Players who might improve us

Some of us wondered how De Bruyne would have been in a deeper role. I give you the Dutch De Bruyne 19 year old Kees Smit. He is a top, top CM player. Going to the very top.


Beyond the russet barnet and Low Country roots, there are other similarities to de Bruyne, but I also think he’s going to be more box-to-box as he ages, has a great engine, and he also has quicker feet in tight situations. I’ve already said on here that we should sign him in the winter but leave him in Alkmaar to continue developing until next summer.
 
The Netherlands won the U19 European Championships, and the player of the tournament was Kees Smit. Lovely player to watch. He's tenacious, versatile, and capable of playing both across the midfield and up and down it. Broke into the AZ team last season and, just like Kerkez and Reijnders, has a very high ceiling. Should be on the summer 2026 shopping list if we want to avoid paying someone a king's ransom further down the line.
Absolutely agree. I would even look to get him in sooner before another team does, unless we can agree terms with player to make him a signing in the summer. A Bernardo replacement, perhaps?
 
Absolutely agree. I would even look to get him in sooner before another team does, unless we can agree terms with player to make him a signing in the summer. A Bernardo replacement, perhaps?
I’ve highlighted, in a subsequent post, Smits and Bouaddi at Lille as the two I’d like to see signed in the winter window, joining Nypan with us next summer for a midfield refresh.
 
I’ve highlighted, in a subsequent post, Smits and Bouaddi at Lille as the two I’d like to see signed in the winter window, joining Nypan with us next summer for a midfield refresh.
Bouaddi has only just turned 18 this week. A talent to keep an eye on. There is a lot of talent out there.

I can see O’Reilly being a permanent member of the City midfield in the years to come. He has really impressed me in his development.
 
Bouaddi has only just turned 18 this week. A talent to keep an eye on. There is a lot of talent out there.

I can see O’Reilly being a permanent member of the City midfield in the years to come. He has really impressed me in his development.
Age is less relevant these days, with Bouaddi already having substantial Ligue 1 and Champions League experience. He’s a natural defensive midfielder and will only be even better as he fills out.
O’Reilly’s natural instinct is to attack, and while Guardiola can utilise his attributes elsewhere, for now, I’d like to see him used further up the park at some point.
 
Age is less relevant these days, with Bouaddi already having substantial Ligue 1 and Champions League experience. He’s a natural defensive midfielder and will only be even better as he fills out.
O’Reilly’s natural instinct is to attack, and while Guardiola can utilise his attributes elsewhere, for now, I’d like to see him used further up the park at some point.
Age doesn’t seem less relevant when it comes to US since better younger players sit on the bench because of older player’s achievements from 2 years + ago
 
I don’t see Oreilly becoming a midfielder under Pep when he still has angle bias, doesn’t have a great first touch and is very one footed. When he develops he will have a good chance of it though
 
Easy now.

Someone on the Savinho thread in the main forum has described Sav's stats last season as "sensational".........
Easy now
I think you'll find that the Savinho thread is where you are meant to post and read comments about Savinho.
 
Age doesn’t seem less relevant when it comes to US since better younger players sit on the bench because of older player’s achievements from 2 years + ago
That charge carried more weight last season, but we seem to be fielding much younger sides this year.
 
Four players each 21 years of age. Which improves us the most if we can sign one of these defensive minded midfielders.

Carlos Baleba
Adam Wharton
Aleksandar Pavlovic
João Neves

 
I don’t understand why we didn’t take Spurs’ offer for non-scoring/non-assisting Savinho and buy Semenyo. We would be a far better team.

Semenyo has 12 assists in 70 games. Definitely not a playmaking, creative presence.

He's really good at taking up the space vacated by a centre forward like Evanilson and you will never see Haaland do that.

I like Semenyo but feel like maybe he's not safe enough with the ball to be a Pep player.

And as a direct comparison on last year you'd be pretty to daft to sell the 21 year old on the right to buy the 25 year old on the left.
 

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