Nicolò Zaniolo

[fishhhandaricecake]

Interested to see where Conte wants to play him. We’re still a top class central midfielder away from really pushing on.

I think he will primarily come on for Kulu rather than Lucas as he’s mainky a RWF but he could also play LWF if needed. Think ST will be rotated between Kane and Richarlison with Son occasionally filling in there and then Son Richarlison the 2 options at LWF, Kulu and Zaniolo at RWF and Lucas also, so it’ll be a bit of Hokey Cokey.

Im starting to wonder if we do need another CM tbh but it certainly wouldn’t hurt and given skipp is picking up a lot of injuries a 5th more creative type CM would be good if we can stretch the budget, that and another top class CB and we have everything we need to challenge on all front tbh.

 

[THOWIG]

is that not Bissouma?

Good player, but doesn’t provide what we’re lacking

 

[Aphex]

 

[Chello90]

We know how temperamental Italian clubs can be so no point getting excited on this one until it's all but confirmed

 

[rossdapep]

I may be wrong but did I once hear Conte say something about needing a core squad of 18?

Well, I looked up his squad from 2020/21 title-winning season and the most used players was at 18. Ranocchia, vecino and Pinamonti are well below this with only 8 appearances each.

Inter

Handanovic is obviously in a stand-out position. Yet, if you look across the squad you'll see plenty of minutes for most of the others.

ATTACK - Lukaku and Martinez had a solid partnership but still plenty of opportunities for Sanchez and Perisic played their occasionally.

MIDFIELD -Barella and Brozovic were mostly main stays but Sensi, Vidal, Eriksen, Gagliardini all had plenty of minutes.

WBs - Hakimi was pretty much nailed on (he's special though). Still plenty of minutes for Young, Darmian and Perisic who often rotated.

DEFENCE - Understandably, the one area that didn't change too much - Skriniar, Bastoni and De Vrij played the majority of games. D'Ambrosio got a fair few starts though - I think this was because of injuries.

Tottenham

Conte played a 3-5-2 (3 in midfield) therefore he needed more CM/AMs. He used 6 over the season, although 2 were more prominent. Because he is playing a 3-4-3 with us, he won't need to count on as many. So 4 may be enough.

ATTACK - As we are using 3 across the front, we are likely to need 5 or 6 over the course of the season. Kane, Richarlison, Son, Kulusevski, Lucas and Zaniolo (may even add Perisic there) is a great blend as you have back up in each position:

Kane or Richarlison
Kulusevski or Zaniolo or Lucas
Son or Richarlison or Perisic

In some cases, some of these players can operate in multiple positions, so we would have serious depth.

DEFENCE - Like at Inter, the 3 CBs are unlikely to change much. Think we will see Lenglet swap for Davies (tactical) at times but not much other than that.

WBs - Looks the left will be between Sessegnon and Perisic with Emerson, Spence and Doherty rotating. I think Conte will rotate a bit more frequently here than he did at Inter, we don't have a Hakimi.

So for those worried about CMs and Zaniolo fitting in, I don't think we have to worry much about the squad lacking.

 

[KILLA_SIN]

I think inter have ben hard to deal with We've done business with Roma before and Juventus and Napoli

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

I may be wrong but did I once hear Conte say something about needing a core squad of 18?

Well, I looked up his squad from 2020/21 title-winning season and the most used players was at 18. Ranocchia, vecino and Pinamonti are well below this with only 8 appearances each.
View attachment 115344

Inter

Handanovic is obviously in a stand-out position. Yet, if you look across the squad you'll see plenty of minutes for most of the others.

ATTACK - Lukaku and Martinez had a solid partnership but still plenty of opportunities for Sanchez and Perisic played their occasionally.

MIDFIELD -Barella and Brozovic were mostly main stays but Sensi, Vidal, Eriksen, Gagliardini all had plenty of minutes.

WBs - Hakimi was pretty much nailed on (he's special though). Still plenty of minutes for Young, Darmian and Perisic who often rotated.

DEFENCE - Understandably, the one area that didn't change too much - Skriniar, Bastoni and De Vrij played the majority of games. D'Ambrosio got a fair few starts though - I think this was because of injuries.

Tottenham

Conte played a 3-5-2 (3 in midfield) therefore he needed more CM/AMs. He used 6 over the season, although 2 were more prominent. Because he is playing a 3-4-3 with us, he won't need to count on as many. So 4 may be enough.

