Kalidou Koulibaly

[ctid1894]

Doesn't mean it didn't happen just because he hasn't got specific examples. I know there were goals and probably points lost because we relied on Fernandinho and Otamendi. Goals that having Koulibaly would have prevented, even without Laporte.

It's very easy to go through goals we've conceded to give examples. I did it with the goals we've conceded in games we've lost, unsurprisingly the thread went very quiet because no one wanted to admit Koulibaly might just not be able to help as much as they're saying he would. A few days later and we're back to unsubstantiated rhetoric to hammer our own players and promote a new signing. Koulibaly is a great player but he simply can't have the impact some are suggesting, he's being made out to be a god like figure who never makes a mistake, plays out of defence better than Beckenbauer and yesterday one poster even said that he's our only chance of winning all 4 competitions. Despite no player in history ever having done so, people are just getting carried away with a very good player and think he's magically going to solve all our defensive issues, defensive issues which cannot be solved by one man, no matter how good he is.

 

[blueparrot]

It's very easy to go through goals we've conceded to give examples. I did it with the goals we've conceded in games we've lost, unsurprisingly the thread went very quiet because no one wanted to admit Koulibaly might just not be able to help as much as they're saying he would. A few days later and we're back to unsubstantiated rhetoric to hammer our own players and promote a new signing. Koulibaly is a great player but he simply can't have the impact some are suggesting, he's being made out to be a god like figure who never makes a mistake, plays out of defence better than Beckenbauer and yesterday one poster even said that he's our only chance of winning all 4 competitions. Despite no player in history ever having done so, people are just getting carried away with a very good player and think he's magically going to solve all our defensive issues, defensive issues which cannot be solved by one man, no matter how good he is.

Don't think anybody thinks we are only buying one player, we'll buy 3 or 4, Koulibaly will be a big improvement in our defence over Fernandiho, Otamendi or Stones. Nothing more.

 

[Nicholas van Whatsisface]

It's very easy to go through goals we've conceded to give examples. I did it with the goals we've conceded in games we've lost, unsurprisingly the thread went very quiet because no one wanted to admit Koulibaly might just not be able to help as much as they're saying he would. A few days later and we're back to unsubstantiated rhetoric to hammer our own players and promote a new signing. Koulibaly is a great player but he simply can't have the impact some are suggesting, he's being made out to be a god like figure who never makes a mistake, plays out of defence better than Beckenbauer and yesterday one poster even said that he's our only chance of winning all 4 competitions. Despite no player in history ever having done so, people are just getting carried away with a very good player and think he's magically going to solve all our defensive issues, defensive issues which cannot be solved by one man, no matter how good he is.

I’m really struggling to understand the point you’re trying to make on this thread mate.

I don’t think anybody is saying Koulibaly is the answer to addressing all our defensive problems, and that we should be signing just one player this summer, then ducking out of the transfer window as all our necessary business is done. if that has been said, then I’d agree with you it’s complete nonsense.

That said, centre back has been a problem position for us this season. We didn’t replace Vinnie last summer, lost Laporte for most of the season, and Stones is both badly out of form and incapable of staying fit for more than a couple of games on the bounce.

We have an immediate need for improvement at CB - a experienced player who can slot in and instantly improve our options.

We also have two very promising kids coming through in García and Harwood-Bellis, who we don’t want to lose as they can’t see a route to the first team.

An older head ticks the box for both of the above criteria - and there are few better out there of that profile than Koulibaly.

Clearly we need to improve in other areas of the team too - I’m sure no-one is denying that - but this thread is about one player, not the need across the whole team.

 

[ctid1894]

Don't think anybody thinks we are only buying one player, we'll buy 3 or 4, Koulibaly will be a big improvement in our defence over Fernandiho, Otamendi or Stones. Nothing more.

You're one of the balanced posters and I completely agree with you, I love the debate. It's the extreme posters who want to stop anyone with a different opinion talking which piss me off, that's when I turn into sarcastic bastard and get argumentative sometimes when I should probably leave them to it, it's funny though (e.g. Eddy's tattoo meltdown in the strikers thread).

