João Moutinho

[panoma]

In my opinion this is the player we lack. Will give us creativity in the middle and make us tick like modric did for us,and also enable dembele to play more like yaya do for city.

Moutinho also represent a huge sign of trust in avb from Daniel, since clearly is the one avb want..

 

[We'llWinThePrem]

 

[beats1]

Top 4 nailed on, imo. Very good chance of 3rd.

We won't sign 2 players of that calibre though. Just my pessimistic opinion.

Yep, at a stretch, it will be Moutinho and Heinze on a free

 

[TottenhamLegend]

Well I've stuck £10 on him to join Spurs in January at 8/1, which I reckon is a decent price (3s on SkyBet)

 

[Blake Griffin]

can someone who has watched copious amounts of moutinho tell me why he is worth £25m to us?

that's not me putting him down, it's a genuine question. i watched 3, maybe 4 of his games at the euros and i thought he was pretty impressive. a dynamic, feisty little player who keeps the ball well ... but does he do more than that? can he run a game from central midfield or is he purely a give it 5 yards -> move -> receive -> give it 5 yards -> move -> repeat kind of guy? if we're to smash our transfer record then we need more than a player who is just good in the middle third of the field, can he affect games such as today and break down stubborn defences?

like i said, i haven't seen enough to form an accurate opinion of him. i do think we could do with a player of his ilk but for the amounts we're talking about, i think a player who can operate in the 3 positions behind the striker is a more pressing issue, we can get by with sandro/parker and dembele, but i feel we cound end up paying for the lack of craft/guile in the attacking third.

 

[Blackcanary]

can someone who has watched copious amounts of moutinho tell me why he is worth £25m to us?

that's not me putting him down, it's a genuine question. i watched 3, maybe 4 of his games at the euros and i thought he was pretty impressive. a dynamic, feisty little player who keeps the ball well ... but does he do more than that? can he run a game from central midfield or is he purely a give it 5 yards -> move -> receive -> give it 5 yards -> move -> repeat kind of guy? if we're to smash our transfer record then we need more than a player who is just good in the middle third of the field, can he affect games such as today and break down stubborn defences?

like i said, i haven't seen enough to form an accurate opinion of him. i do think we could do with a player of his ilk but for the amounts we're talking about, i think a player who can operate in the 3 positions behind the striker is a more pressing issue, we can get by with sandro/parker and dembele, but i feel we cound end up paying for the lack of craft/guile in the attacking third.

He is definitely worth £25m. There's a reason people have been wanting him as a Modric replacement - he's the engine, the metronome for Porto. He dictates play, controls tempo and has the footballing brain to assess options and pick a pass. Think about the times this season when we've been over-run, lost our composure and spent the last 20 minutes flailing around like a bunch of dying fish. He'd help to prevent that. He's not a showy player and his goal stats are probably comparable to Modric's but his influence on a team is huge.

 

[Mister Jez]

He is definitely worth £25m. There's a reason people have been wanting him as a Modric replacement - he's the engine, the metronome for Porto. He dictates play, controls tempo and has the footballing brain to assess options and pick a pass. Think about the times this season when we've been over-run, lost our composure and spent the last 20 minutes flailing around like a bunch of dying fish. He'd help to prevent that. He's not a showy player and his goal stats are probably comparable to Modric's but his influence on a team is huge.

Plus AVB wants him............. that reason alone, we should go and get him.

 

[Antilokhos]

He is definitely worth £25m. There's a reason people have been wanting him as a Modric replacement - he's the engine, the metronome for Porto. He dictates play, controls tempo and has the footballing brain to assess options and pick a pass. Think about the times this season when we've been over-run, lost our composure and spent the last 20 minutes flailing around like a bunch of dying fish. He'd help to prevent that. He's not a showy player and his goal stats are probably comparable to Modric's but his influence on a team is huge.

