goong for potential doesn't necessarily mean the player must have some glaring flaws. Saliba looked impressive from first viewing, I just don't get that kind of feeling from Gabriel.
Quincy Abeyie wrote:
Haven't seen him much, so I just have to hope for the best. He does go to ground too often for my liking, but some reports suggest that the manager at Lille tasks him and Fonte with being reactive/passive and proactive respectively, and that he goes to ground more than he'd ideally like due to this. A big strength of his seems to be his long balls, so the plan is probably to phase out Luiz without losing what he offers offensively.
I haven't seen these reports but if true then I'd be a lot less worried. Constantly going to ground full blood and thunder style was something you could get away with back in the day. Nowadays you're more likely to get left by the quick feet of the player you're defending or punished by the ref. Doubly so if you play for Arsenal.