Someone a few pages back put together a list of names for LB and RB optiions. I called that the "Known knowns" list i.e. The regular suspect list.
I'm more interested in up and coming players who i.e. potentially fit that Pep style:
RB
Ricardo Perreirra
Rich Karsdorp
Mitchell Weiser
Sergio Roberto.
Pablo Maffeo
LB
Grimaldo
Hernandez (Athletico)
Dijks
Al Shahrani
Zichencho
RB:
The above are the hit list for me.
Perreirra: I've been a fan of for a while now, he just pops off the screen when you watch him. An aggressive defender with Winger styled dribbling skills. Wanted him as a LB last year, now he has moved to the RB for the mostly and he still as good.
Karsdorp I need to see more of him, but he reminds me so much of Bayern and Germany's current RB Kimmich, a tough nosed all round footballer who happens to play RB.
Weiser. Just like Karsdorp, me both are technically proficient midfielders who play RB. It's the Lahm-ification of the RB position, and long may it continue.
The fourth and last is Sergio Roberto. Again another proficient midfielder and all round footballer who now plays RB. I think the trend is obvious here :) However, I only included Roberto because the player I was going to include, Cancelo, is actually going to Barca this making Roberto a likely option. Absent that I generally ignore names of players already at a top club. Our hierarchy's connection to Barca and the possibility that Roberto might be interested is the only reason why he is here. Frankly I don't think he is our guy.
Maffeo: Then there is our boy :) Already on the books, didn't look out of place, and has that all round footballer mentality. He is not as rounded as the above 4 though, but perhaps opportunity is the reason for that. Either way, I expect 2 of these 5 (1 being Maffeo) to form our RB Tandem next season.
LB:
Grimaldo: it seems he rocks all the boxes, aggressive, comfortable with the ball, and a student of the Barca style. Something similar to what Pep does generally. Unfortunately he is currently injured and hasn't played in over 2 months. I'd have him as my top choice.
Hernandez and Dijks: What I like about these 2 the most is their aggression and size, Dijks is 6-4 and Hernandez is 6-1 they are both tall and strong. Dijks is much more refined (or at least I think he is coz I've seen more of him :p) but Hernandez has a natural LB-ish style. I don't think either would be a glove fit, bit that unorthodoxy they bring to the table might actually be worth more than fitting in like everyone else. If Hernandez continues to grow, he is one to watch. Dijks is going to be solid. A little tight in the hips like Kolarov, but strong in the tackle and a fighter.
Al Shahrani; This would probably never happen coz Prem teams dont tend to rate players outside of South America and the other top teams in Europe. But Shahrani is the Arabian Marcelo. Probably just as skillful. As a footballer his technique is just as good, I reckon his tactical knowledge might pale in comparison to your average top club fullback. But these are the kinds of players Id like our scout team to find. True gems in lower or nondescript leagues who actually are superior to what is already deemed the crème. Best example of that by the way is N'golo
Kante. We really don't need a midtable team to show the obvious.
Finally, watching Zichencho for PSV, I believe he can in fact become a good replacement for David Silva. He is technically pretty similar. But when you add his intensity and quickness on the press, I'd project him as a top 2 LB in the world over next 3 or so years. Frankly, I think he'd be better than Alaba on no time, and similar to Marcelo, but with a better brain. He may end up an attacking midfielder here which would still be good. But for my money, he'd be WC within a year at Leftback.
And there you have it: The lesser known options at fullback. But in my opinion, the better options at RB.
Interesting list but your unknown up and comers include Sergi Roberto? 25 year old starting RB of Barcelona? Truly a hidden gem you've uncovered there Dax ;)
