Said Benrahma

[Rosco1984]

I'd rather we stick with what we have, as it's the area where we have most strength in depth and we can't realistic improve on what we have for £20m. We signed a winger/AM in January (Bergwijn), without selling one. Who would you like us to sell in order to make space for Benrahma?

I think we should focus on signing the players needed to balance our squad, as we have done with the three completed signings so far. My perception of the gaps in our squad are: CF (we only have one in the entire squad), LB (Rose is clearly not in our plans), CB (Vertonghen hasn't been replaced).

I think this is likely a case of us doing a deal for Watkins and maybe we can get better value if we take both. I think Watkins is the real target but maybe the price for him alone is too high but a deal for both may represent more value and less risk in the long run as you would only need one to be a hit to make your money back on the deal.

 

[H-SF]

I don't really feel we have anyone that can glide across the pitch and carry the ball well around the box. Bergwijn, Son, Lucas are all direct wing forwards, Dele is obviously not a 'glider', GLC is too stocky but is closer to that profile. Ndombele and Lamela are the the closest, but Lamela doesn't have the output and is dreadfully one-footed and Ndombele is a pivot player and well, Ndombele. I feel Benrahma offers that 'gliding' dynamic and can effortlessly carry the ball around the box and win fouls, like a Grealish or a Sancho, or perhaps a Mahrez/Martial. I often feel that we struggle against deep blocks because we don't actually have enough technical dribblers to take initiative. We have runners like Son and Lucas but there is a difference between technical dribblers and runners. The links to this guy are promising as for me he offers something we really lack so I hope we pick him up.

 

[Neon_Knight_]

I think this is likely a case of us doing a deal for Watkins and maybe we can get better value if we take both. I think Watkins is the real target but maybe the price for him alone is too high but a deal for both may represent more value and less risk in the long run as you would only need one to be a hit to make your money back on the deal.

Watkins would certainly be a more logical signing to me.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think signing Benrahma couldn't improve our squad. I just wouldn't want us to risk selling a more proven player to make way for him or to sign him instead of sorting out a gap in the squad. If we can afford him addition to getting all the priority business done, and without taking the risk of selling a more proven player, I will have no complaints.

 

[lincspurs]

Watkins would certainly be a more logical signing to me.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think signing Benrahma couldn't improve our squad. I just wouldn't want us to risk selling a more proven player to make way for him or to sign him instead of sorting out a gap in the squad. If we can afford him addition to getting all the priority business done, and without taking the risk of selling a more proven player, I will have no complaints.

I know everyone seems to say he’s a winger but given his skill set might we be thinking of playing him in midfield 3 maybe with 2 defensive midfielders alongside him?

 

[wrd]

I don't really agree about his age being a concern, he reminds me a lot of Mahrez who was also a bit of a late bloomer and really started showing his quality around 25 years old when Leicester won the league.

 

[joey55]

I don't really agree about his age being a concern, he reminds me a lot of Mahrez who was also a bit of a late bloomer and really started showing his quality around 25 years old when Leicester won the league.

He's more of an outlier though and by the time he was 25 he was Prem POTY.

I think with any transfer strategy we need to be looking at patterns that have a success rate of about 50%. I don't think you'd get anywhere near that by signing the best players over the age of 23 from the Championship. Our best transfers tend to come from either the lesser leagues if Europe, buying young British talent from the lower leagues or established Prem players from smaller clubs.

Over the years we've done extremely well buying the likes of Walker, Lennon, Rose, Ali and Bale at young ages, from lower league clubs. We've seen the likes of Modric, Verts and now Berg from smaller European leagues. And we've done well poaching the cream of the lesser Prem clubs, with the likes of Dembele, Wanyama and Toby (though I know technically from Athletico, but we pinched him from the Saints.)

I just think gambling on older players from the lower leagues, such as Watkins and Benrahma is a much higher risk transfer strategy that is unlikely to pay off. It just doesn't seem plausible to me that there are too many top 4 quality players, over the age of 24, plying their trade in the Championship and of those rare exceptions, identifying them in going to be very hard.

