Chelsea Transfers

[Vesper 31,037]

Scouting: Bruno Alves

An outstanding ball-playing centre-back emerging in Brazil.

https://pitchsideanalysis.substack.com/p/scouting-bruno-alves

 

Runners-up at the last edition of the Copa São Paulo de Futebol Júnior (famously known as ‘Copinha’) Cruzeiro has been largely an uninspired, unconvincing team at the 2025 edition, across the initial group stage and the first knockout game. Alongside 16 year-old left-back Kauã Prates, Bruno Alves is the only other player delivering consistent performances at this tournament for the club.

If we are to believe the rumors, some European clubs, including Porto, Torino and Real Madrid, have been watching him for quite some time. I wasn’t originally planning to do this analysis, but I became so awestruck by him that I had to do it. This will be a shorter version of the ones I normally do here, but one I still feel like shows what kind of a player he is.

Roles and positions

Bruno Alves is commonly deployed as the left-sided CB in a back four. Nothing fancy about it. Recent managers have shifted between a 4-2-3-1 and a 4-3-3 base system.

Ball-playing skills

He’s always involved in the deep build-up and, right away, we can see how good he is at breaking lines, playing through the centre and hitting long diagonal balls. What sets him apart, however, is his willingness to use his non-dominant left foot to control, carry and pass the ball. I could make a left-foot compilation only and you wouldn’t believe that’s not his favored foot — that’s how good he is.

Considering we’re living in an era where ball-playing defenders are more important than ever, having someone capable of operating with both feet is absolutely massive. If an incoming presser blocks this right foot, he’s still able to find teammates curving a pass using his left foot. Whatever you do against him, he’ll probably find a way around it.

Furthermore, he’s got the courage to attempt riskier passes through the middle even when being pressured closer to his goal, in a zone where every loss can result in a goal. That speaks volumes about his confidence in his own game.

Defensive skills

Bruno isn’t just a good passer, however. Besides being a good air duelist, he is also really, really good at handling clearances: under pressure, he’s outstanding at getting the ball out of a dangerous zone and sending it directly to a teammate so his team can immediately start an offensive sequence. He isn’t just sending the ball away, he’s initiating attacks at the same time. That’s a skill reminiscent of some of the greatest defenders ever, like Thiago Silva and Virgil van Dijk. To do that this early in his career is even more impressive.

He’s also fairly quick, but still struggles with his positioning sometimes, especially when dealing with runners in behind. That’s something completely understandable at this level and I’m sure he will get better as he acclimatizes to professional football.

Professional debut looming

Now at Cruzeiro, Fernando Diniz made a name for himself playing a different style of football (branded as relationism). Amongst some of his teams’ defining traits, grouping up players to build up under pressure, even inside his own box, could be characterized as one of them. Comfortable under pressure and good at exploiting opposition gaps, Bruno Alves fits right in. There have been rumors already that he is set to be integrated to the first team after Cruzeiro U20 finishes its Copinha campaign. He definitely does have what it takes to make an immediate impact on professional football — let’s hope he gets at least a few opportunities throughout the season to showcase that.

[whats happening 1,660]

18 minutes ago, Pizy said:

Broja has picked up another long term injury and Moyes says they’re sending him back to us and cancelling his loan.

What a fucking disaster. After we gave him that new contract recently, too. Now he’s going to be another that’s going to rot on our books for years before disappearing into obscurity. 

 

4 hours ago, whats happening said:

 

🤣

[Vesper 31,037]

https://football-observatory.com/WeeklyPost487

The 487th CIES Football Observatory Weekly Post presents the U23 players not yet in Europe's big-5 who are most ready to take the next step in their careers. The selection is based on an index considering the footballers’ playing time over the last year, the sporting level of matches played, as well as their performances in six game areas (Wyscout data).

Sporting CP's Belgian full international Zeno Debast tops the table with an index of 87.5 out of 100. Another centre back, PSV Eindhoven's Dutchman Ryan Flamingo, ranks second, while his teammate Malik Tillman (86.2) round up the podium. Ukrainian Georgiy Sudakov (Shakhtar Donetsk) is fourth, ahead of Portugal’s Álvaro Carreras (Benfica). Sixth-placed Brazilian Wesley França (Flamengo) is the top-ranked player outside Europe.

The Post presents the overall top 100, as well as the ten highest-ranked players in 60 leagues worldwide. The following footballers head the rankings in their respective league: Christos Tzolis (Belgium), Manfred Ugalde (Russia), Mario Mitaj (Saudi Arabia), Martin Vitík (Czech Republic), Oscar Gloukh (Austria), Victor Guzmán (Mexico), Thiago Fernández (Argentina) and Semih Kiliçsoy (Turkey). For all players, the Post also unveils the estimated transfer value.

