Nicolò Zaniolo

Ghost Hardware said:

He’s 23 and missed over a year of football. I mentioned this before, but it’s not just the physical side of the game but also the mental side that needs development. He’s got the raw ability but I can think of a better analogy for him then “a diamond in the rough”. This is for me why I would prefer Paqueta but also why Conte’s opinion could sway me. If he really believes he can develop him then He becomes a very exciting prospect. Just more of a gamble.

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McFlash said:

As if stalking players mums isn't creepy enough, do we really need to start stalking their exes? ??

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robertgoulet said:

And I guess this is where the loan with option to buy comes in, as well.

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SCUMmucs said:

He kind of reminds me of Ross Barkley before it became apparent he wasn’t going to progress.

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spids said:

It is not a lack of ability though is it, it’s a lack of team work and selflessness. Zaniolo is technically amazing - that is the frustration. If he’s clear on the wing and Son or Kane are free in the middle for a tap in and he tries taking another defender on then he won’t play much until he learns.

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Roberts84 said:

Is this review based on YT or actually watching him in matches?

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DodgyLasagne said:

Well I ain't exactly gonna find all the times he failed to pass or messed up a chance on Youtube highlight reels am I?

Read back in the thread, these are not my words alone. If you'd prefer to trust an Italian who watched all of Roma's matches instead there are plenty of examples from them.

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McFlash said:

Well, if Juve fans opinions of Deki and Benta are anything to go by...
Sign this fella up!

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kursaal said:

My son is in Israel for a four day stag do. Yesterday Tel Aviv and today Jerusalem. A couple of hours ago while visiting the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, who should he bump into but Jose Mourinho. My son is with 3 mates - all Spurs. My son said Jose was very friendly and complimentary about Spurs and our supporters. My son asked about Zaniolo. Jose simply smiled and said very good player. Hardly itk but quite topical. My son is at the Dead Sea tomorrow and Haifia on Saturday. He said as he's now struck up a religious friendship with Jose he will seek him out again before the game.

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walworthyid said:

I've finally watched the obligatory YouTube video, I can't say that I'm impressed. He seems to give the ball away a lot, snatches at shots etc. He is like a poor man's kulusevski. A very poor man's kulusevski! But without the end product in terms of goals and assists.

Yes he has some physical attributes, but he isn't what we need imo. We need a creative 10 that unpick defences and tease defenders out of their shape.

What are we paying 40 or so million for a player that from what I can see will struggle to get game time and doesn't offer anything that we don't have already?

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walworthyid said:

I've finally watched the obligatory YouTube video, I can't say that I'm impressed. He seems to give the ball away a lot, snatches at shots etc. He is like a poor man's kulusevski. A very poor man's kulusevski! But without the end product in terms of goals and assists.

Yes he has some physical attributes, but he isn't what we need imo. We need a creative 10 that unpick defences and tease defenders out of their shape.

What are we paying 40 or so million for a player that from what I can see will struggle to get game time and doesn't offer anything that we don't have already?

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DodgyLasagne said:

That’s the fear, isn’t it… on the other hand his ‘18-19 tape is elite, it can still go either way with a player like this. He lost the decisive fast twitch explosiveness he used to have, put on too much mass in the upper body to be a 2nd striker under Jose, seemed to be out of sync with the team, confidence in a weird place. All of these are explainable by injury and being isolated in a Jose team. It could be that in a year or two he is the monster he was promised to be...

Gio Dos Santos and Taarabt had undeniably amazing technical ability as well. In a vacuum that is. The bad decision making doomed them and that is scary... because having nice skill moves is useless if it doesn't translate into quick, correct decisions. I'd say being technically elite includes the ability to go past players with your head up and process quicker than other players can. He currently lacks consistency in that area and often loses the ball trying to do way too much.

At his worst he just doesn't see passes, he needs an extra second to sort himself out, and that second is the difference between a goal and a clearance. Quick, instinctive decision making, mental acuity, and vision is ability. An ability that this season he lacked. Some say you have that or you don't, no amount of coaching can turn it into a true strength.

Then again, if there's anyone who can help, Conte is the man to do it, and we don't need him to be a De Bruyne, just someone who can get the ball anywhere near Kane and Son and let 'em do the rest.

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Mr Pink said:

So he's not what we need because you've watched a YouTube video?

I'm betting Conte knows what he's doing here lol

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Timberwolf said:

He's a talented player but has clear flaws. bear claws

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Aay_Jay_Dee said:

So basically another Moura?

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DodgyLasagne said:

Well I ain't exactly gonna find all the times he failed to pass or messed up a chance on Youtube highlight reels am I?

Read back in the thread, these are not my words alone. If you'd prefer to trust an Italian who watched all of Roma's matches instead there are plenty of examples from them.

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walworthyid said:

I've finally watched the obligatory YouTube video, I can't say that I'm impressed. He seems to give the ball away a lot, snatches at shots etc. He is like a poor man's kulusevski. A very poor man's kulusevski! But without the end product in terms of goals and assists.

Yes he has some physical attributes, but he isn't what we need imo. We need a creative 10 that unpick defences and tease defenders out of their shape.

What are we paying 40 or so million for a player that from what I can see will struggle to get game time and doesn't offer anything that we don't have already?

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walworthyid said:

I've finally watched the obligatory YouTube video, I can't say that I'm impressed. He seems to give the ball away a lot, snatches at shots etc. He is like a poor man's kulusevski. A very poor man's kulusevski! But without the end product in terms of goals and assists.

Yes he has some physical attributes, but he isn't what we need imo. We need a creative 10 that unpick defences and tease defenders out of their shape.

What are we paying 40 or so million for a player that from what I can see will struggle to get game time and doesn't offer anything that we don't have already?

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Roberts84 said:

In other words you’ve not seen him play ??

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