 

[strader]

I don't really feel we have anyone that can glide across the pitch and carry the ball well around the box. Bergwijn, Son, Lucas are all direct wing forwards, Dele is obviously not a 'glider', GLC is too stocky but is closer to that profile. Ndombele and Lamela are the the closest, but Lamela doesn't have the output and is dreadfully one-footed and Ndombele is a pivot player and well, Ndombele. I feel Benrahma offers that 'gliding' dynamic and can effortlessly carry the ball around the box and win fouls, like a Grealish or a Sancho, or perhaps a Mahrez/Martial. I often feel that we struggle against deep blocks because we don't actually have enough technical dribblers to take initiative. We have runners like Son and Lucas but there is a difference between technical dribblers and runners. The links to this guy are promising as for me he offers something we really lack so I hope we pick him up.

This and more, hope we get this lad. Players like this is bound to get lots of set pieces and pens. Offers something we don't have in our squad.

 

[Neon_Knight_]

I know everyone seems to say he’s a winger but given his skill set might we be thinking of playing him in midfield 3 maybe with 2 defensive midfielders alongside him?

As back-up for Lo Celso?

 

[pablo73]

Don't know much about him at all but we are in desperate need of more creativity so if he can provide that I'm all for it.

 

[Neon_Knight_]

I don't really agree about his age being a concern, he reminds me a lot of Mahrez who was also a bit of a late bloomer and really started showing his quality around 25 years old when Leicester won the league.

Mahrez was 24 when he really started to shine (turned 25 2/3 through Leicester's league title season). By the age of 25 he had 22 caps and 4 goals for Algeria, even though his decision to represent Algeria (he was born in France) probably delayed the start to his international career (debut at 23 - could have been earlier if he'd made his decision sooner). Benrahma made his international debut 5 years ago, at the age of 20, but has only 3 caps (1 start) for Algeria.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

I'd rather we stick with what we have, as it's the area where we have most strength in depth and we can't realistic improve on what we have for £20m. We signed a winger/AM in January (Bergwijn), without selling one. Who would you like us to sell in order to make space for Benrahma?

I think we should focus on signing the players needed to balance our squad, as we have done with the three completed signings so far. My perception of the gaps in our squad are: CF (we only have one in the entire squad), LB (Rose is clearly not in our plans), CB (Vertonghen hasn't been replaced).

Yea agree its certainly not the priority and that CF comes first but I do think a better / different type of quality AM or CM should be very high on the list. Tanganga and Sess can cover LB and Tanganga CCV or Foyth could all currently cover 4th CB spot as could Davies if we signed another LB whereas until we sign another striker if Son/Lucas have to play up top in our run of 9 games in 20 days or whatever it is then that will leave Bergwijn & Lamela on the wings, the latter of which I don't particularly rate and he can't usually be relied upon to play many games in a row so for the balance of the squad i think another AM or creative mid is very important.

To answer your Q I'd move on Lamela as he's not consistent enough and can't stay fit for more than 15 games a season.

My ideal end to the window would be something like:
Sell : Foyth, CCV, Rose, Aurier, Lamela*
Buy : (in order or need)
1. ST - Watkins etc
2. AM &/or creative CM - Benrahma or Sabitzer (If we sign Sabitzer then keep Lamela, if Benrahma then sell Lamela and buy a lower costing creative CM
3. LB - Regullion etc
4. CB - Don't think its really a priority particularly as Tanganga can cover as 4th choice even if we sell CCV and Foyth but if Jose sees a real need for a more ready to go 4th choice then possibly the South Korean CB Monster OR Skrinjar if we do a swap for Ndombele but if so then we'd need to also buy a CM to replace Ndombele

