Davide Astori - CB - Cagliari

[Snarfalicious]

It's been reported over multiple sources:

Tottenham have entered the running to sign Cagliari defender Davide Astori.

The 27-year-old defender is rated one of the best central defenders in Italy and has been attracting interest from a number of top European clubs.

Juventus, AC Milan, Roma and Lazio have also been linked with a move for Astori who looks set to make a big money move at the end of the season.

Uncertainty might surround the future of Tottenham head coach Tim Sherwood, but the club are still looking at transfer targets for next season.

Italian newspaper Il Messaggero claims the north London club could make their move to sign him at the end of the season.

But Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy will have to act fast if he wants to get his man as there looks set to be a bidding war for his signature during the summer.

Link: http://talksport.com/football/tottenham-enter-race-highly-rated-italy-defender-14042488607

 

[TheAmerican]

I read this earlier. He is a great CB, and we would do well to get him. Dortmund, Napoli, United and Everton have also all been linked with him previously.

 

[Nine while nine]

I asked an Italian midget I know whether this 6ft 2in tall defender was going to sign for Spurs.

"Sounds-a like-a tall Astori to me" he said.

 

[Sweech]

Wouldn't be upset if we signed him, but he comes across as a pretty boring CB. Maybe that's what we need though, could do without the heart palpitation inducing back four that we currently employ.

 

[Sarsipius]

I asked an Italian midget I know whether this 6ft 2in tall defender was going to sign for Spurs.

"Sounds-a like-a tall Astori to me" he said.

Could I borrow your crowbar if you're done with it?

 

[Snarfalicious]

Some statistics from league play:

Davide Astori:
Total Appearances: 30
Clearances: 269
Blocks: 24
Tackles: 52
Interceptions: 82
Average Pass Accuracy: ~84% (1282/1531)
Defensive Errors: 2 Total (1 led to goal)

For Comparison to our Stalwarts in Defense:

Jan Vertonghen:
Total Appearances: 23
Clearances: 117
Blocks: 6
Tackles: 32
Interceptions: 42
Average Pass Accuracy: ~83% (824/994)
Defensive Errors: 3 (All 3 Led to goals)

Vlad Chiriches:
Total Appearances: 15
Clearances: 69
Blocks: 4
Tackles: 31
Interceptions: 32
Average Pass Accuracy: 89% (580/652)
Defensive Errors: 2 (1 led to goal)

Younes Kaboul:
Total Appearances: 9
Clearances: 67 Clearances
Blocks: 2
Tackles: 23
Interceptions: 23
Average Pass Accuracy: 74% (362/492)
Defensive Errors: 3 (1 own goal)

Michael Dawson
Total Appearances: 28
Clearances: 241
Blocks: 21
Tackles: 42
Interceptions: 66
Average Pass Accuracy: ~82% (1182/1440)
Defensive Errors: 3 (2 led to goals)

It wouldn't hurt to have another Michael Dawson in the ranks. I've stated many times we need more of a sit-deep-and-break-shit-up defender at the back than what we currently offer. It's why Ezequiel Garay is intriguing to me and why guys like Astori should warrant some significant interest from us. I honestly have no issue with revamping our CB position. Sure, we need to figure out how to find a manager who can utilize tactics and tactics that aren't batshit crazy with the personnel available.

Chiriches is going to be fine and Vertonghen can be good if he can revert (no pun intended) back to when he appeared to look like he gave a shit and wasn't a space cadet 75% of the time. I see Vertonghen leaving this summer, and with guys like Kaboul/Dawson leaving much to be desired in my opinion, we could see some significant changes. I don't expect to see all 3 to go, but I don't think 2 of Verts/Kaboul/Dawson leaving is out of the question. Bringing on any 2 of Astori, Garay, Schar, Kouyate, etc. would be smart in my opinion.

 

[Syn_13]

He's definitely an old fashioned Italian no-nonsense centre back. A good player, does well for Cagliari, and certainly sees a lot of action at the back playing for them. One of Prandelli's favourites for Italy, tends to get into the squad over Ogbonna due to the fact that he gets regular game time at Cagliari, unlike the Ogbonna at Juve who is still finding his feet there.

I'd rather Astori than Dawson or bringing back Caulker. I'd love to add Schar to the ranks, he looks a great prospect.

 

[Ribble]

I asked an Italian midget I know whether this 6ft 2in tall defender was going to sign for Spurs.

"Sounds-a like-a tall Astori to me" he said.

Ask him if he knows whether Astori has a brother playing as well, especially if they're another CB.

We could have a Multi Astori bus park.

 

[Spursh]

Cagliari's young left back Nicola Murru is also highly rated

 

[Lufti]

He's definitely an old fashioned Italian no-nonsense centre back. A good player, does well for Cagliari, and certainly sees a lot of action at the back playing for them. One of Prandelli's favourites for Italy, tends to get into the squad over Ogbonna due to the fact that he gets regular game time at Cagliari, unlike the Ogbonna at Juve who is still finding his feet there.

