On 04/08/2023 at 10:21, Conte said:

How did he get brightons player of the year award? Damn we messed up with this one big time. 60M for a dud thats slow and sloppy. Teams are actually targeting him now and it's clear to see that he is the weak link. 

I feel sorry for him and want it to work out but he doesn't have the physical attributes to be a defender at all

Maybe he won their sportsman of the year award 

On 03/08/2023 at 09:33, dermott said:

I agree with the bold and underlined part.

Me too !!

Took the number 3 shirt for the season, shame.

I don't understand that Pochettino is even considering playing Cucurella next season. 

@SwedishEntity

As you are our resident Brighton fan here, I'd like to ask you the question what made him your player of the season, who played so well that he had us and City chasing him last summer?

I see a player who's a very capable passer and pretty good in building from the back. I don't see much else however... He's slow, not overly strong physically, very flat footed when defending, error prone, and doesn't offer much going forward. Even having the manager he excelled under back, didn't help him out.

What made him so great in that 21/22 season?

17 minutes ago, True Blue23 said:

@SwedishEntity

As you are our resident Brighton fan here, I'd like to ask you the question what made him your player of the season, who played so well that he had us and City chasing him last summer?

I see a player who's a very capable passer and pretty good in building from the back. I don't see much else however... He's slow, not overly strong physically, very flat footed when defending, error prone, and doesn't offer much going forward. Even having the manager he excelled under back, didn't help him out.

What made him so great in that 21/22 season?

You left out a poor defensive decision maker, positionally suspect, and offers very little in an attacking sense.

9 hours ago, True Blue23 said:

@SwedishEntity

As you are our resident Brighton fan here, I'd like to ask you the question what made him your player of the season, who played so well that he had us and City chasing him last summer?

I see a player who's a very capable passer and pretty good in building from the back. I don't see much else however... He's slow, not overly strong physically, very flat footed when defending, error prone, and doesn't offer much going forward. Even having the manager he excelled under back, didn't help him out.

What made him so great in that 21/22 season?

Marc was good but not fantastic for most of that season. His effort and funny hair etc. covered up that he couldn't really cross the ball, shot or use his right foot. He'd also quite frequently get caught out in attack.

For the last 8 games, GP made a tactical swap (and introducing Caicedo) which made Cucurella play as a roaming LCB rather than a LB or LWB. Caicedo providing additional cover (before that it had only been Bissouma) made Cucurellas role as a "free-roaming LCB" easier: less thinking, more go-get-the-f**king-ball.

A lot of those last eight games were wins or draws - but most also had another thing in common: they were against top teams. Just like his best games for Getafe, such as him single-handedly destroying A**x, were against far stronger teams, because his strengths are really in his ability to tackle and intercept rather than as a "playing LB/LWB".

But I think the biggest reason for his fall from grace was the tonsilitis infection that hospitalised him not long after signing for Chelsea. When elite athletes lose 10% of their body weight due to some very nasty infection, it is difficult to recover. Its a rapid body change that could lead to temporary or permanent (like in the case with my fellow Swede John Guidetti, whose body never quite recovered from getting some infection at the end of his Feyenoord loan) change in physical capacity. Regardless of severity, it definitely has some impact if you're a fairly lightweight player and you lose 5 kilos in a week or two.

I hope he can recover and I could see him being a decent squad player for Chelsea, but his main skills just aren't made for a top team. He only looks "fun", in reality he is more of a destroyer than a modern wing-back. 

11 minutes ago, SwedishEntity said:

Marc was good but not fantastic for most of that season. His effort and funny hair etc. covered up that he couldn't really cross the ball, shot or use his right foot. He'd also quite frequently get caught out in attack.

For the last 8 games, GP made a tactical swap (and introducing Caicedo) which made Cucurella play as a roaming LCB rather than a LB or LWB. Caicedo providing additional cover (before that it had only been Bissouma) made Cucurellas role as a "free-roaming LCB" easier: less thinking, more go-get-the-f**king-ball.

A lot of those last eight games were wins or draws - but most also had another thing in common: they were against top teams. Just like his best games for Getafe, such as him single-handedly destroying A**x, were against far stronger teams, because his strengths are really in his ability to tackle and intercept rather than as a "playing LB/LWB".

But I think the biggest reason for his fall from grace was the tonsilitis infection that hospitalised him not long after signing for Chelsea. When elite athletes lose 10% of their body weight due to some very nasty infection, it is difficult to recover. Its a rapid body change that could lead to temporary or permanent (like in the case with my fellow Swede John Guidetti, whose body never quite recovered from getting some infection at the end of his Feyenoord loan) change in physical capacity. Regardless of severity, it definitely has some impact if you're a fairly lightweight player and you lose 5 kilos in a week or two.

I hope he can recover and I could see him being a decent squad player for Chelsea, but his main skills just aren't made for a top team. He only looks "fun", in reality he is more of a destroyer than a modern wing-back. 

Excellent insight, thanks. Sounds like he could be employed as a DM also perhaps?

Overall though it would seem his future may lie away from Chelsea, and the club take a significant financial hit. Curious that Manchester City were also in for him. I wonder what Pep's plan was for him.

3 minutes ago, Gordon Bennett said:

Excellent insight, thanks. Sounds like he could be employed as a DM also perhaps?

Overall though it would seem his future may lie away from Chelsea, and the club take a significant financial hit. Curious that Manchester City were also in for him. I wonder what Pep's plan was for him.

Maybe but I think his vision and technique is not good enough to play in a congested area like the central midfield.

I moaned a fair bi on the Brighton board about Cucurella's attacking capacity. People gave responses like "duh, don't you see? Statistically he has created the most chances for us!" - which was perhaps the case, but simply because his main attacking contribution was to pass the ball to Trossard who would then have a go at goal.

