Franck Kessie

[JayB]

Reports linking Renato Sanches with AC Milan. Conceivably a Kessie replacement? Or are they quite different players?

Would have Mendes's fingerprints all over it, same as the current rumours being mooted in the Adama thread. Question is, where would that leave us with Ndombele?

 

[Yiddo100]

Would have Mendes's fingerprints all over it, same as the current rumours being mooted in the Adama thread. Question is, where would that leave us with Ndombele?

Same as it is now, we want him out asap I’d presume

 

[Russ1201]

Kessie swap for Ndombele - we get a player of the worth we paid for Ndombele - they get a player the worth of Kessie on a good contract - Kessie goes to the AFCON and gets injured.

That would just be typical spurs.

 

[met was god]

With some noise gathering about Kessie I thought I should try and educate myself via the usual YouTube videos. Seems like an all round midfielder. Holds a good position whilst having a good array of forward passing options. Plays a lot of passes in a withdrawn quarter back role and occasionally bursts into the box. He looks strong, athletic and presses hard but at the same time gives away a lot of needless niggly fouls.

Undoubtedly he looks like a good player, however is he the player for Spurs at this point in time? The feeling I get is we require creativity in midfield and whilst Kessie can pass progressively he would not get the time to do so in the PL.

If we can get rid of one of our high earning midfielders I can see a place for Kessie, however we can ill afford another high earning player who might only marginally improve us and not actually solve a long term concern around creativity, breaking lines and dictating the tempo of games.

It is for this reason I’m a no thank you for the time being. If we can find a tidy solution for other non contributing high earners I would happily change my opinion.
Of course my view is based on YouTube alone and not the greatest source so would welcome other different views.

 

[Nick-TopSpursMan]

I agree that Kessie isn’t going to give us enough of what we need from a new CM.

We need someone who has a good passing range and spark of creativity from CM whilst still retaining tenacity and some defensive output.

I have been unsure of Kessie from what I’ve seen. Not sure he suits the tempo of the PL and he won’t bring any more creativity to our midfield.

At best he will prove to be a slightly technically superior Hojbjerg type player. But we need more than that imo.

 

[el pistolero]

i would take him but really believe we should go for bissouma or bruno guimares instead.bissouma would offer great athletism and press ressitence that we lack in midfield while bruno guimares is a hard worker that plays great passes through the lines either of those two would be my choice

 

[Nick-TopSpursMan]

i would take him but really believe we should go for bissouma or bruno guimares instead.bissouma would offer great athletism and press ressitence that we lack in midfield while bruno guimares is a hard worker that plays great passes through the lines either of those two would be my choice

Agree with this.

 

[Aleks]

bissouma is on bail for sexual assault

 

[wiggo24]

i would take him but really believe we should go for bissouma or bruno guimares instead.bissouma would offer great athletism and press ressitence that we lack in midfield while bruno guimares is a hard worker that plays great passes through the lines either of those two would be my choice

Bruno Guimaraes would be perfect. Absolutely perfect. Don't surprise why we haven't been linked given that Lyon seem willing to let him go this summer. If he goes to Arsenal as rumoured I'd be gutted.

 

[hellava_tough]

With some noise gathering about Kessie I thought I should try and educate myself via the usual YouTube videos. Seems like an all round midfielder. Holds a good position whilst having a good array of forward passing options. Plays a lot of passes in a withdrawn quarter back role and occasionally bursts into the box. He looks strong, athletic and presses hard but at the same time gives away a lot of needless niggly fouls.

Undoubtedly he looks like a good player, however is he the player for Spurs at this point in time? The feeling I get is we require creativity in midfield and whilst Kessie can pass progressively he would not get the time to do so in the PL.

If we can get rid of one of our high earning midfielders I can see a place for Kessie, however we can ill afford another high earning player who might only marginally improve us and not actually solve a long term concern around creativity, breaking lines and dictating the tempo of games.

It is for this reason I’m a no thank you for the time being. If we can find a tidy solution for other non contributing high earners I would happily change my opinion.
Of course my view is based on YouTube alone and not the greatest source so would welcome other different views.

I agree that Kessie isn’t going to give us enough of what we need from a new CM.

We need someone who has a good passing range and spark of creativity from CM whilst still retaining tenacity and some defensive output.

I have been unsure of Kessie from what I’ve seen. Not sure he suits the tempo of the PL and he won’t bring any more creativity to our midfield.

At best he will prove to be a slightly technically superior Hojbjerg type player. But we need more than that imo.

I broadly agree with what you both have to say about Kessie's style of play.

I would personally like more creativity in CM, but I can also see what Conte may be thinking for our set-up.

Essentially, playing 3 at the back with 2 solid and tenacious midfielders in front, makes us really difficult to beat and our last 8 games points to this fact.

From there, if Conte adds in better wing-backs and a genuinely worldclass player to replace Lucas, it still gives us 5 attacking players and 5 defensive players.

Ideally, we'd also sign Brozovic to rotate with Skipp and Kessie and PEH rotating.

Anyway, like I said, I can understand it if Conte is after a narrow solid '5' through the middle of the pitch.

 

[mr ashley]

I broadly agree with what you both have to say about Kessie's style of play.

I would personally like more creativity in CM, but I can also see what Conte may be thinking for our set-up.

Essentially, playing 3 at the back with 2 solid and tenacious midfielders in front, makes us really difficult to beat and our last 8 games points to this fact.

From there, if Conte adds in better wing-backs and a genuinely worldclass player to replace Lucas, it still gives us 5 attacking players and 5 defensive players.

Ideally, we'd also sign Brozovic to rotate with Skipp and Kessie and PEH rotating.

Anyway, like I said, I can understand it if Conte is after a narrow solid '5' through the middle of the pitch.

