He does look like he's got a very mature head on his shoulders. He's also been used in various different positions by Leeds, highlighting his versatility.
The Summer 2024 scouting thread
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He does look like he's got a very mature head on his shoulders. He's also been used in various different positions by Leeds, highlighting his versatility.
JamieSpursCommunityUser
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- Jan 27, 2011
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Great interview with his Great Uncle Eddie Gray. You know he's going right to the top.
Sorry, you mentioned his versatility already
Now it's Spursonal
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Here’s a list of players for each position we apparently want, that we haven’t yet been linked to. (As far as I’m aware)Not much scouting going on for a "scouting thread". Most people just making a wish list of names we've been linked to in the media.
Winger 1v1 specialist
This one I struggled with as I feel its a position where we'll be targeting a top level player so they're all already known or have been linked. So instead I'll just name a younger player that I think would suit perfectly if we opt to bring in a second younger option i.e. Nusa or Bardghji.
Brajan Gruda-Mainz
He's a super talented right winger with a cannon of a left foot and that loves to take on his man.
On a side note though, a player that has been mentioned here very often but hasn't actually been linked yet that I would love is Matias Soule. The kids a cheat code when it comes to beating low blocks.. He would honestly be top of my list ahead of Neto and Williams as I think he's perfect for what we need. He has the 1v1 dribbling ability that's obviously a necessity, but he's also a super incisive and creative passer as well. We're currently far too reliant on Maddison to break down teams as he's literally the only incisive final third passer in our team. Soule would relieve a lot of the creative pressure on Maddison in this respect and would also help balance out our creativity between the left and right side of the field as he'd be able to supplement the lack of creativity in the final third of say a Pape Matar Sarr or a Gallagher.
Deep lying playmaker
This is another slightly tough one as we seem to be in a period where there is very little elite single pivots out there in world football. The Zubimendi link definitely makes sense as he's one of the only players currently playing the role to a very high level. Because of this I've opted for a player that hasn't played as a single pivot before but I think could potentially strive there.
Teun Koopmeiners
Probably one of my favourite players in world football atm. He can just do everything to such a high level and does so with a certain finesse that I love. Would be perfect at taking the ball off the defence and beating the press, both through dribbling and passing. He has a wicked long shot which would be massively beneficial against low-block teams, similar to how Rodri massively helps City in this respect. Defensively his stats dont pop off the screen, but that's what you'd expect of a player playing for Gasperini's Atalanta and so its no surprise that before moving to Atalanta, Koopmeiners was a defensive monster in the Eredivisie and has actually even filled in at CB a few times over his career. He has a never ending engine and is a leader on the pitch, being made captain at Az Alkmaar at only 22 I believe. Although I'd admit that Zubimendi definitely has the higher floor of the two players, having already shown his ability to play as a single pivot, I think that Koopmeiners 100% has a higher floor and could potentially be transformative for the team.
Super fit , box crashing 8 (Gallagher role)
Not sure if this is still viewed as important having signed Bergvall, but we're still being linked to Gallagher so I imagine it is.
Lewis Ferguson-Bologna
Not too much to say here as the role describes him well, he's super fit and is very dangerous making runs into the box and is very capable at putting those chances away. Plays with that typical scottish determination and grit too. Funnily, FBRef has his two closest player comparisons being Pape Matar Sarr and John McGinn. I personally don't rate FBRef's player comparisons as much as I used to, but in this case I think a mix of Pape and McGinn is actually very accurate.
Will rattle off a few more positions later tonight if I get a chance
Edit: Apologies for some of the shocking music in the compilations
Ghost Hardware
Well-Known Member
- Aug 31, 2012
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Here’s a list of players for each position we apparently want, that we haven’t yet been linked to. (As far as I’m aware)
Winger 1v1 specialist
This one I struggled with as I feel its a position where we'll be targeting a top level player so they're all already known or have been linked. So instead I'll just name a younger player that I think would suit perfectly if we opt to bring in a second younger option i.e. Nusa or Bardghji.
Brajan Gruda-Mainz
He's a super talented right winger with a cannon of a left foot and that loves to take on his man.