Yes, City wanted him for £40m or something, but once the price got higher they said "nah, feck it". I think they knew he was a limited but intense and flexible player who could do the job that was given to Sergio Gomez instead, as a backup LB also capable of playing LCB in a back three. I don't think they intended to have him as a starter.

Very similar to David Luiz in his "defending" style.

The Conte move to a central three at the back with Luiz having more of a free sweeper role, helped negate much of his piss poor decision making and positional lapses. He was completely incapable of marking an opponent, he didn't have the focus or concentration for it. He saw the ball, he chased after it. However, unlike Cucurella, he had plus points. His passing range was excellent, he was good in the air, great at penalties.

Cucurella is a liability who should not be anywhere near our starting lineup.

3 minutes ago, just said:

Very similar to David Luiz in his "defending" style.

The Conte move to a central three at the back with Luiz having more of a free sweeper role, helped negate much of his piss poor decision making and positional lapses. He was completely incapable of marking an opponent, he didn't have the focus or concentration for it. He saw the ball, he chased after it. However, unlike Cucurella, he had plus points. His passing range was excellent, he was good in the air, great at penalties.

Cucurella is a liability who should not be anywhere near our starting lineup.

I think it might have Alan Hansen who said David Luiz was "an attacking midfielder who's playing in central defence"

Notice this chap was left on the bench today against Liverpool. Could be a regular occurrence I reckon.

Edited August 13, 20232 yr by Gordon Bennett

29 minutes ago, Gordon Bennett said:

Notice this chap was left on the bench today against Liverpool. Could be a regular occurrence I reckon.

TBH Gordon I'm not that happy that he even gets on the bench.

Just now, just said:

TBH Gordon I'm not that happy that he even gets on the bench.

I'd certainly prefer if he was sold. Just need to find some lunatic willing to part with £40m for a bang average left back.

Newcastle looking at Cucurella or Tierney for a loan with possible option / obligation to buy.

Tierney is the better player but he's had a few injuries from time to time.

Let's hope we can convince them on Cucurella.

 

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2023/08/14/newcastle-utd-transfer-news-kieran-tierney-marc-cucurella/

 

 

£8m loan fee with an obligation to buy for £30m, please Newcastle i beg.

4 minutes ago, RIP Mourinho said:

£8m loan fee with an obligation to buy for £30m, please Newcastle i beg.

Doubt any of the clubs would be interested in a £30m obligation since one of the clubs are going to look like idiots in the end. Yes, sure, as it stands that club would most likely be Newcastle, but it is hardly out of the question that it could turn out that he is really quite good in the right environment and when given a bit of time and positive vibes, and then £30m looks silly for you.

But yeah obviously Newcastle are the ones more likely to disagree with such a deal. And they are also pretty much the ones to decide the conditions as there are very few clubs that could afford to take a chance on spending a loan fee on him and pay his wages. There won't be a bidding war for Cucurella at this point. Newcastle could just say "take it or leave it".

20 minutes ago, SwedishEntity said:

Doubt any of the clubs would be interested in a £30m obligation since one of the clubs are going to look like idiots in the end. Yes, sure, as it stands that club would most likely be Newcastle, but it is hardly out of the question that it could turn out that he is really quite good in the right environment and when given a bit of time and positive vibes, and then £30m looks silly for you.

But yeah obviously Newcastle are the ones more likely to disagree with such a deal. And they are also pretty much the ones to decide the conditions as there are very few clubs that could afford to take a chance on spending a loan fee on him and pay his wages. There won't be a bidding war for Cucurella at this point. Newcastle could just say "take it or leave it".

In a world where Bournemouth are spending £25m on Alex Scott, £30m for Cucurella really isn't a bad deal for Newcastle. Would likely do well for a club with less ambition like Newcastle, like he did with Brighton. Certainly players just don't make the grade at big clubs.

1 minute ago, RIP Mourinho said:

In a world where Bournemouth are spending £25m on Alex Scott, £30m for Cucurella really isn't a bad deal for Newcastle. Would likely do well for a club with less ambition like Newcastle, like he did with Brighton. Certainly players just don't make the grade at big clubs.

Well, that is certainly one completely detached-from-reality view of what they're doing in Newcastle.

3 minutes ago, SwedishEntity said:

Well, that is certainly one completely detached-from-reality view of what they're doing in Newcastle.

You think Newcastle are expecting to win the CL in the next couple of years? They've got a long term plan. 

6 minutes ago, RIP Mourinho said:

You think Newcastle are expecting to win the CL in the next couple of years? They've got a long term plan. 

They might not talk about winning 3-0 against Real Madrid in the CL but they're quite likely to do it, which is a statement of ambition in itself, a statement heavier than words.

43 minutes ago, SwedishEntity said:

Yes, sure, as it stands that club would most likely be Newcastle, but it is hardly out of the question that it could turn out that he is really quite good in the right environment.

This looks like the right environment for him.

When he first joined, I was wondering who we would play - him or Ben.  Now, it is clear that if Ben is injured we play Maatsen and also that Levi and Badaishile can also cover at LB. IF Hall is around we play him at LB. That makes Cucu our 5th or 6th choice LB imho. That is the way it is.

1 hour ago, just said:

This looks like the right environment for him.

Come on now just, I think you're being too harsh on the fella... I for one thought he had a particularly great match yesterday. Keep it up Cucu!

I feel like if this guy gets a haircut he will transform. A bit like super saiyan mode.... 

Please cucu cut your hair. Your vision is impaired with the current haircut. 

Seriously he looks like that simpson character with the weird hippy afro