Nicolò Zaniolo

[Hazelton]

I generally have concerns about big gangly midfielders coming in to the Premier League and keeping up with the pace, especially from Serie A. However, that said, I also generally have no idea what I'm talking about and I am fully on board the Conte/Paratici train.

 

[Ghost Hardware]

The only thing stopping me saying I’d absolutely take him over Maddison is our home grown situation. If we’re solving that in another way, I’d go Zaniolo all day. He’s exactly what we need.

Personally I'd still pick Paqueta over Zaniolo as having seen both quite a bit i just feel he has the same potential, has better current ability, doesn't have the same injury concerns, is more focused mentally, has a higher work rate and is only a year older. Zaniolo is certainly an exciting prospect under Conte. As mentioned the biggest challenge for Conte will be working on his mentality and understanding of the game, its the root of most of his issues. I would certainly enjoy seeing how he develops here and i do believe there is a chance he could become a very special player, but i also feel theres just as much chance he could be a dud. For that reason i'd still prefer Paqueta, but i'd be excited to see Zaniolo here if we do get him.

 

[luRRka]

Well that is different to transfermarkt what site is it?

It is transfermarkt but its the injury page. And it's wrong. Like I said to the guy the way you can verify it is by looking on transfermarkt at all the games played. You can see which games he missed and for what reason

 

[Trix]

Undoubtedly it's all about options and flexibility but I certainly think in games whereby you are facing two banks of 4 and a resolute team it's a particularly viable option off the bench.

For a predominantly counter attacking team like ours we do require that Plan B in games whereby you either introduce a player who can pass and move between the lines to open up defences or a player who can really deliver telling set pieces - particularly later on in games when naturally we should be dominant pushing for the goal and opposition camped outside their penalty box.

It's a conundrum for Conte but nevertheless, it's an area of deficiency right now.

And do we think Madison is that player willing to come and be the option from the bench? Also somewhat makes your point about bringing him in and working on him being a free kick specialist pointless if over half the time the set piece taker isn't even on the pitch.

 

[Ghost Hardware]

I suppose the question should be, does getting this guy mean the end of a Paquetà or Maddison transfer?

If not that changes the landscape somewhat

Even if Lucas were to go i just don't see us getting Zaniolo and ether Paqueta or Maddison. At the most id see us bringing in a young winger maybe. But both Zaniolo and Maddison wont be happening, i just don't see how you'd give them enough game time to be worth it.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

And do we think Madison is that player willing to come and be the option from the bench? Also somewhat makes your point about bringing him in and working on him being a free kick specialist pointless if over half the time the set piece taker isn't even on the pitch.

If we just let son take the direct free kicks instead of Kane we’d be fine. But yea a specialist like Maddison in the squad would be a big bonus but if that player isn’t on the pitch much it won’t make a ton of difference unfortunately.

 

[CantSmileWithoutYou]

Looks like something from BBC Casualty..

Nicolò Zaniolo - Injury history

This is the injury history of Nicolò Zaniolo from Aston Villa. On this page injuries as well as suspensions.

www.transfermarkt.co.uk

Don't be stupid.

There's no Motorway Pileups, helicopter crashes, hospital fires... Nothing like Casualty...

 

[Gollorius]

Well that is different to transfermarkt what site is it?

Transfermarkt! https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/nicolo-zaniolo/verletzungen/spieler/392085

 

[funkycoldmedina]

Sorry but isn't that like saying I'd rather scoop my eye out with a spoon than a fork?

We literally had a surgeon on here yesterday who made the point that one tear and a recovery is not a risk and a bigger worry would be the same ACL torn twice.

 

[soflapaul]

After the transfer window we've had, I'd take Maddison, Zaniolo, or Paqueto and be thrilled. Maddison adds home grown, free kick and leadership on the field (which is something we could still use more of). Zaniolo offers world class upside as does Paqueto. Don't see Maddison rising to that level but he is the safest of the three picks. But ultimately, AC is bringing in quite a few players some of which will hit and some will miss. What he and FP are doing is making sure that all our eggs aren't in one basket and that we can be flexible in our solutions.

 

[Harrier]

Regarding Zainolo’s injuries, I had ACL reconstruction ten years ago, and (touch wood) I’ve never had any issues with that knee since, got back to the same level of rugby as I previously played too with minimal trouble (only age related by then). Hamstrings did become more susceptible to pulls and strains as they used a piece of a hamstring tendon to rebuild my ACL. Now I’m just an average Joe, I’d assume whilst a professional athlete will put their body under greater stress and demands, equally they will be given far better ongoing physio support and rehab to minimise any lasting impact.