On a side note though, a player that has been mentioned here very often but hasn't actually been linked yet that I would love is Matias Soule. The kids a cheat code when it comes to beating low blocks.. He would honestly be top of my list ahead of Neto and Williams as I think he's perfect for what we need. He has the 1v1 dribbling ability that's obviously a necessity, but he's also a super incisive and creative passer as well. We're currently far too reliant on Maddison to break down teams as he's literally the only incisive final third passer in our team. Soule would relieve a lot of the creative pressure on Maddison in this respect and would also help balance out our creativity between the left and right side of the field as he'd be able to supplement the lack of creativity in the final third of say a Pape Matar Sarr or a Gallagher.
Deep lying playmaker
This is another slightly tough one as we seem to be in a period where there is very little elite single pivots out there in world football. The Zubimendi link definitely makes sense as he's one of the only players currently playing the role to a very high level. Because of this I've opted for a player that hasn't played as a single pivot before but I think could potentially strive there.
Teun Koopmeiners
Probably one of my favourite players in world football atm. He can just do everything to such a high level and does so with a certain finesse that I love. Would be perfect at taking the ball off the defence and beating the press, both through dribbling and passing. He has a wicked long shot which would be massively beneficial against low-block teams, similar to how Rodri massively helps City in this respect. Defensively his stats dont pop off the screen, but that's what you'd expect of a player playing for Gasperini's Atalanta and so its no surprise that before moving to Atalanta, Koopmeiners was a defensive monster in the Eredivisie and has actually even filled in at CB a few times over his career. He has a never ending engine and is a leader on the pitch, being made captain at Az Alkmaar at only 22 I believe. Although I'd admit that Zubimendi definitely has the higher floor of the two players, having already shown his ability to play as a single pivot, I think that Koopmeiners 100% has a higher floor and could potentially be transformative for the team.
Super fit , box crashing 8 (Gallagher role)
Not sure if this is still viewed as important having signed Bergvall, but we're still being linked to Gallagher so I imagine it is.
Lewis Ferguson-Bologna
Not too much to say here as the role describes him well, he's super fit and is very dangerous making runs into the box and is very capable at putting those chances away. Plays with that typical scottish determination and grit too. Funnily, FBRef has his two closest player comparisons being Pape Matar Sarr and John McGinn. I personally don't rate FBRef's player comparisons as much as I used to, but in this case I think a mix of Pape and McGinn is actually very accurate.
Will rattle off a few more positions later tonight if I get a chance
Edit: Apologies for some of the shocking music in the compilations
I will never stop banging on about Soulé. Absolutely love him, probably my favourite young attacker in Europe at the moment. Such an a monumental talent imo. Considering Paratici was the one who scouted him originally and persuaded him to go to Juve over Monaco im hoping he is recommending him to us.
Now it's Spursonal
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Wasn’t on my radar at all until this season but wow is he good. His fellow Argentinian and Juve loanee Enzo Barrenechea has also really stood out to me at Frosinone, very tidy DM.
Ghost Hardware
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- Aug 31, 2012
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I remember reading an article about him a few years ago saying how he was one of the jewels of Juve’s youth set up so I always tried to keep an eye out when he’d get game time as a sub, which was rarely. Tbh I think he was criminally undervalued by Allegri who even played him as a WB at one point. It is true that he doesn’t really suit Juve’s system but even so he was waisted. Tbh I have ended up watching almost every televised Frosenone game so far this season just to see how he would develop and he has just been so impressive. Even against some of the top teams like Inter he has managed to create opportunities. I wrote a long post about him in the transfer forum pre Christmas and as I said then he would honestly have 3 or 4 times the assists he currently does if the other attackers didn’t bumble some straight forward finishes. Tbh I’m surprised more clubs didn’t come in for him in Jan as Juve probably would have sold him.
