The Summer 2024 scouting thread

[Annabel]

What are your thoughts on Omorodion Ghost?

Sounds like a legend.

 

[Trix]

If there's no space to operate against predominantly low blocks then he would be a peripheral figure or marked out the game.

Our proposed CF in Ange's system must have more to his game than being a poacher.

We play against low blocks nearly every week. I still keep seeing multiple crosses every game flashing through between the keeper and back line over and over again. I see cut backs reaching the right area's with no one finding the right spaces to attack those cut backs.

Also a world class poacher would cost a fraction of what a very good well rounded CF would cost because the big clubs don't want them or play to their strengths.

 

[Trix]

Looks very much the character antithesis that Ange has described this week in who he wants at this club.

Off the pitch he's a bit of a dick.

 

[felmani26]

Nah. Off the pitch he's a bit of a dick.

Think you've misread my post then as i'm advocating the reasons why Ange would NOT pursue Toney.

 

[TEESSIDE1]

One thing I really like about Gibbs-White is how much leadership he shows with Forest - constantly trying to dictate and encourage them. Think he'd be a great addition.

In addition to this he’s also very versatile and unlike some of our previous acquisitions he’s very good no matter where he plays.

 

[Trix]

Think you've misread my post then as i'm advocating the reasons why Ange would NOT pursue Toney.

Ahh I have indeed. A quick penalty box forward with movement is what we need imo. Even forgetting Ivan Toerag's off the field, lets call them foibles, he's not the profile on the pitch we need for my money.

 

[felmani26]

We play against low blocks nearly every week. I still keep seeing multiple crosses every game flashing through between the keeper and back line over and over again. I see cut backs reaching the right area's with no one finding the right spaces to attack those cut backs.

Also a world class poacher would cost a fraction of what a very good well rounded CF would cost because the big clubs don't want them or play to their strengths.

We routinely see the (clear) tactic of WF in space beating the opposing fullback, low delivery in for the opposite WF to come in - this generally being Werner in to Johnson who does seem to have a much better spatial sense rather than other way round where Werner can be caught dawdling.

What we lack severely is a forward with brains, strength - either in pure hold up play or drawing fouls/winning free kicks and ability to be the conduit in quickly moving the ball around in and around the opposition penalty box.

Curious who you think would be this poacher that would cost a fraction less, who our contemporaries don't want and would make a tangible difference over say Richarlison here.

 

[TEESSIDE1]

Yes agree mate.

Its a pity because he'd be perfect for us.

With that arrogance, you just know he'd hit the ground running.

Despite being a bellend, he would toughen us up and from a skill set perspective bring a suitcase full of attributes that we’re currently lacking. We lack characters and aggression… since the likes of Dembele, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Dier etc left we’ve become pretty soft again. I remember when Jose said the players were too nice and needed to be c…. well we’re seeing a repeat of this again. We lack both leadership and aggression on the pitch. Son’s a lovely bloke but not a leader.

 

[McFlash]

Do we think we'll be looking at a striker this summer?
I know we appear to need one because Son doesn't suit the system and Richy is riddled with niggly injuries but we've got a fair bit of potential coming through, plus we may have other priorities first.

I could see us sticking with Son and Richy next season, while seeing how the likes of Scarlett, Veliz, Lankshear and even Parrott and Donley progress.

I'm just thinking that we've got a fair bit of talent around 20 years old, who should really start making a mark next season.
We're not selling Son and I can't see us getting half decent money for Richy, so it might be better to play the hand we've got for next year and see how we go.

 

[Ghost Hardware]

Super risky considering injuries but I would love for us to try and get Dani Olmo. Injuries are a concern but It's the only reason why he isn't worth 75m+ right now. Basically equally efffective on right and left wing and he could also play in Maddison's role. He isn't fast like Werner or Johnson but he isn't slow either and he is very creative and good at dribbling. Plenty of great performances in CL too.

Great brain in final third, he would flourish in this system IF he could stay healthy. He can stay wide or cut inside or make killer balls from the middle. We lost a lot of IQ in final third when we sold Kane, we need one or two players (next to in-form Maddison) to fix it a little bit. Worst case we get ~20 matches of him per season where he's a perfect backup for 3 positions where we lack depth. Ideally Paratici finds someone similar with better injury record but I don't know of anyone who wasn't already mentioned in this thread.

And this was his goal against Brazil 2 weeks ago:

Spoiler: Goal

I really like Olmo, he’s a very classy player imo and like you point out he’s a very versatile AM. I must say tho that I would find it somewhat amusing if we sold Gio and replaced him with someone who has missed twice as many games as Gio has over the last three Seasons.

 

[Trix]

We routinely see the (clear) tactic of WF in space beating the opposing fullback, low delivery in for the opposite WF to come in - this generally being Werner in to Johnson who does seem to have a much better spatial sense rather than other way round where Werner can be caught dawdling.

What we lack severely is a forward with brains, strength - either in pure hold up play or drawing fouls/winning free kicks and ability to be the conduit in quickly moving the ball around in and around the opposition penalty box.

Curious who you think would be this poacher that would cost a fraction less, who our contemporaries don't want and would make a tangible difference over say Richarlison here.

Despite not wanting him at all previously (because of his limitations) when we've been linked before, I think Jonathan David would be perfect for an Ange team. Will only have a year left on his contract come the Summer.