 

[Tugay One Cup]

He’s just another Mangala can’t wait for the meltdown in here when he’s getting some for pace every single week

What makes you say that?
Personally I see a lot more of Nastasic and Savic in him.

You two are idiots. His playstyle is clearly more reminiscent of an older Tal Ben Haim.

 

[St.Pauli support]

It's very easy to go through goals we've conceded to give examples. I did it with the goals we've conceded in games we've lost, unsurprisingly the thread went very quiet because no one wanted to admit Koulibaly might just not be able to help as much as they're saying he would. A few days later and we're back to unsubstantiated rhetoric to hammer our own players and promote a new signing. Koulibaly is a great player but he simply can't have the impact some are suggesting, he's being made out to be a god like figure who never makes a mistake, plays out of defence better than Beckenbauer and yesterday one poster even said that he's our only chance of winning all 4 competitions. Despite no player in history ever having done so, people are just getting carried away with a very good player and think he's magically going to solve all our defensive issues, defensive issues which cannot be solved by one man, no matter how good he is.

OK, we really got what you're saying. Every single time...
As you are concerned about age and fee (while you agree he's agreat player)
at what prize would you say "well dunn, Txiki" ?

 

[ctid1894]

OK, we really got what you're saying. Every single time...
As you are concerned about age and fee (while you agree he's agreat player)
at what prize would you say "well dunn, Txiki" ?

If you've read every single post you'll already know my answer to that won't you.

 

[St.Pauli support]

If you've read every single post you'll already know my answer to that won't you.

Any market update available?

 

[ctid1894]

Any market update available?

Last I heard Ian Beale sold his stall and bought a chippy.

 

[simon23]

Koulibaly will improve us hugely but Im with ctid1894 on this. He alone is not he answer to all our issues - not by a long way.

We need a decent left back and we also need quality in depth of cover for the back 4 (Otto should/needs to go and Stones as much as I rate him needs to get his head and body back into the game and there i no assurances on that) laporte and Koulibaly would be our choice first two but an injury to either puts us back to square one with having to rely on two kids (Garcia and THB - the first of which might not even be here if the rumours are true!). We may also need a right back if Cancello decides he cant handle the premier league.

We also need some variation in our attack - yes we have again out scored everyone. But Kun is now injured and coming to the end of his contract with just next year left. We've lost a very good player in Sane and there seems to be very little option to replace him with equal quality. Another injury to Kun next season and we will be left with a strike force of Jesus, Sterling and Mahrez and Jesus and Mahrez are inconssitent to say the least and even Sterling who has been mainly outstanding has struggled at times and if al the pressure was on him every week I think he may struggle as he would be marked out of the game.

We also lose the best creative midfielder to ever grace the premier league in David Silva - Yes Foden looks very good (maybe a once in a generation talent) and even has some qualities that Silva doesnt possess (his eye for goal) BUT you dont lose a player like David Silva and not suffer in some way - his ability to dictate a whole game is not something Foden possess at present.

Koulibaly will be an excellent signing if we get him and he should be the number one priority BUT there are other pressing needs as well

 

[Semper aggressus]

You made the statement without evidence to substantiate it.

https://www.premierleague.com/players/4804/Fernandinho/stats

So I'll do it for you. Errors leading to goals = 0.

The only stat that matters is we outscored Liverpool and every other team but ended up about 20 points behind, mainly because of defensive errors. That suggests we need to improve our defence, and Koulibaly would certainly do that.

He is a better defender than Fernandinho so he'll improve our defence. We cannot rely on a 35 year old midfielder to play at centre back when other, better options are available.

 

[Semper aggressus]

It's very easy to go through goals we've conceded to give examples. I did it with the goals we've conceded in games we've lost, unsurprisingly the thread went very quiet because no one wanted to admit Koulibaly might just not be able to help as much as they're saying he would. A few days later and we're back to unsubstantiated rhetoric to hammer our own players and promote a new signing. Koulibaly is a great player but he simply can't have the impact some are suggesting, he's being made out to be a god like figure who never makes a mistake, plays out of defence better than Beckenbauer and yesterday one poster even said that he's our only chance of winning all 4 competitions. Despite no player in history ever having done so, people are just getting carried away with a very good player and think he's magically going to solve all our defensive issues, defensive issues which cannot be solved by one man, no matter how good he is.