As for Barrenechea, I like him but he needs to be more disciplined in his positioning. He will often get caught drifting and get drawn towards the ball. Also he will commit to tackles, often overly rashly, and sometimes miss them resulting in a gap in the centre of the park. Nothing out of the ordinary considering his age. I think he certainly has potential but just needs more game time and coaching. He’s certainly better then Kaio Jorge who is also on loan they’re from Juve. Personally I don’t particularly rate him despite also being rather hyped up.
HildoSpur
Likes Erik Lamela, deal with it.
- Oct 1, 2005
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He is a top tier talent without a doubt. Home grown. What's not to love? He is a huge Leeds fan though and I think it would take a lot to convince him and his family to leave the club at this stage in his career.
Nick-TopSpursMan
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- Aug 4, 2005
- 4,131
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Soule looks really good but I still don’t think he solves the issue of touchline winger.
He’s more of an inside forward/10 type which would be fine if we didn’t already have Deki who is also more of a left footed wide creator. He will cut inside nearly every time and he wants to play in narrower pockets.
We badly need explosive touchline players to hold the width, stretch the pitch and beat defenders both ways out wide.
If we were looking to get Soule to play in an overlapping fullback system (Poch style 4231 etc) then I’d be all over it but in Ange system I just worry it would be another player that doesn’t quite fit what we need. I imagine the scenarios that our wide players end up in a lot out wide and I’m not sure he’d fix those issues as well as others like Neto, Bakayoko etc in terms of RW.
He’s more of an inside forward/10 type which would be fine if we didn’t already have Deki who is also more of a left footed wide creator. He will cut inside nearly every time and he wants to play in narrower pockets.
We badly need explosive touchline players to hold the width, stretch the pitch and beat defenders both ways out wide.
If we were looking to get Soule to play in an overlapping fullback system (Poch style 4231 etc) then I’d be all over it but in Ange system I just worry it would be another player that doesn’t quite fit what we need. I imagine the scenarios that our wide players end up in a lot out wide and I’m not sure he’d fix those issues as well as others like Neto, Bakayoko etc in terms of RW.
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Spurs4CL
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- Jan 7, 2015
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Reminds me of Declan Rice
Ghost Hardware
Well-Known Member
- Aug 31, 2012
- 18,328
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Here’s a list of players for each position we apparently want, that we haven’t yet been linked to. (As far as I’m aware)
Winger 1v1 specialist
This one I struggled with as I feel its a position where we'll be targeting a top level player so they're all already known or have been linked. So instead I'll just name a younger player that I think would suit perfectly if we opt to bring in a second younger option i.e. Nusa or Bardghji.
Brajan Gruda-Mainz
He's a super talented right winger with a cannon of a left foot and that loves to take on his man.
On a side note though, a player that has been mentioned here very often but hasn't actually been linked yet that I would love is Matias Soule. The kids a cheat code when it comes to beating low blocks.. He would honestly be top of my list ahead of Neto and Williams as I think he's perfect for what we need. He has the 1v1 dribbling ability that's obviously a necessity, but he's also a super incisive and creative passer as well. We're currently far too reliant on Maddison to break down teams as he's literally the only incisive final third passer in our team. Soule would relieve a lot of the creative pressure on Maddison in this respect and would also help balance out our creativity between the left and right side of the field as he'd be able to supplement the lack of creativity in the final third of say a Pape Matar Sarr or a Gallagher.
Deep lying playmaker
This is another slightly tough one as we seem to be in a period where there is very little elite single pivots out there in world football. The Zubimendi link definitely makes sense as he's one of the only players currently playing the role to a very high level. Because of this I've opted for a player that hasn't played as a single pivot before but I think could potentially strive there.
Teun Koopmeiners
Probably one of my favourite players in world football atm. He can just do everything to such a high level and does so with a certain finesse that I love. Would be perfect at taking the ball off the defence and beating the press, both through dribbling and passing. He has a wicked long shot which would be massively beneficial against low-block teams, similar to how Rodri massively helps City in this respect. Defensively his stats dont pop off the screen, but that's what you'd expect of a player playing for Gasperini's Atalanta and so its no surprise that before moving to Atalanta, Koopmeiners was a defensive monster in the Eredivisie and has actually even filled in at CB a few times over his career. He has a never ending engine and is a leader on the pitch, being made captain at Az Alkmaar at only 22 I believe. Although I'd admit that Zubimendi definitely has the higher floor of the two players, having already shown his ability to play as a single pivot, I think that Koopmeiners 100% has a higher floor and could potentially be transformative for the team.
