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But he is another box to box or ball carrier, somewhere between Szlob and Grav but maybe more physical and less technical than those two, we don’t need more of those unless someone is sold.
Where do you see him fitting into our team?
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Thuram is way more physical than anyone we got, he might be a better idea than paying 90 million for TchouamΓ©ni but there is a difference in ability there. Football ability, I like the Thuram broΒ΄s but they are not the most technical players IΒ΄ve seen. Just very physical and professional. IΒ΄d take the latter if we can get him as we can central our midfield around him as the engine for the next 5 years. He is one of the finest defensive midfielders around right now.
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Threeps, slightly verbose here (but all my own words!) and have seen this lad play a fair bit (liked the initial link with him two years ago) and also just did some extra analysis over a cup o’ char.
‘Very’ technical player btw, excellent close control, strong in ground duels, reads play well, pace, breaks lines, aggressive in the press, excellent range of passing. Can play DM, CM, CB and RB.
Would obviously be part of the pivot in a 4231 (also Thuram comes from a 4231). Iraola’s in possession shape is often a 325 so would slot in between the centre halves. Iraola encourages long balls from the back when appropriate and Thuram has a strong passing range. His teams have a high PPDA and Thuram’s numbers in this area are very good (interceptions, tackles, blocks). Thuram is strong in second phases, likes to break lines which is what Iraola’s teams have done previously, not just winning and passing, but can we gain useful yards when we do win possession back. Not passing for the sake of it in other words which we were masters at last season. Top of the charts in unnecessary passing by a country mile.
Big lad too at 6-3. Could help significantly in midfield rotation as Iraola’s teams have been known to ‘drop off’ mid-season due to his aggressive approach. Very adaptable player, 4231, 433, can play left, can play right and more importantly can protect those spaces between full back and centre backs, an area we were massively exposed too last season which Slot never fuckin’ fixed.
Grav can’t play every game (and definitely shouldn’t!), we don’t know Endo’s future (already retired from international duty) and we also don’t know Mac Allister’s future either. Thuram is also better than pro-ball-hogger, one good game in three Jones.
30-40 million. French international. 25 years old. I’m in.
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Not saying he’s a bad player but at Juve he played alongside Locatelli and in front of a back 3 right? Locatelli provided tactical discipline whilst Thuram used his physically to play box to box. If we sign him who is going to provide tactical discipline in an Iraola two midfield?
For box to box I’d rather have Gravenberch and Szoboszlai, but if one is sold then sure his name enters the equation.
We don’t want all our midfield bombing forward like the first part of last season, coupled with attacking fullbacks. Someone must have tactical discipline to provide cover or we’ll be ripped to shreds again.
We need a sitting midfielder first and foremost and then any others is about replacing who we already have.
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Juve adopted either a 4231 or 433 last season with Thuram operating left or right. Would likely split the centre halves in Iraola’s formation so indeed would be ‘sitting.’ Has the tactical discipline to do this.
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Francisco Trincao. Diomande alternative if it goes tits up?
I still like Summerville though.
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the only two lads from the midfield that might move this summer are Jones and Macca. I think Jones is pretty much guaranteed to leave for Inter as they seem genuinely interested in him and I reckon that would be a great move for him, similar to McTominay moving to Napoli.
I kind of feel like we just replaced Jota with Munoz…
All we know is that the club needs to make a statement bid for the next winger to replace Salah. If we replace Jones with Thuram I would call that a good move but if Macca leaves as well we need a another statement signing for the midfield.
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And if Macca leaves he would be going to Real Madrid I reckon, at least to Spain so Tchouameni would be my main target to replace him. Something big is bound to happen with Real Madrid this summer, they want Rodri for example, already got Bernardo Silva. They need to make space and Tchouameni is on the chopping block after the Valverde incident over there.
We seriously need a mifield engine that can do the dirty work. I would not mind seeing two players capable of doing that coming in if the players I mentioned are leaving.
