Danny1
Well-Known Member
- Dec 6, 2006
- 5,690
- 17,575
Ultimately for this season if we sold PEH then we would not need to replace him and could spend that money (and any other we make) to sign 2 CBs that are desperately needed.
We would have:
Bissouma, Lo Celso, Maddison, Bentancur, Ndombele, Skipp, Sarr and Devine which should be more than enough for this season without any European distractions.
Going forward GLC can help aswell as both him and Maddison can play in the front 3 if we are ever short. What we severely lack is what everyone clearly sees and that’s good centre backs.
We would have:
Bissouma, Lo Celso, Maddison, Bentancur, Ndombele, Skipp, Sarr and Devine which should be more than enough for this season without any European distractions.
Going forward GLC can help aswell as both him and Maddison can play in the front 3 if we are ever short. What we severely lack is what everyone clearly sees and that’s good centre backs.
Bluto Blutarsky
Well-Known Member
- Mar 4, 2021
- 15,289
- 71,135
I think it was Lo Celso who wanted out.
And, he was not really suited to a CM2. He looks to be a great fit in a CM3, and this style specifically, where the 8s really push up to form a front 5.
Steffen
Well-Known Member
- Aug 31, 2012
- 1,080
- 4,513
ITK at the time said Conte didn’t like his care-free atttitude. If he was left out of the squad for a game, he was happy to have time at home. Conte wants his players to fight for their place, and thus didn’t think Lo Celso could cut it.
JayB
Well-Known Member
- Aug 24, 2011
- 6,667
- 26,110
Conte doesn't use playmakers. Stubbornly refused to play Eriksen at Inter until injuries forced his hand, only for Eriksen to go on a storming run of form that massively contributed to Inter winning the scudetto. Despite that history Conte still turned his nose up at Eriksen last summer.
Bringing Lo Celso back into the fold and adding Maddison will be absolutely massive for us this season, I'm sure of it. We were crying out for chance creation last season and now we've got two top class playmakers.
jurgen11
Well-Known Member
- Sep 9, 2004
- 1,847
- 4,595
if I had to work for Conte , Id stay at home
Flobadob
Well-Known Member
- Jul 22, 2014
- 3,637
- 12,369
He’s played deeper in the past and has the ability to press and put a foot in. He’s quick over short distances and agile. See no reason at all we can’t play that 3 against weaker/mid table opposition
Ghost Hardware
Well-Known Member
- Aug 31, 2012
- 18,612
- 64,389
I have followed Gio keenly since he first moved to PSG. I remember when they grabbed him I was annoyed that we didn’t go for players of his potential and calibre from the SA market. What was interesting about his time at PSG is he often played as a DM (primarily because he was young and thus shifted around a lot to fill gaps) and he looked very good as a deep lying creative playmaker who excelled at carrying up the pitch whilst also pressing hard and putting a foot in. It’s honestly worth going back to watch some comp vids of his time there to see/remember the player he was and why people were starting to talk about him.
it’s also worth noting even then he was very impressive and was only sacrificed by PSG because they had no interest in developing youth talents at the time. They wanted ready made stars so they could win the CL and Gio still looked raw and needed time. When we got him I was elated as I had watched with envy his time in Spain.
Personally I’ve never had a single doubt about his ability to adjust to the pl and I’m fairly certain he will excel if we keep him. But I did doubt his ability to play in a defensive system, he was always going to look lost in any set up were he wasn’t given plenty of time on the ball. Not in the sense of dwelling on it, but just constantly having things run through him. He thrives of that. It gives him confidence which in turn allows him to make his mark on the game. If you watch him he’s always finding space and showing for the ball. His ability to turn and play quick masked short passes into attacking areas is exemplary. Whilst Maddison excels as a more Classic Hollywood playmaker Gio’s work is often more subtle, exactly why I could see them working in the same line up without there being too much crossover.
Also he is a very quiet character, distant almost but he very much needs to feel the love from a manager, if he does then you will see him work and fight on the pitch constantly. The Argentinian team adore him and think he is one of their most important players, that alone speaks volumes as to his ability.
Ultimately yes, he does have injury issues and that could end up being the straw that breaks the camels back in regards to his time here, but as far as skill set Ange and Gio are a match made in heaven imo. Further more he seems to have matured as a playmaker, he doesn’t seem to force things as much as he used to. This I find very encouraging.
There is obviously a question of what he wants and what Ange wants and if he can stay fit, but for me there is zero surprise as to how well he is working in the system and if he continues with us i think a lot of fans who doubted him in the past will change their mind once the team really click into gear.
it’s also worth noting even then he was very impressive and was only sacrificed by PSG because they had no interest in developing youth talents at the time. They wanted ready made stars so they could win the CL and Gio still looked raw and needed time. When we got him I was elated as I had watched with envy his time in Spain.
