🇪🇸 Marcos Alonso

[Vesper 30,185]

1 hour ago, ja1 said:

Yes, Bayern another good example. It particularly shows in CL games over the last few seasons. The likes of Kimmich, Marcelo, dani Alves, Robertson and many more have been instrumental in teams getting to semi final/final in recent seasons.

Give me these 4 fullbacks over our current 4. (provided we get decent prices for our 4, I will say £135-150m for the lot. We have to sell to fund buys, its the way football works (even PSG and Shitty sell players)

We could get these 4 for £20-40m or so less than selling off the 4 we have now, they are far young but still experienced, superb athletes, all are 2-way creative fullbacks with speed to burn.

Or keep Azpi and Alonso and sell Emerson and Zappacosta, who have basically done fuckall since we bought both, (sorry Emerson fanboys), and just buy Firpo and Lazaro. Firpo would bench Alonso within a few games to half a season, and Lazaro would eventually replace Azpi within 2 to 3 year max (Azpi is 30 next season), maybe sooner. We could always move Azpi back to CB on double RB/CB rotation as well and avoid having to buy 2 CB's.(which we most definitely will have to do if deadwood Cahill is finally sold and then AC leaves)

Not joking.

If we want Alaba, Alex Sandro, Benjamin Mendy, Sergi Roberto type fullbacks but are not willing to dump £150m for just 2, then we have to buy extraordinarily talented young young (NOT teens per se) whilst there are still at the smaller clubs where they blew up at.

 

LB Junior Firpo of Real Betis  22yo <<<<<<< prime starter eventually

LB Ferland Mendy  of Lyon  23yo

 

RB Valentino Lazaro of Hertha  22yo     <<<<<<<prime starter eventually, I am going to do a write-up OP on him, best young Austrian player since Alaba and Marcel Sabitzer (I think he is better than Sabitzer, or soon will be) He was an AMF/RW, but now they switched him to RB, where he has been a revelation

RB Nordi Mukiele of RB Leipzig 21yo   .. OR...RB Aaron Wan-Bissaka of Crystal Palace  20yo (English too, and already one of fastest fullbacks on the planet)   

 

other good young fullbacks who would be really affordable (RB is stronger than LB's here)

LB Borna Sosa of Stuttgart    20yo

LB Marcelo Saracchi of Leipzig   20 yo

LB Aarón Martín of Mainz   21yo

 

RB Achraf Hakimi of Borussia Dortmund   19yo

RB Benjamin Henrichs now of Monaco (was on my favourite talent feeder team of the last 2 years, Bayer Leverkusen) 21yo

RB Denzel Dumfries of PSV Eindhoven  22yo

 

 

[ja1 1,166]

On 25/10/2018 at 1:27 AM, Vesper said:

Give me these 4 fullbacks over our current 4. (provided we get decent prices for our 4...

 

 

You not a fan of Tierney? I guess he’d cost a level above the types of targets you described. But if, failing to get a LB to start above Alonso (a Telles or Sandro level peak full back) a young full back trusted to challenge him (unlike Emerson though I’d love to see him get a run of games to see if he could get to Serie A form) like Tierney could be a decent compromise. 

[LAM09 7,056]

You not a fan of Tierney? I guess he’d cost a level above the types of targets you described. But if, failing to get a LB to start above Alonso (a Telles or Sandro level peak full back) a young full back trusted to challenge him (unlike Emerson though I’d love to see him get a run of games to see if he could get to Serie A form) like Tierney could be a decent compromise. 

Helps with our HG quota as well

[Vesper 30,185]

4 hours ago, ja1 said:

You not a fan of Tierney? I guess he’d cost a level above the types of targets you described. But if, failing to get a LB to start above Alonso (a Telles or Sandro level peak full back) a young full back trusted to challenge him (unlike Emerson though I’d love to see him get a run of games to see if he could get to Serie A form) like Tierney could be a decent compromise. 

I rate all Firpo miles more than Tierney. Mendy too. That whole post was to point out young fullbacks who won't cost 70m plus quid.

Scottish league footie is a joke, so hard to splash the cash Celtic would demand. We could try a loan with option to buy (not obligation), and pay 50% above fair market 1 year loan price (so probably a couple million quid extra) as a sign of good faith.

Doubt Celtic would go for that though.

Firpo was imperious versus Milan last night. I think he would be aces here.

We are stuck with the turtle Alonso for years I fear, so all this is apparently meaningless.

Azpi also needs to step it up, he has been the biggest drop off from last year so far. You can't count Willian and Morata as they were already shit. Azpi was a top 5 RB. The best defensive RB on planet. This year, nowhere near that. His offensive input is underwhelming at best, and has strangely been off the mark on defence as well.