>>> More information on the technical analysis of performance
>>> Scientific paper on the statistical model for transfer estimates

Best U23 players according to the performance index

Not including big-5 league players. Date: 13/01/2025.

Edited January 15, 2025 by Vesper

[robsblubot 3,595]

24 minutes ago, Vesper said:

Scouting: Bruno Alves

An outstanding ball-playing centre-back emerging in Brazil.

https://pitchsideanalysis.substack.com/p/scouting-bruno-alves

 

Runners-up at the last edition of the Copa São Paulo de Futebol Júnior (famously known as ‘Copinha’) Cruzeiro has been largely an uninspired, unconvincing team at the 2025 edition, across the initial group stage and the first knockout game. Alongside 16 year-old left-back Kauã Prates, Bruno Alves is the only other player delivering consistent performances at this tournament for the club.

If we are to believe the rumors, some European clubs, including Porto, Torino and Real Madrid, have been watching him for quite some time. I wasn’t originally planning to do this analysis, but I became so awestruck by him that I had to do it. This will be a shorter version of the ones I normally do here, but one I still feel like shows what kind of a player he is.

Roles and positions

Bruno Alves is commonly deployed as the left-sided CB in a back four. Nothing fancy about it. Recent managers have shifted between a 4-2-3-1 and a 4-3-3 base system.

Ball-playing skills

He’s always involved in the deep build-up and, right away, we can see how good he is at breaking lines, playing through the centre and hitting long diagonal balls. What sets him apart, however, is his willingness to use his non-dominant left foot to control, carry and pass the ball. I could make a left-foot compilation only and you wouldn’t believe that’s not his favored foot — that’s how good he is.

Considering we’re living in an era where ball-playing defenders are more important than ever, having someone capable of operating with both feet is absolutely massive. If an incoming presser blocks this right foot, he’s still able to find teammates curving a pass using his left foot. Whatever you do against him, he’ll probably find a way around it.

Furthermore, he’s got the courage to attempt riskier passes through the middle even when being pressured closer to his goal, in a zone where every loss can result in a goal. That speaks volumes about his confidence in his own game.

Defensive skills

Bruno isn’t just a good passer, however. Besides being a good air duelist, he is also really, really good at handling clearances: under pressure, he’s outstanding at getting the ball out of a dangerous zone and sending it directly to a teammate so his team can immediately start an offensive sequence. He isn’t just sending the ball away, he’s initiating attacks at the same time. That’s a skill reminiscent of some of the greatest defenders ever, like Thiago Silva and Virgil van Dijk. To do that this early in his career is even more impressive.

He’s also fairly quick, but still struggles with his positioning sometimes, especially when dealing with runners in behind. That’s something completely understandable at this level and I’m sure he will get better as he acclimatizes to professional football.

Professional debut looming

Now at Cruzeiro, Fernando Diniz made a name for himself playing a different style of football (branded as relationism). Amongst some of his teams’ defining traits, grouping up players to build up under pressure, even inside his own box, could be characterized as one of them. Comfortable under pressure and good at exploiting opposition gaps, Bruno Alves fits right in. There have been rumors already that he is set to be integrated to the first team after Cruzeiro U20 finishes its Copinha campaign. He definitely does have what it takes to make an immediate impact on professional football — let’s hope he gets at least a few opportunities throughout the season to showcase that.

Caveat that the "Copinha" isn't a very good place to discover quality players anymore. Given the recent increase in poaching, players are getting younger and younger there, which means they are also playing against younger opposition.

Gabriel MEC was impressive today scoring twice, and it's even more impressive because he's 16, so he's always facing older and more developed players than him (he's really lightweight).

 

[Marvin123 541]

Summarise the posts man. Or do them as link please that's ridiculously long for a forum. But thanks for pointing me in the  direction 

[Vesper 31,037]

14 minutes ago, Vesper said:

https://football-observatory.com/WeeklyPost487

The 487th CIES Football Observatory Weekly Post presents the U23 players not yet in Europe's big-5 who are most ready to take the next step in their careers. The selection is based on an index considering the footballers’ playing time over the last year, the sporting level of matches played, as well as their performances in six game areas (Wyscout data).

Sporting CP's Belgian full international Zeno Debast tops the table with an index of 87.5 out of 100. Another centre back, PSV Eindhoven's Dutchman Ryan Flamingo, ranks second, while his teammate Malik Tillman (86.2) round up the podium. Ukrainian Georgiy Sudakov (Shakhtar Donetsk) is fourth, ahead of Portugal’s Álvaro Carreras (Benfica). Sixth-placed Brazilian Wesley França (Flamengo) is the top-ranked player outside Europe.