Personally I’ve never had a single doubt about his ability to adjust to the pl and I’m fairly certain he will excel if we keep him. But I did doubt his ability to play in a defensive system, he was always going to look lost in any set up were he wasn’t given plenty of time on the ball. Not in the sense of dwelling on it, but just constantly having things run through him. He thrives of that. It gives him confidence which in turn allows him to make his mark on the game. If you watch him he’s always finding space and showing for the ball. His ability to turn and play quick masked short passes into attacking areas is exemplary. Whilst Maddison excels as a more Classic Hollywood playmaker Gio’s work is often more subtle, exactly why I could see them working in the same line up without there being too much crossover.
Also he is a very quiet character, distant almost but he very much needs to feel the love from a manager, if he does then you will see him work and fight on the pitch constantly. The Argentinian team adore him and think he is one of their most important players, that alone speaks volumes as to his ability.
Ultimately yes, he does have injury issues and that could end up being the straw that breaks the camels back in regards to his time here, but as far as skill set Ange and Gio are a match made in heaven imo. Further more he seems to have matured as a playmaker, he doesn’t seem to force things as much as he used to. This I find very encouraging.
There is obviously a question of what he wants and what Ange wants and if he can stay fit, but for me there is zero surprise as to how well he is working in the system and if he continues with us i think a lot of fans who doubted him in the past will change their mind once the team really click into gear.
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Nayim60yards
Well-Known Member
- Jul 25, 2005
- 1,441
- 6,111
Not sure about alongside each other in CM as we might be too easy to play through but one of them in the middle three and one in the front three could definitely work.
Tucker
Shitehawk
- Jul 15, 2013
- 31,535
- 147,614
Conte really was an obstinate bell end wasn’t he.
Chris Flynn
Well-Known Member
- Aug 3, 2012
- 1,459
- 3,988
Honsetly think its because he was a defensive mid and felt when he was playing he did all the work and the creative players got all the glory. And he has taken that into him management
mil1lion
This is the place to be
- May 7, 2004
- 42,675
- 78,522
I just don't think he suits a midfield 2 in England and I've never been convinced by him in behind the striker. A midfield 3 just fits him perfectly. It allows him to play just deep enough to get on the ball but not be outnumbered. When you're playing short passes and triangles he's at his best.
Yup. I have been banging the lo celso drum for months. I watched pretty much all his games when he came back from injury post World Cup and he was absolutely incredible. I watched him out play supposed world class midfields of real and Barca.
He has really come into his prime, his decision making, dribbling, movement and passing are excellent. The only think I don’t like is his over reliance on his left and his finishing.
YIDfromtheLANE
Well-Known Member
- Feb 18, 2007
- 108
- 429
Its probably been said - lets go through his time line with us
-signed summer 2019 - new country, language, club
-Within 3 or 4 months the guy that signed him gets binned
-Replaced by a less than forward thinking coach
-Spring 2020 - still acclimatising, under that coach and a pandemic breaks out where you are forbidden from going anywhere.
-pretty sure all that wrapped up into a nee country, etc ain’t too good for the mind and motivation
That first 6 months or so alone sets the path for how disengaged he became. Then you add in Conte……no wonder he gave off an aloof vibe around the training ground.
Now, enter new front foot coach, freshness about everyone equals better vibes and better player. Do not underestimate those first 6 months and how that contributed to what we saw, hopefully all behind him and a player we can enjoy watching. Also reckon having Cuti around will help too, especially with his positive mood of late.
-signed summer 2019 - new country, language, club
-Within 3 or 4 months the guy that signed him gets binned
-Replaced by a less than forward thinking coach
-Spring 2020 - still acclimatising, under that coach and a pandemic breaks out where you are forbidden from going anywhere.
-pretty sure all that wrapped up into a nee country, etc ain’t too good for the mind and motivation
That first 6 months or so alone sets the path for how disengaged he became. Then you add in Conte……no wonder he gave off an aloof vibe around the training ground.
Now, enter new front foot coach, freshness about everyone equals better vibes and better player. Do not underestimate those first 6 months and how that contributed to what we saw, hopefully all behind him and a player we can enjoy watching. Also reckon having Cuti around will help too, especially with his positive mood of late.
Same. Because conte didn’t like that when he dropped him lo celso was talking about his weekend plans rather than begging to get back into his team.
matty74
Well-Known Member
- Aug 21, 2013
- 1,302
- 3,431
Definitely gives us something a little different. Can play anywhere across the midfield and looks good moving the ball in tight spaces. Also like a tackle .
it’s probably unlikely we are going to add a midfielder in this window so keeping him would be the sensible option .
Bentancar is months away from being fit and that’s another role GLC can play
it’s probably unlikely we are going to add a midfielder in this window so keeping him would be the sensible option .
Bentancar is months away from being fit and that’s another role GLC can play
gavspur
Well-Known Member
- Jun 24, 2004
- 5,320
- 8,870
That could be a possibility, with Maddison on the right of the front three? It would certainly give us better service in to the box from there, and he does see himself as a bit of a Beckham. At home we could use them both in the midfield, especially with Emerson dropping in beside Bissouma, and Udogie/Reggy/Davies the other side of him.
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