Player Watch Player Watch: Radu Dragusin

[Reado]

It's hard to judge as he's not really had a run, but playing him on the left in the system we play is just asking for trouble. We know Romero and VDV pass between themselves, then play up towards Porro or Udogie. When the ball comes to VDV, he opens his body up and drives forward because he's left footed. At the game yesterday, every time that pass was made to Radu, his first touch was with his right foot back towards where it came from. Madness to play the same way with a player who can't. If we want to play like that, surely you start Davies at LCB who naturally will take the ball on his left side. We shouldn't give up on him yet but until he plays in a position and system that suits him then he's hard to judge.

 

[Wheeler Dealer]

Wonder who identified him as a target for us

Stevie Wonder

 

[dontcallme]

Was getting a lot of negative ratings earlier in this thread due to my concerns with Radu's limitations on ball, but it now seems a lot spotting the same thing.

It's not something you can improve a great deal if you're still struggling at 22. But if we are going to continue our building up play from the back the coaching staff will need to compensate for his lack of ability by making sure the midfield and full backs provide more passing options.

The post you quoted got 2 disagree ratings.

 

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

The post you quoted got 2 disagree ratings.

Some of my other posts that got more than that were all saying very similar things. I didn't feel the need to quote them all here to make a point.

 

[bubble07]

Actually think and this is a scary thought that ange would have preferred to play Davies but that would have been the final straw for radu

 

[Tony-Bish]

Let’s not write him off yet. Son took a season to really get going. Lamela was poor in his first season, even Sissoko turned it around to some degree.

We have lost patience. Radu is still young, and will learn and improve. Let’s see how he develops before writing him off this season. Same goes with all our players.

There are still areas of the squad that need depth (GK, LB, RB, LCB, RW, LW). Then we can put our resources into improving the squad.

 

[muppetman]

He doesn’t suit any team who want possession, regardless of their shape, tactics etc. He is so bad on the ball he’d be awful for any of our rivals teams too.

The only way he’s shining is in a low block team where he just defends the box and smashes headers away.

Does feel a bit odd to have got rid of this guy to bring in Radu, but it's early days.

 

[muppetman]

Actually think and this is a scary thought that ange would have preferred to play Davies but that would have been the final straw for radu

That's quite the imagination you have there, isn't it!

 

[JSpurs1]

Does feel a bit odd to have got rid of this guy to bring in Radu, but it's early days.

View attachment 147766

Can you imagine him and Romero together. We might as well start with 9.

 

[Stamford]

Let’s not write him off yet. Son took a season to really get going. Lamela was poor in his first season, even Sissoko turned it around to some degree.

We have lost patience. Radu is still young, and will learn and improve. Let’s see how he develops before writing him off this season. Same goes with all our players.

There are still areas of the squad that need depth (GK, LB, RB, LCB, RW, LW). Then we can put our resources into improving the squad.

The thing is he isnt suited to play this kind of football, which is why he looks so bad. If he was playing for Ipswich yesterday i'm sure it would be perfect because he wins duels and he defends well mostly. He's just bad on the ball

 

[Neon_Knight_]

Does feel a bit odd to have got rid of this guy to bring in Radu, but it's early days.

View attachment 147766

How is it odd that we sold a Championship level CB that four consecutive managers didn't fancy, and replaced him with a CB who's half a decade younger and already better than him?

 

[muppetman]

How is it odd that we sold a Championship level CB that four consecutive managers didn't fancy, and replaced him with a CB who's half a decade younger and already better than him?

Because I'm not yet certain he is better than him?

 

[theShiznit]

Could be a decent RCB but at LCB Davies is still better both defensively and offensively.

Would like to see Radu get a run at RCB alongside a fully fit Micky.

I'm sure Romero will oblige with a 3 match ban at some point...

 

[hughy]

Does feel a bit odd to have got rid of this guy to bring in Radu, but it's early days.

View attachment 147766

Neither are good enough.

Shame really because I'm more than willing to give Radu time, but I don't think his deficiencies can be easily coached away. Particularly if we don't even have a fucking defensive coach.

 

[Neon_Knight_]

Because I'm not yet certain he is better than him?

Ok, but our manager and his coaching team clearly do....as do the other clubs who were scouting / pursuing him (but not Rodon) before we signed him.

 

[muppetman]

Ok, but our manager and his coaching team clearly do....as do the other clubs who were scouting / pursuing him (but not Rodon) before we signed him.

It's less about who is the better player. Rodon was a good backs-to-the-wall CB who'd head everything away, be strong and physical and at the moment Dragusin reminds me of that style of player which doesn't seem to be what Ange needs.

I think Dragusin looks good for his country because they are generally defending deep and under pressure. I think he'd suit a David Moyes team down to the ground and be a firm fan favourite.

Hopefully you are right and he turns into a world-beater, but at the moment he looks easily flustered when on the ball. Presumably, he is much more assured when playing right CB because we need our CBs to be able to play under pressure.

To be fair, he's not helped by the fact that he looks like a veteran, rather than the youngster he really is. Hopefully with good coaching and more game time (preferably at RCB) he will come good.

 

[Neon_Knight_]

It's less about who is the better player. Rodon was a good backs-to-the-wall CB who'd head everything away, be strong and physical and at the moment Dragusin reminds me of that style of player which doesn't seem to be what Ange needs.

I think Dragusin looks good for his country because they are generally defending deep and under pressure. I think he'd suit a David Moyes team down to the ground and be a firm fan favourite.

Hopefully you are right and he turns into a world-beater, but at the moment he looks easily flustered when on the ball. Presumably, he is much more assured when playing right CB because we need our CBs to be able to play under pressure.

I never suggested he'll become a world-beater (although I wouldn't mind if he does!) - only that he's already better than Rodon (who I consider to be a decent Championship player / relegation battle PL player), despite being 5 years younger than Rodon.

To be fair, he's not helped by the fact that he looks like a veteran, rather than the youngster he really is. Hopefully with good coaching and more game time (preferably at RCB) he will come good.

Yes, I do agree that a lot of people are overlooking his age. This is particularly noteworthy for CBs and GKs, because the slightest mistake (lapse of concentration, rash challenge, caught out of position, failure to pick up a runner etc.) often directly leads to a goal being conceded. Players in other positions are less exposed, which is why it's so common for young CBs to play at fullback instead when they initially break into first-team football (e.g. Dier, Tanganga & Foyth with us in recent years).

For context, at the same age (22):
Rodon made his Swansea debut, and was only a rotation player, playing in the Championship (rather than a PL team with top 4 aspirations)
Romero was sent out on a second successive loan, as he wasn't able to break into the Juventus first-team.
Vertonghen had only just broken into the Ajax starting XI, following the departures of Vermaelen & Heitinga.
VVD had only just signed for Celtic and was still very unproven.

 

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

[QUOTE="JUSTINSIGNAL, post: 8919917, member: 15453”] Teams will start targeting him because they know his limitations in this regard, so it's up to the coaching staff tweak the system to give him as many easy pass options as possible.
[/QUOTE]

 

[SpursForever71]

the thing is, being a defender, in this system, is going to be a thankless task, unless you are rapid like VDV.
In my eyes Romero is more to blame, cant see any leadership, communication or encouragement coming from someone
who has played and won top tournaments for Argentina.

 

[Disco]

Couple of games back he was getting rave reviews and now he is not good enough.

Ahhh the beautiful ebbs and flows of the mob.