Player Watch - Giovani Lo Celso

[Monkey Bastard Hands]

I remember we were all super excited when we signed him and a lot of people preferred him over Bruno Fernandes (who if I recall we were also in for at the time).

For me he's a bit like Erik Lamela in that I really really want him to do well; I think there's a cracking player in there but for some reason it's just not clicking.

I saw him play for us at the pre-season friendly in Singapore and whilst it was against admittedly pretty shit opposition, he looked super sharp and played some excellent stuff.

I still think there's a great player in there and if given the chance and importantly played in his strongest position, could still be a great player for us. I hope he starts against Villa as a direct replacement for Maddison.

 

[allatsea]

Time to sell if that is possible.

 

[HildoSpur]

We should bite their arm off if they come in with a decent offer. The guy has shown virtually nothing for us for years yet we still have people defending him in here or thinking he will suddenly come good. Wake up guys, he isn't going to come good for us.

 

[PCozzie]

We should bite their arm off if they come in with a decent offer. The guy has shown virtually nothing for us for years yet we still have people defending him in here or thinking he will suddenly come good. Wake up guys, he isn't going to come good for us.

Hard to disagree. I think we need to bite the bullet and accept that we are probably going to find ourselves a little short in some positions through the season, but getting the peripheral players out, and getting what we can for them, is going to be far more important long term. GLC has never settled here and again we are approaching the middle part of the season and we've barely seen him.

 

[yido_number1]

Sorry, I find this mad; he simply isn’t. I know absence makes a footballer better but Lo Celso has had four years to make an impression and he’s offered far less to us than Hojbjerg has.

To be fair we've failed to dominate any midfield in the years hojbjerg has been here. You take him out and we instantly dominate a midfield.

Hojbjerg is terrible

 

[Ghost Hardware]

We should bite their arm off if they come in with a decent offer. The guy has shown virtually nothing for us for years yet we still have people defending him in here or thinking he will suddenly come good. Wake up guys, he isn't going to come good for us.

They will only want a loan, they still have serious issues with their wage and if they were to hypothetically buy Gio, or anyone, they wouldn't be able to register him. They would need to sell someone for decent money in order to buy. If they decided to sell Raphinha then potentially they would be able to make a move but i don't see anyone paying what they would want for him. Regardless if you rate him or not loaning him out would be absolutely pointless as we won't be spending money on a replacement.

 

[HildoSpur]

They will only want a loan, they still have serious issues with their wage and if they were to hypothetically buy Gio, or anyone, they wouldn't be able to register him. They would need to sell someone for decent money in order to buy. If they decided to sell Raphinha then potentially they would be able to make a move but i don't see anyone paying what they would want for him. Regardless if you rate him or not loaning him out would be absolutely pointless as we won't be spending money on a replacement.

Personally I'd be content with a loan with an obligation to buy. That way we get rid of yet another player that has underperformed which is really what we need to do. It does leave us possibly a little short in that position but Deki can play there, Bentancur can play there and we have the likes of Donley coming through who could potentially do a job there if given the chance.

 

[theShiznit]

The only question mark i have over Gio is whether he wants it enough (here)
We've seen spells where he's done well in CM, then got injured and dropped out of the team.

When he's been used as a sub he didn't seem to be trying particularly hard to impress (conversely to someone like Gil who i think tries too hard, to his detriment)

He looked like he was settling in nicely in pre-season and was involved in some good football for us, but i can only think when the first few teams were announced and he wasn't in them and made no appearances from the bench (even when Maddison was removed) that his head went to that place of wanting away again.

I feel there is still a way back for him though, as just pigeon holing him as Maddison's backup is not really utilizing him. He can play all across the midfield for me, and has even played RWF for us and Argentina at times.

And sorry to bash on PEH but i would rather give Gio those minutes and play players that can help with our football into fitness/form than those that even at their best aren't really going to contribute to it...

 

[Tucker]

Time to sell if that is possible.

Transfer window doesn’t open for another 6 weeks, so no, it’s not possible right now.

 

[mil1lion]

For me he's just one of those players who looks good on the ball but you're just looking for that something extra. He's a 7 out of 10 performer at best but rarely any higher. He's probably ok as an 8 where he can keep things ticking along. We already have Sarr and Bentancur for that role though. As a 10 I'm not sure he has enough about him.

He might suit Barca in the Gavi role where they have Pedri playing more advanced. He would still be 2nd choice to Gundogan but with Gavi out for the season would be a good 2nd choice. I could see De Jong when he returns with Gundogan and Pedri as their preferred 3 so he would go from 1 bench to another. Yet he would probably play more for them once Maddison returns.

I would only loan him if we get another in first. Someone more suited as a 10 with more end product. To be fair Barca did loan us Lenglet so have no issue with a loan. I'm sure we could sell him in the summer still. I'd like to see how he does until Jan first though as he may prove himself. If not and Maddison returns we could shift him and make space for another incoming.

