Kalidou Koulibaly

himalayan_blues said:
Thats why well managed clubs do not base their value upon one off games. After Koulabaily show against messi we were not lowering value (thats what papers/itk sayed). Now after yesterday not much will change.
Whether we like or not Black players and Females have to be 120/150 % more competent to be compared with white players ( with due respect to everyone). We have so many black players but not much black managers.
Kaoulabaily is certainly a beast we need a proven CB anyways.
Click to expand...

Wtf
 
I am a Napoli fan I wanted to tell you what I think, sorry my english, I used google for the translation, I hope you will understand
Koulibaly is very strong. When he arrived he was a ridiculous defender, Benitez's Napoli were a slow side with low defense. But in the Sarri period, Koulibaly was monstrous. Don't believe Fifa20, he is a very fast player and gives his best with a high defense. This year Napoli returned to play with a lower defense, to mark a man. Koulibaly had a lot of difficulties in this way, so I would say that for 80 million I am happy to sell it. But the old Kouli, that of Sarri, I would not give it even for 200 million. An absolute value, if it manages to return to those levels, is priceless. A defender who makes you win games, many. Napoli have had strong players like Cavani, Higuain, Mertens etc ... But none of these give you the feeling of seeing something extraordinary like Koulibaly, who managed to do it in every match. If you win the Champions League he could be your golden ball
 
Kaora said:
I am a Napoli fan I wanted to tell you what I think, sorry my english, I used google for the translation, I hope you will understand
Koulibaly is very strong. When he arrived he was a ridiculous defender, Benitez's Napoli were a slow side with low defense. But in the Sarri period, Koulibaly was monstrous. Don't believe Fifa20, he is a very fast player and gives his best with a high defense. This year Napoli returned to play with a lower defense, to mark a man. Koulibaly had a lot of difficulties in this way, so I would say that for 80 million I am happy to sell it. But the old Kouli, that of Sarri, I would not give it even for 200 million. An absolute value, if it manages to return to those levels, is priceless. A defender who makes you win games, many. Napoli have had strong players like Cavani, Higuain, Mertens etc ... But none of these give you the feeling of seeing something extraordinary like Koulibaly, who managed to do it in every match. If you win the Champions League he could be your golden ball
Click to expand...
Thanks and welcome. I live in Italy too and some of our City fans who never watch Serie A seem to have this unfounded impression that Koulibaly is slow, when in facts he's fast as fuck. They see how big he is and think he must be slow. This guy has everything.
 
skyblues said:
Is Koulibaly really that fast?
Would like to see some statistics.
Click to expand...

From February

alidou Koulibaly has built an incredible reputation as one of the most complete defenders in the game. There are a host of reasons why he is one of the most in-demand centre-backs in Europe right now. The man nicknamed “K2” will bring solidity, enthusiasm and defensive stability to whichever clubs he joins. But, what makes him so special? Why are all of the biggest clubs in Europe after him?

Born on June 20, 1991, Kalidou Koulibaly is currently playing for S.S.C Napoli in Serie A. Even though he is Senegalese, Koulibaly was born and raised in France. The elegant centre-back started his football journey at hometown club Sporting Reunis saint-dié in Lorraine. He moved to cross-town club, Metz in 2009, where Koulibaly’s first-ever senior team appearance came on 20th August 2010. After Metz were relegated to the third division of French football in 2012, Koulibaly signed with Belgium club Genk. This is where this football genius started to turn heads. Among his admirers was Rafa Benitez, who was the Napoli coach at the time. After only two seasons in Belgium, Koulibaly joined Napoli for just £6.5 million, which looks like an absolute bargain right now.

Despite being handpicked by Benitez, Koulibaly struggled at first at the Stadio San Paolo but, everything turned around for him when a certain chain-smoking, former bank manager was appointed as the head coach in Naples. The imposing defender thrived in the possession-based system of Maurizio Sarri. Koulibaly became a complete package – someone who could tackle, block and intercept like an old-fashioned defender but he could also build an attack from the back like a modern centre-back.


Koulibaly is now one of the classiest defenders in the game, who shows maturity and brilliant technical ability on the ball. Koulibaly’s biggest strengths are his positioning, tackling, composure on the ball, speed and aerial prowess, which is helped by his 6ft 1in frame. The Napoli vice-captain boasts a passing completion percentage of 86 in 21 Serie A and Champions League games this season. As good as Koulibaly’s positioning and awareness are, he loves to make tackles which leads to fouls. He is conceding 1.4 fouls per game in 15 league matches this term. The former Metz man averages 2.4 tackles, 1.4 interceptions, 1.2 blocks and 3.5 clearances per outing for Napoli this season (Stats from whoscored).

To truly appreciate his amazing talents, we must do more than analyzing the stats. Koulibaly not only carries the capacity to make the impossible possible but ensures that the impossible seems like a regular, everyday feat. It is little wonder that football fans and pundits can do little less but marvel at the effortlessly elegant defender. Italian football expert, James Horncastle has described Koulibaly as the new Lilian Thuram, which will be pleasing for the Napoli defender who considers Thuram, a French World Cup-winning defender in 1998, as his only idol.