So its all a moving puzzle in my opinion. Agree that CF, LB and CB need to be addressed but I'm of the opinion as explained above that a consistent upgrade on Lamela or a creative CM should be more important than LB or CB as both of those positions could be covered adequately but current squad members whereas as we saw in many games last season and again in the pre-season vs Watford when we have no Kane or the likes of Lamela and Lucas in our attack combined with no creative CM such as a Lo Celso then we look pretty toothless and for me we aren't going to come top 4 or win anything unless we upgrade our attack slightly. City and Lpool's attack are incredible, Chelsea now have Werner, Zyieck, Havertz, Mount, CHO, Pulisic + Giroud, Batsuyai, Abraham some serious quality and depth there, Man.U have: Martial, Rashford, VDB, B.Fernandes, Pogba, Greenwood, James, Ighalo and will likely add Josh King and are trying for Sancho.

You then have the likes of Arsenal, Leicester, Wolves, Everton all improving.

I'm sorry but I just don't think that our current quality and depth of attacking options is good enough and we need to add absolute minimum a quality striker but ideally also a creative CM to replace what Eriksen gave us and/or a more reliable and better version of Lamela.
Right now we have:

Kane, Bergwijn, Son, Lucas, Dele, Lamela, GLC, Sessengon, Clarke (Only Kane, Son and Dele have proven to be consistently top level performers and even Dele hasn't been on top form for a good year or so, GLC is promising but for me Lucas and Lamela are underwhelming and Lamela can't relied upon to stay fit and Sessengon is still a kid.

So for me someone like Benrahma if we can jiggle around the funds enough would be well worth it.

 

[St José Dominguez]

No idea why people can’t see how he fits in. We’d have Lucas and Bergwijn competing on the right, Son and Benrahma competing on the left. He can also play centrally as a cam in similar way Coutinho does. He’d add needed depth in creative spots.

 

[emiley heskey]

He reminds me of adel taraabt

 

[THFCSPURS19]

No offense but how could you both love Watkins and have never watched Benrahma...? They both play for the same team

 

[Neon_Knight_]

Yea agree its certainly not the priority and that CF comes first but I do think a better / different type of quality AM or CM should be very high on the list. Tanganga and Sess can cover LB and Tanganga CCV or Foyth could all currently cover 4th CB spot as could Davies if we signed another LB whereas until we sign another striker if Son/Lucas have to play up top in our run of 9 games in 20 days or whatever it is then that will leave Bergwijn & Lamela on the wings, the latter of which I don't particularly rate and he can't usually be relied upon to play many games in a row so for the balance of the squad i think another AM or creative mid is very important.

To answer your Q I'd move on Lamela as he's not consistent enough and can't stay fit for more than 15 games a season.

My ideal end to the window would be something like:
Sell : Foyth, CCV, Rose, Aurier, Lamela*
Buy : (in order or need)
1. ST - Watkins etc
2. AM &/or creative CM - Benrahma or Sabitzer (If we sign Sabitzer then keep Lamela, if Benrahma then sell Lamela and buy a lower costing creative CM
3. LB - Regullion etc
4. CB - Don't think its really a priority particularly as Tanganga can cover as 4th choice even if we sell CCV and Foyth but if Jose sees a real need for a more ready to go 4th choice then possibly the South Korean CB Monster OR Skrinjar if we do a swap for Ndombele but if so then we'd need to also buy a CM to replace Ndombele

So its all a moving puzzle in my opinion. Agree that CF, LB and CB need to be addressed but I'm of the opinion as explained above that a consistent upgrade on Lamela or a creative CM should be more important than LB or CB as both of those positions could be covered adequately but current squad members whereas as we saw in many games last season and again in the pre-season vs Watford when we have no Kane or the likes of Lamela and Lucas in our attack combined with no creative CM such as a Lo Celso then we look pretty toothless and for me we aren't going to come top 4 or win anything unless we upgrade our attack slightly. City and Lpool's attack are incredible, Chelsea now have Werner, Zyieck, Havertz, Mount, CHO, Pulisic + Giroud, Batsuyai, Abraham some serious quality and depth there, Man.U have: Martial, Rashford, VDB, B.Fernandes, Pogba, Greenwood, James, Ighalo and will likely add Josh King and are trying for Sancho.

