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Kalidou Koulibaly

bbunc

Well-Known Member
May 11, 2019
1,562
6,610
[QUOTE="I don't think people want another 4 or 5 years of being fluffers for other teams. We might get players with 3 or 4 seasons left in them, but perhaps we should try and win stuff within the next 3 or four seasons, rather than buy young potential and hope to be trying to win something in 3 or 4 seasons.
[/QUOTE]

Problem is that at this point we’re nowhere near winning anything. It’s not like we’re one experienced center back away.

We need a CB, a DM, 2 FBs and another striker/WF at a minimum.

I’m not convinced 90M on one CB with no future value is the right play unless we have another 100M sitting in the bank ready to spend. That said, I’d be more than happy to have argue that point vs not getting anyone.
 

Hercules

Well-Known Member
Jul 23, 2014
5,694
156,565
[QUOTE="I don't think people want another 4 or 5 years of being fluffers for other teams. We might get players with 3 or 4 seasons left in them, but perhaps we should try and win stuff within the next 3 or four seasons, rather than buy young potential and hope to be trying to win something in 3 or 4 seasons.

Problem is that at this point we’re nowhere near winning anything. It’s not like we’re one experienced center back away.

We need a CB, a DM, 2 FBs and another striker/WF at a minimum.

I’m not convinced 90M on one CB with no future value is the right play unless we have another 100M sitting in the bank ready to spend. That said, I’d be more than happy to have argue that point vs not getting anyone.
[/QUOTE]

forget those figures
 

BigPlimpton

Well-Known Member
Dec 25, 2017
175
668
Napoli are facing a spell out of Europe and a team mutiny. Koulibaly and Mertens are their top marketable assets and Mertens is leaving on a free and Koulibaly’s value is going to decline rapidly as he reaches an age where a big club would no longer give him a five year deal that would justify a big transfer fee. They need to sell him and there’s no market for him at numbers like 90m. But they’ll want to do it right and get everything they can—doubt it would happen in January.
 

dtxspurs

Welcome to the Good Life
Dec 28, 2017
11,234
46,574
Koulibaly x Sanchez

Both strong, intimidating, fast (not so much KK but decent)
Forwards would look at them and think they're about to enter a nightmare
KK is world class
Sanchez is a good defender, although clumsy and has a mistake, KK would do a VVD and sweep up these mistakes. Other than that I think Sanchez is actually good. Better than Alderweireld and Vertonghen at this present moment.
This CB partnership would become immense after a fairly short amount of time, not to mention we got Jose coaching them.
I would put a lot of money on Alderweireld & Koulibaly being the starters. Thoughts on that @yankspurs ??
 

singis

singis
Jun 9, 2003
88
41
OK these would be my preferred options but are they gettable? Some of them may not be. But if you want to spend 90m on an almost 29 year old, I’d risk it and go younger. Plus 90m gives you leverage.

For younger CBs I like the look of Marquinhos, Milan Skriniar, Jose Maria Giminez and Nicky Sule. Skriniar has paid his dues in Italy but already looks like he’d transition easily to other leagues. I think the Bundeslegia has some other great talent in Retsos, Tah and Dortmunds Akanji. I think both Upemecano and Konate will be world class in future. I like both the Portuguese young guns in Diaz and Ferro. Ferro can be slow off the mark but reads the game so well. If I was going to spend that kind of money I think Diaz looks the most promising. Tah would be second. I’d love a punt on Skriniar or Giminez but bigger clubs are already in line. Both of these are going to be monsters in my opinion.
I agree with your point. Skriniar diaz and upemecano are great players.the others are ok too.the best of your list are easily 50m plus players and i do not think that koulibaly will be sold at 90m as reported. But all the plsyers you listed are good and can do a job.
 

jezz

Well-Known Member
Aug 21, 2013
5,650
8,650
Depends on how we set the bar.

If he wasn’t responsible for at least one fuck up per game that contributed significantly to the outcome of the match, then maybe
Like when he had Zaha in his pocket and scored the winner against Palace with a clean sheet
 

Flashspur

Well-Known Member
Jul 28, 2012
6,882
9,068
Koulibaly will be our Sánchez. You know who I mean. Big money and massive wages for a player on the downward slide with zero sell on value. Mourinho was involved with that one as well.

The second best CB on the planet. LMAO.
 