If you want to see a RB playing great football in high intensity pressing system, look at 19yo Achraf Hakimi of Dortmund. Unfortunately Real Madrid owns him, he is only on loan. They will never sell him unless we waived insane money at them.

[OneMoSalah 8,886]

5 hours ago, Vesper said:

I rate all Firpo miles more than Tierney. Mendy too. That whole post was to point out young fullbacks who won't cost 70m plus quid.

Scottish league footie is a joke, so hard to splash the cash Celtic would demand. We could try a loan with option to buy (not obligation), and pay 50% above fair market 1 year loan price (so probably a couple million quid extra) as a sign of good faith.

Doubt Celtic would go for that though.

Firpo was imperious versus Milan last night. I think he would be aces here.

We are stuck with the turtle Alonso for years I fear, so all this is apparently meaningless.

Azpi also needs to step it up, he has been the biggest drop off from last year so far. You can't count Willian and Morata as they were already shit. Azpi was a top 5 RB. The best defensive RB on planet. This year, nowhere near that. His offensive input is underwhelming at best, and has strangely been off the mark on defence as well.

If you want to see a RB playing great football in high intensity pressing system, look at 19yo Achraf Hakimi of Dortmund. Unfortunately Real Madrid owns him, he is only on loan. They will never sell him unless we waived insane money at them.

Tierney will eventually outgrow and be fwr too good for Celtic and in terms of British players at his age, he is one of the best out there and also very experienced considering he's played over 150 games for Celtic and Scotland combined, winning trophies left right and centre as well as being an influential figure in the dressing room (already captained Celtic multiple times and also Scotland at a young age). Only because he's Scottish and playing for Celtic is he seriously overlooked. If he was playing PL club's he'd have as much hype as Luke Shaw had at Southampton who was considered one of the best u23 LBs in europe if not the best at that time. Easily. Celtic if they ever sell Tierney will get 30m or 35m minimum I reckon bevause he's the real deal. The whole the Scottish Prem is a joke thing is a bit of a arrogant statement, particularly for somebody who I assume doesnt watch it or makes quick based assumptions, the standards maybe not as competitive but its at least at about championship level and even then with the money difference the gaps not as massive as people think, I watch both leagues quite often and wouldn't say playing championship is that much better. SPL clubs play young guys, sure the academies aren't as good as PL or other European leagues but there's always young players breaking through, club's like Huddersfield dont even have an academy and won't be the first or last PL team to do this in the future because they can throw money at young players. I think playing at a Celtic or Rangers every week infront of 50,000+ fans in a competitive environment is perfect for developing youngsters, managers like Rodgers, McInnes, Lennon and Gerrard having huge influences on young players. Just look at guys such as Fraser Forster, Virgil van Dijk, Victor Wanyama and Moussa Dembele have all moved from the Celtic in the last 10 years to club's and have very good careers (could argue if they were playing in Spain, Italy, Germany, Portugal they'd cost double as much at least of what they did from Celtic). Its not all due to the SPL but Id argue Van Dijk and Wanyama could have played for a top 6 team before they all moved from Southampton to Spurs/Pool no problem at all. Moussa Dembele will be a regular French NT player soon and move on from Lyon eventually although he'd easily be able to play for a slightly smaller PL club then get a big move not long after. Also for instance, Charly Musonda failed in Scotland because he wasn't good enough when he did play in this so called "joke league" 6 months after people thought he should be playing in our first team under Conte. Even in the academies big teams are signing lots of hugely talented Scottish players with out fail every season, many who go on to never play and waste their careers. So the Scottish standard can't be that bad. The money is the only thing that holds it back, if the SPL was getting how ever many millions the PL get it would be the same lots of smaller club's spending big money. It's always the same though, European players are considered more appealing options to club's because they can buy ready made players instead of using youth. For me, the Bundesliga is the best league in the world in that regard because its the only one where every team has an incentive to grow their own players and also be competitive hence why Germany were so successful. British football has had the arse torn out of it with money. Million pound academies and nobody in the top 4 is bringing young players through regularly. 

