I just the certainty over his future alllws him to settle. He is an elite centre back, just not every week. Sadly.
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If weāre giving contracts to Gakpo and Gravenberch then Ibou deserves one too.
Heās been shite this season but weāre not in a position to voluntarily lose a player of his quality for nothing.
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So not elite, then?
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Heās missing that elite level consistency.
Itās been a bumpy ride with Ibou, perhaps the bumpiest season yet, but when we went on that mini unbeaten run and prioritised a more defensive structure to build on (the Leeds game aside), he looked like his old self. Get him tied down, sort the balance out in the summer, get Jacquet and Leoni back, and letās give it another go.
His biggest issue before this season was proving his fitness, whatever heās done with the physios to address that has clearly worked.
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https://x.com/F365/status/2043262455078420812?s=20
So whoās right? Romano or Ornstein?
How about an ITK Deathmatch?
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Iām not sure if I care.
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Think competition will help Ibou. He played well when Quansah replaced him at pre season then he got his chance after being subbed on half time against Ipswich.
Now heās no one pressuring him really!
Possibly and I donāt think we should lose him for free but he wouldnāt be the saddest loss.
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Should only play in home games where he is generally reliable. A bit like Gini used to be.
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Nah Iām being a bit harsh. I just not sitting around refreshing every post for news.
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He was very good last night. Probably his best game of the season.
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If Konate is still here in years post-Virgil and he remains what can be called a regular starter, then Iām at least glad, from what I know on paper about Jacquet, that Jeremy would be able to play LCB. Him playing everywhere across Rennesā back 3 is a good sign. How good at a higher level, weāll see. Question will remain on Leoni, who has played more on the right side of defence, even at RB a bit for Parma. Konate did it here and there on rare occasions (for example, Matip never did), but I really donāt want to see him there regularly, given his limitations on the ball. He should remain a RCB. Of course, talking about life post-Virgil, there could be more new players other than Jacquet and Leoni.
Both on and off the ball
This isnāt the end of the world for me but as someone said recently he needs competition for his spot,to keep him motivated.
That has got some legs,but it would need to be genuine competition or would likely be time wasting.
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Heās been pretty poor this season by his usual standards but then who hasnāt.
This would be massive though. Weāve really only got two full time senior centre backs and one of them looked to be leaving this summer and the other is turning 35 in July.
Konate would therefore be that bridge between the old guard and what you hope will be the new guard in Leoni and Jacquet. Would still want to keep Gomez for another year and then maybe look at where Quansah is at but not having to replace Konate this summer would be hugely beneficial to allow us to focus on business elsewhere.
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This is great news! Couldnāt be happier about that. 
First, heās part of the the squad winning everything with Klopp, and the title last season. He knows how it goes at top level.
Second, his experience is invaluable in a context of a growing gap between aging starters and young talents in defence. At 26 (seems to me heās with us since ages and older than that) he is the link between VVD and Gomez on one hand, and the younger center-backs the club has landed recently on the other. As such, it is vital to retain him, and that seems now to happen. Well done!
It has been difficult for him this seaon, but then again, who hasnāt had problems at times during this rotten, injury-riddled period? He is currently on an upward curve when compared to a few months ago (couldnāt see the game yesterday bar the last few minutes, so canāt comment on his performance).
He has still a long career in front of him and Iām over the moon if he can do it with us. CBs often hit their peak between 27 and 32-33.
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Ibou outs his own kink.
Loves being whipped, it seems.