 

[Ghost Hardware]

Personally I'd be content with a loan with an obligation to buy. That way we get rid of yet another player that has underperformed which is really what we need to do. It does leave us possibly a little short in that position but Deki can play there, Bentancur can play there and we have the likes of Donley coming through who could potentially do a job there if given the chance.

They wont be able to do an obligation ether. The only way Gio goes to Barca is on a dry loan probably with us still paying most of his wages and he comes back in July or Barca somehow manage to raise some funds from sales but even then im not sure they would commit to anything other then an option. They are seriously squeaking by FFP and will not be committing to any transfers currently unless its a free transfer that joins in summer maybe. If we decide we want to sell Gio i'd be very surprised if Barca ends up being his destination.

 

[rabbikeane]

Barca isn't coming with any money, they are coming to steal a player.

 

[HildoSpur]

They wont be able to do an obligation ether. The only way Gio goes to Barca is on a dry loan probably with us still paying most of his wages and he comes back in July or Barca somehow manage to raise some funds from sales but even then im not sure they would commit to anything other then an option. They are seriously squeaking by FFP and will not be committing to any transfers currently unless its a free transfer that joins in summer maybe. If we decide we want to sell Gio i'd be very surprised if Barca ends up being his destination.

Well a dry loan just isn't an option.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

Loaning him would make zero sense and I really hope we don't get tempted by some sort of Raphinha swap deal.

Lo Celso sigue gustando y se ajusta al perfil como recambio de Gavi

En el Barça se intentará suplir la baja de Gavi en el próximo mercado de invierno siempre y cuando el dichoso 'fair play' financiero lo permita. Incluso, desde...

www.mundodeportivo.com

Barça will try to make up for Gavi 's loss in the next winter market as long as the fortunate financial 'fair play' allows it . Even from the coaching staff, it is already a priority to reinforce the midfield before the arrival of Vitor Roque , a player tied up but who could arrive without problems in June.

Barcelona will not sign for the sake of signing, but there is a player who perfectly fits the profile they would be looking for. This is Giovani Lo Celso (27 years old). The Argentine midfielder was already an option in the summer because Xavi and his coaching staff really like him, but in the end he stayed at Tottenham. Ange Postecoglou, Spurs coach, made him feel important in preseason, but it is true that his role has been much less once the course started, also because a thigh injury sidelined him practically the entire month of September.

So far, Lo Celso , Argentine international, has participated in 4 official matches, only playing 83' in a Tottenham team that started the season very well. That is why Barça see him as a fantastic alternative to Gavi 's untimely loss .

The ideal, also for 'fair play' aspects, would be a loan. The player would have the minutes that he does not have in London and for his current club it would be a good option for him to revalue himself at Barça . Furthermore, it is worth remembering that the man from Rosario knows the league well because he played for both Villarreal and Betis.

Beyond Tottenham, Lo Celso continues to be a fixture in the Argentine national team. He is not a starter with Scaloni, but in the last few games he has always come off the bench.

Gio is a player that they have been following from the Ciudad Deportiva for months. It was one of the names that fit the robot portrait ( ) that Xavi requested for the interior, in addition to Gündogan. He knows how to play well between the lines, he has a final pass and a good finish. In the end, the midfielder that the coach wanted did not arrive, although now, with Gavi's absence, the possibility of reactivating it opens up. And Lo Celso is still there.

Huh… Raphinia swap would be brilliant for us!

 

[rambu]

Happy news either way - not that I expect anything from Barca, a scam of a club right now, but at least he will be motivated and play better for us for the news alone, hopefully.

 

[Westmorlandspur]

They will only want a loan, they still have serious issues with their wage and if they were to hypothetically buy Gio, or anyone, they wouldn't be able to register him. They would need to sell someone for decent money in order to buy. If they decided to sell Raphinha then potentially they would be able to make a move but i don't see anyone paying what they would want for him. Regardless if you rate him or not loaning him out would be absolutely pointless as we won't be spending money on a replacement.

They have just posted a profit of 200m. They will have to shell out some cash.

 

[spurs9]

Loaning him would make zero sense and I really hope we don't get tempted by some sort of Raphinha swap deal.

Lo Celso sigue gustando y se ajusta al perfil como recambio de Gavi

En el Barça se intentará suplir la baja de Gavi en el próximo mercado de invierno siempre y cuando el dichoso 'fair play' financiero lo permita. Incluso, desde...

www.mundodeportivo.com

Barça will try to make up for Gavi 's loss in the next winter market as long as the fortunate financial 'fair play' allows it . Even from the coaching staff, it is already a priority to reinforce the midfield before the arrival of Vitor Roque , a player tied up but who could arrive without problems in June.

Barcelona will not sign for the sake of signing, but there is a player who perfectly fits the profile they would be looking for. This is Giovani Lo Celso (27 years old). The Argentine midfielder was already an option in the summer because Xavi and his coaching staff really like him, but in the end he stayed at Tottenham. Ange Postecoglou, Spurs coach, made him feel important in preseason, but it is true that his role has been much less once the course started, also because a thigh injury sidelined him practically the entire month of September.

