Aymeric Laporte

[pudge]

Can't pretend to have watched him for any reasonable amount of time to comment on his ability, I'll leave that to the usual suspects of the transfer forum.

 

[Dax777]

Well sounds like it's already a done deal so we will see next season. I just think this is going to be yet another overpriced CB who may be good with the ball at their feet but when it comes to actual defending struggles.

So like Stones currently is then?

 

[ONTHERUNWITHTHAKSIN]

Be nice to have CB who stays on his feet and not one sat on treatment table

 

[BigOscar]

So like Stones currently is then?

Not sure Stones is that good with the ball at his feet tbh

 

[Mr HJ]

Not seen too much but In my opinion at age 21 with a good reputation that has Barca looking at him Laporte is a much better bet to succeed than Otamendi and Mangala (I know he was age 23 but had not played in such a competitive league in Portugal). We have to trust Pep on this, but for me the key has to be buying younger players with bags of potential. See him turning out a bit like Pique hopefully.

 

[kupest]

I think he is definitely the best young defender in the world. Stones is nowhere close to this guy. Bilbao love playing from the back and that should suit us. If I had to pick a CB to buy from anywhere it would be Laporte.

 

[01cravend]

Stones - 24 appearances
Defending; 53% tackle success, 67% aerial duels won, 6 defensive actions per game, 10 fouls(3 yellows, 0 reds)
Ball at feet; 89% pass completion, 66% long ball completion, 76% take-on success

Laporte - 26 appearances
Defending; 43% tackle success, 70% aerial duels won, 7 defensive actions per game, 27 fouls(8 yellows,2 reds)
Ball at feet; 80% pass completion, 50% long ball completion, 61% take-on success

I'm struggling to see what Laporte is much better than Stones at? And those stats come in a season where Stones has been performing poorly.

 

[RandomJ]

Stones - 24 appearances
Defending; 53% tackle success, 67% aerial duels won, 6 defensive actions per game, 10 fouls(3 yellows, 0 reds)
Ball at feet; 89% pass completion, 66% long ball completion, 76% take-on success

Laporte - 26 appearances
Defending; 43% tackle success, 70% aerial duels won, 7 defensive actions per game, 27 fouls(8 yellows,2 reds)
Ball at feet; 80% pass completion, 50% long ball completion, 61% take-on success

I'm struggling to see what Laporte is much better than Stones at? And those stats come in a season where Stones has been performing poorly.

Better at getting sent off so that should be fun next season.

 

[bluemoon98]

One of the sendings off was bollocks iirc. Laporte is better at stones by a mile.

 

[mcfcfc]

laporte every day of the week the only reason people want stones is because of english tag he will come with him otherwise nobody will bother about him

 

[mosssideblue]

laporte every day of the week the only reason people want stones is because of english tag he will come with him otherwise nobody will bother about him

I agree with the English tag. Thankfully, I thought I read on here yesterday that Everton won't be looking to sell him

 

[ninjamonkey]

If it keeps Otamendi away from the starting lineup i'm in.

 

[UnknownGenius]

If it keeps Otamendi away from the starting lineup i'm in.

I was under the impression that our first choice pairing would be Laporte and Otamendi

 

[sk3ptical]

I was under the impression that our first choice pairing would be Laporte and Otamendi

let them think that a injury prone kompany is gonna be able to play most of next season

 

[Dax777]

I like Stones personally. Don't really buy into the great tackling defender belief. I think the best defenders are generally footballers who just happen to play on defense. Few are very good individually, most are good coz their team plays good overall defense.

So I watch more for good footballers than I do tacklers. Stones is a good footballer. Defending is mostly about effort, footballing is about talent. Moat English players come with the effort already built in, it's the talent they often lack. Stones doesn't lack that.

That said, I'd take a cheaper and more accomplished player of similar age who is also a good footballer.

 

[IWasHere]

Has Ayew been a good buy? He supposedly broke thier wage structure, cost them a £10m signing bonus and he's managed...8 goals.

Payet is being presented as a revelation...he's not. Everyone knew about him, no one was interested because he had an awful reputation for partying and not being professional - he once attacked his own captain on the pitch when at St. Etienne, only last season he got dropped at Marseilles for not putting effort into training and got banned for abusing the referees. There's a reason the France manager hasn't been picking him, because he's trying to stay away from the drama they had at the 2010 world cup and 2012 Euros.

Every club in the world knew who Payet was, they just didn't want to Spend £15-20m on a 29 year old guy who could explode at any minute, and West Ham did, so they tried to sign him all summer and failed, but then Marseilles hit some big financial troubles and had to offload him fast for a knock-down fee. They got lucky and Bilic has gotten the best out of him.

I'd much, much rather pay £50m for a 23 year old KDB.

He's been called up

Edit - I agree with the last bit though

 

[IWasHere]

I think he is definitely the best young defender in the world. Stones is nowhere close to this guy. Bilbao love playing from the back and that should suit us. If I had to pick a CB to buy from anywhere it would be Laporte.

He's not better than varane...

 

[Ric]

Seriously injured tonight, argh.

 

[p.taker]

What happened?

 

[Ric]

What happened?

Looks like a badly broken ankle whilst playing for France.