Winter Mercato Thread 2021 (28 Viewers)

[Badass J Elkann]

I said out of the three spots in midfield - Rabiot is currently a must as he provides what the others cant.
We need a midfielder who can attack score and assist - Aouar is good but he isnt that
Arthur is the only available option for now.

I didnt write him off as he just had few games here and could definitely improve but I think he should be instructed to play the ball forward more often - He usually just pass to the sides which is nice for possession but it doesnt really provides anything...

Personally I have absolutely no problems with Arthur passing the ball sideways, especially if we're trying to play an expansive game. Not every ball has to go forwards, as long as we keep possession the opposition can't score, thats how I look at it. Before Pjanic used to panic and lose the ball in dangerous areas, for the large parts I feel safe with Arthur on the ball, at least he can begin to construct something even if his pass is not necessarily the final one.

 

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[Orgut]

Personally I have absolutely no problems with Arthur passing the ball sideways, especially if we're trying to play an expansive game. Not every ball has to go forwards, as long as we keep possession the opposition can't score, thats how I look at it. Before Pjanic used to panic and lose the ball in dangerous areas, for the large parts I feel safe with Arthur on the ball, at least he can begin to construct something even if his pass is not necessarily the final one.

Its not a problem when you mix your passing but when you only pass sideways you become more predictable and not really contributing in creating anything (not even helps to create).

Possession isnt everything + We should look for someone who can move it forward with accuracy - Passing sideways might mean you keep possession but its a false possession as you actually just moves the responsibility to someone else.

Im sorry but I want our players to be able to do the best and not just pass the ball sideways to have better passing stats.

Pjanic is different in that sense as he mixed it up. His problem was entirely different and not passing related - He was just too soft and prone to losing the ball in a dangerous position.

The thing is I do not want current Arthur but I also dont want Pjanic - We need to look for players who can pass move forward but also not get dispossessed in dangerous positions.
Aouar is a smart player and he also goes forward - In this aspect he would be a better fit.

That being said I havent crossed out Arthur - I just say that he can do much better and if he eventually proves he cant -> Then we should bench him/sell him or whatever.

 

[s4tch]

we didn't see too much of mckennie yet, but looking at the defensive contribution of our midfield (top3 in tackles for this season: cuadrado, danilo and chiesa; ffs, where's the midfield?), i'd say this guy is a must if we can get rid of khedira during the winter mercato. put locatelli in the central position of a 3-man midfield, and it's a given and instant effect: concede less shots on goal, less goals, run less risks at the back. he's not a world class player, but very solid defensively, his passing is good enough to play in the middle, dependable, not injury prone at all (j-medical can always ruin him tho), young with plenty of experience already. price could/would be an issue, but that's on the club. i'd be happy to have him.

 

[Orgut]

we didn't see too much of mckennie yet, but looking at the defensive contribution of our midfield (top3 in tackles for this season: cuadrado, danilo and chiesa; ffs, where's the midfield?), i'd say this guy is a must if we can get rid of khedira during the winter mercato. put locatelli in the central position of a 3-man midfield, and it's a given and instant effect: concede less shots on goal, less goals, run less risks at the back. he's not a world class player, but very solid defensively, his passing is good enough to play in the middle, dependable, not injury prone at all (j-medical can always ruin him tho), young with plenty of experience already. price could/would be an issue, but that's on the club. i'd be happy to have him.

Mck is good at recovering balls but he also is good at loosing them.
He had some good movement going forward against Spezia but overall we should aim higher than him.
Locatelli - I always said he will be a good addition but he wouldnt solve anything by himself, we need a star midfielder!

 

[Osman]

we didn't see too much of mckennie yet, but looking at the defensive contribution of our midfield (top3 in tackles for this season: cuadrado, danilo and chiesa; ffs, where's the midfield?), i'd say this guy is a must if we can get rid of khedira during the winter mercato. put locatelli in the central position of a 3-man midfield, and it's a given and instant effect: concede less shots on goal, less goals, run less risks at the back. he's not a world class player, but very solid defensively, his passing is good enough to play in the middle, dependable, not injury prone at all (j-medical can always ruin him tho), young with plenty of experience already. price could/would be an issue, but that's on the club. i'd be happy to have him.

Yeah he would be pretty massive stabilizing effect most likely, because he is positionally better DM then all of the others, while being a natural holding mid, unlike any of the others, who are lost between being b2b, neither that great in attack or strong defensively, something in between.

 

[Gigiventus]

we didn't see too much of mckennie yet, but looking at the defensive contribution of our midfield (top3 in tackles for this season: cuadrado, danilo and chiesa; ffs, where's the midfield?), i'd say this guy is a must if we can get rid of khedira during the winter mercato. put locatelli in the central position of a 3-man midfield, and it's a given and instant effect: concede less shots on goal, less goals, run less risks at the back. he's not a world class player, but very solid defensively, his passing is good enough to play in the middle, dependable, not injury prone at all (j-medical can always ruin him tho), young with plenty of experience already. price could/would be an issue, but that's on the club. i'd be happy to have him.

Would be perfect but I don't see how Sassuolo will let him go in January.

 

[s4tch]

Would be perfect but I don't see how Sassuolo will let him go in January.

as he's their most important player, that's certainly an issue, just like the financial part of the deal

let's hope lord tici has something to offer them, like a couple of u23 players they like (and who are well over 18 and wouldn't be homegrown for us anyway)

 

[LiquidPLP]

If we get him next Summer, that would be good too. Obviously he'll cost a lot but he's very good at what he does.

