Matt Doherty @ Atletico Madrid

[JKendall13]

Doherty is such a unique player, not someone you target unless you have some specific ideas in mind. Excited to see what Mourinho has planned, seems like he is really committed to the lopsided 3-4-3 in possession and 4-4-2 out of possession.

Two signings that seem to be what the manager wants, hope he still has a couple seasons of Mourinho Master Classes in him.

 

[Neon_Knight_]

If we sign Doherty, I am certain Aurier is off, particularly with the ITK suggesting such. We aren't ending the transfer window with a 27 and 18 year old fullback. That would scream of short termism.

I wouldn't mind keeping Aurier, but when the coach is known to be 'scared of him' in our own box, and rumours suggesting he isn't too bothered about staying, I suspect if he stays it wouldn't be out of any lack of trying.

I don't think Mourinho is desperate to keep him, just that it wouldn't be the end of the world, because we could still sell Aurier later (his value won't drop that much in a year), when the right player is available for the right price. He's not a bad player - Mourinho as willing to play him regularly, after all (unlike Ndombele). Actually having two RBs in the squad and finding a back-up striker is probably a much higher priority.

 

[sidford]

More reports coming out saying it's 12m rising up to 15/16m that's some deal if true.

 

[DiVaio]

Good. Cutbacks from the wide areas are far more reliable in terms of creating chances than early/floated crosses

That's definitely something Aurier lacks. According to scored crossing accuracy for Premier League 15,5% for Doherty and 14,6% for Aurier(although Aurier made 3x more) and for Europe 40% for Doherty and 31,25% for Aurier

 

[C0YS]

How do you know we didn't approach Wolves last summer.. If Doherty does sign maybe a journalist should ask him.

We don't but we can guess. The media and ITKs mean that it doesn't take a rocket scientist to work out who are targets might be.

I actually think Doherty was probably an opportunistic target rather than an early one. I think, most people didn't think Wolves would let go of him.

 

[Cavehillspur]

More reports coming out saying it's 12m rising up to 15/16m that's some deal if true.

Absolute bargain if true, great business.

 

[Dannyspur]

He's 28.

is that centimetres?

 

[whitelanefever]

I will hear no more Ally Gold slander on this forum.

Well then he shouldn't be writing that Doherty is Home Grown when he's not

 

[Fredo]

Fucking great signing if it happens. ALL FOR IT.

 

[C0YS]

I don't think Mourinho is desperate to keep him, just that it wouldn't be the end of the world, because we could still sell Aurier later (his value won't drop that much in a year), when the right player is available for the right price. He's not a bad player - Mourinho as willing to play him regularly, after all (unlike Ndombele). Actually having two RBs in the squad and finding a back-up striker is probably a much higher priority.

I mean it wouldn't be the end of the world. I think his value will drop though, his contract isn't a partcularly long one. But I think this deal will see us drop the price for Aurier and I think Doherty is going to be signed on the presumption that Aurier will leave.

Having both would be fine, I just don't think it's the plan, ultimatly we will want to make most of the 15 odd million we will pay for doherty back through selling Aurier, and not trying to make that money back through having to sell other players.

Some people still think all this money stuff is all a bluff, but COVID makes us much more vulnerable than other clubs, because the whole way we are structured is on the basis that the stadium will give significant income. One window, no biggy, we could spend a bit more, but COVID is likely to flair up again and we don't really know how long it will be until the stadium will open up. So, I fully expect us to keep a balanced book until we can at least project the future a little better.

 

[synththfc]

 

[spids]

With Doherty and Højbjerg Jose will have added two 6’1” players to the starting XI.

 

[C0YS]

Well then he shouldn't be writing that Doherty is Home Grown when he's not

Pretty sure it is. That scotland loan might make it tight, but I think he does fulfil the three year criteria.

 

[PrettyColors]

That's definitely something Aurier lacks. According to scored crossing accuracy for Premier League 15,5% for Doherty and 14,6% for Aurier(although Aurier made 3x more) and for Europe 40% for Doherty and 31,25% for Aurier

That’s very interesting. Aurier attempting 3x the crosses is insane. It seems at Wolves he was almost deployed as a “wide attacking midfielder” than an actual winger - when you see all the cutting inside and interplay he does it makes sense. I say that as we could have had ~10 more clear cut chances if Aurier actually had a cross on him from outside the box. It appears that is not Doherty’s strong suit which is actually concerning to me - Kane loves an early Trippier style ball.

 

[Japhet]

is that centimetres?

No, Max Aarons is 28cm.

 

[C0YS]

That’s very interesting. Aurier attempting 3x the crosses is insane. It seems at Wolves he was almost deployed as a “wide attacking midfielder” than an actual winger - when you see all the cutting inside and interplay he does it makes sense. I say that as we could have had ~10 more clear cut chances if Aurier actually had a cross on him from outside the box. It appears that is not Doherty’s strong suit which is actually concerning to me - Kane loves an early Trippier style ball.

Aurier attempts a lot of crosses, and his technique for them can actually be very good. He's just inconsistent and frankly over attempts crosses, sometimes the cross just isn't on. Kane loves a cutback as well, so he should do well at that.

 

[whitelanefever]

Pretty sure it is. That scotland loan might make it tight, but I think he does fulfil the three year criteria.

He doesn't, as you say the Scotland loan, you have to be 3 years with an English club. Wolves knew he would just miss out on being HG bit like how Foyth just misses out, so they let him move to Scotland knowing he would never count as HG.

 

[Japhet]

I wouldn't have a problem with Tanganga, Foyth of Gedson covering for Doherty if it gave us some funds for a backup 9.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

The other spanner being that the Athletic are usually terrible for transfer news. Let’s hope this is different.

It’s in the independent as well I think and they’re usually pretty good

 

[spursfan77]

Honest question: I can’t believe it’s 32 pages and I haven’t really seen this mentioned anywhere, but how is his crossing actually? It’s weird, whenever I watch videos there’s an obvious high level attacking intelligence and he can ghost behind defenders, but I don’t think I’ve seen a single assist of him pinging one in from the byline or delivering an early cross. If you look at all his goal contributions (posted here) I think only one comes with a proper cross - the rest are short passes.

That means good decision making though, which we all know Serge doesn’t have most of the time.

ThOSE really aren’t normal fullback goals are they. No way will we play him in a flat back four and take away all that instinct.