So far, Lo Celso , Argentine international, has participated in 4 official matches, only playing 83' in a Tottenham team that started the season very well. That is why Barça see him as a fantastic alternative to Gavi 's untimely loss .

The ideal, also for 'fair play' aspects, would be a loan. The player would have the minutes that he does not have in London and for his current club it would be a good option for him to revalue himself at Barça . Furthermore, it is worth remembering that the man from Rosario knows the league well because he played for both Villarreal and Betis.

Beyond Tottenham, Lo Celso continues to be a fixture in the Argentine national team. He is not a starter with Scaloni, but in the last few games he has always come off the bench.

Gio is a player that they have been following from the Ciudad Deportiva for months. It was one of the names that fit the robot portrait ( ) that Xavi requested for the interior, in addition to Gündogan. He knows how to play well between the lines, he has a final pass and a good finish. In the end, the midfielder that the coach wanted did not arrive, although now, with Gavi's absence, the possibility of reactivating it opens up. And Lo Celso is still there.

Really? Personally, I think a Raphinha swap a great deal. Would suit the wing position under Ange better than any of our current wingers IMO and can play Right and Left. Lo Celso has never shown anything in this league beyond moments here and there and can't stay fit for an extended period of time. We also have Kulusevski, Bentancur and Donley who can cover Maddison.

 

[Ghost Hardware]

Really? Personally, I think a Raphinha swap a great deal. Would suit the wing position under Ange better than any of our current wingers IMO and can play Right and Left. Lo Celso has never shown anything in this league beyond moments here and there and can't stay fit for an extended period of time. We also have Kulusevski, Bentancur and Donley who can cover Maddison.

Purely on Raphinha, I watch Barca fairly regularly and I find him an incredibly frustrating player. He just hasn’t kicked on the way people thought he would after leaving Leeds. Don’t get me wrong I don’t dislike him or think he’s bad, I just don’t think he’s particularly fantastic ether. He’s a hard working and very solid team player but at 26 (27 in December) and on €240k P/W he just doesn’t make sense as a target to me. In general his output is incredibly inconsistent as is his decision making. From a pressing point he’d probably fit the system very well and he’s fast but in attack I just don’t think he’s what we need. He struggles against low block teams and although he makes a nice showreel he isnt a particular strong dribbler, which for me is a key area lacking in our wing play at the moment. Last season he was heavily criticised by many for being especially poor 1v1 for a winger they spent 80 mil on. Often running down blind alleys and hanging on to the ball too long. I know Barca fans are, well, Barca fans but he was infuriating at times although his G/A numbers ended up being fairly solid. This season his completion stats are actually pretty good although really his game play in general more revolves around quick passes rather then taking on defenders to the point I have even seen some discuss that he should be tried in a more central midfield role especially now that they have so many injuries.

In general when playing as a winger he excels most when in space to use his impressive pace. But as mentioned previously against low blocks or tighter defences he can be particularly ineffective. If we hadn’t have bought Johnson I could understand the logic but as is I just don’t personally think he brings anything we are particularly lacking. Essentially we would be hoping he can re-find his Leeds form which would be a risk imo.

For me he is a vary solid player but he will never be an elite player and watching him in a possession based system in a more open league considering the money involved it just doesn’t strike me as good business personally. Not that I think he’d be bad for us, in some ways he’d be excellent, his work rate is top notch, but I’d rather get someone younger with higher potential who excels more in the areas we are lacking up front. If he was on half the wages and didn’t have consistency and decision making issues I’d be more inclined to go for him but as is I just don’t think it would be the best use of our money. Personally I think there are better prospects out there that could offer more in the long run and would likely cost a lot less.

As for Gio, if he goes then he needs to be replaced. Realty is Maddison does have injury issues and with Sarr + Biss leaving for Afcon, PEH being sub par, Bentancur only just back from a long injury and Donley being completely untested going into the second half of the season with no established back up 10 would be monumentally risky imo. Kulu whilst in theory is an option there he is also untested and whilst Sarr and Biss might not be gone long neither are options for that position, realistically we need another proper alternative to Maddison.

I’m all for getting another winger, we certainly need one who isn’t afraid to put defences on the back foot. But if we loose Gio then we should be replacing him with another AM. Any winger we bring in should be separate to that.

 

[rabbikeane]

In the starting line up for Argentina against Brasil, him and Romero up against Emerson.

 

[Finchyid]

I remember we were all super excited when we signed him and a lot of people preferred him over Bruno Fernandes (who if I recall we were also in for at the time).

For me he's a bit like Erik Lamela in that I really really want him to do well; I think there's a cracking player in there but for some reason it's just not clicking.

I saw him play for us at the pre-season friendly in Singapore and whilst it was against admittedly pretty shit opposition, he looked super sharp and played some excellent stuff.

I still think there's a great player in there and if given the chance and importantly played in his strongest position, could still be a great player for us. I hope he starts against Villa as a direct replacement for Maddison.

Except Lamela had ability and gio doesn’t!