Player Watch Player Watch: Giovani Lo Celso

[DiVaio]

I'm not one to overreact and call players shite on the back of one performance. However, there is a marked difference between the energy and pressing that Maddison brings the team and what Lo Celso generally has shown with us. As much as I admire Lo Celso's technical qualities, if he was to leave and Hatate was to come in, I wouldn't shed any tears.

Lol the energy and pressing is the last thing you can say Lo Celso is lacking

 

[George94]

Good to see nobody is overreacting

Truth is, Maddison is the better player but he’s not going to be available all season and we need an option off the bench… we shouldn’t even consider letting Lo Celso go without a creative replacement

 

[Led Revolver]

I think it depends on what else can be done. If we sell Hojbjerg and Lo Celso, but sign Paulinha and use Kulusevski at #10 we can both trim and improve the squad with additional new signings. Buying 1 for every 2 sold is what we’ll need to do during the final few days of the window, providing some homegrown players are recruited as part of our in’s, ie Johnson/Edwards.

 

[wrd]

I didn't see the game, was he that bad that he needed to come off at HT? We're talking about an understudy to Maddison here.

 

[wrd]

I think it depends on what else can be done. If we sell Hojbjerg and Lo Celso, but sign Paulinha and use Kulusevski at #10 we can both trim and improve the squad with additional new signings. Buying 1 for every 2 sold is what we’ll need to do during the final few days of the window, providing some homegrown players are recruited as part of our in’s, ie Johnson/Edwards.

Is there anything that looks like Paulinha could be a go-er?

If we sold Hojbjerg and Lo Celso, then I'd have to assume we'd bring a player in but, this late in the day surely Fulham aren't entertaining a 70 mill deal? I'm just trying to decipher how excited I should be

 

[HildoSpur]

Good to see nobody is overreacting

Truth is, Maddison is the better player but he’s not going to be available all season and we need an option off the bench… we shouldn’t even consider letting Lo Celso go without a creative replacement

I think Kulusevski will be back up to Maddison eventually

 

[JonnySpurs]

I think Kulusevski will be back up to Maddison eventually

Agreed and I think that would be my preference because Kulu on the wing just isn't working for me. He's become so predictable off the right now and I feel like he could really have an impact as a 10. His close control is good and he has an eye for a pass.

Did Ange saying anything about Gio last night and why he took him off at HT?

 

[BENNO]

I didn't see the game, was he that bad that he needed to come off at HT? We're talking about an understudy to Maddison here.

I was going to stay away from the site for a few days to avoid the inevitable outrage but instead i thought i'd just be selective in what i read. Here was my take on his performance fwiw. firstly, i didn't think he was injured i thought the change was tactical, thought we switched to a 4-4-2 tbh but whatever we did it did improve us to make the game more even.

On Gio, ive got to say my biggest take from the game (and his cameo from Bournemouth) is that i was mightily disappointing in him, the word i'd use is personality - i saw no personality from him, it was all o.k and nothing more. You watch Maddison and he comes in and he's got personality, he's everywhere, demanding the ball and doing things with it, Gio, imo, just hovers around doing nothing in particular, safe passes, tidy passes, bit of tracking back, bit of closing down, he could be any number of average midfielders.

I was eager for him to stay and be a Maddison back up, on last nights evidence i'd honestly say he was the most disappointing player - not the worst, the most disappointing, and id happily see him leave and be replaced by a brighter, more eager player , of which there must be dozens.

 

[Freddie]

I think Kulusevski will be back up to Maddison eventually

Has he played in this position? I keep hearing this plan but just don't see it. He isn't excelling in his preferred position at the moment and I'm not sure he has the guile to play as a 10.

 

[Marty]

I didn't see the game, was he that bad that he needed to come off at HT? We're talking about an understudy to Maddison here.

BBC London reported that he'd picked up an unspecified injury.

 

[muppetman]

Would love to be a fly on the wall when he and Ange next have a chat.

Does Ange think he did enough or does he think dropping him in with Skipp and PEH was asking too much.

 

[BENNO]

Would love to be a fly on the wall when he and Ange next have a chat.

Does Ange think he did enough or does he think dropping him in with Skipp and PEH was asking too much.

Yeah i've just been pretty tough on his performance but i would 100% factor in who he was playing with - there were loads of underperforming players, all making mistakes, all contributing to making the collective look pretty bad. That was where i was looking for him to rise above it though, and he couldn't - maybe i was asking too much. Certainly the manager would have learn't what combinations he can't play together in the future, that's one (small) plus point !

 

[Led Revolver]

Is there anything that looks like Paulinha could be a go-er?

If we sold Hojbjerg and Lo Celso, then I'd have to assume we'd bring a player in but, this late in the day surely Fulham aren't entertaining a 70 mill deal? I'm just trying to decipher how excited I should be

Only WLB‘s ITK at the moment.. a lot would depend only whether a Lo Celso exit would be a loan or straight sale probably - unlikely a buy if he moves to Barcelona you’d think.

 

[djhotspur]

Has he played in this position? I keep hearing this plan but just don't see it. He isn't excelling in his preferred position at the moment and I'm not sure he has the guile to play as a 10.