 

[pavluska]

we didn't see too much of mckennie yet, but looking at the defensive contribution of our midfield (top3 in tackles for this season: cuadrado, danilo and chiesa; ffs, where's the midfield?), i'd say this guy is a must if we can get rid of khedira during the winter mercato. put locatelli in the central position of a 3-man midfield, and it's a given and instant effect: concede less shots on goal, less goals, run less risks at the back. he's not a world class player, but very solid defensively, his passing is good enough to play in the middle, dependable, not injury prone at all (j-medical can always ruin him tho), young with plenty of experience already. price could/would be an issue, but that's on the club. i'd be happy to have him.

It'd have nothing to do with Khedira. He isn't part of the team. And we aren't playing a 3-man mid.

It'd have to do with Berna leaving and Wes continuing to be an option for SM.

 

[JuveJay]

I'm a big Locatelli advocate since day dot, but we'd be too heavy with numbers.

 

[Lion]

we should fabian

 

[Badass J Elkann]

Its not a problem when you mix your passing but when you only pass sideways you become more predictable and not really contributing in creating anything (not even helps to create).

Possession isnt everything + We should look for someone who can move it forward with accuracy - Passing sideways might mean you keep possession but its a false possession as you actually just moves the responsibility to someone else.

Im sorry but I want our players to be able to do the best and not just pass the ball sideways to have better passing stats.

Pjanic is different in that sense as he mixed it up. His problem was entirely different and not passing related - He was just too soft and prone to losing the ball in a dangerous position.

The thing is I do not want current Arthur but I also dont want Pjanic - We need to look for players who can pass move forward but also not get dispossessed in dangerous positions.
Aouar is a smart player and he also goes forward - In this aspect he would be a better fit.

That being said I havent crossed out Arthur - I just say that he can do much better and if he eventually proves he cant -> Then we should bench him/sell him or whatever.

Sorry i disagree about having to always pass forwards. Sideways possession also means the opposition have to shift across which creates space providing the ball is transfered quickly and accurately enough. The quickest route to goal isn't always having to play a forward ball. A lot of teams now flood the middle so unless you have someone who can play that eye of the needle pass everytime and with great success it just doesn't work like that.

 

[Orgut]

Sorry i disagree about having to always pass forwards. Sideways possession also means the opposition have to shift across which creates space providing the ball is transfered quickly and accurately enough. The quickest route to goal isn't always having to play a forward ball. A lot of teams now flood the middle so unless you have someone who can play that eye of the needle pass everytime and with great success it just doesn't work like that.

Read what I wrote instead of disagreeing - I said he should at least mix it up instead of always play sideways.
Of course no player should just pass it forward - It should be a mixture of passes to both areas. I havent seen Arthur even looking for such a move and YES he can do it as he has done at Barcelona at the start (his last season was just sideways passes).

What Im saying is the previous version of Arthur is superior as he did both.

 

[pavluska]

Please god

Do you prefer him over Aouar?

 

[DanielSz]

Do you prefer him over Aouar?

yeah but I’m biased. Pretty sure he’ll cost a lot less though.

 

[pavluska]

yeah but I’m biased. Pretty sure he’ll cost a lot less though.

Are you hungarian?

 

[U Picciriddu]

we didn't see too much of mckennie yet, but looking at the defensive contribution of our midfield (top3 in tackles for this season: cuadrado, danilo and chiesa; ffs, where's the midfield?), i'd say this guy is a must if we can get rid of khedira during the winter mercato. put locatelli in the central position of a 3-man midfield, and it's a given and instant effect: concede less shots on goal, less goals, run less risks at the back. he's not a world class player, but very solid defensively, his passing is good enough to play in the middle, dependable, not injury prone at all (j-medical can always ruin him tho), young with plenty of experience already. price could/would be an issue, but that's on the club. i'd be happy to have him.

Im afraid that it’s one of the obvious rumors as he had a good match vs Napoli. Besides that he’s a welcome signing. We need to continue signing young players with potential.

 

[DanielSz]

Are you hungarian?

yeah

 

[pavluska]

Yeah he would be pretty massive stabilizing effect most likely, because he is positionally better DM then all of the others, while being a natural holding mid, unlike any of the others, who are lost between being b2b, neither that great in attack or strong defensively, something in between.

I don't get why I keep reading Locatelli being a DM or holding mid on Tuz since last season.

Unless things changed this season, he plays as the second CM (the one who's farther forward) for Sassuolo.

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as he's their most important player, that's certainly an issue, just like the financial part of the deal

let's hope lord tici has something to offer them, like a couple of u23 players they like (and who are well over 18 and wouldn't be homegrown for us anyway)

They were holding out for 40m in summer and have loftier goals for this season. Couple of U23 players aren't going to appease them in Jan.

 

[il brutto]

I don't get why I keep reading Locatelli being a DM or holding mid on Tuz since last season.

Unless things changed this season, he plays as the second CM (the one who's farther forward) for Sassuolo.

It depends a bit on his midfield partner, Magnanelli and Obiang are more traditional sitting players compared to Lopez and Bourabia. I personally think he's at his best as a sitting player that dictates the tempo of the play from those deeper positions.