What's new

Milan Skriniar

SecretLemonadeDrinker

Well-Known Member
Jun 30, 2020
2,027
11,165
Anybody questioning speed & acceleratation as a vital component to being a successful CB needs their head reading.

The game is so fast nowadays that even excellent positional sense can still not be enough.

Acceleration in particular is the difference between keeping up and toeing the ball away for a corner, and giving away needless free kicks / pens as the CB clambers to keep up with an attacker.

Gallas was a good example. Technically not great, positionally sound but no Baresi. What he did have was the after burners to keep up. Before somebody quotes me on my point about Baresi being average speed wise. How many players world wide are there with his unique skill set.

As has been pointed out on numerous occasions, Skriniar isn't slow.

No need to quote you on Baresi either. John Terry (spit) won 5 Premier League titles and 5 FA Cups while having medium pace at best. And he was considered to be one of the best PL defenders of his era.
 

THFCSPURS19

The Speaker of the Transfer Rumours Forum
Jan 6, 2013
37,886
130,485
If we let Sissoko go though we will have to sign another midfielder. Whatever fans think of his quality, we’ll be left short if we don’t replace him.
Why? We have Hojbjerg, Winks, Gedson, Dele, Lo Celso, Ndombele for three positions - and the likes of Dier and White could also play in if we had a crisis.
 

spids

Well-Known Member
Jul 19, 2015
6,647
27,841
I need som insight here people ...

I don´t watch much Serie A anymore, and haven´t seen Skriniar in any matches to be honest.

I see in FIFA and FM that he´s not very fast - it seems like he has got not much pace about him, mediocre at best: 69 of 100 in FIFA, and 13 + 14 of 20 in accelaration and pace respectively in FM. I know these are just computer games, but FM is known to have one of the best scouting networks in the world, and is used by real managers and clubs to get a first impression of players.

And: Skriniar is right footed. After Jan left we´re desperately lacking of left footed natural CDs (Davies is not a natural central defender).

Sanchez has decent pace. Dier too (or he used to have: uncertain about his pace over the last season or two). Davies and Toby are defo on the slow side, Doherty is no Kyle Walker either (Aurier is slightly better in that aspect). Reguilon should have decent pace. But compared to our best season a couple of years ago when Walker and Rose covered for Jan & Toby´s lack of speed, we now have a kind of slowish back line. And with no established cover in midfield (still early days for PEH) to protect the defence, our defence is in dire need of quick legs imho.

Those of you that have seen Skriniar play and know about him, and taking in the difference of speed of play from Serie A to PL: is he quick enough to play in a slightly unprotected defence who has no Usain Bolt look a likes in it? Or is he a positional genius and does he have such a great reading of the game that he can disguise his lack of natural speed? Like Jan to some degree did at his best (and even our great Ledley)?

In short, however unrealistic it might be, I´d love us to get a fast, left footed power house of a central defender who can be the leader of our back line for many years. If not left footed, at least very comfortable in playing in the left side. Is Skriniar this player?

Honest question guys - I want to know and understand more why some are so adamant that this guys is the solution to all our problems. :)

Because Jose wants a defensive leader and Toby is too quiet and on the decline, and Sanchez and Dier are inconsistent. Mourinho likes a warrior, someone who will put their balls on the line to stop a goal, someone who is a natural born defender. A John Terry (slow, right footed and played LCB btw!), a Sergio Ramos (wow, another right footer playing as a LCB!), a Walter Samuel, a Jorge Costa. His winning teams have always had one. He fell out with Woodward at Man U as he wouldn’t buy him one. Skriniar is an aggressive defender and ball magnet in the box. In a low block he is one of the best centre halves in the world.
 
D

Deleted member 27995

Because Jose wants a defensive leader and Toby is too quiet and on the decline, and Sanchez and Dier are inconsistent. Mourinho likes a warrior, someone who will put their balls on the line to stop a goal, someone who is a natural born defender. A John Terry (slow, right footed and played LCB btw!), a Sergio Ramos (wow, another right footer playing as a LCB!), a Walter Samuel, a Jorge Costa. His winning teams have always had one. He fell out with Woodward at Man U as he wouldn’t buy him one. Skriniar is an aggressive defender and ball magnet in the box. In a low block he is one of the best centre halves in the world.
This is the best description yet.
 

kent brockman

Beware of the Daviesaurus
Sep 1, 2012
1,247
2,618
Why? We have Hojbjerg, Winks, Gedson, Dele, Lo Celso, Ndombele for three positions - and the likes of Dier and White could also play in if we had a crisis.

We have the numbers, but only Hojbjerg and GLC have sufficient quality and fitness to actually be relied upon.
Although that applies regardless of whether Sissoko stays or goes. We are unfortunately pretty weak in CM.
 

Maxtremist

Well-Known Member
Jun 11, 2014
1,530
3,300
With all the news it just sounds like the issue is the fee, which from the limited knowledge I know of transfers is generally the easiest part so to speak.
Player wants us. We want him. His club are happy to let him go. All that is done. Now just finding the right price and seemingly this summer we're more willing than most years to get deals over the line.

So can't say this is 100% gonna happen but everything says it's looking good in our favour.

Ultimately if another club with more money comes in and just lumps it all in one go there's nothing we could do.
 

jordibwoy

Well-Known Member
Jul 31, 2015
419
1,601
Pace is more crucial in the full back positions to help with our attacking play. That's why Reguilon and Doherty will be important.
From what I have seen and what I have read, Skriniar can use both feet and can play LCB or RCB.
Kim Min Jae could still join as well, as he is predominantly left footed.
Mourinho will have a system and formarion in place to suit our defenders and we are unlikely to play a high line.
KMJ is right-footed
 

spids

Well-Known Member
Jul 19, 2015
6,647
27,841
This guy man

Is he injured? Strange that he hasnt even played in the EL - perhaps would have played against Leyton Orient

I would not be surprised if we were looking to cancel the loan deal as he simply doe snot fit into the team anywhere. Was it obligation to buy or option to buy?
 

Goobers

Well-Known Member
Jul 29, 2011
1,948
3,162
It seems to me that it is the smaller details that must be under negotiation. To have our team out there speaking “in person” during a fucking pandemic would indicate at the very least a “will to do the deal”.
 
Top