Saw a bit of Virg at Celtic and it’s the Virg we see now. The only question is whether he could do to higher quality opposition what he did there against lower quality. He was dominant and the perfect footballer. He also impressed at European fixtures with them against higher quality opposition a few times. If he said something like that it might well have been the colourful “thank you Southampton” guff that players say about past clubs and their time there. I don’t remember Netherlands having particularly great options at CB before VvD came here but I remember having to argue how his lack of international exposure shouldn’t be a reason not to sign him on the old boards.
You may think so, but no one else did. Not himself and not the people he played with/for. Physically very talented, but still big question marks and things he had to learn. Regardless, he played well enough there to get his recognition (his first call up was the first round of fixtures after leaving Celtic), but nothing about that means Holland were wrong to overlook him prior to that.
Anyway, back to Botman, I’ve legit never seen him play, but my point is I am conscious that a player being touted for a move of this level now leaves me incredibly skeptical given an unimpressive ditch squad have overlooked him. The fact that a different dutch regime o7-8 years ago overlooked a player who eventually became a beast is a pretty terrible argument to assuage that concern.
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That one who can head the ball.
Nah, the other one
Colwill, if it is possible. If there’s no sign that a deal can be done, I would move on to Inacio. Ball playing central defender, left sided, reasonable price - not massive, but 6’1. Not great in the air but more likely because that’s not the game as much in Portugal. He would definitely need to adjust to life in the Prem, but there’s a player there.
Would’ve liked Timber, shame to see he’s Arsenal bound but in truth there’s many very capable alternatives out there depending on what exactly we’re searching for. Is it a straight Matip replacement in the Matip kind of mould to cover for Trent when he’s tucked inside higher up, is it someone to come in and play where Robbo was playing back end of last season? Or is it someone with very limited experience with huge potential that’s not a guaranteed starter?
Leverkusen have some really interesting options back there, wonder if we could get Xabi to give us a lil’ helping hand.
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We’re looking for more of a left sided CB. Matip looks like will be staying for that final season, I assume there’s not enough interest in him so far. Gomez will cover at CB and RB. So, on paper, we will have 5 CB’s. But 8 defenders overall, exactly the number we need.
One thing I don’t know is how highly rated our young center backs are. For example, Koumetia and Quansah. Young, both 20 I think.
How close are they to the level of, say, Levi Colwill? Similar age, but he is being talked about in a price bracket that might make us wince for such an unproven player.
Are our young central defenders just not in the same league?
I would include VdB in that group with Koumetia and Quansah too.
Chelsea have Colwill and Badiashile. Are they just levels above our youngsters?
Badiashile isn’t really a fair comparison, he’s not really a young player anymore at 22 + came to Chelsea on the back of 135 senior games for Monaco and was already capped by France.
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I know the talk is that Poch will build his defence around Colwill but Badiashile is more experienced and is a better player at the moment. He has to get results and I don’t think he will play Colwill over him even if he tells him that is his plan.
Yes.
Do you not think if Sepp/Koumetio or Quansah were anywhere near the level they’d already be with the first team on a regular basis?
They can easily have Badiashile and Colwill battling for that LCB spot. Silva (will have his final season at Chelsea), Fofana, Badiashile and Colwill. Don’t think that’s a terrible situation for Colwill, going from playing 22 games for Brighton and every chance of forcing his way in Chelsea’s starting XI in the near future. Badiashile has certain experience, but it doesn’t guarantee much.
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As far as I understand it, Colwill wants a guaranteed first team place, which he didn’t even have at Brighton.
If that’s true, why would he come to us and try to dislodge one of the greatest players we’ve ever had? It also shows a certain arrogance, which may be a good thing, or maybe not.
It all seems highly unlikely to me.
I think its a question of opportunity. In the case of Quansah hes a first choice CB for England U20s and had a good loan spell with Bristol Rovers last season. He had some injury issues early in his Liverpool career, didn’t get a lot of game time until his second scholarship year despite talent-wise being more than good enough. I think that slowed down his development to go out on loan which probably would have happened a year earlier putting him on the same track as Colwill).
Colwill got out on loan earlier and went to Huddersfield where he impressed enough to get a shot as a backup for Brighton. He’s subsequently one year ahead in the England set up (starter for the U21s).
I genuinely don’t believe there to be a massive talent gap between the two - or indeed with some of the other young CBs like Harwood-Bellis, Cresswell or Edwards. Quansah has PL potential, absolutely no doubt about that, just a question of staying fit and getting the right chances.
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How big is Quansah? Just asking as Wiki lists him as 6’3 but in the latest FM he’s 6’6! 
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Growth spurt
Somehow, despite being a literal giant, he only has 14/20 for jumping 
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If that Timber guy gets chopped down in the box… will he make a sound…? :0)
6’3" sounds about right to me