🇪🇸 Saul Niguez

[Blues Forever 1,232]

27 minutes ago, lucio said:

Is he coming off a major injury ? Doesn’t seem to have missed many games for atletico 

Saul's form dipped after injuries in 2019, he was never the same again until yesterday. 

Edited January 6, 2022 by Blues Forever

[Special Juan 28,141]

He looked like he could tie laces last night.

[Pizy 18,914]

Looked legitimately great last night. If he can maintain this exact level for the rest of the season I wouldn’t mind keeping him permanently. 

I loved his no-nonsense attitude. Didn’t dwell on the ball, popped it around quickly, passed between the lines instead of just sideways and backwards like he did earlier in the season when he was terrified of fucking up. And then on top of his on the ball work he also got stuck in several times defensively to win the ball back.

He’s essentially a mirror of Kova in terms of play style but with better passing range. Hope TT uses him from the start more to keep Kante and J5 nice and fresh.

[Magic Lamps 11,692]

3 minutes ago, Pizy said:

Looked legitimately great last night. If he can maintain this exact level for the rest of the season I wouldn’t mind keeping him permanently. 

I loved his no-nonsense attitude. Didn’t dwell on the ball, popped it around quickly, passed between the lines instead of just sideways and backwards like he did earlier in the season when he was terrified of fucking up. And then on top of his on the ball work he also got stuck in several times defensively to win the ball back.

He’s essentially a mirror of Kova in terms of play style but with better passing range. Hope TT uses him from the start more to keep Kante and J5 nice and fresh.

Let’s not get ahead of ourselves 

One swallow does not make a summer

ehat he delivered yesterday was merely what we should expect

he is a top earner at the club

Kovacic is leagues ahead. Have you seen how his passing range improved this season. Just look at his through ball for Lukaku vs villa at home

no way saul will stay and neither should he

[Jase 43,479]

We still have Gallagher and Gilmour to come back.

[Blues Forever 1,232]

2 minutes ago, Hermione said:

Hopefully it wasn't just a one off game and keep his form for the rest of the season, even so I think he should go back after this season no matter the outcome we have enough players coming through the ranks that can be just as good as him or even better.

 

[Strike 7,489]

Will be important in the next few months to rotate Kova-Kante-Jorgi

[Jase 43,479]

For all the recent improvement of Saul, he really needs to stop diving into challenges. Did it 2-3 times against Spurs the other day and got away with them. Did it very early against Chesterfield and got carded for it. 

[Vesper 30,183]

6 hours ago, Jase said:

For all the recent improvement of Saul, he really needs to stop diving into challenges. Did it 2-3 times against Spurs the other day and got away with them. Did it very early against Chesterfield and got carded for it. 

it was always a problem oh his at AM for years, he can be rash at times

[bigbluewillie 1,930]

I like him he needs time to settle in.

There's too many on here and elsewhere that have written him off without giving him the opportunity to prove himself.

He's come from a foreign land, don't speak the language, and don't know the English game.

ffs give him a chance.

 

[ZAPHOD2319 4,818]

 

[manpe 10,861]

On 06/01/2022 at 13:22, Pizy said:

Looked legitimately great last night. If he can maintain this exact level for the rest of the season I wouldn’t mind keeping him permanently. 

Where would that leave Gallagher though? He needs to be in the squad next season, he's good enough. Would also save us from splooging 30mill, which we can use for our CB needs. If we're not going to sell one of Kante, Jorginho or Kovacic, then I don't see why the club would go for Saul. His performances have gone from dogshit to bare minimum of what is expected of him, nothing so far to show why he should stay.

Edited January 9, 2022 by manpe

[NikkiCFC 8,324]

Not only Gallagher. I really expect us to get Tchouameni. Kante, Kovacic, Jorginho are not going anywhere in the summer. Problem is how you give enough minutes to these 5 guys?

Saul has no chance.

[Clockwork 1,794]

3 minutes ago, NikkiCFC said:

Not only Gallagher. I really expect us to get Tchouameni. Kante, Kovacic, Jorginho are not going anywhere in the summer. Problem is how you give enough minutes to these 5 guys?

Saul has no chance.

Unless we play with 3 man midfield on a regular basis which we should. 

[Pizy 18,914]

Saul for me competes with Jorginho for that “get the ball and quickly recycle it” role. I don’t think he’d necessarily block Gallagher who I see as competition for Mount in the more advanced midfield role where he can attack the box and score.

So it’s more likely Billy that Saul directly competes with when we decide if he stays or not. Highly unlikely that he does stay, but I wouldn’t be totally against it if he does as long as he steadily improves.

And yes, I do kind of find myself wincing a bit when I see him about to make a tackle. 😂 As @Jase mentioned above, several times in the past week he basically goes sprinting in like a madman and slide tackles people. Needs to calm tf down, lol.

[King Kante 1,643]

CM is such a funny area in regard to dynamics and who will be staying and going. 