I can see kessie being similar in style to kovacic at Chelsea.
Notice how you’ve described a similar style to tuchels chelsea- often 5 behind the ball and 5 in attack.

 

[jpascavitz]

I've wanted this guy for some time and if we got him in my eyes is an N'dombele replacement that is more tactically solid, works hard, he's captained the Milan side. He's not as creative, but super strong.

He can dribble very well, pass well, but can also shield a back 3. As others has said he can probably play any of the midfield positions. Like I said earlier, maybe you get less "potential" to be a superstar like we've had in Ndombele, but you're getting a solid sure thing.

I could see him forming a really nice partnership with Skipp if we stay in a 2 pivot. I'd feel really good with Kessie, Skipp, Hojbjerg, Winks (if he keeps playing like he is), and Sarr (for the future) as our deeper lying CMs. If we play a 3 you can probably pick any 3 of those 4 and they'll compliment each other nicely.

 

[mr ashley]

I find it hard to imagine that we would be describing kessie in the same way we describe Ndombele or lo celso in 18 months time (if we do sign him).

He’s solid, hardworking and reliable.
he’s not going to go missing or be injured all the time.
He’s not an Eriksen/de bruyne passer (few are btw). But he can and will pass (and run) forwards.

 

[Kuryakin]

Bruno Guimaraes would be perfect. Absolutely perfect. Don't surprise why we haven't been linked given that Lyon seem willing to let him go this summer. If he goes to Arsenal as rumoured I'd be gutted.

Not for me. Talented player but not sure he has the dynamism/physicality to succeed in the Prem. Also, another promising CM from France isn’t exactly a priority for this window.

 

[djhotspur]

I broadly agree with what you both have to say about Kessie's style of play.

I would personally like more creativity in CM, but I can also see what Conte may be thinking for our set-up.

Essentially, playing 3 at the back with 2 solid and tenacious midfielders in front, makes us really difficult to beat and our last 8 games points to this fact.

From there, if Conte adds in better wing-backs and a genuinely worldclass player to replace Lucas, it still gives us 5 attacking players and 5 defensive players.

Ideally, we'd also sign Brozovic to rotate with Skipp and Kessie and PEH rotating.

Anyway, like I said, I can understand it if Conte is after a narrow solid '5' through the middle of the pitch.

It would have to be someone the quality of Chiesa then!

 

[mil1lion]

Kessie would play in the midfield 2 or if we switch to 3 he would be in the double pivot. In terms of adding creativity I would add someone either in a 3 like he did with Eriksen at Inter or play one off the wing like Poch did with Eriksen or Harry did with Modric. I wouldn't like a midfield 3 of Kessie, Skipp and Hojbjerg together (or even Sarr or Winks). I think we need a more attack minded player in there. I'm happy to continue with 2 defensive midfielders but we could do with someone in attacking midfield who drops in to collect the ball and start attacks. Especially if Kane is asked to drop off less and play further forward.

 

[jpascavitz]

Kessie would play in the midfield 2 or if we switch to 3 he would be in the double pivot. In terms of adding creativity I would add someone either in a 3 like he did with Eriksen at Inter or play one off the wing like Poch did with Eriksen or Harry did with Modric. I wouldn't like a midfield 3 of Kessie, Skipp and Hojbjerg together (or even Sarr or Winks). I think we need a more attack minded player in there. I'm happy to continue with 2 defensive midfielders but we could do with someone in attacking midfield who drops in to collect the ball and start attacks. Especially if Kane is asked to drop off less and play further forward.

I know it may not be the most popular but he's been playing well - Winks could add some creativity in a 3. Then you have Skipp/Kessie/Hojbjerg to rotate between in the other two. I think those four plus Sarr for the future makes our CM position pretty well stocked. Dele and GLC would be on the outside looking in, but we'll have to see how this season shakes out.

I agree with your point that a 10 could play off the right hand side where Lucas is depending on the opposition. In an ideal world I'd still have Son/Kane play "off" the striker (dream would be Vlahovic) even if only against lesser sides with the hopes the wingbacks will know the demands in a few more months under Conte.

 

[mr ashley]

Kessie would play in the midfield 2 or if we switch to 3 he would be in the double pivot. In terms of adding creativity I would add someone either in a 3 like he did with Eriksen at Inter or play one off the wing like Poch did with Eriksen or Harry did with Modric. I wouldn't like a midfield 3 of Kessie, Skipp and Hojbjerg together (or even Sarr or Winks). I think we need a more attack minded player in there. I'm happy to continue with 2 defensive midfielders but we could do with someone in attacking midfield who drops in to collect the ball and start attacks. Especially if Kane is asked to drop off less and play further forward.

I don’t expect to see a midfield three under conte.
and if we did, one would be attacking - like dele against Liverpool

 

[$hoguN]

I don’t think Conte is looking for creativity from midfield. He wants creativity coming from our wingbacks and front 3. Our midfield is meant to be about energy, efficient use of the ball and control

 

[Klinsmannesque]

I know it may not be the most popular but he's been playing well - Winks could add some creativity in a 3. Then you have Skipp/Kessie/Hojbjerg to rotate between in the other two. I think those four plus Sarr for the future makes our CM position pretty well stocked. Dele and GLC would be on the outside looking in, but we'll have to see how this season shakes out.

I agree with your point that a 10 could play off the right hand side where Lucas is depending on the opposition. In an ideal world I'd still have Son/Kane play "off" the striker (dream would be Vlahovic) even if only against lesser sides with the hopes the wingbacks will know the demands in a few more months under Conte.

Harry Winks as our creative option in midfield is not going to get us where we want to be. Keep up the attitude and progress in form I see him as a squad option, like back when United had the likes of O’Shea, Fletcher, Wes Brown etc