Kalidou Koulibaly

[Homar]

I just wish that we'd move on from this now. The figures being talked about feel too high given his age and I really would prefer that the club didn't give Napoli a single penny. Let's not forget that we have other areas that need serious attention. Even if we solve completely the issues at CB, we will still leak goals down that left side. Not to mention the lack of energy and pace at CDM. I'd prefer to see us focus more on finding a Fernandinho replacement.

 

[MarsLlama]

Stones was brilliant 17/18. Stop trying to re-write history.

He was brilliant in the first half of 17/18, and the first half of 18/19, and for a while at the start of 16/17. If injuries didn't keep putting an abrupt end to these good spells we'd probably not need Koulibaly at all.

 

[BLUEMATT23]

Would you take van Dijk if he was available this summer?

No I'd get Pep to sort Stones out and make him in a good player

 

[BLUEMATT23]

So to your solution...?

Sort Stones out and use our academy.

 

[Josh_D]

Sort Stones out and use our academy.

That’s fine as well. It means people would have to accept the possibility of losing more games (as the team did last season) than expected. Patience will have to be exercised then.

 

[Keeper!]

Experience doesn't always mean better, compare Sterling (20) and Pedro (28) as both players signed for the respective clubs in 15/16 season. Pedro was older and more experienced coming from Barcelona, however over the last 5 years it's Sterling who has been not only the better player, more consistent and by such a margin that it's unquestionable in terms of statistics and to the every day football fan. He's been first choice for us, Pedro however has been in and out of the Chelsea team over that same period.

Son (23) at Spurs signed for near enough the same fee as Pedro, again has been the better player over the last 5 years.

Pedro was hardly a failure. He was a quality player.

 

[Bazzmand Show]

Age isn't a big concern to me.

After 5 years, it means some of the youth CBs have a chance to break through, earliest of them all is Tosin.

The academy has 4 great CBs from what I've read: THB, CJ, Luke, and Finley.

We won't get 5 years out of this lad in the first team, 2-3 max in my opinion. It's just not a good purchase beyond the short term.

 

[PragueBlue]

Best available CB out there at the moment. Just what we need. Hope we can conclude the deal shortly.

 

[supercity88]

Experience doesn't always mean better, compare Sterling (20) and Pedro (28) as both players signed for the respective clubs in 15/16 season. Pedro was older and more experienced coming from Barcelona, however over the last 5 years it's Sterling who has been not only the better player, more consistent and by such a margin that it's unquestionable in terms of statistics and to the every day football fan. He's been first choice for us, Pedro however has been in and out of the Chelsea team over that same period.

Son (23) at Spurs signed for near enough the same fee as Pedro, again has been the better player over the last 5 years.

It doesn't always no, but it eliminates a bit more risk. Potential is such a hard thing to buy players on. We all said Sane had more potential than Sterling at first but it hasn't turned out that way yet.

I thought Stones had all the raw attributes but needed to learn to read the game a bit better, improve his decision making and get physically stronger. All things with experience I thought he would achieve.

My main issue with him is whilst he isn't quick, he hasn't made himself strong enough either. You can be a top class CB without pace if you read the game and are physically strong. When Stones does read things and gets into position to defend he is often overpowered physically.

 

[Fordyboy46]

Best available CB out there at the moment. Just what we need. Hope we can conclude the deal shortly.

Or Diego Carlos?

 

[PragueBlue]

Or Diego Carlos?

I think Koulibaly is a few levels above him.

 

[Fordyboy46]

I think Koulibaly is a few levels above him.

Ok mate, tbqh I've not seen much of Koulibaly to judge properly. Don't follow foreign football

 

[richards30]

Or Diego Carlos?

a younger and faster version of nico??

 

[WallyA]

We won't get 5 years out of this lad in the first team, 2-3 max in my opinion. It's just not a good purchase beyond the short term.

He just turned 29, if you think at max he can play until 32 your crazy.
Players can have much longer career than people think, this isnt a game of fifa where after 30 players are worthless.
CBs can play up to 34, 35 no problem.

 

[Dobsy]

He just turned 29, if you think at max he can play until 32 your crazy.
Players can have much longer career than people think, this isnt a game of fifa where after 30 players are worthless.
CBs can play up to 34, 35 no problem.

As people keep saying, he's the same age as Virgil Van Dijk and we wouldn't say no to him.

Get this over the line and I think we'll win the league.

 

[eastmanc]

a younger and faster version of nico??

Very rash from what I’ve seen. As you say a younger version of Nico.

 

[MillsyTheMosher]

He’ll be a city player in the next 2 weeks.

 

[richards30]

He’ll be a city player in the next 2 weeks.

surely thats too late? he needs in asap to start working with the squad?

 

[eastmanc]

If it’s true what ADL says and we aren’t talking to Napoli because of the previous Jorginho episode, we need to get over that, bite the bullet and do the deal. We desperately need a top centre half.

 

[eastmanc]

He’ll be a city player in the next 2 weeks.

Let’s hope so.