César Azpilicueta

[Vesper 30,090]

On 26/09/2018 at 11:45 PM, Vybzkartel said:

We might need a new RB soon. He hasnt looked comfortable in Sarri's system but his still a solid player to have around. 

 

This was the subject of a post I did yesterday.

Azpi is the best (or 2nd best, if you rate Kimmich above) DEFENSIVE RB in the world, but is very limited it seems in Sarriball on the offensive end.

His one main outstanding contribution over the past 2 years has been hs crosses to Morata, but just like Morata's entire game, these have dried up as well.

He quite possibly could start to fuck up the entire system, as the weak right side (especially when it is Willian or Moses) allows team to fuck up our strong left with hedge marking favouring an overload defensively on the left

Options at RB are really thin. Zappacosta is not anywhere near shit, but also not the final solution (he would have to be German to be that, lolol). He also is not happy and wants to go back to Italy, AND there are like 5 teams who really want him there. Lazio (2nd best fit for him) Fiorentina (they REALLY need him, best fit for him), Inter Milan, Torino (who we bought him from,and who now have Ola Aina from us on loan at RB), and Atalanta

We could try Ampadu there, I REALLY am intrigued by that, and it gets the lad some playing time

that all said...........

Here are the best (in order) buy options,some of them VERY hard, if not impossible pulls,the market availability overall for RB is SHIT now

 

1. Sergi Roberto - Barca, 2nd best RB in the world, IMHO, after Kimmich, with Carvajal 3rd. We fucked this up in multiple windows, especially 2 years ago. By far the best option, but would cost crazy money, probably £70m to £80m, maybe more, to get Barca to give him up

2. Elseid Hysaj - Napoli   Poison dwarf will do all he can to block this, Sarri wants him badly, and he has yet to renew

3. Wild card - Benjamin Pavard - Stuttgart  He is always on my CB want lists, near top, BUT he (like Azpi) is a great RB too (see France WC) and he is also more offensive than Azpi

4. Djibril Sidibé - Monaco  I am shocked he is still there, but I also must say I am not sure if he is a Sarriball RB, very solid player, although the entire team is slumping badly this season

5. Nélson Semedo - Barca   Has not been the superstar Barca thought, but does have offensive skills, worth looking into,and deffo an upgrade on Zappa at least

6. Valentino Lazaro - Hertha Berlin 22yo fast, great passer in short lik-up game, has exploded since he was switched to RB from AMF/RW

7. Achraf Hakimi - Borussia Dortmund  (on loan from Real Madrid) 19yo potential star, Real will probably not EVEN remotely sell him,but who knows

8. Kevin Mbabu    Young Boys     another wild card, he is the best athlete by far on this list, insanely fast, he looked a world beater v Manure in the CL, but he did not do well at Newcastle, Rangers, etc. he is still only 23, not a good passer, so Sarri may go nutter over that

9. Almamy Touré - Monaco (was an academy player they have raised up)

10. Davide Calabria  AC Milan (only 21)

11. Mattia De Sciglio  Juventus  25yo, 26 in October

12. Andrea Conti   AC Milan, 24yo

 

Thomas Meunier PSG, not really an upgrade at all

 

 

We (our shit board) fucked on 

1.    João Cancelo - Juventus now (perfect Sarriball RB, insane we didn't make a move this summer and let Juve had a free go at him, madness) <<<<<<<<< other than Sergi Roberto , I would take him over all the rest I have typed in thsi entire reply, except maybe Pavard (and that would more for his CB play than as a RB)

2.    Benjamin Henrichs - Monaco      Emenalo stole him from Bayer Leverkusen on 3rd to last day of window for only £18m, he is only 21 and a multiyear starter

3.    Álvaro Odriozola - Real Madrid  Another great young (22) RB, we never even enquired, and Real took him for only £27m            

4.    Sime Vrsaljko  A bomber down the sides (see Croatia WC), Inter got him on loan from Atletico Madrid with option to buy for only £21m 

5.    Nordi Mukiele - RB Leipzig  We never even made an offer on this great young (20yo, 21 in November) player, RB stole him for only £14m from Montpellier, really pissed we did even TRY

[Alabama 1,992]

7 hours ago, Vesper said:

 

This was the subject of a post I did yesterday.

Azpi is the best (or 2nd best, if you rate Kimmich above) DEFENSIVE RB in the world, but is very limited it seems in Sarriball on the offensive end.

