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Randal Kolo Muani

God&Texas

Active Member
Sep 1, 2012
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207
My only concern is I don’t think Dibling looks like a wide player. He looks more of a CAM or inside forward. Massive talent though.
I started this post as a defense of the fit of Dibling but it morphed into too much of an overall tactical outline. I tried to pare it back but excuse the length.

In short, I think Dibling is a great profile for the RW position. We have people here arguing for RW as the most important signing of the window and others arguing the same for LW because we are asking so much of these positions that we do not have anyone that currently meets the requirements, although there is hope that some grow into it. We are asking each to be top four standard at contributing goals and creating chances with individual skill, while also being premier league standard at providing a hold up outlet and defensive contributions. There are simply not many in the world that can do all of this and we are asking for two (three really) in our squad.

Johnson provides the goals but has the fanbase after him because he is not creating and doesn’t provide the defensive contribution. Son the same. Werner tries to create but fails in the other metrics. All of them cough the ball up way too easily and often. With the way we like to set up, this inability to hold on to possession has been catastrophic. I point to that as well as not having numbers back on the opposite side of the ball when the opponent breaks as being the two biggest reasons we have been defensively fragile.

At the same time, we appear lacking ideas when attacking against a set defense as we are usually relying on either Kulusevski or Maddison to create something on their own. It frustrates me when people on here start talking about an ideal spot being taken by either of these two as their roles and positions are so drastically different but they get lumped together as they are currently the only regulars (Solanke excluded) who have the technical ability to work the ball into dangerous positions. We have been lulled by years of athletic runners only to think that this isn’t a trait most of our attackers should have.

It’s a trait that is amplified when surrounded by others who share it and I think that has shown when we have seen Kulusevski, Maddison, and Solanke all interworking. On the other hand, when we see Maddison get dropped and Solanke isolated, Deki’s form drops precipitously as he constantly loses the ball trying to do it all on his own.

Going back to the attacker profile we are looking for I think it is much more realistic to look for two separate profiles, matching Deki on the right and a prime Son on the left. Have the right side stop the defensive leakiness by being another reliable press proof outlet that can provide security and then work with a traditional overlapping wingback to link to the attack. The left can then be augmented by the Maddison style attacking mid who takes over the creative aspects. The forward here would be asked to contribute in the box; beat a man and get a cross or shot off.

We’ve seen this approach on the left a few times the season with varied results. Too often that space with interchanging Maddison and Son out wide has a left back running into it and ruining spacing/angles. When this lb role is played as we have seen Van de Ven or Davies play it works much cleaner, still pushing through lines from the back but stopping outside the box rather than getting to the end line like Udogie is asked. That also solidifies the back in transition. Keeping a third LB/CB hybrid back allows three at the back in transition to help with us overloading the ball side and then asking Porro to cover numbers at the back post as he is sprinting back.

With all of that said, I think Dibling is the perfect compliment to that Kulusevski RWF role in the summer as well as another CF that can be trusted to spell Solanke when needed. What I think is needed immediately is the LF which is not a style generally available in January. If RKM can fill in there and CF for the second half it would do the club a lot of good, but I would be very hesitant for any obligation because he’s a more of a square peg and of all the squad needs, this is the one that needs to be the perfect fit for style and talent. We have plenty of potential to grow into this role long term but need someone that fits the need precisely and is immediately ready to contribute.
 

sidford

Well-Known Member
Oct 20, 2003
13,194
39,564
Per GH in the non spurs transfer thread PSG have reached a deal with Napoli to buy their winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia For 70m so expect Muani deal to progress quickly now
 

Duskwen

Well-Known Member
Jan 11, 2015
826
5,915
Also Werner suddenly getting interest from Napoli, wages off the books, nice little triangle happening maybe
 

luRRka

Well-Known Member
Jul 27, 2008
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muel

Well-Known Member
May 17, 2005
1,029
6,821
They’re about to take on huge wages so I can see Muani being resolved very soon.

€70m for *Georgian who I can’t spell* is very very reasonable. His wages must be absolutely ridiculous otherwise there’s no way at least 4/5 Prem clubs don’t come in for him.

In general I think power to any player who maximises their earnings, but I always feel really negative about players choosing to go to PSG. Just feels really mucky. There just isn’t any sporting reason to go there and its such a waste of talent
 

robotsonic

Well-Known Member
Aug 20, 2013
3,341
14,957
Poor Kvicha, ending up on the list of players that cannot currently be named along with "Premier League player in his 30's", purely by virtue of it being literally too difficult to actually name him :(
 

Guntz

Loves a good meme/gif
Aug 15, 2011
8,332
60,742
Apparently Juve are short on funds



In recent days, the Italian newspapers have been reporting the very concrete interest of Juventus Turin. In fact, this has resulted in direct exchanges between the sports management of the two clubs. In this case, the Piedmontese club does not have an expandable financial surface. To fully finance Kolo Muani's salary (some 750,000 euros gross monthly) in particular. But not only that, a loan with a mandatory purchase option is therefore to be ruled out for Juventus. A priori, no written offer has been made so far.
The player has shown himself to be receptive to the opportunity to join Thiago Motta's team. But Juve is not the only project that Kolo Muani is open to today. The vice-world champion has solid leads elsewhere. As indicated in our columns on Monday, Tottenham is active. Daniel Lévy, the president of Spurs, has very good relations with Nasser al-Khelaïfi. Discussions have taken place between the two parties. The prospect of joining the Premier League appeals to him.
 
Last edited:
Jan 28, 2011
6,292
90,036
Little surprise there. The key line I got from that article tho was…

“In any case, the file should not be finalized in the next few days”


The key thing I got from the article is that the French have a thing called 'vice-world champion'.

Not runner-up.

Or loser.

But vice-world champion.

That's a little bit pompous, don't you think, for coming second? A bit self-aggrandising?

Honestly.

Just typical of the French.

Or the vice-winners of the Battle of Agincourt, as I like to think of them.
 

Reece_Spurs

Well-Known Member
Sep 10, 2011
914
5,705
Unless we also have a LW option lined up Muani in and Werner out doesn't solve much.

Not overly keen on Muani, but would be a good rotation option for Solanke.

I know most don't like Werner, but the one thing he could do well is beat a man and get a ball into the box.

I hope we have a player lined up who can do the same.
 

mil1lion

This is the place to be
May 7, 2004
46,238
93,036
Unless we also have a LW option lined up Muani in and Werner out doesn't solve much.

Not overly keen on Muani, but would be a good rotation option for Solanke.

I know most don't like Werner, but the one thing he could do well is beat a man and get a ball into the box.

I hope we have a player lined up who can do the same.
Err he'd surely be a big upgrade on Werner
 

Bluto Blutarsky

Well-Known Member
Mar 4, 2021
21,548
96,642
Unless we also have a LW option lined up Muani in and Werner out doesn't solve much.

Not overly keen on Muani, but would be a good rotation option for Solanke.

I know most don't like Werner, but the one thing he could do well is beat a man and get a ball into the box.

I hope we have a player lined up who can do the same.
LW Option, you say:

1. Son
2. Moore
3. Richarlison
4. Yang


If Werner stays, the 1st three are probably preferred to Werner right now.

If Muani comes in, he can back up Solanke and play RW.
 
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