Lamine Koné

[LDN Blue 7,903]

7 hours ago, Blue Colored Sky said:

Papy Djilobodji was higher rated defender than him in France. And he's 27 already, going into 28 mid-season. I know centre-backs often leaving it late to blossom but come on.

Isn't that Koulibaly fellow 25 and just blowing up now too?  

[Blue Colored Sky 1,807]

51 minutes ago, LDN Blue said:

Isn't that Koulibaly fellow 25 and just blowing up now too?  

K2 is late bloomer as well but still he joined European side Napoli at the age of 23 while Kone couldn't get out of Lorient until he was 27.

[coolhead23 1,147]

On 8/13/2016 at 6:31 AM, Tomo said:

 

No offence but have you two actually seen him play or are you just assuming he's crap because he plays for Sunderland?

If it's the former and you've came to the conclusion he's not good I apologise but if it's the latter then read on.

We signed Duff from Blackburn Rovers, Gudjohnsen signed from Bolton, Joe Cole and Lampard signed from West Ham, Cech from Rennes and Hasselbaink came in after being relegated with Leti.

All those players came in from unfashionable clubs/teams and all contributed to great moments for us and (bar Jimmy) trophies.

From what I've gathered from SAFC forum's Kone is the main reason Sunderland escaped last season, maybe, just like them players mentioned, he's outgrown his current club and is looking for a step up?

I did in bits and pieces last season ... Is he good, Yes he is ... Is he that good that he can be drafted into the first 11, No he isnt. Good for a backup, maybe yes just to push the other players. 

I base the acquisition of a players on the risk that he brings, the risk in case of Kone is too huge would rather go with Terry/Cahill/Iva (despite they being shit)... Yes we need to take risks as someone mentioned above but for the club we are now it has to be more calculated (get in, draft the players with a certain % of games, work on it, try on the weakness, etc and eventually get him ready to be a regular starter if he checks all box)... we just cant get anyone, put him on the 11 and if we have to do that would rather put that risk on the "not so ready" youth players.  

We signed all those players from "unfashionable" team ... How long was it? And how many have we signed in the last 10 yrs who never had any hype around them. Forget Chelsea even in the PL itself how many players in the top team have been successful who have come from the lower team ... the ratio/percentage is very less. because it takes a lot to make a jump from the lower league to the higher ones

Dont get me wrong, Kone might go on to be the best ... but right now for me the risk of getting him as someone who can replace someone in the 11 is just too huge. And we arent a club who have been taken huge risks with unknowns to less known players.