I'd rather Astori than Dawson or bringing back Caulker. I'd love to add Schar to the ranks, he looks a great prospect.

Now you're talking

 

[ItsBoris]

Some statistics from league play:

Davide Astori:
Total Appearances: 30
Clearances: 269
Blocks: 24
Tackles: 52
Interceptions: 82
Average Pass Accuracy: ~84% (1282/1531)
Defensive Errors: 2 Total (1 led to goal)

For Comparison to our Stalwarts in Defense:

Jan Vertonghen:
Total Appearances: 23
Clearances: 117
Blocks: 6
Tackles: 32
Interceptions: 42
Average Pass Accuracy: ~83% (824/994)
Defensive Errors: 3 (All 3 Led to goals)

Vlad Chiriches:
Total Appearances: 15
Clearances: 69
Blocks: 4
Tackles: 31
Interceptions: 32
Average Pass Accuracy: 89% (580/652)
Defensive Errors: 2 (1 led to goal)

Younes Kaboul:
Total Appearances: 9
Clearances: 67 Clearances
Blocks: 2
Tackles: 23
Interceptions: 23
Average Pass Accuracy: 74% (362/492)
Defensive Errors: 3 (1 own goal)

Michael Dawson
Total Appearances: 28
Clearances: 241
Blocks: 21
Tackles: 42
Interceptions: 66
Average Pass Accuracy: ~82% (1182/1440)
Defensive Errors: 3 (2 led to goals)

It wouldn't hurt to have another Michael Dawson in the ranks. I've stated many times we need more of a sit-deep-and-break-shit-up defender at the back than what we currently offer. It's why Ezequiel Garay is intriguing to me and why guys like Astori should warrant some significant interest from us. I honestly have no issue with revamping our CB position. Sure, we need to figure out how to find a manager who can utilize tactics and tactics that aren't batshit crazy with the personnel available.

Chiriches is going to be fine and Vertonghen can be good if he can revert (no pun intended) back to when he appeared to look like he gave a shit and wasn't a space cadet 75% of the time. I see Vertonghen leaving this summer, and with guys like Kaboul/Dawson leaving much to be desired in my opinion, we could see some significant changes. I don't expect to see all 3 to go, but I don't think 2 of Verts/Kaboul/Dawson leaving is out of the question. Bringing on any 2 of Astori, Garay, Schar, Kouyate, etc. would be smart in my opinion.

Interesting that his stats are pretty similar to Dawson's. I would guess that being in a team lower in the Serie A, he probably has to do more actual defending than our players do.

As for the point in bold, I'm not sure that LVG would be that person lol. Though LVG is tactically one of the best there is, he does underrate the value of defending imo. I don't think he would sort out of defensive issues but we would be far better in an attacking sense.

The opposite option is Benitez, who always says that the first job is to create defensive solidity. Build an effective counterattack on top of that and you've got a good team.

The interesting question is what would work better for us? LVG's all out attack, throw defending out of the window and outscore the opposition, or Benitez' more cautious, defend first approach. Hard to say.

 

[Barry Mead]

While Lazio management are trying to seal the deal with Cagliari for having Italian international centre-back Davide Astori (27) join on a full basis, the player has been targeted by Tottenham and West Ham as well. Astori's ownership is esteemed around 11.5 million euros, but Biancoazzurri are trying to use some youth counterparts in the trade

http://www.transfermarketweb.com/?action=read&idsel=142848

 

[Dirty Ewok]

Di Marzio saying that Astori is going on loan to Roma with an option to buy

http://gianlucadimarzio.com/en/calc...ri-the-backstory-and-the-details-of-the-deal/

 

[Snarfalicious]

Di Marzio saying that Astori is going on loan to Roma with an option to buy

http://gianlucadimarzio.com/en/calc...ri-the-backstory-and-the-details-of-the-deal/

I would have loved to see us make that same deal. Get to see if he can cut it before committing. Dagummit.

 

[Dirty Ewok]

I would have loved to see us make that same deal. Get to see if he can cut it before committing. Dagummit.

On the other hand.....if they just brought in Astori, no reason for them to chase Vlad

 

[Sweech]

I would have loved to see us make that same deal. Get to see if he can cut it before committing. Dagummit.

I'd love to see us make the exact same deal as well, but when pitted against one another I think Astori would pick Roma over us 9 times out of 10. He gets to stay in Italy, in a league he's comfortable in, on a team that appears to be growing competitively, and play Champions League football.

 

[Snarfalicious]

I'd love to see us make the exact same deal as well, but when pitted against one another I think Astori would pick Roma over us 9 times out of 10. He gets to stay in Italy, in a league he's comfortable in, on a team that appears to be growing competitively, and play Champions League football.

I definitely agree with that. Roma are on the up-and-up for sure.

 

[kdem]

Astori to Roma official

http://www.asroma.it/en/news/corporate_astori/