His one main outstanding contribution over the past 2 years has been hs crosses to Morata, but just like Morata's entire game, these have dried up as well.

He quite possibly could start to fuck up the entire system, as the weak right side (especially when it is Willian or Moses) allows team to fuck up our strong left with hedge marking favouring an overload defensively on the left

Options at RB are really thin. Zappacosta is not anywhere near shit, but also not the final solution (he would have to be German to be that, lolol). He also is not happy and wants to go back to Italy, AND there are like 5 teams who really want him there. Lazio (2nd best fit for him) Fiorentina (they REALLY need him, best fit for him), Inter Milan, Torino (who we bought him from,and who now have Ola Aina from us on loan at RB), and Atalanta

We could try Ampadu there, I REALLY am intrigued by that, and it gets the lad some playing time

that all said...........

Here are the best (in order) buy options,some of them VERY hard, if not impossible pulls,the market availability overall for RB is SHIT now

 

1. Sergi Roberto - Barca, 2nd best RB in the world, IMHO, after Kimmich, with Carvajal 3rd. We fucked this up in multiple windows, especially 2 years ago. By far the best option, but would cost crazy money, probably £70m to £80m, maybe more, to get Barca to give him up

2. Elseid Hysaj - Napoli   Poison dwarf will do all he can to block this, Sarri wants him badly, and he has yet to renew

3. Wild card - Benjamin Pavard - Stuttgart  He is always on my CB want lists, near top, BUT he (like Azpi) is a great RB too (see France WC) and he is also more offensive than Azpi

4. Djibril Sidibé - Monaco  I am shocked he is still there, but I also must say I am not sure if he is a Sarriball RB, very solid player

5. Nélson Semedo - Barca   Has not been the superstar Barca thought, but does have offensive skills, worth looking into,and deffo an upgrade on Zappa at least

 

drop-off

 

6. Lukas Klostermann - RB Leipzig 22yo,tall (1.89m) fast,Bayern Munich want him badly 

7. Kevin Mbabu    Young Boys     another wild card, he is the best athlete by far on this list, insanely fast, he looked a world beater v Manure in the CL, but he did not do well at Newcastle, Rangers, etc. he is still only 23, not a good passer, so Sarri may go nutter over that

8. Almamy Touré - Monaco (was an academy player they have raised up)

9. Achraf Hakimi - Borussia Dortmund  (on loan from Real Madrid) 19yo potential star,Real will probably not EVEN remotely sell him,but who knows

10. Davide Calabria  AC Milan (only 21)

11. Mattia De Sciglio  Juventus  25yo, 26 in October

12. Andrea Conti   AC Milan, 24yo

 

Thomas Meunier PSG, not really an upgrade at all

 

 

We (our shit board) fucked on 

1.    João Cancelo - Juventus now (perfect Sarriball RB, insane we didn't make a move this summer and let Juve had a free go at him, madness) <<<<<<<<< other than Sergi Roberto , I would take him over all the rest I have typed in thsi entire reply, except maybe Pavard (and that would more for his CB play than as a RB)

2.    Benjamin Henrichs - Monaco      Emenalo stole him from Bayer Leverkusen on 3rd to last day of window for only £18m, he is only 21 and a multiyear starter

3.    Álvaro Odriozola - Real Madrid  Another great young (22) RB, we never even enquired, and Real took him for only £27m            

4.    Sime Vrsaljko  A bomber down the sides (see Croatia WC), Inter got him on loan from Atletico Madrid with option to buy for only £21m 

5.    Nordi Mukiele - RB Leipzig  We never even made an offer on this great young (20yo, 21 in November) player, RB stole him for only £14m from Montpellier, really pissed we did even TRY

I would like the board to go for Pavard in January instead of buying both RB and CB... What a utility player that won't drop the level of quality any position he is been played... 

[Vesper 30,090]

2 minutes ago, eemanyooel said:

I would like the board to go for Pavard in January instead of buying both RB and CB... What a utility player that won't drop the level of quality any position he is been played... 

I agree!, and there is zero chance we get Roberto, wefucked that up 2 years ago, now he is worth double.

Poison dwarf will never sell us Hysaj, and we DO need another CB, so, like you said, two birds one stone.

Of course, this makes too much sense , so will never happen!

Wish we had given Ola Aina a real tryout before we loaned him out. he is starting at Torino,so that's a really good bit of news. 

