19 hours ago, ozboy said:

i don't think he's been that bad. Just a bit down on pace.

....... and distribution.

He had it easy against two big strikers, it's the kind of game for him, 7/10 but plenty of tougher games ahead

I'd take Sarr or Djilobodji back in a heartbeat. Never sign a player from the Serie A again. The fact he played the full 90 today is completely unforgivable, should've been hooked for Chalobah at half time. 

Potter has made some odd calls since he took over, but I don't see a single reason why Koulibaly has won his place back ahead of Chalobah. 

Oh Todd your recruitment this summer set us back rotten and this one may be the worst. 31 years old, never played in England before, and you pay 34mill for him, with one year left on his deal and give him a big signing on fee and 295k a week. Moronic.

As is the idiot who picks him ahead of Chalobah.

Just a rich man's Sarr. You'd think he was 18 years old the way he played. 

Another reason why you do not give a manager full say on transfers. 

21 minutes ago, Scott Harris said:

Potter has made some odd calls since he took over, but I don't see a single reason why Koulibaly has won his place back ahead of Chalobah. 

Probably dressing room politics but essentially the same boring/risk-averse ‘playing the established players’ whilst we’re in a rut habit that managers always rinse and repeat here. 

2 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

Oh Todd your recruitment this summer set us back rotten and this one may be the worst. 31 years old, never played in England before, and you pay 34mill for him, with one year left on his deal and give him a big signing on fee and 295k a week. Moronic.

As is the idiot who picks him ahead of Chalobah.

This signing had so many red flags. Players moving from Serie A to the Premier League at his age never work out, unless you're extra special like Zola was. Even players moving to the Premier League from Serie A at their peak rarely work. The style of football is so different. Even when we were getting linked to the likes of Kaka and Pirlo, I was worried about signing them because they built their game around Italian football. Everybody was expected Pogba to be amazing when he returned to United, but he was ass most weeks. He turned into one of the biggest names in the game in Italy, but he comes to England and looks out of place. It's not even because one league is better than the other, just very different. You would probably find players that built their game around English football struggle in Italy too.

It's the reason why Jorginho in large parts has struggled with us. His game is made for Serie A and it's why he looked world class every week over there and why we only see flashes of it here and there with us.

The issue with Koulibaly is that we bought him half a decade too late. A younger Koulibaly probably would have better adapted to the premier league and utilized what he's good at in right way. Sadly you can't teach an old dog new tricks and at the moment, he just looks like a stop gap for the younger defenders we are signing who will eventually replace him. Really wish we managed to get De Ligt.

44 minutes ago, Frankie8Lampard said:

The issue with Koulibaly is that we bought him half a decade too late. A younger Koulibaly probably would have better adapted to the premier league and utilized what he's good at in right way. Sadly you can't teach an old dog new tricks and at the moment, he just looks like a stop gap for the younger defenders we are signing who will eventually replace him. Really wish we managed to get De Ligt.

But we're still not doing it. If today wasn't a clarion call for Gvardiol, I don't know what else is although I am approaching the point where I would prefer any player already playing in our league than a new signing from abroad, especially Italy or Spain.

Edited January 1, 20233 yr by WhiteWall

1 hour ago, axman2526 said:

Oh Todd your recruitment this summer set us back rotten and this one may be the worst. 31 years old, never played in England before, and you pay 34mill for him, with one year left on his deal and give him a big signing on fee and 295k a week. Moronic.

As is the idiot who picks him ahead of Chalobah.

He's not being paid that much haha

11 minutes ago, RIP Mourinho said:

He's not being paid that much haha

Koulibaly? Yup several sources confirm he is on 295k a week.

Tragic player

38 minutes ago, WhiteWall said:

But we're still not doing it. If today wasn't a clarion call for Gvardiol, I don't know what else is although I am approaching the point where I would prefer any player already playing in our league than a new signing from abroad, especially Italy or Spain.

I remember a lot of fans were sh*tting on Ake when we were linked with him. Based off his performances this season, he would have been a good signing for us. 

1 hour ago, axman2526 said:

Koulibaly? Yup several sources confirm he is on 295k a week.

£10m a year is all i see, £195k per week. I doubt we put him on Kante wages for a CB. 

Having said that though, £195k is still far too much.

3 hours ago, Scott Harris said:

This signing had so many red flags. Players moving from Serie A to the Premier League at his age never work out, unless you're extra special like Zola was. Even players moving to the Premier League from Serie A at their peak rarely work. The style of football is so different. Even when we were getting linked to the likes of Kaka and Pirlo, I was worried about signing them because they built their game around Italian football. Everybody was expected Pogba to be amazing when he returned to United, but he was ass most weeks. He turned into one of the biggest names in the game in Italy, but he comes to England and looks out of place. It's not even because one league is better than the other, just very different. You would probably find players that built their game around English football struggle in Italy too.

It's the reason why Jorginho in large parts has struggled with us. His game is made for Serie A and it's why he looked world class every week over there and why we only see flashes of it here and there with us.

