Other matches April 15-18

[peekay]

Watching Cucurella struggle at Chelsea made me remember my aversion to signing players from exceptionally well-run clubs – chances are in a team like Brighton most players look better than they actually are. There are exceptions of course – I think Caicedo is a cracking player and will be just as good if not better elsewhere – but let's cool off with the talk of signing the likes of Estupinian or spunking £80M on MacAllister; they look good precisely because the system makes them look good.

I made this point about Dortmund long time ago. To a certain extent, avoid purchasing players from clubs which have a clearly defined style of play. They have a system which makes players look twice as good. I feel that Caicedo's attributes can be replaced with a bit of innovative scouting. MacAllister is a good player. But Brighton will ask close to 80/90 million and I have doubts if he will live up to the price tag. Brighton as you pointed out have a clearly defined way of playing. Scaloni is also a very underrated international manager. He setup Argentina brilliantly with every player fitting very well into a system.

 

[rurikbird]

I made this point about Dortmund long time ago. To a certain extent, avoid purchasing players from clubs which have a clearly defined style of play. They have a system which makes players look twice as good. I feel that Caicedo's attributes can be replaced with a bit of innovative scouting. MacAllister is a good player. But Brighton will ask close to 80/90 million and I have doubts if he will live up to the price tag. Brighton as you pointed out have a clearly defined way of playing. Scaloni is also a very underrated international manager. He setup Argentina brilliantly with every player fitting very well into a system.

This is also why it’s generally not a good idea to sign players from Klopp’s LFC… (shhhhhh!)

Like I said though, sometimes there are exceptions within this rule - Bellingham at Dortmund I believe is one, Kante at the title-winning Leicester side was another. I think Caicedo is in this category.

 

[peekay]

This is also why it’s generally not a good idea to sign players from Klopp’s LFC… (shhhhhh!)

Like I said though, sometimes there are exceptions within this rule - Bellingham at Dortmund I believe is one, Kante at the title-winning Leicester side was another. I think Caicedo is in this category.

I dont think Caicedo is Kante level. Just my opinion based on limited viewing, I will admit.

 

[King Binny]

Admired Ancelotti's tactical ability since his AC Milan Christmas Tree formation days.

 

[tomasjj]

Make it so.

 

[doctor_mac]

I dont think Caicedo is Kante level. Just my opinion based on limited viewing, I will admit.

Yeah, but he's 20 or something. I don't think Kante was Kante level at 20. does research In fact, Kante, unbelievably, only made his professional debut aged 21 (in 2012)!! The next year when playing in the French second tier he recovered the ball more times than any player in Europe though, which suggests he was getting up to speed with the whole shebang rather quickly.

 

[tomasjj]

Admired Ancelotti's tactical ability since his AC Milan Christmas Tree formation days.

chalobah struggling on both goals
on 0-1 he goes all out and is too late
on this one, he fails to push up, from what i can see, and then the long ball catches the Chelsea backline out

 

[LeTallecWiz]

 

[King Binny]

😀

 

[binomial]

Annoying little shit.

 

[Woland]

Can a mod please add that post to the associated avatar.

 

[the count]

Admired Ancelotti's tactical ability since his AC Milan Christmas Tree formation days.

I don't get how Ancellotti is somehow not perceived as an absolutely top manager.
He is definitely occupying the same space as Guardiola and Klopp.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

I don't get how Ancellotti is somehow not perceived as an absolutely top manager.
He is definitely occupying the same space as Guardiola and Klopp.

But can he do it on a cold night at Goodison?

 

[King Binny]

Watching Cucurella struggle at Chelsea made me remember my aversion to signing players from exceptionally well-run clubs – chances are in a team like Brighton most players look better than they actually are. There are exceptions of course – I think Caicedo is a cracking player and will be just as good if not better elsewhere – but let's cool off with the talk of signing the likes of Estupinian or spunking £80M on MacAllister; they look good precisely because the system makes them look good.

 

[rubans]

Thought Mac Allister was great in the World Cup

I like Mac too, I think him the Japanese lad will be the exception though but these players won’t be cheap so even though it’s Brighton.

 

[peekay]

Yeah, but he's 20 or something. I don't think Kante was Kante level at 20. does research In fact, Kante, unbelievably, only made his professional debut aged 21 (in 2012)!! The next year when playing in the French second tier he recovered the ball more times than any player in Europe though, which suggests he was getting up to speed with the whole shebang rather quickly.

My knowledge of players is limited and I am not a good judge of potential also. So read this post with those caveats. I like Caicedo and he will do very well in our midfield. I just don't see him as being 80-100 million good. I don't quite believe in comparing stats across ages between different players as players evolve in nonlinearly. While the 20 year old Caicedo might be much better than Kante, that does not guarantee that the 25 year old Caicedo will be close to Kante. Somehow, from whatever limited viewing I have had of Caicedo, I just don't see him reaching Kante level. Again, I dont claim to be a good judge of player potential. I thought Mark Gonzales was going to be the answer to our wing troubles. Our budget is limited and we need to make every penny count.

 

[King Binny]

Teams underperforming in the league (Inter, AC Milan) knocking out league leaders (Napoli, Benfica)

 

[King Binny]

The buy both part was obviously not very good advice 😛 but the assessment of players was.

[article]“Liverpool were in contact for many months. Klopp asked Ralf Rangnick a couple of years ago: ‘who is the better player: Dayot Upamecano or Konate?” RB Leipzig journalist Guido Schafer told the Blood Red Club podcast (via the Echo).

“Rangnick told Jurgen ‘when you are able to buy both, buy both’.

“They are both skilful players but the greater talent and the better player is Konate – he is outstanding.

“Upamecano is a little more dynamic but the better player for technique, view of the match, passing and heading is Konate – he never lost one header.”[/article]

 

[peekay]

If I were Tuchel, I would ask Mane to punch both Sane and Upamecano at half time.

 

[tomasjj]

bit of spark in this game
a bayern goal could make it even more interesting

 

[Fabio]

I know you can't look at a players history to judge them....but when a player's not good enough for stoke, can you expect them to lead the line to get to a CL semi?

 

[Fabio]

Uponhisarso fell over, haaland scores

 

[peekay]

Uponhisarso fell over, haaland scores

Someone should check his bank account or if he suddenly starts receiving sponsorship from non existent companies. He has been the best player for City over the two legs.

 

[binomial]

Tbh the CL is made for teams like Inter and Milan, they know how to do it...Benfica and Napoli don't quite.

Looking forward to 1 of the Milan sides winning it, Milan Madrid would be a blockbuster final....anyone know if they've ever met in a CL final?

 

[Fabio]

Bayern keep knocking , I just don't think they'll score at all

 

[Fabio]

Bit of a mad one. Point blank handball given

 

[binomial]

Bayern keep knocking , I just don't think they'll score at all

Could you say it 3 more times real quickly?

 

[peekay]

Inspired decision by Bayern board to replace Nagelsmann with Tuchel.

 

[peekay]

Upa Maguire Lol

 

[Dreambeliever]

So City will sign off with the treble before being forcefully removed from the record books?