Dujon Sterling is apparently regressing at Coventry, grrr. I had big hopes for him

[Alabama 1,992]

5 minutes ago, Vesper said:

I agree!, and there is zero chance we get Roberto, wefucked that up 2 years ago, now he is worth double.

Poison dwarf will never sell us Hysaj, and we DO need another CB, so, like you said, two birds one stone.

Of course, this makes too much sense , so will never happen!

Wish we had given Ola Aina a real tryout before we loaned him out. he is starting at Torino,so that's a really good bit of news. 

Dujon Sterling is apparently regressing at Coventry, grrr. I had big hopes for him

I wanted Benjamin herinchs when it was apparent we were going to employ Sarri as our new manager but fuck all he is now in Monaco... So the next best option is to sign  Benjamin and it won't cost shit load of money instead of buying both rb and CB... So maybe in summer we can upgrade left back and striker positions... 

[Vesper 30,090]

23 minutes ago, eemanyooel said:

I wanted Benjamin herinchs when it was apparent we were going to employ Sarri as our new manager but fuck all he is now in Monaco... So the next best option is to sign  Benjamin and it won't cost shit load of money instead of buying both rb and CB... So maybe in summer we can upgrade left back and striker positions... 

Cancelo was the one I had a fit we didn't even try for. He would be a monster in Sarriball. 

Benjamin Henrichs was my next choice, and was so affordable. Our board is so fucked up atm. Emenalo of all people even saw Henrichs was one worth buying, lolol. Shame he didn't do that whilst he was here.

Azpi could be starting at CB now over Luiz, seeing as Sarri doesn't seem to want to give Amps or AC much playing time, especially Ampadu (AC is rusty now, that was evident last night.)

[Alabama 1,992]

3 hours ago, Vesper said:

Cancelo was the one I had a fit we didn't even try for. He would be a monster in Sarriball. 

Benjamin Henrichs was my next choice, and was so affordable. Our board is so fucked up atm. Emenalo of all people even saw Henrichs was one worth buying, lolol. Shame he didn't do that whilst he was here.

Azpi could be starting at CB now over Luiz, seeing as Sarri doesn't seem to want to give Amps or AC much playing time, especially Ampadu (AC is rusty now, that was evident last night.)

Still has much reservation about defensive phase of Cancelo's game but going forward he is quality... 

[Vesper 30,090]

52 minutes ago, eemanyooel said:

Still has much reservation about defensive phase of Cancelo's game but going forward he is quality... 

That is his potential flaw, however, he is much tighter now after playing in Italy. Obviously he would be a drop off defensively from Azpi, but so would every other LB on the planet except for possibly Kimmich. I think, especially if we had a great RW'er, his abilities on the offensive side would dramatically outweigh his defensive stance.

Henrichs has had some issues too, maybe not so much defensive lack of oace at all, but positioning and tendency to drift at times. Unless we somehow got Sergi or Hysaj or Pavard,  there really isn't a truly big upgrade out there. RB is the worst of all the 10 outfield positions in terms of buying options atm. Sidibe perhaps. Semedo has potential, but hasnt been a killer at Barca.

Inter have option to buy Sime Vrsaljko AND they want Zappacosta. Maybe we coukd do a swap. Vrsaljko is a beast at both ends. 

Pavard and maybe him are the only realistic good ones who either will be (Pavard) or potentially maybe (Vrsaljko) remotely available. Sidibe maybe you can toss in. The others (including an expensive Semedo) are much more of a gamble, although if we bought the right one and got (oh noes!) lucky, perhaps that's the answer. Davide Calabria or Conti maybe.

I hate not having clear, simple choices, lolol. Pavard or die! (I wonder what his feelings would be about primarily being a RB.)

[Unionjack 7,531]

18 minutes ago, Vesper said:

That is his potential flaw, however, he is much tighter now after playing in Italy. Obviously he would be a drop off defensively from Azpi, but so would every other LB on the planet except for possibly Kimmich. I think, especially if we had a great RW'er, his abilities on the offensive side would dramatically outweigh his defensive stance.

Henrichs has had some issues too, maybe not so much defensive lack of oace at all, but positioning and tendency to drift at times. Unless we somehow got Sergi or Hysaj or Pavard,  there really isn't a truly big upgrade out there. RB is the worst of all the 10 outfield positions in terms of buying options atm. Sidibe perhaps. Semedo has potential, but hasnt been a killer at Barca.

Inter have option to buy Sime Vrsaljko AND they want Zappacosta. Maybe we coukd do a swap. Vrsaljko is a beast at both ends. 