One of Koulibaly’s most complete performances came in Napoli’s 1-0 win against Juventus in the 2017/18 season. Trailing Juventus in the league, Maurizio Sarri took his side to the home of the champions and came away with the win. This victory which was achieved thanks in-large to the Senegalese defender who not only dominated the match with his defending, (Juve had zero shots on target) but also scored a thumping header from a corner, which brought Napoli to just one point behind Juventus. The Senegalese defender’s current value is 75 million Euros according to Transfermarkt but he will definitely become the most expensive defender in the history of the game when/if he leaves Napoli in the summer. Manchester United, Chelsea, Paris Saint Germain, Manchester City, and Real Madrid have been heavily linked with the imposing defender. All these clubs have the resources to acquire Koulibaly and frankly speaking, all these clubs can do with a commanding centre-back.

Koulibaly can fit into every system in world football. With his height and positioning, he can defend against crosses. In an attacking team, Koulibaly has the speed and tackling ability to play in a high defensive line, defend Counter-attacks or to cover the fullbacks, he does this regularly to cover F.Ghulam and Mario Rui at Napoli. Furthermore, the 6ft 1in defender possesses the play-making ability to start attacks from the back or even invite the opposition to press him and he can play through the pressure to create space for the forwards, something that was common at Napoli in the Sarri-Ball era. The Koulibaly investment can be very similar to the way Liverpool bought Virgil van Dijk. Just like Liverpool’s Dutch defender, any major club can build their defense around him. The Senegalese defender normally plays as the left centre-back but he can easily play on the right. Koulibaly will turn 29 in the summer and with the uncertainties at Napoli right now, it’s best for him to move to a club where he can challenge for trophies and leave a legacy as one of the best defenders of his era.
Click to expand...

www.elartedf.com

Kalidou Koulibaly - Profiling the most sought after central defender in the world - El Arte Del Futbol

Kalidou Koulibaly has built an incredible reputation as one of the most complete defenders in the game. There are a host of reasons why he is one of the most in-demand centre-backs in Europe right now. The man nicknamed "K2" will bring solidity, enthusiasm and defensive stability to whichever...
www.elartedf.com www.elartedf.com
 


It's amazing how some media and press games can change the facts. You will see this every game. Sorry for the quality but it's really the first one I found on YouTube
 
skyblues said:
Is Koulibaly really that fast?
Would like to see some statistics.
Click to expand...

Chris Smalling was fast in Serie A and also proved a standout for Roma.

There's a reason Dave feels he can prolong his career by moving to Italy.

Koulibaly isn't the answer. We need a right footed centre back who plays on the right side of a two every single game.

Especially so, when we now got left sided cover for Laporte in the shape of Ake.
 
tolmie's hairdoo said:
Chris Smalling was fast in Serie A and also proved a standout for Roma.

There's a reason Dave feels he can prolong his career by moving to Italy.

Koulibaly isn't the answer. We need a right footed centre back who plays on the right side of a two every single game.

Especially so, when we now got left sided cover for Laporte in the shape of Ake.
Click to expand...

He would at least give us some leadership at the back which has been sadly missing without Kompany.
 
tolmie's hairdoo said:
Chris Smalling was fast in Serie A and also proved a standout for Roma.

There's a reason Dave feels he can prolong his career by moving to Italy.

Koulibaly isn't the answer. We need a right footed centre back who plays on the right side of a two every single game.

Especially so, when we now got left sided cover for Laporte in the shape of Ake.
Click to expand...
Who would you personally have then?
 
tolmie's hairdoo said:
Chris Smalling was fast in Serie A and also proved a standout for Roma.

There's a reason Dave feels he can prolong his career by moving to Italy.

Koulibaly isn't the answer. We need a right footed centre back who plays on the right side of a two every single game.

Especially so, when we now got left sided cover for Laporte in the shape of Ake.
Click to expand...

I can't see why both Ake and Laporte can't forge a working partnership. I know they're both left-footed(you never hear groans about two right-footed players playing together btw). Both at a good age also
 
pavelsrnicek said:
He would at least give us some leadership at the back which has been sadly missing without Kompany.
Click to expand...

Possibly, but for £80m I would expect more than just being a decent leader.

Our system exposes defenders of all abilities.

Rather than spend £120m on Rodri and Cancelo, we could have solved a big issue by buying the best aggressive, mobile midfelder we had to find?

Mangala was pretty fast, but we are on hiding to nothing telling our defenders to run into 40 yards back to their own goal.

Van Dijk would look nowhere near the player in our currenr set up.

I don't have a clue who we should sign outside of the KK suggestions, it's a dying art the position.
 
tolmie's hairdoo said:
Possibly, but for £80m I would expect more than just being a decent leader.

Our system exposes defenders of all abilities.

Rather than spend £120m on Rodri and Cancelo, we could have solved a big issue by buying the best aggressive, mobile midfelder we had to find?

Mangala was pretty fast, but we are on hiding to nothing telling our defenders to run into 40 yards back to their own goal.

Van Dijk would look nowhere near the player in our currenr set up.

I don't have a clue who we should sign outside of the KK suggestions, it's a dying art the position.
Click to expand...
Yeah but Koulibably is a good start because he's quick.

However midfield is an often overlooked problem because of the high line. If we had a Kante like player, we probably won't get punished as often for having slow Central defenders.

That whole side of the house, defensive midfield and back, needs an overhauling soon:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Unread Posts

Don't have an account? Register now and see fewer ads!

SIGN UP
Back
Top