Player Watch Player Watch: Oliver Skipp

[punkisback]

Who else is producing 'mavericks'?

I mean skillfull technicians. Chelsea, city and Arsenal by the boatload.

 

[mark87]

 

[dtxspurs]

He's played 392 minutes all season & came back from injury on August 31st. He needs a loan especially with Sarr seemingly jumping him in the pecking order.

 

[Bluto Blutarsky]

He's played 392 minutes all season & came back from injury on August 31st. He needs a loan especially with Sarr seemingly jumping him in the pecking order.

And, with Bissouma starting to get more minutes, its going to be tough to find minutes for Skippy.

 

[joey55]

I'd like him to go on loan. I actually think he's got the highest ceiling of all of our CM's, but he's physically the least suited to play Prem football, so needs to develop and can only do that with game time. I was actually disappointed we didn't loan him out again after he came back from Norwich. He's one of those young players who simply has to have game time as he can't rely on height, strength or speed.

It's pretty normal for Prem sides to buy CM's, for the long term, when they are 24, 25 or 26. Yet when they come through our academy, they rarely get the chance to play every week for several years. If they have a decent loan there is always a clamber for them to come back and be part of our squad and fight for their place. But I don't get why we don't continually loan them out until they are the type of player we'd pay £30 million for. Bissouma is on our bench, cost £25 million (despite having just 1 year left on his contract) and was a Prem regular for years before we bought him. He was only really good enough for a top 6 club in the last 18 months of his time at Brighton. Skipp would have to play Prem football solidly for 2 years and challenge Rice for his England spot before he'd even be considered a transfer target for one of our rivals. He's not going to do that as a bit part player for us.

He reminds me of James Milner or Jack Grealish, in that he's clealry got something, but it might take several years of regular senior football, before he starts to flourish. I think if he had 18 months of regular Prem football, he would develop massively and could easily be good enough to play for England. I don't see him getting that with us and with Sarr (despite being younger) looking so physically capable, I don't think we'd be better off loaning him out. I know that leaves us potentially short if we have a bad injury crisis, but Dier player in CM for years, so he can fill in. If he doesn't get game regular game time soon, he'll end up like another Winks.

 

[dtxspurs]

I'd like him to go on loan. I actually think he's got the highest ceiling of all of our CM's, but he's physically the least suited to play Prem football, so needs to develop and can only do that with game time. I was actually disappointed we didn't loan him out again after he came back from Norwich. He's one of those young players who simply has to have game time as he can't rely on height, strength or speed.

It's pretty normal for Prem sides to buy CM's, for the long term, when they are 24, 25 or 26. Yet when they come through our academy, they rarely get the chance to play every week for several years. If they have a decent loan there is always a clamber for them to come back and be part of our squad and fight for their place. But I don't get why we don't continually loan them out until they are the type of player we'd pay £30 million for. Bissouma is on our bench, cost £25 million (despite having just 1 year left on his contract) and was a Prem regular for years before we bought him. He was only really good enough for a top 6 club in the last 18 months of his time at Brighton. Skipp would have to play Prem football solidly for 2 years and challenge Rice for his England spot before he'd even be considered a transfer target for one of our rivals. He's not going to do that as a bit part player for us.

He reminds me of James Milner or Jack Grealish, in that he's clealry got something, but it might take several years of regular senior football, before he starts to flourish. I think if he had 18 months of regular Prem football, he would develop massively and could easily be good enough to play for England. I don't see him getting that with us and with Sarr (despite being younger) looking so physically capable, I don't think we'd be better off loaning him out. I know that leaves us potentially short if we have a bad injury crisis, but Dier player in CM for years, so he can fill in. If he doesn't get game regular game time soon, he'll end up like another Winks.

Skipp has a higher ceiling than Bentancur or Bissouma? I don't get that.

 

[McFlash]

I'd like him to go on loan. I actually think he's got the highest ceiling of all of our CM's, but he's physically the least suited to play Prem football, so needs to develop and can only do that with game time. I was actually disappointed we didn't loan him out again after he came back from Norwich. He's one of those young players who simply has to have game time as he can't rely on height, strength or speed.

It's pretty normal for Prem sides to buy CM's, for the long term, when they are 24, 25 or 26. Yet when they come through our academy, they rarely get the chance to play every week for several years. If they have a decent loan there is always a clamber for them to come back and be part of our squad and fight for their place. But I don't get why we don't continually loan them out until they are the type of player we'd pay £30 million for. Bissouma is on our bench, cost £25 million (despite having just 1 year left on his contract) and was a Prem regular for years before we bought him. He was only really good enough for a top 6 club in the last 18 months of his time at Brighton. Skipp would have to play Prem football solidly for 2 years and challenge Rice for his England spot before he'd even be considered a transfer target for one of our rivals. He's not going to do that as a bit part player for us.

He reminds me of James Milner or Jack Grealish, in that he's clealry got something, but it might take several years of regular senior football, before he starts to flourish. I think if he had 18 months of regular Prem football, he would develop massively and could easily be good enough to play for England. I don't see him getting that with us and with Sarr (despite being younger) looking so physically capable, I don't think we'd be better off loaning him out. I know that leaves us potentially short if we have a bad injury crisis, but Dier player in CM for years, so he can fill in. If he doesn't get game regular game time soon, he'll end up like another Winks.

I've got to say that strength is one thing that Skipp doesn't lack, he may not be tall but he's tough as teak and I'd say much stronger than Sarr.
His speed isn't to be sniffed at either, be it quick bursts or full in sprints.

I'm often guilty of getting carried away with young players but I honestly think that Skipp and Sarr could be a perfect midfield for us, for years to come.
Think they compliment each other perfectly.

 

[Tarricko]

Yeah I've never had Skipp down as a weak or fairly immobile player. Quite the opposite.

