Player Watch Player Watch: Giovani Lo Celso

[hughy]

Think Sarr did well today but I look forward to potentially seeing Lo Celso and Maddison ahead of Bissouma. For me those three have a bit of everything. They'd compliment eachother perfectly.

With Bentancur to come back from injury, and Sarr and Skipp in the background we have a really tasty looking midfield to pick from.

 

[wishkah]

he's done well in the pre-seasons but i do worry about when the prem starts. he's good...but good enough? unsure.

 

[freeeki]

If he comes good then that's two problems which don't need solving - finding a transfer for him, then finding a replacement. Lovely.

 

[jpascavitz]

Am I the only greedy one that is itching to see a midfield three of GLC, Maddison, Bissouma?

Really love Sarr, like Skipp - but would love to see those two control the game on top of the opposition 18.

 

[bbunc]

Hope he stays. He’s been by far our best player in the 2 preseason games. Looks like an absolute perfect fit for this system.

If the Brentford game were tmrw I don’t think there’s any doubt he’s starting next to Maddison.

 

[Bluto Blutarsky]

Am I the only greedy one that is itching to see a midfield three of GLC, Maddison, Bissouma?

Really love Sarr, like Skipp - but would love to see those two control the game on top of the opposition 18.

I am wondering if we see a Lo Celso / Maddison paring at the 8 roles when we are chasing a goal - rather than on a regular basis.

SO maybe depth looks like this (in no particular order):

Sarr/Bentancur Maddison/LoCelso

Bissouma/Skipp​

If we need to be more attacking - Lo Celso (or Maddison) come in at the other 8, and if we are trying to play more in control Bentancur or Sarr come in.

No matter how it shakes out - we seems to have a bit of quality depth to mix and match as needed.

 

[JayB]

he's done well in the pre-seasons but i do worry about when the prem starts. he's good...but good enough? unsure.

Can't take a screenshot at the moment but look at his FBRef scouting report -- in terms of his chance creation stats, he was genuinely among the very best playmaking AMs in all of Europe last season. 99th percentile for expected assists and expected non-penalty goal contributions, 98th percentile for shot creating actions. Legitimately top drawer. La Liga is probably the second-best league in the world so it's not as though he put in those numbers against poor competition.

There are fair questions to be raised about whether he can stay fit and/or cope with the physicality of the Premier League, but he's got all the ability in the world and he suits Ange's setup perfectly.

 

[VoteMe4Prez]

he's done well in the pre-seasons but i do worry about when the prem starts. he's good...but good enough? unsure.

I think as long as he's fully fit, that in this new style he will be an absolute boss in the Prem

 

[doobie]

Love AP for these quotes. Doesn't fuck around or mince words. Says exactly what he feels without tiptoeing around or speaking cryptically.

 

[ToDarrenIsToDo]

A midfield of Bentancur, Bissouma, Sarr, Skipp, Ndombele, Lo Celso, Maddison could (COULD) have have the makings to be top class.

Come on Tanguy, we all desperately want you to pull a Gio oh the gaffer. If he does 2 quality CBs away from a top squad

 

[cliff jones]

Far superior to Skipp or Sarr. Hope he stays fit and motivated

 

[Dazza86]

Far superior to Skipp or Sarr. Hope he stays fit and motivated

Different players though.

Skipp and Sarr feel like options on the opposite side of a Maddison/GLC when we want a bit more defensive cover in the midfield. Both good players but I think we all like the idea of GLC + Maddison along a holding mid but that might not work against a bunch of teams we're competing with.

 

[worcestersauce]

Far superior to Skipp or Sarr. Hope he stays fit and motivated

Motivated is the word, I'd written him off as it was clear he no longer felt part of our club after two years away and had decided his future lay elsewhere but if Postecoglu likes him, wants him to stay and can convince him to stay then I guess that's a bonus and we may finally find out if he can do it in the Premier league.

 

[danny32]

Can't see why you would want to spend 40-50m on Gallagher when you have Lo Celso there already.
Got to stay fit and motivated.

 

[shoggy33]

Glad to see he's showing his quality. Could he play alongside Maddison?

 

[WiganSpur]

Can't take a screenshot at the moment but look at his FBRef scouting report -- in terms of his chance creation stats, he was genuinely among the very best playmaking AMs in all of Europe last season. 99th percentile for expected assists and expected non-penalty goal contributions, 98th percentile for shot creating actions. Legitimately top drawer. La Liga is probably the second-best league in the world so it's not as though he put in those numbers against poor competition.

There are fair questions to be raised about whether he can stay fit and/or cope with the physicality of the Premier League, but he's got all the ability in the world and he suits Ange's setup perfectly.

He is the sort of player we'd be targeting for the 8 role with the data driven approach. And he passes the eye test with ease.

 

[JamieSpursCommunityUser]

I am wondering if we see a Lo Celso / Maddison paring at the 8 roles when we are chasing a goal - rather than on a regular basis.

SO maybe depth looks like this (in no particular order):

Sarr/Bentancur Maddison/LoCelso

Bissouma/Skipp​

If we need to be more attacking - Lo Celso (or Maddison) come in at the other 8, and if we are trying to play more in control Bentancur or Sarr come in.

No matter how it shakes out - we seems to have a bit of quality depth to mix and match as needed.

Totally agree.

Love GLC, but I'm not sure GLC and Madds starting together has the pressing energy to protect our back 4.

Ange has them playing the same role thus far, and thought it was revealing that he highlighted Sarr's athleticism and mobility.

Not sure if we keep both of Lo Celso and Ndombele as really neither of them cover the 6 or pressing 8 role until Bents is back.

Which is probably why going by links and ITK we were weighing up either doing this

New Guy / Sarr / Bentancur Maddison / Ndombele

Bissouma / Skipp
​

Or this

Bissouma / Sarr / Bentancur Maddison / Ndombele

New Guy / Skipp
​

It seems GLC and Sarr's form may have changed the picture.

 

[St José Dominguez]

Hopefully Ange can make him want to be here as he fits the style of play very well. It would save us a lot of money and work keeping him as one of the number 8’s. Keep him and central midfield is ready to go with Bissouma, Maddison, Bentancur, Lo Celso, Sarr and Skipp. It allows us to sell Hojbjerg and Ndombele and put that money into, yawn, the need for two new centre backs.

 

[Bluto Blutarsky]

Hopefully Ange can make him want to be here

Maybe it's just the optimism in me - but watch all the preseason training videos/photos and matches - but I don't see any disgruntled players.

Everyone looks like they are enjoying the process - even under some brutal weather conditions.

Maybe its the style of football, or the more direct (but positive) approach that Ange takes with players - but, I see players across the spectrum working hard to make an impression.

 

[jurgen11]

Was never sure why we shipped him out in the first place, considering the dross we kept