You then have the likes of Arsenal, Leicester, Wolves, Everton all improving.

I'm sorry but I just don't think that our current quality and depth of attacking options is good enough and we need to add absolute minimum a quality striker but ideally also a creative CM to replace what Eriksen gave us and/or a more reliable and better version of Lamela.
Right now we have:

Kane, Bergwijn, Son, Lucas, Dele, Lamela, GLC, Sessengon, Clarke (Only Kane, Son and Dele have proven to be consistently top level performers and even Dele hasn't been on top form for a good year or so, GLC is promising but for me Lucas and Lamela are underwhelming and Lamela can't relied upon to stay fit and Sessengon is still a kid.

So for me someone like Benrahma if we can jiggle around the funds enough would be well worth it.

I mostly agree with you. Another CAM or creative CM would be good, but we don't need another winger who's also ok at CAM. I'll be surprised if we sign one without selling Ndombele though.

If we sign a decent back-up CF who also happens to be useful as a winger / no.10 that would be ideal.

 

[Neon_Knight_]

I know everyone seems to say he’s a winger but given his skill set might we be thinking of playing him in midfield 3 maybe with 2 defensive midfielders alongside him?

He has always played as part of a front three. I would be shocked if we don't play a front four (Kane with 3x winger/AM), which Benrahma could play in at LW or CAM.

I'm not sure why or how we would use him as part of a CM three, unless you currently view our CAM (who attacks as much as our two wingers) to be part of a CM three. If not, we would probably need to drop Lo Celso, Alli and one of Son/Moura/Bergwijn to fit him into the starting lineup - yet his career to date suggests he's inferior to all of those players, so 3 out of the 5 need to be unavailable before Benrahma is selected.

To expect him to step up from the Championship, learn a new role and develop the defensive side of his game is a big ask. If he played a central role with two of PEH/Winks/Sissoko, I'm confident he'd end up playing as part of the front four (with the two CMs behind playing the same as Winks and Sissoko did this season), even if that's not how it looks to be set up on paper before KO.

 

[delawarespur]

Someone has mentioned this, but the quality and skill set he has is unique and completely different to what we have. Son is a quick, rapid, dynamic, intense wing forward. Bergwijn is a fast, decisive, creative wing forward who likes to drift inside. Lucas is probably the most natural wide player we have, it’s very difficult to get the ball off him when he gets going, he is very shifty and elusive, yet doesn’t square up his opponent as much as I would like. Benrahma doesn’t have the pace of any of the three. He is very shifty and great at unbalancing opponent’s 1v1 and when running with the ball. I’d say his dribbling style is actually most similar to Ndombele, but benrahma has a huge amount of flair when he’s on the ball with his quick feet and even quicker thinking. He is nominally a left winger, but a good chunk of his best work comes infield, and not necessarily simply cutting in. His starting position is often in the middle when receiving the ball. This is why I think he’d suit a central role really well. He has the creativity and spontaneity as well as the vision/ability to play numerous types of passes. Overall, striker has to be next in the door, but I don’t think we can turn down this type of quality. If a player of this type and age was already in the prem, we’d be looking at upwards of 50m. He isn't even a big risk, he knows the English game, and the upside is massive. I think he’d take the step up in stride, and his profile is ideal for the prem.

 

[bigfrooj]

He’s a one good game in five player. Without regular starts he’d be even more hit and miss. Sorry, not for me.

 

[rossdapep]

Leicester, West Ham and Arsenal have all been linked recently.

I imagine the club would like to get it done at 15m but as soon as others get involved the fee will rise and I can't see us signing a player like this for 20m or more.

 

[LukaKranjcar]

Signing Benrahma would allow us to use Sonny as a proper deputy to Kane as well as up top with him. Maybe we think Sonny is a far better option up top than some of the potential ST signings we're looking at? This lad is also great competition for Sonny and offers something different.