There is still time for Koulibaly to show that he's a good player, it's not over after one match in which we played a draw. The leagues are different but that doesn't really matter if the player is good and Koulibaly has been a good defender. If you want an example that it can go well for such a profile as Koulibaly it's Desailly. Jorginho was supposed to go to Pep and he would have been doing the same things there as he has done here... It's like saying Sarri struggled in the PL but then you realise he implemented his style in no time and finished top 3.

Edited January 1, 20233 yr by Gol15

Another labored performance.  Still holding out hope he improves as he adapts, but fully expect the younger crowd, if fit, to relegate KK to the bench.

8 hours ago, Gol15 said:

There is still time for Koulibaly to show that he's a good player, it's not over after one match in which we played a draw. The leagues are different but that doesn't really matter if the player is good and Koulibaly has been a good defender. If you want an example that it can go well for such a profile as Koulibaly it's Desailly. Jorginho was supposed to go to Pep and he would have been doing the same things there as he has done here... It's like saying Sarri struggled in the PL but then you realise he implemented his style in no time and finished top 3.

The problem is that it's not one match with Koulibaly, he's been like this since day 1 for us. Nothing has improved since that disasterclass against Leeds where he got sent off. We can't have a defender that can't deal with 1v1's, he can't just foul the player and take a card everytime, or miss the player completely and allow them to run through on goal. Even Sarr wasn't this bad.

This guy cannot be used if you are trying to use a high back line. He is almost zero pace and yes I actually doubt he is really 31.

Went to the game yesterday and can someone point out what has Trev done wrong to not be any starting 11 ahead of Koulibaly. The guys a train wreck an accident waiting to happen. Tiago Silva, the only one any good yesterday,  must think WTF when he plays along side him. 

Of our signings he is the worse when you think Kurt Zouma is twice the player this man is. Makes me wonder who scouts these players. Your better sending someone to watch these players for 6 months before spu**King millions on a poor Kurt Zouma. Same for Cuccurella, who was slightly better yesterday, a poor replacement for Marcus. 

Don't get me started.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3 hours ago, Scott Harris said:

The problem is that it's not one match with Koulibaly, he's been like this since day 1 for us. Nothing has improved since that disasterclass against Leeds where he got sent off. We can't have a defender that can't deal with 1v1's, he can't just foul the player and take a card everytime, or miss the player completely and allow them to run through on goal. Even Sarr wasn't this bad.

He did play an important role every time we had a clean sheet this season. Rudiger left us almost in some legendary status but let's not forget that he also had a rocky start and at some point wasn't even on the bench so let's not count off a top defender cause Koulibaly has been that and he loves the club. Remember that our worst defeat under Potter came when he wasn't playing.

4 hours ago, Gol15 said:

He did play an important role every time we had a clean sheet this season. Rudiger left us almost in some legendary status but let's not forget that he also had a rocky start and at some point wasn't even on the bench so let's not count off a top defender cause Koulibaly has been that and he loves the club. Remember that our worst defeat under Potter came when he wasn't playing.

Rudiger had an asset that is hugely advantageous in, any position on the pitch, in the EPL. Pace. He made a mistake, he was often able to correct it with his pace and timing in a recovery tackle.

KK isn't gonna suddenly find pace anymore than Jorgi is.  The hope is, he is able to find the positional awareness and reading of the game that means he can be effective without having to rely on pace. Like Silva has. Personally, I think that is a very slim hope and I cannot think of one good reason why KK should be getting picked ahead of Chalobah.

4 hours ago, just said:

Rudiger had an asset that is hugely advantageous in, any position on the pitch, in the EPL. Pace. He made a mistake, he was often able to correct it with his pace and timing in a recovery tackle.

KK isn't gonna suddenly find pace anymore than Jorgi is.  The hope is, he is able to find the positional awareness and reading of the game that means he can be effective without having to rely on pace. Like Silva has. Personally, I think that is a very slim hope and I cannot think of one good reason why KK should be getting picked ahead of Chalobah.

I present to you, our biggest defeat under Potter so far:

No Koulibaly, not even any Jorginho, but Chalobah for a full 90'.

2 hours ago, Gol15 said:

I present to you, our biggest defeat under Potter so far:

No Koulibaly, not even any Jorginho, but Chalobah for a full 90'.

Somewhat disingenious regarding a comparison of Chalobah vs Koulibaly. In the game cited here i think he played Pulisic as RWB, Sterling as LWB and RLC as a deep lying midfielder, who BTW had a hideous game including one of the OGs. Goalie change at half time. I think thsi was more about Potter having his ar$e handed to him than anything else to be honest. Trust me, in no way would Koulibaly have mitigated this atrocity.

For a 31 year old his positional awareness, decision making and reading of the game are shocking. He wants to be agressive but players are anticipating or are just a lil faster and he is ending getting carded or missing the player altogether. Also isn’t the most commanding in the air either-have to admit I hadn’t seen him play earlier but big disappointment .