Pavard and maybe him are the only realistic good ones who either will be (Pavard) or potentially maybe (Vrsaljko) remotely available. Sidibe maybe you can toss in. The others (including an expensive Semedo) are much more of a gamble, although if we bought the right one and got (oh noes!) lucky, perhaps that's the answer. Davide Calabria or Conti maybe.

I hate not having clear, simple choices, lolol. Pavard or die! (I wonder what his feelings would be about primarily being a RB.)

I don;t know whats going on with Dave. Hes gone from being the 1 player I would pick first into any team we put out into thinking what other options do we habe.

He has always been the solid rock, the Mr Dependable but theres obviously summet not right. And its been like it all season so far.

Its weird cause he was stromg before we went to the 3 CBs then he took to that really well but under Sarri hes made no good contribution going forward nor defending and I just don't get it.

Anyone have any suggestions as to WTF is going on with him?

[Alabama 1,992]

11 minutes ago, Unionjack said:

I don;t know whats going on with Dave. Hes gone from being the 1 player I would pick first into any team we put out into thinking what other options do we habe.

He has always been the solid rock, the Mr Dependable but theres obviously summet not right. And its been like it all season so far.

Its weird cause he was stromg before we went to the 3 CBs then he took to that really well but under Sarri hes made no good contribution going forward nor defending and I just don't get it.

Anyone have any suggestions as to WTF is going on with him?

That's why I will always want Pavard... The other one I want is Conti but right now it seems things ain't working out well for him in AC... 

[Vesper 30,090]

43 minutes ago, Unionjack said:

I don;t know whats going on with Dave. Hes gone from being the 1 player I would pick first into any team we put out into thinking what other options do we habe.

He has always been the solid rock, the Mr Dependable but theres obviously summet not right. And its been like it all season so far.

Its weird cause he was stromg before we went to the 3 CBs then he took to that really well but under Sarri hes made no good contribution going forward nor defending and I just don't get it.

Anyone have any suggestions as to WTF is going on with him?

I think he is burnt out a bit. He has put in INSANE minutes the last 6 years. I think he played almost every minute of every game a couple times. Also the contant switching positions, from a RB, then to a makeshift LB, back to RB, then to CB, then to RB again, with RWB tossed in a few times. He was never a hugely offensive player, and also fullbacks in the EPL just get hammered the whole game.

My famous stat.... in all football there are only TWO world class LB's over 28. Marcelo (who is on the decline) and Jordi Alba.

RB there are maybe THREE.  Dani Alves (35yo, so soon is done, his ridiculous FIFA Top XI notwithstanding) Antonio Valencia at Manure (33yo) and Azpi (29). Maybe maybe Danilo D'Ambrosio (30yo)at Inter, but if so, why did they go for Sime Vrsaljko? Because D'Ambrosio is 30 and on down slope, thats why, lolol.

For DMF, world class over 30, there is one, Fernandinho (33yo).

Not a chance I call 35yo Daniele De Rossi world class anymore, he is a shadow of the player he once was. Same for 35yo Gabi (now cashing in on shit Arab team) 34yo Javier Mascherano, cashing in in China, soon 32yo John Obi Mikel (cashing in in China as well) nor soon 34 yo Riccardo Montolivo and soon 33yo Lucas Biglia, both of AC Milan.

Maybe, barely you can make a case for Biglia and maybe maybe 31yo Luiz Gustavo, now on Marseille. I say no.

It's a young man's game at fullback/wingback and DMF. Time waits for no one.

 

[Unionjack 7,531]

59 minutes ago, Vesper said:

I think he is burnt out a bit. He has put in INSANE minutes the last 6 years. I think he played almost every minute of every game a couple times. Also the contant switching positions, from a RB, then to a makeshift LB, back to RB, then to CB, then to RB again, with RWB tossed in a few times. He was never a hugely offensive player, and also fullbacks in the EPL just get hammered the whole game.

My famous stat.... in all football there are only TWO world class LB's over 28. Marcelo (who is on the decline) and Jordi Alba.

RB there are maybe THREE.  Dani Alves (35yo, so soon is done, his ridiculous FIFA Top XI notwithstanding) Antonio Valencia at Manure (33yo) and Azpi (29). Maybe maybe Danilo D'Ambrosio (30yo)at Inter, but if so, why did they go for Sime Vrsaljko? Because D'Ambrosio is 30 and on down slope, thats why, lolol.

