Player Watch: Clément Lenglet

[Johno1470]

On a free or relatively low transfer fee we could do a lot worse. He’s arguably better than the majority f not all of our CB’s with the ball at his feet.

Has ability to pass out from the back in the channels and play a decent cross in from deep will be extremely useful in Ange’s set up.

As far as I am concerned, Lenglet is better than Sanchez, Tanganga and possibly Dier.

Signing him alongside Tapsoba/VdV to compete for the left sided CB slot would be a smart move.

 

[14/04/91]

Isn’t he rumoured to be on pretty significant wages at Barca?

If he’s essentially a back-up and not first choice, I can’t see us offering the sort of money that would turn his head.

 

[Cel]

It almost feels like a budget thing?

Option 1: Tapsoba (proving to be quite expensive) + Lenglet (Cheapest)
Option 2: VDV mkII (High - but no-where near tap) + Tosin (Cheaper, but not almost free)

Think I'd prefer option 1, as I like the idea of our main 2 CB's being class.

 

[tottenmal]

It almost feels like a budget thing?

Option 1: Tapsoba (proving to be quite expensive) + Lenglet (Cheapest)
Option 2: VDV mkII (High - but no-where near tap) + Tosin (Cheaper, but not almost free)

Think I'd prefer option 1, as I like the idea of our main 2 CB's being class.

Yeah, agreed. With no Europe to play in, this is the season to go for 2 class CB's and rely on the likes of Lenglet for cup games.

I can see us getting VDV with Lenglet as a backup though, as old habits die hard.

 

[Dave1882]

I'd sooner keep Lenglet than Dier.

Agreed....and i don't want Lenglet!

 

[Trix]

Isn’t he rumoured to be on pretty significant wages at Barca?

If he’s essentially a back-up and not first choice, I can’t see us offering the sort of money that would turn his head.

Yeah but if you are getting him for next to nothing then you'd give him a decent signing on fee, wages relative to his position and good bonuses when he actually played etc. If you felt he was worth signing as a back up of course.

I'm on the fence with this one tbh, because we just aren't going to be able to sign enough real quality in that position and then also be able to pad out the squad with more transfer signings. I think what we need to weigh up is whether or not we want quality starting and makeshift cover(like Lenglet) or we buy a couple of lesser players and they can basically fight for the spot. What I would say is I'd feel happier with him in a highline than I would Dier, Sanchez or Tanganga.

 

[14/04/91]

Yeah but if you are getting him for next to nothing then you'd give him a decent signing on fee, wages relative to his position and good bonuses when he actually played etc. If you felt he was worth signing as a back up of course.

I'm on the fence with this one tbh, because we just aren't going to be able to sign enough real quality in that position and then also be able to pad out the squad with more transfer signings. I think what we need to weigh up is whether or not we want quality starting and makeshift cover(like Lenglet) or we buy a couple of lesser players and they can basically fight for the spot. What I would say is I'd feel happier with him in a highline than I would Dier, Sanchez or Tanganga.

Yeah I get that and I'm trusting Ange's judgment as he is known for spotting talent that will work in his system.

I've just seen us sign quite a few 'he'll do' type players and want us to move away from that. It is tricky because we need a squad but I really didn't see much in him to justify a big outlay, regardless of being a free, however maybe it's unfair to judge him on last season's mess.

 

[Yiddo100]

I don’t think lenglet is a bad choice but I think Tosin is probably the better choice for our system and he’s HG, doubt there would be too much in the overall packages either.

 

[shoggy33]

He was a big part of our worst defence in recent history. Sure he wasn't the worst of our CBs, but i didnt see anything to make me think we should make the move permanent. We need to dismantle the backline from last year, if we are just going into next season with the same set of defenders plus one extra we are going to be in trouble.

 

[Trix]

I don’t think lenglet is a bad choice but I think Tosin is probably the better choice for our system and he’s HG, doubt there would be too much in the overall packages either.

I think it would be a fair bit tbh, because I don't see us even pursuing Lenglet unless the transfer fee was nigh on fuck all. Barca need/want him off the wage bill more than anything else, and I think they'll lose him for next to nothing because of this. He's going to want a certain level of club and I doubt many at that level will want him or be willing to pay him what he'd require. I'm sure there would be a number of clubs below that level willing to pay it, but would he be willing to accept the drop in standard?

 

[Yiddo100]

I think it would be a fair bit tbh, because I don't see us even pursuing Lenglet unless the transfer fee was nigh on fuck all. Barca need/want him off the wage bill more than anything else, and I think they'll lose him for next to nothing because of this. He's going to want a certain level of club and I doubt many at that level will want him or be willing to pay him what he'd require. I'm sure there would be a number of clubs below that level willing to pay it, but would he be willing to accept the drop in standard?

Yeah possibly, I was thinking lenglet 5m ish and then 70-80k wages then tosin 10-15m and about 40k wages (based on nothing at all) can’t see lenglet wanting to go too much lower than that if he’s on mega wages are Barca.

 

[kd2000]

It almost feels like a budget thing?

Option 1: Tapsoba (proving to be quite expensive) + Lenglet (Cheapest)
Option 2: VDV mkII (High - but no-where near tap) + Tosin (Cheaper, but not almost free)

Think I'd prefer option 1, as I like the idea of our main 2 CB's being class.