The Post presents the overall top 100, as well as the ten highest-ranked players in 60 leagues worldwide. The following footballers head the rankings in their respective league: Christos Tzolis (Belgium), Manfred Ugalde (Russia), Mario Mitaj (Saudi Arabia), Martin Vitík (Czech Republic), Oscar Gloukh (Austria), Victor Guzmán (Mexico), Thiago Fernández (Argentina) and Semih Kiliçsoy (Turkey). For all players, the Post also unveils the estimated transfer value.

>>> More information on the technical analysis of performance
>>> Scientific paper on the statistical model for transfer estimates

Best U23 players according to the performance index

Not including big-5 league players. Date: 13/01/2025.

my main picks off that list

[Vesper 31,037]

5 minutes ago, Marvin123 said:

Summarise the posts man. Or do them as link please that's ridiculously long for a forum. But thanks for pointing me in the  direction 

Number one, I am not a man.

Number two, when I post a long post, it is because it is paywalled and most here could not read it unless I post it all (and I make sure to properly format those posts as best I can, I just do not copy and paste with zero editing, I try to keep them as compact as is possible).

[Thor 2,817]

People here are such overreacting drama queens honestly. 
 

Calling our sporting directors terrible for a few bad decisions amongst a host of good to great ones is ridiculous. 
 

They’ve formed a midfield group that will grow and be the core for years to come. They’ve found a gem in Palmer. They lured Nkunku who unfortunately now doesn’t fit and isn’t what he was. 
For as much hate as he gets - Jackson has been a fantastic find for cheap. Sancho has been a fantastic find for cheap. 
 

Cucu has been tremendous after the teething time. Defence in general needs a bit of work - but dear lord our rebuild has been better and a quicker turn around than most. We’re competing up the top end of the ladder and only need a few tweaks to stay at that next level which we’ve seen at the halfway point we can be at. 

[NikkiCFC 8,516]

If you think about it we have 3 new CB options. Anselmino, Chalobah and Josh. So Tosin and Disasi can both leave easily. 

[NikkiCFC 8,516]

Weird that Napoli is losing Kvara now. Top of the table after 20 games just 12 goals conceded. Conte doing his magic. Would be amazing if he does it again. Taking 10th place team and winning title next season.

[TheHulk 2,636]

 

[Pizy 19,251]

11 hours ago, Thor said:

People here are such overreacting drama queens honestly. 
 

Calling our sporting directors terrible for a few bad decisions amongst a host of good to great ones is ridiculous. 
 

They’ve formed a midfield group that will grow and be the core for years to come. They’ve found a gem in Palmer. They lured Nkunku who unfortunately now doesn’t fit and isn’t what he was. 
For as much hate as he gets - Jackson has been a fantastic find for cheap. Sancho has been a fantastic find for cheap. 
 

Cucu has been tremendous after the teething time. Defence in general needs a bit of work - but dear lord our rebuild has been better and a quicker turn around than most. We’re competing up the top end of the ladder and only need a few tweaks to stay at that next level which we’ve seen at the halfway point we can be at. 

They’ve bought well in certain areas of the pitch but completely neglected or horribly mismanaged the most important ones. Striker they stupidly did nothing, CB they’ve bought several hard flops for considerable money, and at goalkeeper they’ve spent an absolute fortune on about 10 of them instead of going out and getting a proven, top quality one.

I’m not one of those Chelsea supporters calling for their jobs because as you say, they’ve done well a lot of the time. But they deserve HARSH criticism for this past window where they completely failed to address our primary weak areas.

[TheHulk 2,636]

Obligation to buy or fuck off.

[TheHulk 2,636]

Avoid this guy.

[mkh 748]

Excl: Bournemouth have agreed terms with Chelsea for 19 year old winger Zain Silcott-Duberry.

Deal includes sell on clause and future incentives for first team appearances, contract until June 2028.

(Fabrizio Romamo)

 

[mkh 748]

💬Enzo Maresca has not been entirely convinced by Tosin Adarabioyo or Axel Disasi.

(@liam_twomey)

[Special Juan 28,730]

Juve and Villareal want Disasi on loan

[mkh 748]

EXCLUSIVE: Arsenal are in talks with RB Leipzig for Benjamin Sesko. 

Told Arsenal want a loan with buy option, Leipzig want money upfront or an obligation. 

Understand Arteta has spoken with Sesko on more than one occasion.

Noooo😵😵😵🙉🙉😠

[chelsea_4_eva 1,186]

At times I feel the board finally know what they're doing, then I realise we have yet to have a shirt sponsor till now.. Surely that's money down the drain...

[TheHulk 2,636]

4 minutes ago, chelsea_4_eva said:

At times I feel the board finally know what they're doing, then I realise we have yet to have a shirt sponsor till now.. Surely that's money down the drain...

They were careful to brief the press that waiting proved to be a masterclass one month ago gambling everything on Top 4, fast forward a month after and they are the same clowns.

Edited January 16, 2025 by TheHulk