homegrown and shit 
passionate uruguayo who’s quality but injury prone 
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injury prone or couldnt score in a brothel?
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I hope he’s good!
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Ozan Kabak is still only 26 years old. Anyone else feeling good about that?
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A three season stat wheel pinched off reddit
Last seasons defensive duel stats, again pinched off reddit
Wil have a look for a more detailed breakdown/comparison of his stats
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Why would a probable, highly likely signing in an area of the pitch we are criminally short not deserve it’s own thread? I guess you might get cancelled or arrested if the froum police don’t think it does, so best to tread carefully. 
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A per 90 breakdown of Konate, Tomori (seeing as he was mentioned regularly in the other thread), and Araujo covering the seasons Konate was here.
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I think a loan makes so much sense in our situation. It’s something I’ve thought we could have done more over the years, but seemingly the club just haven’t seemed interested even when we’ve needed more players.
And now, with short term question marks around Bradley and Leoni in particular, and probably only two fit CBs for the first four or five games up until the long international break - which buys our injured players a few weeks to get ready.
I think this type of move is just as good as a permanent deal for a similar-ish type who maybe they wouldn’t buy in a normal situation; for example Konsa, since his name popped up recently.
And I’m on the other side of the spectrum, I look at this signing almost exclusively with positivity. But then I always do 
I love the surprise element, the unknown, the opportunism, and the option to buy at the end if both parties are happy.
10 Likes
A potentially good signing. He can play a decent part for this season.
I’d still keep Ramsay as a backup RB. Bradley has his injury worries , Gomez has his injury worries , frimpong is well frimpong.
Hopefully we get one CDM and we can be more comfortable about the window.
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He’s probably stagnated the last two years at Barcelona but the fact that he doesn’t shy away from making a challenge makes him more tailored for the PL.
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He is very solid too.
You can stick him at right back and expect the opposition winger to have a tough time getting past him.
A bit like Hincapie maybe.
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True , but as of now he’s a CB who can play RB. Not the kind of RB we want. Unless Iraola decides to have him stay back and attack only through the left side.
Yeah I wouldn´t sign him as a right back but with our CBs fit I wouldn´t be worried about him having to play some games there and we´d be solid.
3 Likes
I will be honest in that I do not know too much about him, apart from in snippets.
However, from an internet search, he was named Barca’s “third (inline) captain” in 2023 having only been in the first team squad for 3 seasons and was made their actual captain in January this year - which I find quite impressive, especially in a successful Barça team.
On the flip side, I query why they are happy to let their Team Captain go. And additionally, could his reported salary have been better used to retain Konate??
Either way, it is a position we needed strengthening in so I am all for it.
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He’s basically almost a like for like to Konate. As in how Konate played for Liverpool when he had to cover Trent going further forward.
Konate had a lot of work that needed to be done in the right back’s traditional position to cut off the attack because Trent was too far up the field.
Ideally , would fit in right as a RCB with having a fast attacking right back.
Doesn’t necessarily need to stop the progress of Jacquet , Leoni and the others as well.
If it works out , we can keep him as well too on a permanent deal considering that VVD is going to need to be replaced as well.
If it doesn’t , not too much harm done.
I don’t think he’s as good a player as Konate.
But he’s almost a like to like replacement.
On whether we could have improved Konate’s contract depends on whether the club thought he would be a future leader and improve sufficiently so as to be worth that amount. Either Konate had his head turned with getting a huge signing bonus at his new club or the club didnt think he would improve much further to pay his demands.
RB - Bradley, Frimpong, Araujo, Gomez, Ramsay
CB (L&R) - VVD, Jaquet, Leoni, Araujo, Gomez
LB - Kerkez, Tsimikas, Gomez
The Araujo signing eases or defensive numbers massively. Left back actually looks quite weak now the names are there.
Personally, I think Araujo is somewhat of a risk. I’m hoping this move gives him a new lease of life and he can re discover his formidable early career form. There is a top class defender in there! There’s also the defender we saw coming on vs Inter in the Champions leage semi a few years ago and making things worse for Barcelona regarding control of a game. He let 50 year old Acerbi score a winner so concentration needs to be worked on from Iraola.
I think it’s a mentality thing with him and hopefully after making the correct decision to seek professional help for his mental health issues, he has recovered. I have no doubt this club will give him ongoing support as you’re not really ever in the clear when you suffer from anxiety.
They just had a £40 million bid turned down by city for Rhodri,…they get his wages off the books and he comes in as captain if they get their second bid accepted
In the worst case this signing might buy Double J and our young Italian Stallion some time to reach the required level.
2 Likes