Haven't watched him in a game but a few videos make me wonder why on earth we're interested. Anyone able to explain this to me?
Wilson wrote: Haven't watched him in a game but a few videos make me wonder why on earth we're interested. Anyone able to explain this to me?
Probably the same reason pool signed shit/raw players when they were in the Europa league. The real question is why we signed so many turds when we were in the CL.
I'd imagine they see the qualities you can't coach someone all there. And his weaknesses mainly as things that can hopefully be ironed out. It's more of a gamble and a bit more work but also the reality of our situation.
Size and athleticism is very important for a defender though. The rest comes with experience.
You can compare this to when Pool signed a raw Joe Gomez or City signing Kompany I guess
Wasn’t Kompany a known quantity. It was more of a surprise that it had taken that long for a big club to snap him up. He was already looking a talent and leader from a very early age and known across the continent.
This is probably more like Gomez. We can’t do worse than our half dozen misfits
Clrnc wrote: Size and athleticism is very important for a defender though. The rest comes with experience. You can compare this to when Pool signed a raw Joe Gomez or City signing Kompany I guess
Like when Pool signed Glen Johnson for £18M huge fee at the time. But Rafa felt he had the raw ingredianets to be a top FB. And just needed to whip it into a cake. Sadly he was a turd sandwitch.
Claudius wrote: Wasn’t Kompany a known quantity. It was more of a surprise that it had taken that long for a big club to snap him up. He was already looking a talent and leader from a very early age and known across the continent. This is probably more like Gomez. We can’t do worse than our half dozen misfits
Kompany was an intresting one super highly rated. His mam passed away and his form went terrible. As far as i recall his club just sent him home he was playing that badly so they finished the remaining games without him. His stock plummeted as a result and City picked him up on the cheap.
speedy wrote: Claudius wrote: Wasn’t Kompany a known quantity. It was more of a surprise that it had taken that long for a big club to snap him up. He was already looking a talent and leader from a very early age and known across the continent. This is probably more like Gomez. We can’t do worse than our half dozen misfits Kompany was an intresting one super highly rated. His mam passed away and his form went terrible. As far as i recall his club just sent him home he was playing that badly so they finished the remaining games without him. His stock plummeted as a result and City picked him up on the cheap.
I remember also that he had a big injury. That’s what killed his price. But even before then while he was still at Anderlecht, he was the Saliba of his time. Every club wanted him and he chose to go to Germany. He got injured. As you say, his stock plummeted, and I think Hamburg might’ve even sold him for less than they originally bought him. I was well pissed when City got him.
Certainly has areas to improve on but Arteta can help with that.
Being a lefty appears to be a draw.
With him, Saliba and Mari it’s good to at last have some physically imposing defenders
The midget era really got under my skin
@lorddulaarsenal wrote: Certainly has areas to improve on but Arteta can help with that. Being a lefty appears to be a draw. With him, Saliba and Mari it’s good to at last have some physically imposing defenders The midget era really got under my skin
I think you can afford midgets if you have 55-60% possession. But if you are constantly defending, especially giving up crosses and set pieces, then midgets are an absolute no-go. City have high possession and mainly give up goals on breaks. They don’t actually absolutely need 2 tall defenders when you think about it. If they must choose, their defenders better be great on the ball.
One thing I can't tell from the videos is how quick he is. Does anyone have a better idea? Is he quick off the mark? Good top speed? Who is he comparable to?
Doesn’t look overly quick to me
goon wrote: What aspects do you think look raw?
What aspects do you think look raw?
Passing, tackling, reading of the game.
He’ll be done easily by clever strikers.
@lorddulaarsenal wrote: Doesn’t look overly quick to me
If he’s not fast, or doesn’t have acceleration, that’s a concern. Top teams are full of Sterling, Jesus, Salah and Mané types. You’re very rarely bruising versus Giroud. A Liverpool friend sent me a video of Mané’s first goal against us in 2016. He just flew past Monreal and another stiff. They stood no chance.
Claudius wrote: @lorddulaarsenal wrote: Doesn’t look overly quick to me If he’s not fast, or doesn’t have acceleration, that’s a concern. Top teams are full of Sterling, Jesus, Salah and Mané types. You’re very rarely bruising versus Giroud. A Liverpool friend sent me a video of Mané’s first goal against us in 2016. He just flew past Monreal and another stiff. They stood no chance.
The way we've set up in the past decade has over relied on us having pacey defenders though which meant we adopt higher risk strategies to defending. The exception to this was when we had Mertesacker and Koscielny who actually complimented each other.
This guy seems raw (based on whatever little I've seen) but he does have a solid foundation to work with if Arteta is confident that he can get the best out of him.
I've seen a few people list him as being quick so he can't be slow, I was just wondering exactly how fast he is. Doesn't look Sol/Kolo quick but hopefully he can move across the ground quick enough to make things a bit easier.
goon wrote: One thing I can't tell from the videos is how quick he is. Does anyone have a better idea? Is he quick off the mark? Good top speed? Who is he comparable to?
He is very quick and powerful. I am not entirely sure how quick Saliba is but I think Gabriel will be easily our fastest CB in the squad. Deceptively quick like Sokratis.
He outpaced Tammy Abraham for example
Now it's getting picked up by english press as well.
Says we are looking to sell defenders:
The departures are expected to include some of their seven current centre backs. Rob Holding and Calum Chambers have been made available along with Sokratis ,Sead Kolašinac.
I would keep one of Holding-Chambers. But would love the see Sokratis & Kola gone.
Disgraceful Mustafi is not on that list
Clrnc wrote: Disgraceful Mustafi is not on that list
I assume there are no takers who are willing to give us a fee as well, at least we make some cash with Holding & Chambers that we can use. Sokratis can't pass the way Arteta wants his defenders to pass so he will never play. We can't sell all 4 of them so they probably decided to just keep Mustafi for one more year? I don't know.
Mustafi is the best of that lot after Chambers. If we aren't confident about Chambers' health, then he moves to the top.
We'd have Luiz, Gabriel Saliba, Tierney, Mari, Mustafi on the books (+Mav)
The amount of waste at this club is impressive.