Fredo

Realist
Jun 8, 2018
3,934
17,956
I would put a lot of money on Alderweireld & Koulibaly being the starters. Thoughts on that @yankspurs ??
Yeah well I can see Alderweireld there instead myself too, but I've liked Sanchez this season so far. The guy is a beast. The combination of KK and Jose in the back coaching him, I'd be very excited about what he can become.
 

Mspurs28

New Member
Jan 4, 2020
1
0
Koulibaly and a Sanchez or Toby next to him is world class partnership, grain of salt and all that but wow what a statement signing
 

KingHugoL

New Member
Jan 4, 2020
1
7
Even with Koulibaly , a CDM is still essential at Napoli they have Allan who is similar in mould to Kante . Personally Koulibaly and Toby would be a good partnership (not sure if them both being right footed may be an issue).. But in all seriousness without a CDM , no point in buying a world class CB.
 

double0

Well-Known Member
Aug 29, 2006
14,423
12,258
If we're prepared to spend big on a CB, a cheeky bid for De Ligt wouldn't go a miss.

If we're not buying it wouldn't be a bad thing to give Foyth Sanchez Tanganga Sessegnon Skipp rotated with Winks a good run for the rest of the season
 

Montalbano

Well-Known Member
Jan 29, 2018
3,917
18,685
Koulibaly and Toby would be a good partnership (not sure if them both being right footed may be an issue).. But in all seriousness without a CDM , no point in buying a world class CB.
Despite being right footed, Koulibaly has always played LCB for Napoli as far as I can remember. With Abiol to the right of him and now Manolas, so he should pair well with Sanchez or Toby.
 

pelayo59

Well-Known Member
Jun 28, 2019
1,035
4,588
Even with Koulibaly , a CDM is still essential at Napoli they have Allan who is similar in mould to Kante . Personally Koulibaly and Toby would be a good partnership (not sure if them both being right footed may be an issue).. But in all seriousness without a CDM , no point in buying a world class CB.

Real won 4 CL in 5 years and they didn't have left-footed centerback since 2010 so I wouldn't worry about that :)
 

McFlash

In the corner, eating crayons.
Oct 19, 2005
12,740
45,361
I wonder if Foyth got a run of games we would be pleasantly surprised.
I still like Foyth and think there's a lot of potential there. A loan move would be ideal for him, as he desperately needs games to improve.
I'm certainly not writing him off because I reckon he's got everything required to make it, he just needs to play.
 

McFlash

In the corner, eating crayons.
Oct 19, 2005
12,740
45,361
Koulibaly will be our Sánchez. You know who I mean. Big money and massive wages for a player on the downward slide with zero sell on value. Mourinho was involved with that one as well.

The second best CB on the planet. LMAO.
An honest question... Do you really rate Koulibaly that low? Or have you just nailed your colours to the mast and so, are sticking with it?
I mean, he's certainly no Phil Jones and must surely be an upgrade on our current options.
 

Adam456

Well-Known Member
Jul 1, 2005
4,453
3,117
I think we all know and Herc has confirmed, we won't be spending 90 £/€ or even $ on a CB. But if, let's say for argument's sake it was £50m + perhaps a few add-ons and we thought that it was the difference between a top 4 finish and not, I think we would all take it immediately. And let's be honest none of us wants to be grumbling about signing top players

The problem for me is whether we are asking the right question for 'buy expensive CB with no sell-on' to be the answer. That's simply because there are so many facets to not conceding other than the exact defensive personnel

1. In general does the team play attacking or conservative football. Are the FBs and CMs encouraged to get forward or stay back. If you accept them getting forward a lot then you need to be happier about outscoring the opponent than clean sheets

2. Does the team keep the ball well ? You can't score if you don't have the ball

3. Do you have a good DM or 2 to protect through the middle and slot back and reduce overloading on CBs

4. Do your wingers track back intelligently and reduce 2 on 1s on your FBs ?

5. Do you press well both in their half and also yours so opponents have less time to engineer opportunities

If you haven't sorted out these questions and add to it that the most glaring issue is actually at RB ( ! ) then simply swapping out a single CB for another CB can only have a limited effect. If you take the Lpool example - they did all of the above quite well but lost quite a few big games based on individual errors at CB and keeper and perhaps a slight lack of defensive leadership at the trickiest times. They answered those questions with 2 world class signings

In our case we had the above questions sorted under Poch but have, as it stands at present, regressed under JM (the ridiculously amateur pressing is probably the worst aspect for me). KK may bring leadership but he will struggle to have a big impact if we play the way we are.

This is absolutely fine if JM can rediscover his reputation for defensive solidity but I am very skeptical right now
 
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