I don’t think we have a wing problem. Munir is very serviceable on the left and Nolito can fill in when needed.
What are we striving for tho? improvement and growth as a team right. Not just having them as the main and options. Feels to me like improvising because it can work sometimes.
A Munir who is versatile and can play on the side. Or an actual winger? Wingers are so valuable if you have them. Binding defenders too them, requiring them to back up, and leave the centre backs to make choices. Which makes it easier for the striker to pick his position and get those chances.
One thing I defend for Luuk de Jong, is that we didn´t have wingers playing serviceable for a centre forward. He fucked up chances. Yes. But the type of attacking style we were playing, wasn´t helping him. Ocampos delivers some Good crosses ocasionally. But Munir and Nolito are not that serviceable in their way of playing. In their position yes. I agree.
What im trying to say is that, I want a left footed Jesus Navas. Ofcourse real wingers are rare these days. But it would be a thing I personally like to have as a real option.
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Our lack of attacking play has dozens of reasons for sure. Which could be very interesting to go very Deep on about. Different attacking styles would be one thing to focus on in my opinión. Even calling Ocampos a winger in quite generous. Atleast in the classical term of winger.
This is the reason why the signing of De Jong was even more strange. Lopetegui from his time with Spain and Real didn’t really use wingers (as far as I can remember) in which case a striker like de Jong requires that service which he won’t get so much under his style of play. Inless he’s wanting it from the full backs
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Yeah I think in this system those crosses that De Jong are going to receive has to come from the fullbacks. I am more concerned getting Navas cover. He’s gonna be a mess at the end of the season if he doesn’t have someone spelling him on those Copa and Europa league games.
Nolito is a class act but he really hasn’t shown much in the first part of the season, he would probably be let go at the end of the season and if I had my way he’d be out this window given his wages. Munir can play there and Torres has also been an able deputy.
Our lack of attacking play is down to many reasons including Lope not being an offensive coach by any means but I agree a backup for the right back position is much more urgent, thing is I really can’t think of a viable option, let alone a shortlist of good players who are within our budget. Goes to show how much the fullback position has evolved, I saw a few clips of Trent Alexander Arnold and was completely spellbound, crazy thing is he’s just 21.\
Edit: I’m gonna throw another wild shout with Pablo Maffeo, on loan at Girona from Stuttgart and was once part of Manchester City’s youth setup so he won’t be completely helpless with the ball.
The modern fullback is such a special position. I think at this point you either have to pay a fortune, or simply develop your own. Hence why Klopp is so highly regarded.
Spot on Jim. He would raise the level of our wing play. But longterm, how reliable will he be? There’s better (& younger) options for €25-30m in the summer.
The only thing i like is that it would force Lopetegui to play Ocampos on the left.
Nah, he’s a left-footer that solely plays on the right. He played in the hole at the start of the season in a 4-3-1-2. Other than that, he’s not that versatile.
An honest take from a Milan fan:
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Suso was an unused sub in Milan’s 1-0 win tonight. He’s definitely gone.
Monchi apparently low-balling his starting offer with a €15m bid, while Milan want somewhere around €20m. Considering the lack of interest in the player, it’s not a bad move.
If Milan doesn’t want you (and wants someone like Ibra at 60 years old), then something is not right with you. So NO SUSO please… but if it’s almost a done deal then whatever… not a good move in my opinion, unless he’ll have a total revelation in Sevilla which is very unlikely.
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Wait what?
Another site says he has signed, but will only join the Saudi Arabian club in June.
Apparently the club didn’t know about it. I kinda knew he wasn’t gonna renew his contract. But this to be announced on Sevilla’s anniversary? Poor taste from him & his agent.
Something doesn’t make sense though. If we end up signing Suso, then we are basically overloading the right flank?!
Meanwhile the left flank is in the pity of Nolito, who played well tonight but come on… can’t leave him all up alone there, knowing his age and capability of playing every 3 days.
Besides, Navas is also alone there in the RB spot. Very worried that without him and with Pozo now gone we’ll struggle up there. Lope experimented something with Sergi Gomez tonight but it’s still not stable up there without a proper RB.
Also are we done with the strikers? En Nesiry came on for Ocampos today, meaning we’ve signed him for the right winger spot, however, it’s not that he couldn’t play up front in De Jong’s role.
The midfield and the defense are what they are, can’t complain much there so we’ll stay put on those fronts for the rest of the season.
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I don’t believe, en nesiry going in for ocampos is necessarily meaning we bought him for wingspot. That would be straight up dumb.
Don’t worry guys, En-Nesyri will play up top. When he came on, it was to form a front two with De Jong. It didn’t look too bad for the few minutes they tried to combine. Especially seeing as they’re different types of forwards.
You’re right about this though. Suso will share that right flank with possibly Munir & Rony Lopes. Seeing as Munir is a bit more versatile, he’ll get in wherever he fits across the front 3.
We will miss that Ocampos/Navas combo on the right, but Lucas is a far more dangerous attacker on the left.
Barcelona have had an €80 million (£67m/$88m) offer for Wissam Ben Yedder rejected by Ligue 1 side Monaco, according to FootMercato .
The 29-year-old France international has apparently emerged as a potential replacement for Luis Suarez, who could be out for the rest of the season with a knee injury.
Barca are claimed to have met with Monaco representatives but had their opening offer turned down. Ben Yedder has 14 goals in 18 Ligue 1 games this season, and Monaco don’t want to lose him.
I wonder if we have a “sell on” clause in place?
Very interesting to hear that. 80 Million euros for someone that even Sevilla got fed up with. He was a decent striker and could score goals, but 80 million?
He’s also doing very well in Monaco so I can understand their choice to refuse Barca, although Monaco themselves are doing very poorly in Ligue 1 sitting in the 13th place.