I guess I am more on Blake's side of this, seems an awful lot of money to spend on him and I don't see it as a definite need. But aside from the handful of times I've watched Portugal I know I've not seen nearly enough to judge. The one question I do want to bring up is what I have put in bold. The games where we look like that are the ones where Dembele has been out, so is Moutinho's influence (based on Dembele being back) going to be so great to justify spending so much? Obviously you don't want to be completely reliant on Dembele being healthy, but I am curious how Moutinho being in the squad would affect the way we play (especially vis a vis Dembele).

 

[TheGreenLily]

I guess I am more on Blake's side of this, seems an awful lot of money to spend on him and I don't see it as a definite need. But aside from the handful of times I've watched Portugal I know I've not seen nearly enough to judge. The one question I do want to bring up is what I have put in bold. The games where we look like that are the ones where Dembele has been out, so is Moutinho's influence (based on Dembele being back) going to be so great to justify spending so much? Obviously you don't want to be completely reliant on Dembele being healthy, but I am curious how Moutinho being in the squad would affect the way we play (especially vis a vis Dembele).

We do need him, more than anything, he already knows AVB's game, how he works, what is expected of him and more importantly will fit into a 4-3-3 formation running.

 

[Antilokhos]

We do need him, more than anything, he already knows AVB's game, how he works, what is expected of him and more importantly will fit into a 4-3-3 formation running.

We don't really have the pieces to play a 4-3-3 yet, unless you play Defoe out of position on the right, or bring Lennon in from playing wide.

That also doesn't really address my question as to what Moutinho would provide that we aren't getting from a healthy Dembele. Also most accounts seem to have the players being fairly fond of AVB, so I'm not sure if that's much of an argument for bringing in Moutinho. I get that AVB wants him, and I would certainly be very happy if we signed him. But since I am fairly ignorant as to the qualities that Moutinho would bring to the squad, I think that the money may be spent better finding more goals and getting somebody to rotate in out wide.

 

[daehanmingook]

We don't really have the pieces to play a 4-3-3 yet, unless you play Defoe out of position on the right, or bring Lennon in from playing wide.

That also doesn't really address my question as to what Moutinho would provide that we aren't getting from a healthy Dembele. Also most accounts seem to have the players being fairly fond of AVB, so I'm not sure if that's much of an argument for bringing in Moutinho. I get that AVB wants him, and I would certainly be very happy if we signed him. But since I am fairly ignorant as to the qualities that Moutinho would bring to the squad, I think that the money may be spent better finding more goals and getting somebody to rotate in out wide.

we would be title contenders with a guy like moutinho in the squad. that's how key he would be. imagine if modric had stayed, because that's more or less what his impact will be. him plus a wide player like you mentioned, and ideally a third striker, would be more or less the complete squad i reckon. absolutely deadly

 

[brasil_spur]

We don't really have the pieces to play a 4-3-3 yet, unless you play Defoe out of position on the right, or bring Lennon in from playing wide.

Actually AVB'S 4-3-3 includes two types of wingers. One who stays out wide on one side and one who cuts infield on the other side.

Bale is obviously very capable at cutting inside, Lennon obviously capable of staying out wide.

That being said Lennon will need replacing at some point, he simply isn't enough of a threat these days. Has had a good season for us, but we need someone with a more direct threat to his game (like Bale).

But certainly we could play an AVB style 4-3-3 with Lennon on the right of those 3.

 

[$hoguN]

Actually AVB'S 4-3-3 includes two types of wingers. One who stays out wide on one side and one who cuts infield on the other side.

Bale is obviously very capable at cutting inside, Lennon obviously capable of staying out wide.

That being said Lennon will need replacing at some point, he simply isn't enough of a threat these days. Has had a good season for us, but we need someone with a more direct threat to his game (like Bale).

But certainly we could play an AVB style 4-3-3 with Lennon on the right of those 3.

Although you are correct, both wingers in AVB natural system are goal scorers though. Bale would suit the stay out wide striker role more than the cutting inside imo, as it favours his athleticism and pace.