I didn't say anywhere that Koulibaly would single handedly win us every trophy, or that he should be our only signing. I also think we need a left back and a Sané replacement with extreme pace. But this thread is about Koulibaly. In my opinion he would be a significant improvement on what we have already, commit fewer defensive errors and therefore improve the team. Hence I believe he would be a very good signing and a significant upgrade on Fernandinho in the centre back role, regardless of stats.

 

[christened at st marks]

There's three pretty poor unforced errors in his passing (1:42, 1:52 and 2:52 in the video), what's your thoughts on those? Do you think those could cause us additional problems considering the majority of goals we concede generally stem from us losing possession in those same dangerous areas? (e.g. Mendy at Chelsea, Otamendi at Norwich, Zinchenko at Southampton and there's a good few other examples).

All his touches which is realistic not fantasy you tube and it is against the toughest opposition we face

 

[mosssideblue]

Is there genuine interest by the club in this fella or is it simply a fans desire for us to sign him.. Gen Q

 

[Big Dave Watson]

Is there genuine interest by the club in this fella or is it simply a fans desire for us to sign him.. Gen Q

No, this thread was just started so a couple of posters could argue about the strengths and weaknesses of central defenders.

 

[mccity]

Is there genuine interest by the club in this fella or is it simply a fans desire for us to sign him.. Gen Q

There were a few tweets a couple of weeks ago saying there was interest from both the player and City. This isn't a total pie in the sky thing like Haaland.

 

[ctid1894]

The only stat that matters is we outscored Liverpool and every other team but ended up about 20 points behind, mainly because of defensive errors. That suggests we need to improve our defence, and Koulibaly would certainly do that.

He is a better defender than Fernandinho so he'll improve our defence. We cannot rely on a 35 year old midfielder to play at centre back when other, better options are available.

I didn't say anywhere that Koulibaly would single handedly win us every trophy, or that he should be our only signing. I also think we need a left back and a Sané replacement with extreme pace. But this thread is about Koulibaly. In my opinion he would be a significant improvement on what we have already, commit fewer defensive errors and therefore improve the team. Hence I believe he would be a very good signing and a significant upgrade on Fernandinho in the centre back role, regardless of stats.

You keep saying defensive errors, name them.

In the 9 games we've lost there was 1 defensive error at Wolves away for their third goal, another two goalkeeping errors from Ederson at Salford. Meanwhile 10 of the goals we conceded came from slow build-up play leading to us getting caught in possession, leaving the defence completely exposed and helpless.

So you can either focus on the tiniest problem of defensive errors or you can focus on improving the build-up play to prevent the attacking errors which have lead directly to most goals we've conceded.

The comment about winning 4 trophies wasn't directed at you, it was completely unrelated to you.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

You keep saying defensive errors, name them.

In the 9 games we've lost there was 1 defensive error at Wolves away for their third goal, another two goalkeeping errors from Ederson at Salford. Meanwhile 10 of the goals we conceded came from slow build-up play leading to us getting caught in possession, leaving the defence completely exposed and helpless.

So you can either focus on the tiniest problem of defensive errors or you can focus on improving the build-up play to prevent the attacking errors which have lead directly to most goals we've conceded.

Otamendi at Norwich surely is a defensive error?

 

[razman]

Waiting for Mondays verdict and then I will be spamming this thread.

He is a Must have especially for his 70m Euros

 

[ctid1894]

Otamendi at Norwich surely is a defensive error?

Getting caught in possession isn't a defensive error in my opinion. That's shit attacking (build-up) play caused specifically by having a right footed player at LCB. His options were limited by his inability to use his left foot, forcing him to play inside, only Norwich had closed off those options. A left footed player in that situation plays safely out to the left back.