[Vesper 30,185]

2 hours ago, OneMoSalah said:

Tierney will eventually outgrow and be fwr too good for Celtic and in terms of British players at his age, he is one of the best out there and also very experienced considering he's played over 150 games for Celtic and Scotland combined, winning trophies left right and centre as well as being an influential figure in the dressing room (already captained Celtic multiple times and also Scotland at a young age). Only because he's Scottish and playing for Celtic is he seriously overlooked. If he was playing PL club's he'd have as much hype as Luke Shaw had at Southampton who was considered one of the best u23 LBs in europe if not the best at that time. Easily. Celtic if they ever sell Tierney will get 30m or 35m minimum I reckon bevause he's the real deal. The whole the Scottish Prem is a joke thing is a bit of a arrogant statement, particularly for somebody who I assume doesnt watch it or makes quick based assumptions, the standards maybe not as competitive but its at least at about championship level and even then with the money difference the gaps not as massive as people think, I watch both leagues quite often and wouldn't say playing championship is that much better. SPL clubs play young guys, sure the academies aren't as good as PL or other European leagues but there's always young players breaking through, club's like Huddersfield dont even have an academy and won't be the first or last PL team to do this in the future because they can throw money at young players. I think playing at a Celtic or Rangers every week infront of 50,000+ fans in a competitive environment is perfect for developing youngsters, managers like Rodgers, McInnes, Lennon and Gerrard having huge influences on young players. Just look at guys such as Fraser Forster, Virgil van Dijk, Victor Wanyama and Moussa Dembele have all moved from the Celtic in the last 10 years to club's and have very good careers (could argue if they were playing in Spain, Italy, Germany, Portugal they'd cost double as much at least of what they did from Celtic). Its not all due to the SPL but Id argue Van Dijk and Wanyama could have played for a top 6 team before they all moved from Southampton to Spurs/Pool no problem at all. Moussa Dembele will be a regular French NT player soon and move on from Lyon eventually although he'd easily be able to play for a slightly smaller PL club then get a big move not long after. Also for instance, Charly Musonda failed in Scotland because he wasn't good enough when he did play in this so called "joke league" 6 months after people thought he should be playing in our first team under Conte. Even in the academies big teams are signing lots of hugely talented Scottish players with out fail every season, many who go on to never play and waste their careers. So the Scottish standard can't be that bad. The money is the only thing that holds it back, if the SPL was getting how ever many millions the PL get it would be the same lots of smaller club's spending big money. It's always the same though, European players are considered more appealing options to club's because they can buy ready made players instead of using youth. For me, the Bundesliga is the best league in the world in that regard because its the only one where every team has an incentive to grow their own players and also be competitive hence why Germany were so successful. British football has had the arse torn out of it with money. Million pound academies and nobody in the top 4 is bringing young players through regularly. 

I love Scotland, just not for footie. Maybe if Rangers get on level terms with Celtic again it might make for a decent Old Firm game, and I really do hope Hearts (I prefer Edinburgh over Glasgow any day) can take Celtic finally out, but the level of play and players in the SPL just isn't there for me overall. Only leagues I truly watch are the EPL, Serie A, and the Bundesliga. I will watch (only to scout) La Liga (unless it is a big 3 game, then I usually watch) and Ligue 1 (only to scout a certian player or maybe Lyon v PSG or Lyon v Marseille or PSG v Marseille) a wee bit. 

La Liga has almost no players I want who are truly available. Most I would love to have will never be sold in their prime.

The only established players who are actually available would be (besides Firpo and obviously, hopefully our own Kovacic) Malcom (huge mistake by our board and also Barca's, as he is simply not playing), LW Mikel Oyarzabal, AMF Carlos Soler, AMF Pablo Fornals, CMF Manu Trigueros (poor mans Cesc), RW Iñaki Williams, AMF/RW Rafinha (Barca are fuckers to deal with when its a player they rate, and they rate Rafinha higher than Malcom atm), AMF Pablo Sarabia, and CF Maximiliano Gómez.

BTW, I am not slagging off Tierney, the main reason I didn't list him is that he will be more expensive by far than all above except Firpo and perhaps RB Achraf Hakimi (if Real Madrid would even sell him).

Firpo is worth the extra quid over Kierney IMHO at LB. Atm I cannot say the same for Hakimi over Valentino Lazaro. That may well change but Lazaro is REALLY good too. I also rated Nordi Mukiele and Wan-Bissaka as great values.

RM almost never sell young players they rate, and when they do, it is for insane prices. Asensio is perfect example. £100m for him is NOT a great price, yet RM offers him up at that and acts like it is a monster bargain. He has regressed in my book, and is not remotely near a Hazardian level.

To sum it all up. I would be over the moon if we sold Alonso and Emerson and bought Firpo AND Tierney (or Ferland Mendy).

Same with Azpi (I can hear the howls now) and Zappacosta and buy Hakimi (for fair price) and Valentino Lazaro.