 

[brasil_spur]

Although you are correct, both wingers in AVB natural system are goal scorers though. Bale would suit the stay out wide striker role more than the cutting inside imo, as it favours his athleticism and pace.

Perhaps re. Bale.

Like i said Lennon does need to be upgraded on, but this can wait until summer IMO. I think bringing in Moutinho would allow us a shoft to 4-3-3, even if it isn't the exact formation of 4-3-3 that AVB is looking for.

 

[sweyid]

I don't really understand all the negativity about Lennon. He's been one of our best players this season. Sure, he could use some more end product, but he is a very good player. Upgrading him will cost us a shit load of money.

 

[Capocrimini]

Actually AVB'S 4-3-3 includes two types of wingers. One who stays out wide on one side and one who cuts infield on the other side.

Bale is obviously very capable at cutting inside, Lennon obviously capable of staying out wide.

That being said Lennon will need replacing at some point, he simply isn't enough of a threat these days. Has had a good season for us, but we need someone with a more direct threat to his game (like Bale).

But certainly we could play an AVB style 4-3-3 with Lennon on the right of those 3.

I agree with this, for the moment Lennon is good enough, but both he and Bale should be getting close to double figures for goals, which unfortunately I don't think Lennon is capable of. But I don't think this is a priority for us at the moment, we need a Moutinho type player in CM, and possibly a top class striker. Defoes goals are great, but not convinced he his link play has improved. Ade thus far has been hit and miss, though he has had limited game time!

If we can't get Moutinho who else would people think can do that role for us? Leon Britton?

 

[brasil_spur]

I agree with this, for the moment Lennon is good enough, but both he and Bale should be getting close to double figures for goals, which unfortunately I don't think Lennon is capable of. But I don't think this is a priority for us at the moment, we need a Moutinho type player in CM, and possibly a top class striker. Defoes goals are great, but not convinced he his link play has improved. Ade thus far has been hit and miss, though he has had limited game time!

If we can't get Moutinho who else would people think can do that role for us? Leon Britton?

I don't think there are many players, if any, that we can get that will have the same impact as Moutinho.

I think we'd be better of pushing Dembele into that role and bringing in someone like Pjanic.

 

[sweyid]

If we can't get Moutinho who else would people think can do that role for us? Leon Britton?

Miralem Pjanic, Milan Badelj, Steven Defour, Axel Witsel, Yoann Gourcuff (a bit more attack minded though). Ivan Perisic isn't first choice at BvB but can play centrally, but again he's more of a ACM or winger, but I guess he could work as an advanced playmaker.

 

[Antilokhos]

I don't really understand all the negativity about Lennon. He's been one of our best players this season. Sure, he could use some more end product, but he is a very good player. Upgrading him will cost us a shit load of money.

Especially when taking into account Lennon's defensive work. No, he doesn't score enough, and he sometimes gets away from taking people on directly, but he's still only 25, his best years are still ahead of him.

As for the Moutinho question, bringing him in would allow Dembele to get forward more correct? My understanding of AVB's preferred system is that all 3 CM's are basically interchangeable on a short term scale so one can break forward when the opportunity arises.

 

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

Especially when taking into account Lennon's defensive work. No, he doesn't score enough, and he sometimes gets away from taking people on directly, but he's still only 25, his best years are still ahead of him.

As for the Moutinho question, bringing him in would allow Dembele to get forward more correct? My understanding of AVB's preferred system is that all 3 CM's are basically interchangeable on a short term scale so one can break forward when the opportunity arises.

AVB's preferred midfield three would be

1 Defensive Mid - Sandro/Parker
1 Box-to-box Mid - Dembele
1 Creative mid - Moutinho

Those who are claiming we don't need Moutinho as we have Dembele are very far off the mark. Dembele for all his ability has a very limited passing range. He prefers to take the ball past the opposition midfield before passing simply.

Moutinho is different as in he see's passing opportunities early and has the ability to pick out the opponent with accurate balls to feet. He is similar to Xavi or Scholes in this respect but obviously less talented.