I had PCL reconstructive surgery 30 years ago in my early 20’s, after a rugby injury when they’d just started using the patella tendon rather than carbon fibre.
It didn’t affect my sport afterwards once rehabilitated, but with any injury like that it’s the long term problems that surface many years later, probably once he’s retired.
I now have arthritic issues with that knee probably down to damage to the meniscus.

 

[Gollorius]

Romero missed over 20 games last season for five different reasons - one of which was 'Information not yet available'. If that's not a red flag then I don't know what is.

oh wait

Not a fair comparison - one of these was an 80-day absence which covered 16 games. Just one injury. Also he did not have a poor injury record BEFORE we signed him. HTH

 

[felmani26]

And do we think Madison is that player willing to come and be the option from the bench? Also somewhat makes your point about bringing him in and working on him being a free kick specialist pointless if over half the time the set piece taker isn't even on the pitch.

But you know as well as I do there's no set XI here much like you have with City and to a lesser extent Liverpool.

343/352 - nuanced it may be, will be prevalent across the season and tailored accordingly to the opposition and if for arguments sake it is Maddison we sign, he'll be no more a bench warmer than say Richarlison despite the obvious preference at this point of having a 3 of Kane/Son and Deki.

 

[spids]

I personally am happy to trust Conte as he is one of the best managers in the world and appears at the peak of his powers. But whoever is manager, they usually only get. 50-60% success rate with transfers. Look at Sir Alex Ferguson. For every Cantona or Schmeichal there was a Kleberson or a Taibi. If out of all our summer transfers only Perisic, Bissouma and Richarlison really excel then it will still be , with hindsight, an amazing window.

 

[Trix]

But you know as well as I do there's no set XI here much like you have with City and to a lesser extent Liverpool.

343/352 - nuanced it may be, will be prevalent across the season and tailored accordingly to the opposition and if for arguments sake it is Maddison we sign, he'll be no more a bench warmer than say Richarlison despite the obvious preference at this point of having a 3 of Kane/Son and Deki.

We will see. I just don't see it happening anyway tbh, I think if we were looking for an out and out AM to create a regular tactical switch, it would have been at the forefront of our Summer business not an afterthought because we might be able to get him cheap due to his clubs financial situation.

 

[Mediocrates]

Personally I'd still pick Paqueta over Zaniolo as having seen both quite a bit i just feel he has the same potential, has better current ability, doesn't have the same injury concerns, is more focused mentally, has a higher work rate and is only a year older. Zaniolo is certainly an exciting prospect under Conte. As mentioned the biggest challenge for Conte will be working on his mentality and understanding of the game, its the root of most of his issues. I would certainly enjoy seeing how he develops here and i do believe there is a chance he could become a very special player, but i also feel theres just as much chance he could be a dud. For that reason i'd still prefer Paqueta, but i'd be excited to see Zaniolo here if we do get him.

He’s 2 years older, and was booted out of Milan 2 years ago a flop.

I take your point on him currently being further along, though. Both risky moves for me, certainly, but I like the idea of fobbing off Ndombele, if only temporarily. Lyon have already had a look, and said no thanks.
I’m sure that plays into this equation on some level, too.

 

[dSSAbr]

It would be another signing in the "I trust Conte" mold, because he is a player who wont arrive at his best moment, and I don't think he is exactly the type of player we need, although we can make use of his qualities. I think he shows his best when attacking the box, but I think he leaves a bit to be desired in terms of passing, and I feel that is something that is lacking in our midfield.

 

[Bluto Blutarsky]

I don't get the sense that Conte wants to switch to a 352 as much as some of you want to make that switch. Given the limited amount of training sessions that Conte will get once we start playing twice a week in September, I think Conte would prefer to spend most of that time drilling in his preferred (for Spurs) formation/tactics.

Zaniolo looks like he could slot into the RW role pretty seamlessly - similar skill set to Deki.

 

[HildoSpur]

I suppose the question should be, does getting this guy mean the end of a Paquetà or Maddison transfer?

If not that changes the landscape somewhat

I'd imagine Zaniolo would be that player who can play that position so yes that would be it for those two.

 

[Trix]

I don't get the sense that Conte wants to switch to a 352 as much as some of you want to make that switch. Given the limited amount of training sessions that Conte will get once we start playing twice a week in September, I think Conte would prefer to spend most of that time drilling in his preferred (for Spurs) formation/tactics.

Zaniolo looks like he could slot into the RW role pretty seamlessly - similar skill set to Deki.

This 100%.