Azpi is 30 next season, and fullbacks age horridly. Marcelo (always horrid on defence) is now falling off overall at 30yo. Injuries also pile up much more easily. Jordi Alba is literally the only other WC LB over 28. Had someone tey to say Filipe Luís (33yo) was still! LOLOL. Go watch the AM v Dortmund game and get back to me.

 Fortune favours the bold, and all my picks play at high level (including Europe) and thus are hardly academy level dice-rolls.

I know we never sell all 4 at once we have now, but we really need to at least being in great young players who can eventually bench Azpi and especially Alonso. 

The way things are going I am not getting my hopes up, but I am nothing if not an incredibly stubborn bish, so I will keep on posting.

 

[nachikethas 1,154]

This guy needs to score goals!

[Johnnyeye 7,509]

16 minutes ago, nachikethas said:

This guy needs to score goals!

and defend too

[Clockwork 1,794]

He really is useless now that his Goals and Assists have ran out, which was always predictable. 

[NiclasCFC 2,582]

Great article on Alonso, shows how underappreciated he is on here.

 

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11668/11541715/mnf-extra-can-marcos-alonso-adjust-to-left-back-role-at-chelsea

[El P. 1,354]

Bakayoko > Alonso

Get the f*ck out already.

[Special Juan 28,141]

There is a better player in my under 7 side.

[BlueLyon 9,359]

Now that goals dried up, he realy doesnt offer much at all. 

Emerson also had great game recently. 

What will happen next? 

Sarri keep playing Alonso sadly.

[LAM09 7,056]

Now that goals dried up, he realy doesnt offer much at all. 
Emerson also had great game recently. 
What will happen next? 
Sarri keep playing Alonso sadly.

Zappacosta seems to be closer to the XI than him, so I'd take Azpi at LB for now.

[OneMoSalah 8,886]

He had a difficult game. So did Hazard. They didn't help each other out which is a massive problem, both want to come to the box, it just crowds the area.

I think there will need to be rotations in the next 4 or 5 games in key areas to prevent burning out players. Alonso has played non stop every week for 3 seasons now here, he needs rotation (said this last season) so does Azpi (again mentioned it seasons ago) because you can see with Sarri's demands of high full backs, overlapping, being really advanced and the regularity that these guys have had playing almost every minute for the last 3, 4 or 5 seasons, it's catching up with them, both are obviously fit enough to play the roles naturally but it must be physically exhausting playing every match every season. Also guys like Kante and Jorginho might end up having to be rested in upcoming games to try keep them fresh.

Pedro, Willian and Hazard again played a lot of games this season too maybe time to use Callum a bit more regularly to rest these guys around 60/70 mins in (although if taking Sarri ends up taking Eden off and gets anything like Conte got on here from certain members fuck knows how long he'll be liked 😂).

The rotation between Giroud and Morata has been decent enough, they've managed to play each other out of the team, playing a few games then getting changed, although through lack of goals or poor performances than a need for rest.... 

 

[Clockwork 1,794]

I am not buying he has been overused excuse, he plays once a week and was not called up for international break either. He should be one of our most rested starter.

He is not good, more than that I really hated his demeanor. For instance before he was subbed, there was a moment he was tugging for the ball, and was pushed out of bound. While the ball was in play, he was walking around complaining to the ref instead of focusing on a dangerous situation.  

[Special Juan 28,141]

He's just not dynamic enough, he plays the same way all the time. The best full backs take risks, not only do they take risks but they also are absolutely golden on the ball.

He doesn't take players on, he relies too much on his crosses and the goals he scores mask the fact he is a very average player.

[Vesper 30,185]

21 minutes ago, Special Juan said:

He's just not dynamic enough, he plays the same way all the time. The best full backs take risks, not only do they take risks but they also are absolutely golden on the ball.

He doesn't take players on, he relies too much on his crosses and the goals he scores mask the fact he is a very average player.

He had the worst crossing game I have ever seen at Chels from a fullback. Horrid!

[manpe 10,861]

4 minutes ago, Vesper said:

He had the worst crossing game I have ever seen at Chels from a fullback. Horrid!

Came close to some of the shit shows Bosingwa put us through with his "crosses", but not quite that bad yet  At least his high stray balls went past the first man...

[Vesper 30,185]

31 minutes ago, manpe said:

Came close to some of the shit shows Bosingwa put us through with his "crosses", but not quite that bad yet  At least his high stray balls went past the first man...

My last real memories of Bosingwa were at least a good ones, the 2012 CL semis and final! He came on v Barca when Cahill was hurt, then Terry was sent off and he played CB, then he started against Bayern and shut down Ribery.