He just has to be playing loads of football to really get near his potential and I just don't think that will happen here. We don't feel like a club that really develops players anymore. Even Bale and Kane were probably more out of desperation / luck than judgement,.

I love Skipp's attitude to the game and he's a local lad to me, so really hope it works out for him here.

 

[Ghost Hardware]

A pl a loan where he’s playing week in week out for half a season would be excellent for his development. I get the argument about being short in midfield if there’s an injury but couldn’t White or another youth player take that 5th spot if we really needed? I just don’t see both Skipp and Sarr getting many mins if they stay and they both need to play.

 

[chrisd2k]

Nothing to do with this made up pecking order but because of the injuries I think it's vital he goes on loan to get regular 90 minutes, not just some minutes, to make up for the time lost.

 

[isaac94]

I'd like him to go on loan. I actually think he's got the highest ceiling of all of our CM's, but he's physically the least suited to play Prem football, so needs to develop and can only do that with game time. I was actually disappointed we didn't loan him out again after he came back from Norwich. He's one of those young players who simply has to have game time as he can't rely on height, strength or speed.

It's pretty normal for Prem sides to buy CM's, for the long term, when they are 24, 25 or 26. Yet when they come through our academy, they rarely get the chance to play every week for several years. If they have a decent loan there is always a clamber for them to come back and be part of our squad and fight for their place. But I don't get why we don't continually loan them out until they are the type of player we'd pay £30 million for. Bissouma is on our bench, cost £25 million (despite having just 1 year left on his contract) and was a Prem regular for years before we bought him. He was only really good enough for a top 6 club in the last 18 months of his time at Brighton. Skipp would have to play Prem football solidly for 2 years and challenge Rice for his England spot before he'd even be considered a transfer target for one of our rivals. He's not going to do that as a bit part player for us.

He reminds me of James Milner or Jack Grealish, in that he's clealry got something, but it might take several years of regular senior football, before he starts to flourish. I think if he had 18 months of regular Prem football, he would develop massively and could easily be good enough to play for England. I don't see him getting that with us and with Sarr (despite being younger) looking so physically capable, I don't think we'd be better off loaning him out. I know that leaves us potentially short if we have a bad injury crisis, but Dier player in CM for years, so he can fill in. If he doesn't get game regular game time soon, he'll end up like another Winks.

Higher ceiling than bennie? no chance thats english tax talking

 

[AtoubaToothpaste]

It seems daft to loan him out, IMHO. We've had issues at CM and a lack of options this year. Weakening us further is not a good idea. Conte just needs to rotate more frequently and give him minutes. He was mustard last year before his injury. He deserves the opportunity to regain his form.

 

[ronzalo]

I think we’ve seen enough from Conte to know he’s not a huge rotator of players. I would agree loaning Skipp out for 6 months (or Sarr) would be good. 5 midfield options for 2 places when you near enough always play Hojbjerg and Bentancur is a bit of a waste. Even Bissouma has hardly played this season.

 

[taidgh]

Bournemouth seems like it would be a good fit.

Wherever he goes, hope he proves wrong all the 'experts' on here writing him off.

 

[glacierSpurs]

IMHO, having 5 CMs aren't really a luxury if Conte can rotate more of Hojbjerg. Bentancur definitely is the starter, but can't expect him to stay so fit to play all the games in the first full season for Conte TBH. And I really don't see an issue of rotation primarily of Hojbjerg, Skipp and Bissouma. Understandably Sarr is the lowest down the pecking order but he should stay to learn the tactical part of games despite having lesser minutes, which he really should have more - it's all down to Conte really trusting them and playing them more.

I really don't wish for either of Skipp or Sarr to go out on loan.. Not when Hojbjerg truly needs some bench time to find back his form after the WC and Bissouma finds back his Brighton mojo. Both are currently disappointing for me because they can be so much better yet the youngsters are still not given much time to play.

 

[Trees]

It seems daft to loan him out, IMHO. We've had issues at CM and a lack of options this year. Weakening us further is not a good idea. Conte just needs to rotate more frequently and give him minutes. He was mustard last year before his injury. He deserves the opportunity to regain his form.

Conte Hojbjerg love fest might be the issue though here !

 

[stevespurs]

Skippy is good enough to displace any of our other midfielders. Spursboy, English, mentally tough etc etc. Cliche maybe, but he has always succeeded so far at each level.

Let’s be honest, Benta has been a bit shit since his short injury. But Skippy has been out for a year, and many have baulked at his first couple of games.

Bissouma has looked like he has potential, but lacks a vertical pass.

If Skippy stays injury free, I think he’ll force his way back in. He is a Conte style “reliable worker”.

 

[$hoguN]

Personally wouldn’t let him go out. The second half of the season is going to be a real slog with lots of injuries due to the scrammed in season and WC. Skipp is a quality player and having 5 or 6 CMs this season in particular feels like it could make a big difference

 

[AtoubaToothpaste]

Well, according to Ally G, he's staying. Thought it didn't make much sense in sending him out, weakening the squad further.

 

[John Simpson]

Skippy is good enough to displace any of our other midfielders. Spursboy, English, mentally tough etc etc. Cliche maybe, but he has always succeeded so far at each level.

Let’s be honest, Benta has been a bit shit since his short injury. But Skippy has been out for a year, and many have baulked at his first couple of games.

Bissouma has looked like he has potential, but lacks a vertical pass.

If Skippy stays injury free, I think he’ll force his way back in. He is a Conte style “reliable worker”.

Must say that until Saturday's game against PNE I always wondered what people saw in him. To me he was just a slightly better blond Winks. Now I know it was only PNE and I only watched the MOTD highlights, but it was the best I've ever seen him play for us.