ATTACK - As we are using 3 across the front, we are likely to need 5 or 6 over the course of the season. Kane, Richarlison, Son, Kulusevski, Lucas and Zaniolo (may even add Perisic there) is a great blend as you have back up in each position:

Kane or Richarlison
Kulusevski or Zaniolo or Lucas
Son or Richarlison or Perisic

In some cases, some of these players can operate in multiple positions, so we would have serious depth.

DEFENCE - Like at Inter, the 3 CBs are unlikely to change much. Think we will see Lenglet swap for Davies (tactical) at times but not much other than that.

WBs - Looks the left will be between Sessegnon and Perisic with Emerson, Spence and Doherty rotating. I think Conte will rotate a bit more frequently here than he did at Inter, we don't have a Hakimi.

So for those worried about CMs and Zaniolo fitting in, I don't think we have to worry much about the squad lacking.

Nice analysis. He said today I think it was that top teams need a squad of 20-22…

 

[rossdapep]

Nice analysis. He said today I think it was that top teams need a squad of 20-22…

I must have got it from somewhere else then. However, there is about 4 players on that list who played a small handful of games, which would bring it to 22. Therefore it seems about right.

1. Lloris
2. Kane
3. Son
4. Kulusevski
5. Romero
6. Dier
7. Bentancur
8. Hojbjerg
9. Bissouma
10. Perisic
11. Emerson
12. Sessegnon
13. Richarlison
14. Skipp
15. Davies
16. Lenglet
17. Lucas
18. Doherty
19. Spence
20. Forster
21. Sanchez

A new CB and Zaniolo takes that to 23. If Spence shows more than Doherty, I can see him getting more minutes. But looks like we will have plenty of numbers for this season.

 

[DodgyLasagne]

Another issue, does he even know how to wear his football kit correctly?

 

[KeithStone]

He is Cornholio!

 

[FuturistiC123]

Gil was on the bench yesterday, any idea what's happening with him?

 

[lobob8]

Gil was on the bench yesterday, any idea what's happening with him?

It's all gone quiet, hope he either goes on loan again or stays as the 7th forward option and learns from Conte

 

[EQP]

I think inter have ben hard to deal with We've done business with Roma before and Juventus and Napoli

Who did we get from Napoli?

 

[Steffen]

He is Cornholio!

Maybe he'll sign for a tipi?

 

[Derryank]

Agree on the kulu comparison and look how well that's turned out for a player who struggled in italy!

Kulu didn't struggle in Italy.

 

[Jiminio]

Gil was on the bench yesterday, any idea what's happening with him?

I know nothing but Fab saying a prem club has big bid for Guedes. Think we’ve had itk before on this but even if not some suggestion I think that if that happens Valencia likely to try and get Gil in (no idea if loan or perm)

 

[Derryank]

Kulu didn't struggle in Italy.

@alfiemacdaddy if this is your version of struggling......well, why even bother agreeing to disagree.....

But you already knew this, right? If so, care to share why you think he struggled in Italy?

Like saying Dele struggled his first two years under Poch?!? Which absolutely nobody would agree with such a ridiculous comment.

https://football-italia.net/serie-a-young-player-of-the-season-dejan-kulusevski/amp/#amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&aoh=16598502261188&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com

 

[diamond lights]

Interested to see where Conte wants to play him. We’re still a top class central midfielder away from really pushing on.

We have 4 ideal central midfielders for Conte's system. We won't be buying a creative central mf and don't need to. Creation of chances comes from the practised plays and system he trains. High, wide wing backs and front three dropping in and linking up. Look at yesterday - assists from Emerson (2), Kulu and Sonny.

 

[lobob8]

I know nothing but Fab saying a prem club has big bid for Guedes. Think we’ve had itk before on this but even if not some suggestion I think that if that happens Valencia likely to try and get Gil in (no idea if loan or perm)

Wolves

 

[spids]

If we sign Zaniolo then Gil will be departing, hopefully on loan rather than a permanent move. We’d have Zaniolo and Richarlison to fit into the bench and Gil and one of Doherty/Spence/Moura would be the logical ones to make way. Personally I’d sell Moura if we sign Zaniolo, but he seems very much part of Conte’s plans despite being 3rd/4th choice RWF and 3rd/4th choice RWB.