Super fit , box crashing 8 (Gallagher role)
Not sure if this is still viewed as important having signed Bergvall, but we're still being linked to Gallagher so I imagine it is.
Lewis Ferguson-Bologna
Not too much to say here as the role describes him well, he's super fit and is very dangerous making runs into the box and is very capable at putting those chances away. Plays with that typical scottish determination and grit too. Funnily, FBRef has his two closest player comparisons being Pape Matar Sarr and John McGinn. I personally don't rate FBRef's player comparisons as much as I used to, but in this case I think a mix of Pape and McGinn is actually very accurate.
Will rattle off a few more positions later tonight if I get a chance
Edit: Apologies for some of the shocking music in the compilations
Im going to caveat the following by saying i'm not entirely sure this is the last piece of the puzzle for our midfield, I posted above about Grey and like I said I think he should be right at the very top of the list, but as you mention an 8 this is the player I would be looking at. I certainly think he is an interesting option depending on how we want to delegate the roles in our midfield come next season and even tho we probably don’t need an 8 he at least offers a slightly different skill set to what we currently have.
Javi Guerra is a 20 year old box to box midfielder who plays for Valencia and has been one of the bright young sparks of the league. He is an 8 rather then a 6 so probably for that reason alone he won't be of much interest but I think he looks a incredibly promising player and one that would be very well suited to the PL and Ange's system. Bringing players over from Spain i always think can be risky as their skill sets tend to often suit a far more technical less aggressive game then the one we have in the PL. Obviously that also means there are those that do adapt and can dominate the league but some just can't adapt to the physicality and pace of it. Guerra I feel would have no issue, for a start at 6ft2 and even at 20 is a big presence on the pitch. When watching Valencia you can see him towering above many of the other players and he makes that hight count. But despite being big he still has the technical ability you would associate with a Spanish CM the only difference is that he is direct. He isn’t a playmaker and doesn’t really do anything fancy with the football, when receiving it he will ever play short crisp passes or carry the ball up the pitch. He is very good at spotting space ahead of him and he is fast so is very effective at driving with the ball and because of this is excellent at opening up a game.
Defensively he is very solid and is very good at reading the game and stepping up out of midfield to stop an attack before it gets going. He does however struggle when facing up to dribbler which is one reason he’s better in the the 8 rather then the 6 role. But he is still a good tackler and at 20 you would think this is something that can be worked on.
Another reason he is better suited to the 8 role is that he has excellent instincts in and around the opposition box. He is very good at ghosting into the box and finding goal scoring opportunities. His finishing is good also and he really has the potential to develop into a very good goal scoring physical B2B.
Stylistically, and I don’t just say this because of his size, but he reminds me of Rabiot a bit but also is similar, in regards to movement in the opposition half, to Gundogan. Valencia where in turmoil last year with fans rioting due to their owner pretty much leaving them to rot but this season they have looked a lot more together. Amidst this guerra has really stood out as one to watch.
He’s extremely highly rated by Valencia and probably wouldn’t be cheap. Plus he’s still young and developing, he’s by no means the finished article. He also is an 8 rather then a 6 which is probably what we need most but just as a young option in the 8 role I think he would be a fantastic one if we hypothetically were looking in that position.
Obligatory highlight vid
And here is a statman Dave vid for those that like stats. He sums up better then I can why he is such an interesting prospect.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GZM-0awSUs
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JamieSpursCommunityUser
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- Jan 27, 2011
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I know a lot of people really rate Soule so I could be completely wrong, but I'm not seeing it myself.
He's obviously very talented but I see a reluctance to ever use his right foot, to the extent I see him rather turn his body 180 than pass, exit, or even feint to exit on his right.
I think to be a very one footed wide player, you need exceptional agility and/or pace to create space and separation from defenders, which whilst not a weakness isn't an outstanding strength either.