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Our midfield is currently unbalanced. We have one player capable of sitting and showing tactical discipline and that MacAllister who is likely off anyway. Plus he is a tempo setter more suited to a possession based system and hasn’t got the physicality. Maybe Gravenberch can resort back to the 2024 version? I’m not sure.
Thuram is a physical player. A runner. A bomb forward and bomb back. He’d be great under Iraola but not as the sitting midfielder.
We have 3 midfield slots. A sitter with discipline, a runner / progresser and a creator. You could call them a 6, 8 and 10, but in a 4231 whilst defending the 6 and 8 act as a double pivot. The 6 should be on the side with the more advanced fullback plays to give extra cover. The 8 should really have a more disciplined full back (another hole in out team) and will do more of the pressing and “putting his boot in”. The 10 presses from an advanced position or blocks of the route back to their 6 if they have one. Wirtz is the 10.
Thuram would be great as the 8, probably better than both Gravenberch and Szoboszlai due to his physicality, but we already have those two and I don’t think either will be sold. But as a 6? It’s like buying the best attacking fullback in the league and telling him to invert to centre back and be involved in the build out. Madness, total waste of their skillset.
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Iraola had Tyler Adams sit between his centre backs in possession. Thuram could operate like this (as could Grav of course). Prefer Grav as an 8 personally. If we got Thuram and say Diomande for eg. it could look like this….
Ali
Jacquet Thuram VVD
Grav Szobo
Frimpong Wirtz Kerkez
Diomande IsakGrav and Szobo acting as the 8’s/screeners who would essentially flank behind (but not overly regimented; depends on which side the ball is at).
Just notes in me head.
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I’d rather take Scott than Thuram actually. Even if Alex Scott will cost double.
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I actually see a bit of Jordan Henderson in Alex Scott and I can’t think of a higher praise for a midfielder right now. Scott can turn into that leader we need.
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There is talk that Szoboszlai is being encouraged to wind down his contract by Real. I mentioned this a few weeks ago and it’s a rumour that resurfaced again. He has two years on his contract, and maybe the club is looking at options rather than lose another player to them for nothing.
If true, and there’s evidence that supports this behavior from them, then Thuram would make perfect sense. He might even be an upgrade on Szoboszlai for a 2 man central midfield. Could see it work with Wharton next to him and Gravenberch rotating with either of them.
Would be a heck of an upheaval!
Not buying one bit that Thuram can sit or even play the half back role. He’s a prime (not as good) Yaya Toure, thr one who had players just bounce off him as he stampeded through the middle of the pitch.
Rob, best we agree to disagree on this one.
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I encourage ‘disagreements’ Threeps! Just an option and a good one. We both agree that our mid needs work for sure. Good notes from you sir.
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It ‘seems’ our next bid for Diomande will get accepted. RBL just holding out for a few bob more and don’t blame them.
We showed our hand more than once last season and clubs will perpetually take advantage of that.
Again, don’t blame them.
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Lol, seems like the usual Cat and Mouse. Hope we don’t gazumped though, on a slightly serious note. Could be another huge Transfer in the coming days smashed!
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I doubt anyone else is prepared to spend that big on him
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Said it more than once.
Summerville.
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Couple of Romano updates posted within the last hour:
π¨ ππππππ: Tottenham see Micky van de Ven as key player and Roberto De Zerbi wants him to stay π€π
No move to Liverpool or Barcelona is planned for the Dutch centre-back at this stage.
There is no intention to sell him this summer π³π±β¨
π¨ ππππππππ: Liverpool prepare πππ πππ ππππ β¬ππππ to advance in negotiations for Yan DiomandΓ© π£RB Leipzig insist not to sell the player, pushing to keep Yan at the club for one more season β but DiomandΓ© is open to go.
Liverpool push to get DiomandΓ© now and anticipate PSG as other clubs are also trying to enter the race behind scenes.
β¬100m opening bid was rejected but Reds will πππ πππππ.
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