 

[Nick-TopSpursMan]

Despite not wanting him at all previously (because of his limitations) when we've been linked before, I think Jonathan David would be perfect for an Ange team. Will only have a year left on his contract come the Summer.

I worry about whether David is a good enough finisher and whether he has true goalscoring instincts.

He averages 13-14 non penalty goals a season playing in Ligue 1 for a decent side too. I'd expect him to be scoring a bit more than that in all honesty.

Is he any good in the air too? I agree with your argument that we need a fox in the box type (who has good technique too) but ideally we want someone who can also pose a threat aerially even if they're not a huge target man type.

 

[King of the Lane]

Despite not wanting him at all previously (because of his limitations) when we've been linked before, I think Jonathan David would be perfect for an Ange team. Will only have a year left on his contract come the Summer.

Im really surprised that you think he would be perfect in our system as he isnt a fox in the box type of striker, nor is he a lone striker. He plays much better as a second striker and likes to drop deep quite a bit to be involved in the build up. I actually think he is opposite to what you think we need in a new striker. The perfect one for us is probably Lautaro but that will never happen.

 

[Nick-TopSpursMan]

I'd like us to go for Lois Openda. I know he won't be cheap but he's explosive and he's a real threat.

 

[Ghost Hardware]

I'd like us to go for Lois Openda. I know he won't be cheap but he's explosive and he's a real threat.

I agree he's excellent, I listed him on the previous page but honestly there is zero chance. Liepzig broke their transfer record to sign him only last season and he is one of Europes top goalscorers with 21 goals and 6 assists in 28 games, seriously good numbers. He has a 70 mil release clause but that's only active from 2025, to get him now he'd probably cost as much as Gyökeres. I just don't see him as viable target, looks a great player tho.

 

[jpascavitz]

A funny yet interesting name that I saw pop up today is Nabil Bentaleb. I doubt we would move for him, however wanted to bring up due to the HG factor (similar to KWP). He's worked his way back up the football world ladder and is currently having a solid season in France at Lille, a side that has similarities to ours. Very attacking (some say almost too attacking) system put into place by Paulo Fonseca of all people.

He seems to be really finding himself in the deep 6/8 roles. As some of us may remember, his passing, dribbling still seem to be strengths, but he's showing good data and statistics in his tackling, interceptions, and recoveries. He also loves a long shot which is always a nice option against low blocks.

I know he's a bit older at 29, but I think he'd be a really fun and useful squad option and a bit more of something different in a deep laying playmaker.

EDIT: Added a clip from a match against PSG this season

 

[Guntz]

A funny yet interesting name that I saw pop up today is Nabil Bentaleb. I doubt we would move for him, however wanted to bring up due to the HG factor (similar to KWP). He's worked his way back up the football world ladder and is currently having a solid season in France at Lille, a side that has similarities to ours. Very attacking (some say almost too attacking) system put into place by Paulo Fonseca of all people.

He seems to be really finding himself in the deep 6/8 roles. As some of us may remember, his passing, dribbling still seem to be strengths, but he's showing good data and statistics in his tackling, interceptions, and recoveries. He also loves a long shot which is always a nice option against low blocks.

I know he's a bit older at 29, but I think he'd be a really fun and useful squad option and a bit more of something different in a deep laying playmaker.

EDIT: Added a clip from a match against PSG this season

I really thought he was going to be star for us.

 

[Westmorlandspur]

A funny yet interesting name that I saw pop up today is Nabil Bentaleb. I doubt we would move for him, however wanted to bring up due to the HG factor (similar to KWP). He's worked his way back up the football world ladder and is currently having a solid season in France at Lille, a side that has similarities to ours. Very attacking (some say almost too attacking) system put into place by Paulo Fonseca of all people.

He seems to be really finding himself in the deep 6/8 roles. As some of us may remember, his passing, dribbling still seem to be strengths, but he's showing good data and statistics in his tackling, interceptions, and recoveries. He also loves a long shot which is always a nice option against low blocks.

I know he's a bit older at 29, but I think he'd be a really fun and useful squad option and a bit more of something different in a deep laying playmaker.

EDIT: Added a clip from a match against PSG this season

With both David and Bentaleb at Lille , will be worth watching them play Villa on Thursday.
Bentaleb was a plank with us after he got a 5 yr. contract. No chance with Ange.

 

[Trix]

Im really surprised that you think he would be perfect in our system as he isnt a fox in the box type of striker, nor is he a lone striker. He plays much better as a second striker and likes to drop deep quite a bit to be involved in the build up. I actually think he is opposite to what you think we need in a new striker. The perfect one for us is probably Lautaro but that will never happen.

You are right in what you say but I'm looking at attributes rather than how he's playing elsewhere. Very few teams play how we play looking to get wide players to the bye line and cutting the ball back and putting crosses in low between defenders and keeper. David is quick over short distances and likes to get across his marker. Trying to find that RVN type actually playing that way is very difficult because very few teams play to their strengths anymore. That's why they tend to play off a target man in the modern game. Lautaro is indeed perfect but he's also far more difficult to bring in.

 

[coy-spurs1882]

With both David and Bentaleb at Lille , will be worth watching them play Villa on Thursday.
Bentaleb was a plank with us after he got a 5 yr. contract. No chance with Ange.

tbf he suffered 2 long injuries in his last season with us