Islam Slimani

[yojambo]

We were linked in the winter with reports saying Lisbon would sell in the summer. Anyone heard anymore?


http://metro.co.uk/2015/03/18/totte...old-by-sporting-lisbon-in-the-summer-5109590/

http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/553115/Tottenham-eight-sale-Soldado-Mirallas-Delph-Slimani

http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/sport/football/Premiership/article1522528.ece (Subscription)

 

[yojambo]

I watched Algeria in the World Cup (cause of Bentaleb) and was really impressed by Slimani. Interesting piece from The Guardian here -

http://www.theguardian.com/football...lisbon-islam-slimani-chelsea-champions-league

Love this bit;
"Slimani is the kind of athletic, workaholic forward around whom a team’s style and strategy can be built. At 6ft 2in he is strong in the air, as Russia and numerous opponents in the Primeira Liga have discovered, and boasts deceptive pace."

Sort of crazy that he is only on £7,000 a week (i know plenty of money, but not by modern football standards) but has a buy out clause of £24m. Ive heard Sporting do this a lot.

However it does seem he would be available;
"Slimani has his slightly improved contract and, more significantly, a verbal agreement he will be allowed to leave at the end of the season if an acceptable bid – not necessarily matching his release clause – is lodged."

 

[tannespurs]

Ehhhh not that keen personally. He had a very good world cup but other than that he's had an underwhelming career. He's no longer the "hot young prospect" he once was and he doesn't seem to be the type that will be okay sitting on the bench. at 26, hes hardly developmental and would be the 3rd choice striker (if we get a good foil for Kane). There are better, younger targets for this role within our on ranks or elsewhere for less money that will accept a lesser role at our club. Plus, I hate to be a stick in the mud but he isn't English, which when we get down the pecking order in the prem, is very important. So rumors are rumors but this one just seems like just paper talk.

 

[Kalim]

Not a big name in world football, but I would swap him for Soldado in the blink of an eye. I have been impressed with him every time I have seen him play [admittedly not a great deal], but enough to know that his style of play would suit us a lot better than Soldado's does.

 

[DaSpurs]

@Sweech

 

[Sweech]

I want.

 

[DaSpurs]

I'm with Sweech on this guy, I think he'd be very useful in Poch's system. I do think we need a pacier option up top as an alternate choice, but the power and will of this guy when things are tight in the end game would be incredibly useful in the congested format Poch's system prompts. As much as I like pace, it's often not of much use in those scenarios, and having a battering ram is what you need. This dude is like a battering ram propelled by nitrous.

 

[Japhet]

I like him. Strong, aggressive, pretty quick and a decent finisher. Hope he's on the radar.

 

[Sweech]

I'm with Sweech on this guy, I think he'd be very useful in Poch's system. I do think we need a pacier option up top as an alternate choice, but the power and will of this guy when things are tight in the end game would be incredibly useful in the congested format Poch's system prompts. As much as I like pace, it's often not of much use in those scenarios, and having a battering ram is what you need. This dude is like a battering ram propelled by nitrous.

Couldn't have written it better myself.

Which is why I didn't.

 

[TEESSIDE1]

The various videos of Slimani show him as being strong in the air... which is an issue for us a we rarely cross the ball into the box. We need a traditional left or right winger to rectify this problem.

 

[PT]

The various videos of Slimani show him as being strong in the air... which is an issue for us a we rarely cross the ball into the box. We need a traditional left or right winger to rectify this problem.

One's on order I believe.

 

[EJWTartanSpur]

Sounds like some kind of extremist fundamentalist weight loss diet program

 

[fatpiranha]

The various videos of Slimani show him as being strong in the air... which is an issue for us a we rarely cross the ball into the box. We need a traditional left or right winger to rectify this problem.

Alternatively, Kieran Trippier says "Hello" .

 

[TEESSIDE1]

Alternatively, Kieran Trippier says "Hello" .

We can't rely on a full back to provide width all the time unless we're thinking of reverting to a 3-5-2

 

[Imnotacticalgenius]

We can't rely on a full back to provide width all the time unless we're thinking of reverting to a 3-5-2

Huh? In poch system, the fullbacks (wingbacks) are the one providing the width.

 

[THFCSPURS19]

We can't rely on a full back to provide width all the time unless we're thinking of reverting to a 3-5-2

Well, this is just wrong. Look at Southampton, both this season and last season. Or Danny Rose (not Walker) this season.

 

[jurgen]

Probably too expensive but he looks like he'd be a real arsehole to play against

 

[fatpiranha]

@TEESSIDE1 "We can't rely on a full back to provide width all the time unless we're thinking of reverting to a 3-5-2"

Actually you can rely on Trippier to deliver crosses because he doesn't overlap and deliver them from the byeline but from deep like Beckham used to. In fact he delivered over 320 crosses this season playing for Burnley who were invariably defensive in their approach and almost always on the wrong side of the possession stats.

He crossed the ball far more than any other player in the premiership and he delivered 16 in one match against Stoke alone. Whatever criticisms people may have of Trippier, not crossing, or not crossing well, certainly isn't one of them.

 

[fatpiranha]

Sounds like some kind of extremist fundamentalist weight loss diet program

You are guaranteed to lose weight when amputation is part of the programme .

 

[TEESSIDE1]

Huh? In poch system, the fullbacks (wingbacks) are the one providing the width.

Rose yes to an extent, Walker no. Dier is a centre back and will hopefully be returning there. We need players who can consistently put quality balls into the box. Secondly, relying on our full backs for width as shown this season is a recipe for disaster as we get murdered on the counter attack with the centre backs left exposed. To rectify this we either need a natural winger or wing backs (Rose and Trippier whilst playing 3 centre backs (Dier, Verts, Wimmer). Signing Slimani without these changes won't allow us to utilise his strengths.