Azzedine Ounahi

[rabbikeane]

Not being negative just analysing. He looked pretty good in the World Cup but in what way do you feel he is a difference maker?

He doesn't provide goals or assists yet and isn't an amazing lockpicker or passer.

Looks a very talented midfielder and ball carrier but I'm just not sure he's a difference maker, YET anyway.

I'd claim our biggest issue isn't lack of goal scorers or creators, but a lack of movement with Son not as energetic and our wing backs not impactful runners neither. Both England and Spurs go stale with Kane when there's not movement around him.

 

[rabbikeane]

I wonder how much Angers want for him

He was a 15m rated player, his club started talking about 40m after the World Cup.

 

[Flobadob]

He did look good in the World Cup. Had never heard of him beforehand. He’s got a Mahrez in CM vibe about him. Great ball control and balance along with composure. He’s not another Bryan Gil from what I’ve seen, he has more about him. I imagine whether we do this comes down to the fee because it’s a bit of a risk

 

[EastUpperDK82]

Nabil Bentaleb plays for Angers. Hope he's not a bad influence on the younger players ?

 

[-Afri-Coy-]

Ounahi vs France semis game is just incredible....

He just made 3 back/side way passes all game, even those came when he was trying to play quick interchange give & go.

If he can play to this level in PL, our buildup/linkup play goes from 0 to 100. This lad is pure class.

I can see the 1-2's with Kulusevski

 

[arunspurs]

He was a 15m rated player, his club started talking about 40m after the World Cup.

Thats nothing, when you see Enzo Fernandez signing from River to Benfica in June 2022 for 10m€ and 5 months later he is going for 120m. When you look at Enzo vs Ounahi performances in WC, Ounahi miles ahead of Enzo individually. Enzo plays for better teams in club & country - thats the difference.

Porro or Gusto for RWB and Ounahi for CAM, I would be absolutely delighted with the window. For now, links only says there is a interest. I hope we really go for him in this market

 

[IamSpurtacus]

I hope this is Conte finally going to back 4 but I'm assuming it will mean 352 or 532.

I think people are over fixated with Conte's formation and ignore what he needs/expects from his players

Look how high/advanced Cuti is - Conte wants ball playing CB's in advanced positions to create overloads with wing backs, who create over/under laps with inverted wingers like Deki

Look how far up the pitch lenglet is - he's often delivering crosses into the box from advanced positions

The issue with our WB"s currently is that they're either athletic / solid defensively but poor offesnively (Emerson) or stronger in attack but not athletic enough to get up down like Hakemi (Doherty). Other than Persisic ,they're all bang average (or below) in every aspect

But the paper formation is less important than the players who are out there in what is actually quite a fluid - but vertical - playing style with the right players.

I would focus more on their qualities than whether it means Conte can change nominal formation

 

[rabbikeane]

Thats nothing,

End price might be less tbh, it seems the offers they are getting for him are closer to 20. WIth Napoli and Leicester in the picture.

 

[EastUpperDK82]

End price might be less tbh, it seems the offers they are getting for him are closer to 20. WIth Napoli and Leicester in the picture.

Napoli are supposed to spend their money on N'Dombele !?!? ??

 

[EaMidSpurs]

So, if we scouted him before the world cup, why didn't we make an offer then?
Prices are always inflated after world cups, if the player has a decent world cup.

 

[daveduvet]

Going straight in without reading the thread thus far: ‘comes out of nowhere; I reckon it’s nearly done’ - purely opinion. Aware there’s an illogical approach to my reasoning (I know nothing about him; I don’t even recognise his name; but my gut says it’s on )

 

[HildoSpur]

So, if we scouted him before the world cup, why didn't we make an offer then?
Prices are always inflated after world cups, if the player has a decent world cup.

You have to assume he isn't top of our list but just someone we like.

 

[rabbikeane]

So, if we scouted him before the world cup, why didn't we make an offer then?
Prices are always inflated after world cups, if the player has a decent world cup.

I take it scouted before, but that he's proven himself more at it

 

[ukdy]

Prices are always inflated after world cups, if the player has a decent world cup.

A tournament can remove some of the doubt, and also reveal more of the player. £10-15m on a maybe, or £15-20m on a yes this guy looks good on the world stage. Given our record in transfers lately, I'd take proven.

 

[McFlash]

He and Amrabat were the stand out players for Morocco at the WC. This lad definitely caught the eye.

 

[h2005]

Hard to get excited about this one. Doesn’t seem like a signing that will make a big difference for us.

 

[Hotspur88]

Hard to get excited about this one. Doesn’t seem like a signing that will make a big difference for us.

As has been mentioned, if the formation change to a 352 happens, then he's a great option as one of the 3. Our problem is creativity, so come next season we will hopefully have Udogie and a new creative RWB which frees up Kulu to be the creative influence just behind Kane and Richarlison (I would pick those two over Son based on this seasons form). Ounahi then becomes a great option in that formation in the middle. Then just 2 new CBs and a GK needed and the team looks a whole lot different.

It's crazy how with 2 good signings now, and a further 3 in the summer, how much better we could look.

 

[Johnny J]

As has been mentioned, if the formation change to a 352 happens, then he's a great option as one of the 3. Our problem is creativity, so come next season we will hopefully have Udogie and a new creative RWB which frees up Kulu to be the creative influence just behind Kane and Richarlison (I would pick those two over Son based on this seasons form). Ounahi then becomes a great option in that formation in the middle. Then just 2 new CBs and a GK needed and the team looks a whole lot different.

It's crazy how with 2 good signings now, and a further 3 in the summer, how much better we could look.

Agreed. Right now we have basically no creativity (perhaps even in the entire squad) apart from Kulu and Kane. Having more creativity in midfield (and at wing backs) could be transformative. This guy looks a real prospect.

 

[JayB]

I'm not going to claim to know much about the player aside from what I saw at the World Cup (which is never the best way to judge a player), but his dribbling stats are top drawer. If Conte is looking for a CM to slot into a 3-5-2 who is adept at driving forward with the ball at his feet, he seems like a good fit.

 

[djhotspur]

As has been mentioned, if the formation change to a 352 happens, then he's a great option as one of the 3. Our problem is creativity, so come next season we will hopefully have Udogie and a new creative RWB which frees up Kulu to be the creative influence just behind Kane and Richarlison (I would pick those two over Son based on this seasons form). Ounahi then becomes a great option in that formation in the middle. Then just 2 new CBs and a GK needed and the team looks a whole lot different.

It's crazy how with 2 good signings now, and a further 3 in the summer, how much better we could look.

Agree with all that. But surely we’d need a 4th forward? We can’t just have one rotation option being son.
But yeah I agree all those signings and we are looking much better.