For DMF, world class over 30, there is one, Fernandinho (33yo).

Not a chance I call 35yo Daniele De Rossi world class anymore, he is a shadow of the player he once was. Same for 35yo Gabi (now cashing in on shit Arab team) 34yo Javier Mascherano, cashing in in China, soon 32yo John Obi Mikel (cashing in in China as well) nor soon 34 yo Riccardo Montolivo and soon 33yo Lucas Biglia, both of AC Milan.

Maybe, barely you can make a case for Biglia and maybe maybe 31yo Luiz Gustavo, now on Marseille. I say no.

It's a young man's game at fullback/wingback and DMF. Time waits for no one.

 

Ive always thought that the defenders could get away with being older but their jobs have changed so much mow.

They aren't just some big bruisers that like man handling kicking someone about and using them for headers in corners.But those are still very handy to bring out at times.

The modern day defender is basically a forward that can tackle lol And those are few and far between.

[Adnane 1,101]

The number of right backs who are equally competent defending and going forward for the top level in this world are very rare ( Kimmich, Carvajal look like the most obvious ones at this moment ). 

Azpi offers so much to the team that he cannot be displaced at the moment, whatever we will get will be a downgrade on him in so many aspects. 

It's okay if our right back isn't as strong offensively as the left one, in fact, it's necessary, Alonso will leave us exposed very often with his ( very useful ) forward runs, we need someone to have the composure of Azpilicueta in recovery on the defensive phases. 

If we want to sort our right side issues, we need a strong winger, which Pedro has been this year, offering so much more than Willian. 

If the Pedro that started the season stays healthy and keeps showing up, then our right back is far from being a must fix area. 

[Vesper 30,090]

On 27/09/2018 at 4:47 PM, Unionjack said:

They aren't just some big bruisers that like man handling kicking someone about and using them for headers in corners.But those are still very handy to bring out at times.

Ah, the good ol' days

 

[Vesper 30,090]

On 27/09/2018 at 4:54 PM, Adnane said:

The number of right backs who are equally competent defending and going forward for the top level in this world are very rare ( Kimmich, Carvajal look like the most obvious ones at this moment ). 

Azpi offers so much to the team that he cannot be displaced at the moment, whatever we will get will be a downgrade on him in so many aspects. 

It's okay if our right back isn't as strong offensively as the left one, in fact, it's necessary, Alonso will leave us exposed very often with his ( very useful ) forward runs, we need someone to have the composure of Azpilicueta in recovery on the defensive phases. 

If we want to sort our right side issues, we need a strong winger, which Pedro has been this year, offering so much more than Willian. 

If the Pedro that started the season stays healthy and keeps showing up, then our right back is far from being a must fix area. 

I would add in Sergi Roberto, Kyle Walker, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Sime Vrsaljko and my choice for CB, but now also RB too (he is like Azpi in that he can swing between both CBand RB with aplomb) Benjamin Pavard

I also want Junior Firpo to replace Alonso, to rebalance the left side as well., Sarriball needs high, hard pressing coming from both the left and the right (and the middle, hello Jorginho and Kante and Ampadu (if Sarri would play the lad,grrr)

I don't have as much faith in Pedro as you seem to, mainly because he is not an everyday player and is injury prone due to his small stature and fearless flinging of his tiny body.into harm's way.

 

We NEED Bailey

sell Willian to fund 

its fucking suicidal to keep Willian and even worse to renew his ass

I will accept Luiz, BUT NOT WILLIAN OR MORATA

My desired back 4

CB Azpi

CB Rudiger

LB Junior Firpo

RB Pavard

Luiz, Ampadu, AC, Emerson on rotation ,

plus another CB (Jonathan Tah (22) OR Nikola Milenkovic (20), both 1.95m giants, but still great passers,and one would be the future hammerhead

(Azpi, Pavard, Ampadu,and AC can ALL play both CB and RB so mad flexibility)

Sell  Zappacosta, Alonso, Cahill, Zouma, Kenedy (generates around £130m, so only an extra £20-30m or so net spend to grab Firpo, Pavard, and Tah (£10m to £20m net to add Firpo, Pavard and Nikola Milenkovic)

 

[petre.ispirescu 4,928]

Well this guy pretty much summed up how transfer windows go don't even know why the clubs needs a board to be fair. Kudos to football manager for bringing millions of scouts out in the light. We bring the Rudigers and Moratas when the mighty Junior Firpo is up for grabs. Fecking clueless board lol