Welcome to Liverpool, Giovanni Leoni!

I do think we will be playing more of a mid block in defense now. Especially with Virgil getting older.

Possibly means more possession play and less of route 1.

https://x.com/LFC/status/1957125521046954077

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A quick look at the Leoni family, but the Ai voice is annoying tbf

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Don’t see how Leoni is physically comparable to Konate.

Height wise it’s pretty good, but it’s only one aspect. In terms of size, Konate is indeed a unit and perhaps right on the limit how good that is for his game (technically). You can go too far in that direction for football (Riise was one example here).

Some of the best defenders are not necessarily the biggest in terms of bulk. Balance is needed.

We’ll see the more important aspects once he starts playing.

I remember when De ligt was at Ajax and he looked certain to be world class. Watching him yesterday makes you realise how judging a defender before 25 is very risky.

https://x.com/ParmaCalcio_en/status/1956430093930078287

Btw… While searching for Leonis farewell post, I found this post directly above…

https://x.com/ParmaCalcio_en/status/1955595530584949224

What a good omen that was btw

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High praise!

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I think the fact he speaks really good English will help him. Not sure about those in the past but it’s not a country I’d associate with such a well grounded English speaking population not like say Germany.

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I think Italians closer to the Swiss border tend to be good English speakers. Jannik Sinner for example is practically fluent.

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Yeah apparently it’s 25/34 for European countries. Big cities and tourist spots seem to be different mind.

Family probably encouraged it knowing it would be useful as a footballer who may wish to go beyond his country.

Croatia was very easy on the coast and in Split but more patchy in Zagreb.

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I think most Europeans right now are knowledgable in English. Even Chiesa for that matter.

Far cry from 15 years ago we got the Aquiliani guy.

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Suppose Europe is Europe. Unlike the UK where it’s all Johnny Foreigner and no one cares.

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You’re seeing more South Americans get more fluent in English. Not counting Macca as he would have had some knowledge of English at home. But guys like Alisson are pretty fluent in English. Nunez probably was one of the outliers there.

If SA footballers are getting more fluent in English, The European footballers would obviously be having that much more of an advantage.

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True, still Brazil is only 5% English speakers. I know one was my ex :joy:

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You should have picked one of the other 95%. You might still be together.

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fify

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Can you play right back in a pinch?

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Hi Nobby,
Gio here, I’m just using my mate Craig’s account to personally reply to your question.
I am happy to play anywhere on the pitch if it helps the team. Don’t know what ā€˜in a pinch’ means, but it sounds painful. I’ve been a scouser for about a week now, and all I can say is, it’s boss la!
Very happy to be here and I love your sexy Liverpool girls with their charming and incomprehensible accents.
See you in the stadium soon!
Ciao,
Gio

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