Depending on sales, I wonder if theres a potential for a mixture of both options.
Tapsoba, Tosin and Lenglet

 

[Nick-TopSpursMan]

I think he will get battered in a high line. He has no pace at all and he doesn't read the game amazingly well to make up for it.

Add to that his 1 on 1 defending is poor, he's going to be consistently put in areas where he needs to defend 1 on 1s well to stop counters and he simply can't do this.

We should sign Tapsoba and then 1 of Van de Ven or Tosin. All 3 are far better equipped to deal with Ange's system and we've saved money signing Vicario and Solomon. If we can't afford £60-70m on 2 of these players what on earth is going on?

I wouldn't even want him as a 3rd CB signing, I'd rather sign a young defender who can develop.

 

[felmani26]

I think he will get battered in a high line. He has no pace at all and he doesn't read the game amazingly well to make up for it.

Add to that his 1 on 1 defending is poor, he's going to be consistently put in areas where he needs to defend 1 on 1s well to stop counters and he simply can't do this.

We should sign Tapsoba and then 1 of Van de Ven or Tosin. All 3 are far better equipped to deal with Ange's system and we've saved money signing Vicario and Solomon. If we can't afford £60-70m on 2 of these players what on earth is going on?

I wouldn't even want him as a 3rd CB signing, I'd rather sign a young defender who can develop.

A poor fit in the system = poor recruitment regardless of transfer fee/outlay.

 

[Styopa]

I would love to be proven wrong, but he feels like the kind of player we sign on big wages and are 'stuck' with for the foreseeable. Then every transfer window the classic we can't buy X until we shift Lenglet etc.

 

[Trix]

I think he will get battered in a high line. He has no pace at all and he doesn't read the game amazingly well to make up for it.

Add to that his 1 on 1 defending is poor, he's going to be consistently put in areas where he needs to defend 1 on 1s well to stop counters and he simply can't do this.

We should sign Tapsoba and then 1 of Van de Ven or Tosin. All 3 are far better equipped to deal with Ange's system and we've saved money signing Vicario and Solomon. If we can't afford £60-70m on 2 of these players what on earth is going on?

I wouldn't even want him as a 3rd CB signing, I'd rather sign a young defender who can develop.

Yeah not worth looking at the financial gymnastics of it though, because with all due respect we are just pulling numbers out of thin air on what it would cost, and we have no idea how much we have to spend. All I'm saying is that I'd rather Lenglet than Dav, Dier or Tanganga.

 

[Japhet]

Yeah not worth looking at the financial gymnastics of it though, because with all due respect we are just pulling numbers out of thin air on what it would cost, and we have no idea how much we have to spend. All I'm saying is that I'd rather Lenglet than Dav, Dier or Tanganga.

He does also give the option of going to a back 3 from time to time. Ange has used a back 3 in the past according to what I've read, and we have the wingbacks for it. I don't really see any of the others you mentioned fitting that bill particularly well.

 

[NickHSpurs]

I'd play Lenglet over Dier, Sanchez , Rodon and Tanganga all day long so I don't mind getting him in as a squad player at all.

Let's not forget he's now got a season of Prem experience under his belt and he was fairly steady in what was a shit show of a season.

 

[GutBucket]

Wasn't great in a back 3 and lower block, he is at worst in a high line. Don't want our LBs paired with him in high line, it's asking for trouble. To be fair at his worst he was coached by Koeman, who is one of the worst coaches on the planet IMO, but it was just painful to watch. Sadly other CBs in the team (other than Romero) can't pass the ball and it's not like they are defensive monsters, so maybe it's better to keep him. Shame that we don't have or don't want to try any of the youngsters, we should have academy capable of producing solid backups.

 

[Ghost Hardware]

I think he will get battered in a high line. He has no pace at all and he doesn't read the game amazingly well to make up for it.

Add to that his 1 on 1 defending is poor, he's going to be consistently put in areas where he needs to defend 1 on 1s well to stop counters and he simply can't do this.

We should sign Tapsoba and then 1 of Van de Ven or Tosin. All 3 are far better equipped to deal with Ange's system and we've saved money signing Vicario and Solomon. If we can't afford £60-70m on 2 of these players what on earth is going on?

I wouldn't even want him as a 3rd CB signing, I'd rather sign a young defender who can develop.

Agree, I know he was good at Sevilla but that was a long time ago and he was error prone to say the least at Barca. I know there where other factors at play also but id be concerned. Id so much rather bring in a back up CD who has potential and room to grow, I just don't see what we benefit from getting Lenglet save for another body who's marginally better on the ball then our other current options. Yes id pick him over Dier and Sanchez but that really isn't saying much.

TBH tho the real point is the second one you make, what are we saving the money for? Defence was by far the biggest weakness in the team and has been for years whilst everywhere else we have too many bodies. Maybe if Gil leaves we would need another RW but we still have an abundance of midfielders and wing backs. Even if one where to say we could do with another creative minded CM/AM we would still need to shift bodies first which would also raise funds for whoever the replacement would be. Yes I know we also have too many defenders but the overall level of those players is far bellow the overall level of those in other positions.