Kalidou Koulibaly

[mike1923]

There are very few defenders in the world who are both technically good enough to play for Pep and physically capable of playing the exceptionally high line. Even fewer of them are for sale.

Laporte is the only one we have had really. Mangala had the physicality but not the technique, Otamendi the technique but not the pace.

Stones had both, but not the mentality and he's been shafted with injuries.

I think we are going to start producing our own more and more. Tosin could be perfect, Eric Garcia is going to be top class, Taylor Harwood-Bellis has all the tools.

knowing our luck we’ll spend 5 years producing the perfect Pep centre halves from our academy and then he’ll leave and we’ll get in someone who wants different types of centre halves!

 

[omri]

beast.

for me, him better then laporte.

laporte stiil work in progress(only 26).

 

[tolmie's hairdoo]

There are very few defenders in the world who are both technically good enough to play for Pep and physically capable of playing the exceptionally high line. Even fewer of them are for sale.

Laporte is the only one we have had really. Mangala had the physicality but not the technique, Otamendi the technique but not the pace.

Stones had both, but not the mentality and he's been shafted with injuries.

I think we are going to start producing our own more and more. Tosin could be perfect, Eric Garcia is going to be top class, Taylor Harwood-Bellis has all the tools.

Agreed, although I don't believe Tosin will ever be good enough at the top level.

Garcia, while technically excellent, it doesn't appear likely he will be able to align that alongside any real physical presence.

Harwood-Bellis has a great chance if he continues to learn Pep's ways.

 

[richards30]

Agreed, although I don't believe Tosin will ever be good enough at the top level.

Garcia, while technically excellent, it doesn't appear likely he will be able to align that alongside any real physical presence.

Harwood-Bellis has a great chance if he continues to learn Pep's ways.

still confident we will get koulibaly done mate?

 

[domalino]

I don't think he's faster than Otamendi. Think they're both quite slow personally. Guess we'll see though in time.

Even if he's physically the same as Otamendi, he's about 5 yards quicker mentally.

 

[Saddleworth2]

Agreed, although I don't believe Tosin will ever be good enough at the top level.

Garcia, while technically excellent, it doesn't appear likely he will be able to align that alongside any real physical presence.

Harwood-Bellis has a great chance if he continues to learn Pep's ways.

Interesting your view of Tosin. What makes yoU think that?

 

[Semper aggressus]

Would be no need for Stones, and why would Stones want to stay when he is still trying to get into the England squad when he is still young enough to make a new start and establish a first team place somewhere.

Because we play over 60 games a season so he'd probably feature in at least half of those. There are often injuries and suspensions or players need a rest.

 

[blueparrot]

Because we play over 60 games a season so he'd probably feature in at least half of those. There are often injuries and suspensions or players need a rest.

Not as 4th choice he wouldn't.

 

[MeatHunterrr]

Because we play over 60 games a season so he'd probably feature in at least half of those. There are often injuries and suspensions or players need a rest.

In my opinion Stones is not good enough even as back up. Both Stones and Otamendi need shipping out.

 

[Semper aggressus]

Not as 4th choice he wouldn't.

I'd see him more as part of the squad, who really is first choice in a Pep team? Stones, Laporte and Koulibaly would all feature in a lot of first team games over a season I reckon.