Here is my take on it; 

1) We do not need to sign a CM and should focus on other priorities. I know the kid at Monaco and Rice are popular options, however I just don't see the need to blow £60m+ on either with our in house options. For me, we should play the Real game of tapping them up and have them run down their contracts. Hence, neither are a no, just a no for 22/23. 

2) RLC and Barkley need to be moved on. This has been obvious for a while, RLC may be worth keeping at a CM5 but on his wages and for his own sake it is better he goes. 

3) Jorgi's contract makes things difficult to predict. In my opinion, he will be here next season and will leave for a free the year after as this seems to be the way things are going and I see him going back to Italy where he will only get decent wages if he is free. However, if he does that, it is difficult predict if he will continue to play or may get Malouda treatment. I suspect he will play, but you cannot rule out the club freezing him out in a WC year if they try and push him to re-sign and/or have an offer for him. 

4) Gallagher has to return. He is one of the few players in the PL that can get about the pitch like Kante and Kante cannot get through the minutes anymore. For me there are plenty of minutes available for him here and he fits him with what we need. 

5) Saul should not be brought but if he continues to improve then a further loan may be possible. I say this as whilst I do not want a permanent signing, I do think he may have a purpose if Jorgi is sold/loaned in that he will provide an experienced head. A lot however, will depend on his form until May. 

6) Billy will only come back if Jorgi is frozen out/leaves and Saul is not possible as another loan. 

[MoroccanBlue 5,382]

2 hours ago, King Kante said:

CM is such a funny area in regard to dynamics and who will be staying and going. 

Here is my take on it; 

1) We do not need to sign a CM and should focus on other priorities. I know the kid at Monaco and Rice are popular options, however I just don't see the need to blow £60m+ on either with our in house options. For me, we should play the Real game of tapping them up and have them run down their contracts. Hence, neither are a no, just a no for 22/23. 

2) RLC and Barkley need to be moved on. This has been obvious for a while, RLC may be worth keeping at a CM5 but on his wages and for his own sake it is better he goes. 

3) Jorgi's contract makes things difficult to predict. In my opinion, he will be here next season and will leave for a free the year after as this seems to be the way things are going and I see him going back to Italy where he will only get decent wages if he is free. However, if he does that, it is difficult predict if he will continue to play or may get Malouda treatment. I suspect he will play, but you cannot rule out the club freezing him out in a WC year if they try and push him to re-sign and/or have an offer for him. 

4) Gallagher has to return. He is one of the few players in the PL that can get about the pitch like Kante and Kante cannot get through the minutes anymore. For me there are plenty of minutes available for him here and he fits him with what we need. 

5) Saul should not be brought but if he continues to improve then a further loan may be possible. I say this as whilst I do not want a permanent signing, I do think he may have a purpose if Jorgi is sold/loaned in that he will provide an experienced head. A lot however, will depend on his form until May. 

6) Billy will only come back if Jorgi is frozen out/leaves and Saul is not possible as another loan. 

So Kante, Kovacic, Gallagher, and Gilmour?

Few issues.

The big one is we will be relying heavily on the latter three considering Kante's fitness issues. 

Second, that midfield has no recognisable DM. Are we really going to go into our 5th season with another unbalanced midfield?

Three, Gilmour has yet to show anything of note that he deserves minutes here. Are we really going to trust him to be the anchor of our team when called upon?

[NikkiCFC 8,324]

Why would Jorginho be frozen? Is Rudiger now? Azpi? Chris?

Jorginho, Kovacic and Kante all stay. Those 3 are heart of our team. Most important players with few others like Mendy, Rudi and Silva.

RLC, Barkley, Saul out - Gallagher, Tcho in.

I like how everytime people say guy from Monaco because it is hard to write and remember his name 🤣

Agree with Moroccan about Gilmour. His career is based on 2 games in March 2020.

[MoroccanBlue 5,382]

7 minutes ago, NikkiCFC said:

Why would Jorginho be frozen? Is Rudiger now? Azpi? Chris?

Jorginho, Kovacic and Kante all stay. Those 3 are heart of our team. Most important players with few others like Mendy, Rudi and Silva.

RLC, Barkley, Saul out - Gallagher, Tcho in.

I like how everytime people say guy from Monaco because it is hard to write and remember his name 🤣

Agree with Moroccan about Gilmour. His career is based on 2 games in March 2020.

Tchou or Kamara in. Preferably the former. 

[King Kante 1,643]

2 hours ago, MoroccanBlue said:

So Kante, Kovacic, Gallagher, and Gilmour?

Few issues.

The big one is we will be relying heavily on the latter three considering Kante's fitness issues. 

Second, that midfield has no recognisable DM. Are we really going to go into our 5th season with another unbalanced midfield?

Three, Gilmour has yet to show anything of note that he deserves minutes here. Are we really going to trust him to be the anchor of our team when called upon?

More like Kante, Kova, Gallagher and Jorgi.

If Jorgi does get frozen out/sold (very unlikely in my opinion) then either Saul on loan again and after that Gilmour. 

As for a DM, I don't see why we need one unless we go back to a back 4. A back 3 plus a DM is super defensive and we struggle to score already. 

Edited January 12, 2022 by King Kante