His right foot might be better than his willingness to use it, but that's what I've seen.
Would this be fair?
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JamieSpursCommunityUser
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- Jan 27, 2011
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If he avoids serious injury then he'll be better than Declan Rice imo.
I see the similarities and I think he'll reach Rice's athletic and defensive abilities, and temperament.
But the difference is his footwork, press resistance, progressive passing ability, and footballing IQ are all much higher.
As good as any young no.6 prospect in Europe I believe.
The football gods wouldn't allow us to have Bergvall, Sarr, and Gray as that would be cheating, so good luck to Leeds with him.
Guntz
Loves a good meme/gif
- Aug 15, 2011
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Agree with this, think he's too similar to Kulusevski.
Now it's Spursonal
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- Aug 4, 2012
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Yeah I’ll admit that I had overlooked his one-footedness to be honest.
And two-footedness is something that I view as being super important now for Ange’s winger as I think Kulu’s lack of a right foot really hurts us at times, as Ange’s tactics are built around getting goals from cut-backs down the byline.
Nick-TopSpursMan
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- Aug 4, 2005
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Nico Williams doing Nico Williams things. Roasting his fullback on the outside before crossing on his ‘weaker foot’ to set up Inaki and then attacking the box for a cutback to score himself.
What a player man, built for our system!
What a player man, built for our system!
Ghost Hardware
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I mean he’s certainly a two way dribbler and capable of going on the outside when needed. Frosenone do play WB hence him drifting more central at times as the WB are tasked with holding the width but he does go to the byline when necessary. You’re right that he isn’t the fastest at full pelt, he isn’t a Neto, but he does have very good acceleration from a standing position which allows him move past players. He is very good at changing direction at pace which allows him to slalom between players and he will often move back out wide rather then steadily moving central which is often the case with those that are overly reliant on one foot.
Statistically he is one of the best dribblers in Europe and he has the most successful dribbles in the league with 75 followed by Kvaratskhelia with 69 then Leao with 48 so even if he relies more heavily on one foot it certainly doesn’t effect his ability running with the ball. Incidentally he’s also second in the league for chance creation with 56 and his ability on the ball coupled with his vision and passing ability is what makes him so dangerous. I’m fairly sure at one point he was leading the stats for most successful through balls in Europe which again suggest how dangerous he is in the final third.
In regards to your concern, yes he isn’t strong with his right but he does attempt to use it from time to time and he’s certainly more willing to now then he was a few years ago. Also he doesn’t let his weakness on his right limit him to repeatedly cutting along the box which is often the case with one footed WF’s, Kulu being a perfect example of someone who is very easy to defend against because of this repeated action.
Soulé is an expert at disorienting a defence by his quick feet, vision, passing range and very good shooting ability from range. He’s also exceptional in tight spaces and often able to wriggle out of pressure with the ball at his feet.
As I’ve said before I think Neto is who we should be going for out of those currently available (Kvaratskhelia would probably be my unrealistic dream signing) but I certainly think Soulé could also add a lot to the team. After all he is very effective when up against teams that sit deep and pack the box which is something we really struggle against. In general I think Soulé has an incredible amount of potential and is already the key player for Frosenone in his first season as a starter. The fact he is putting up the numbers he is for a team that only just got promoted is incredible really.
Regardless if he is someone we target or not, and I could understand why we might or might not, I think he is a very exciting talent who has a very bright future if he continues to develop how he has been.
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Ghost Hardware
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Great player but I’ve pretty much given up on him. I get the feeling he doesn’t want to leave Spain currently. If he did I think everyone would be going for him.
Now it's Spursonal
Well-Known Member
- Aug 4, 2012
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On another note, there’s a few reports going round that Juve are potentially open to selling Chiesa as his contracts running down.
I’ve been watching a tonne of Serie A this year, but the one team I actively avoid is Juve because Allegri’s football is so poor.
So, in your opinion, has it seemed like he’s managed to fully recover from his injuries or does he still look slightly laboured like he did last year? Because a rejuvenated Chiesa would be a game changer