Yeah he was a 10 at palma and early in his career. It’s where he made his name

 

[C1w8]

I was going to stay away from the site for a few days to avoid the inevitable outrage but instead i thought i'd just be selective in what i read. Here was my take on his performance fwiw. firstly, i didn't think he was injured i thought the change was tactical, thought we switched to a 4-4-2 tbh but whatever we did it did improve us to make the game more even.

On Gio, ive got to say my biggest take from the game (and his cameo from Bournemouth) is that i was mightily disappointing in him, the word i'd use is personality - i saw no personality from him, it was all o.k and nothing more. You watch Maddison and he comes in and he's got personality, he's everywhere, demanding the ball and doing things with it, Gio, imo, just hovers around doing nothing in particular, safe passes, tidy passes, bit of tracking back, bit of closing down, he could be any number of average midfielders.

I was eager for him to stay and be a Maddison back up, on last nights evidence i'd honestly say he was the most disappointing player - not the worst, the most disappointing, and id happily see him leave and be replaced by a brighter, more eager player , of which there must be dozens.

This is it for me also, he might have the talent (i think..) but the application isnt really there, its gone a bit stale for him here after all these years in and out of the team multiple managers, loans, im not sure hes got the drive to really turn it around with us at this stage so a move would be the best option if a suitable one can be found.

 

[muppetman]

Yeah i've just been pretty tough on his performance but i would 100% factor in who he was playing with - there were loads of underperforming players, all making mistakes, all contributing to making the collective look pretty bad. That was where i was looking for him to rise above it though, and he couldn't - maybe i was asking too much. Certainly the manager would have learn't what combinations he can't play together in the future, that's one (small) plus point !

Absolutely, it was really clear that there was less movement from the players and the little triangles we use to move the ball around were non existent.

Have to also give credit to Fulham in the first 30 mins or so, they were very aggressive and gave our players very little time.

Tbh I’m fairly ambivalent about him going or staying, but if it a choice I’d probably sell PEH and keep Gio.

 

[BENNO]

Absolutely, it was really clear that there was less movement from the players and the little triangles we use to move the ball around were non existent.

Have to also give credit to Fulham in the first 30 mins or so, they were very aggressive and gave our players very little time.

Tbh I’m fairly ambivalent about him going or staying, but if it a choice I’d probably sell PEH and keep Gio.

Yep , definitely credit to Fulham , they put out a strong side and did what they do best. As for Gio and PEH, without wanting to sound too reactionary, i thought they were the pair i learn't most about - PEH will be a good squad player as an 8 to see out games, but a 6 he isn't on that evidience.

My limit knowledge would say that Ange needs to think Bentancour can be a 6 (and imo he definitely can) in which case Bentancour can be the Bissouma back up as a 6 or a partner as an 8. If Ange feels Bentancour isn't a 6, then , imo, we need to sell PEH and get another 6 !

 

[muppetman]

Yep , definitely credit to Fulham , they put out a strong side and did what they do best. As for Gio and PEH, without wanting to sound too reactionary, i thought they were the pair i learn't most about - PEH will be a good squad player as an 8 to see out games, but a 6 he isn't on that evidience.

My limit knowledge would say that Ange needs to think Bentancour can be a 6 (and imo he definitely can) in which case Bentancour can be the Bissouma back up as a 6 or a partner as an 8. If Ange feels Bentancour isn't a 6, then , imo, we need to sell PEH and get another 6 !

Said in the PEH thread that I think his only use for us is to see our games that we are winning. His energy and organisation might be of use there, but otherwise he’s not going to see a lot of game time.

 

[BENNO]

Only WLB‘s ITK at the moment.. a lot would depend only whether a Lo Celso exit would be a loan or straight sale probably - unlikely a buy if he moves to Barcelona you’d think.

Quick one on the Palinha link. From my knowledge of Fulham (few family and friends are supporters) i;'d say the chances of signing him would be virtually zero. I think their manager would walk out if he was sold, and if he was sold, it would take £80 or £90m to get him (that was a figure put about on Fulham sites when Liverpool were sniffing around for a £50-60m deal). Fulham see Palinha as better than Rice , hence the price.

 

[kitchen]

Yep , definitely credit to Fulham , they put out a strong side and did what they do best. As for Gio and PEH, without wanting to sound too reactionary, i thought they were the pair i learn't most about - PEH will be a good squad player as an 8 to see out games, but a 6 he isn't on that evidience.

My limit knowledge would say that Ange needs to think Bentancour can be a 6 (and imo he definitely can) in which case Bentancour can be the Bissouma back up as a 6 or a partner as an 8. If Ange feels Bentancour isn't a 6, then , imo, we need to sell PEH and get another 6 !

Whilst I don't disagree, any midfielder upgrades should be way down the priority list unless the deal is there, easy to do and won't stop us hitting the priority positions.

Like you say, we have bentancur to come back so there are at least 4 really top drawer midfielders to choose from.

The priority is attacking options and CB cover IMO. It worries me that these might not be addressed way more than second string midfielders do.