Kalidou Koulibaly

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Infra-red

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Think you've nailed it with this post. Regarding organisation, Van Dijk was already the best CB in the league, but Klopp has added a quality LB, GK and DM to help them defensively, even if we add Koulibaly we need to seriously consider upgrading RB and DM ourselves.
Agreed. Matic isn't mobile enough to play the way Solskjaer wants (with fullbacks providing the width and the DM moving laterally to cover for them). Rightback has been a problem for some time. Dalot is talented, but we need a reliable performer.
 

Inigo Montoya

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He's the best we can get as De Ligt looks like he's going to Barca. Skriniar could be an option but I feel he's a bit slow and also he doesn't want to move. I would actually sell Rojo and Bailly/Jones and get Koulibaly and a very good young CB in.
Tuanzebe fits the bill. Otherwise someone like Konaty perhaps but I'm not sure he'd be particularly cheap
 

GDaly95

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He's the best we can get as De Ligt looks like he's going to Barca. Skriniar could be an option but I feel he's a bit slow and also he doesn't want to move. I would actually sell Rojo and Bailly/Jones and get Koulibaly and a very good young CB in.
We already have an exceptionally talented one in Tuanzebe.

Get Koulibaly (or even Alderweireld), sell Jones and Rojo, promote Tuanzebe.

It really should be that simple. Should be.
 

Mainoldo

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It will be another disaster waiting to happen. I hope united stay away from him. We don!t need another Lukaku or Sanchez at the club.
What do you mean? As in over paying? I don’t get how he’s in comparison to those two? Has he got no first touch too?
 

Inigo Montoya

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Agreed. Matic isn't mobile enough to play the way Solskjaer wants (with fullbacks providing the width and the DM moving laterally to cover for them). Rightback has been a problem for some time. Dalot is talented, but we need a reliable performer.
Still waiting to see the 'talent.' He hass just flattered to deceive like most of Jose's signings
 

Judas

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Still think it’s a risky signing and there’s no guarantee he’ll hit the ground running with us, far from it if anything. Still, we’re desperate. Do I think he’d save our defence on his own? Nah.
 

L1nk

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I wouldn't mind seeing Koulibaly, Lindelof, Tuanzebe and say Milenkovic and maybe Bailly next season.

Just as long as I don't have to watch Jones and Smalling for another damn season. Get shot of Rojo too
 

Adam-Utd

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It will be another disaster waiting to happen. I hope united stay away from him. We don!t need another Lukaku or Sanchez at the club.
What has Sanchez or Lukaku got to do with anything? There's zero relation.
 

Inigo Montoya

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Still think it’s a risky signing and there’s no guarantee he’ll hit the ground running with us, far from it if anything. Still, we’re desperate. Do I think he’d save our defence on his own? Nah.
We can't afford to be thinking short term any longer, we really are a broken club
 

redIndianDevil

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Signing a 100m defender is not going to fix our problems. We need better passing, movement and pressing. Koulibaly in a park the bus setup is pointless, we'd better off with buying from Burnley or a low lever PL club. We could save a lot of money too.
 

Adam-Utd

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Signing a 100m defender is not going to fix our problems. We need better passing, movement and pressing. Koulibaly in a park the bus setup is pointless, we'd better off with buying from Burnley or a low lever PL club. We could save a lot of money too.
Who says we want to park the bus? From what we know Solskjaer actually wants to press high but he realises our team isn't fit enough or fast enough to do it.

Once he gets some changes we will see tactical adjustments. You can't press with unfit/slow players.
 

roonster09

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Who says we want to park the bus? From what we know Solskjaer actually wants to press high but he realises our team isn't fit enough or fast enough to do it.

Once he gets some changes we will see tactical adjustments. You can't press with unfit/slow players.
That guy has decided to shit on Ole in every thread.
 

redIndianDevil

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Who says we want to park the bus? From what we know Solskjaer actually wants to press high but he realises our team isn't fit enough or fast enough to do it.

Once he gets some changes we will see tactical adjustments. You can't press with unfit/slow players.
That's the myth that's been going around during this crap period. But talking about something is not the same as executing it in the field. I cannot agree with the idea that an entire squad of top level athletes are incapable of running a little bit more without breaking apart or a manager making a complete u-turn in his tactics just for fitness' sake. Plus we don't need extra ordinary pressing or physical fitness to beat a relegated cardiff, they usually surrender possession, superior passing would have opened them up.
 

MUFC OK

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You just know Jones will still be stinking it up week after week next season. Its indefensible keeping the likes of him around when someone like Koulibaly is available.

We are left to hope that Tuanzebe can become our VVD. No big CB signing this summer.
 

VP89

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Koulibaly's teammate Allan would be an hell of a signing for us. He is able to put a lot pressure on the opponent's team, aswell as distribute play. His aggression and workrate would be very welcome.
Yeah I've always liked him. On Fifa that is :lol:
 

Adam-Utd

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That's the myth that's been going around during this crap period. But talking about something is not the same as executing it in the field. I cannot agree with the idea that an entire squad of top level athletes are incapable of running a little bit more without breaking apart or a manager making a complete u-turn in his tactics just for fitness' sake. Plus we don't need extra ordinary pressing or physical fitness to beat a relegated cardiff, they usually surrender possession, superior passing would have opened them up.
Did you only just start watching the last 7/8 matches? that's exactly what happened. It's no myth.

We pressed high under Solskjaer pretty much every game apart from the trickier away matches (arsenal/Chelsea/Tottenham) until our squad fell apart at home to PSG with muscular injuries. Those injuries caused by too much running and not enough recovery time. We have changed tactics since then and not done quite so well. He's said himself many times he doesn't see the squad being fit enough, but you can't do that sort of work inbetween playing every 3-4 days.

Yes we clearly need improvements in many factors, but we need better players first and foremost. The fact Greenwood looked our most threatening forward at 17 years old says everything.
 

BlueHaze

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You just know Jones will still be stinking it up week after week next season. Its indefensible keeping the likes of him around when someone like Koulibaly is available.

We are left to hope that Tuanzebe can become our VVD. No big CB signing this summer.
If Villa get's promoted I'd let Tuanzebe stay there. I'm very thankful for what Villa has done in terms of his development. They have let him play every single game when fit.
 

kafta

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If we can get him, we should. The best attainable target, and one of the best in the world.
 

r3idy

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The Irish Connection

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As much as De Ligt would be class at 19, he plays as the right sided CB, which is Lindelofs best position and Tuanzebe’s.
So I think Koulibaly should be the number 1 target if he can be signed for 80m or less. Maguire for around 60m would be my second choice as both play left CB.
 

The Irish Connection

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Have to admit not seen loads of him live. YouTube montage, some Serie A and Europa. Christ on a bike, he looks like he's got a red card or five in him

His stats are not that bad when you compare him to VVD, He clearly excels in most defensive areas compared to Jones and Smalling

http://stats.squawka.com/en/compari...e190423&s=401,402,403,404,405,406,407,409,410
Impressive stats considering he played less than Van Dijk. But he could improve on clearances; does that mean he isn’t great in the air or that he prefers to play it short out from the back?
 

Adam-Utd

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Have to admit not seen loads of him live. YouTube montage, some Serie A and Europa. Christ on a bike, he looks like he's got a red card or five in him

His stats are not that bad when you compare him to VVD, He clearly excels in most defensive areas compared to Jones and Smalling

http://stats.squawka.com/en/compari...e190423&s=401,402,403,404,405,406,407,409,410
he's in the top 5 centre backs in the world for me right now, which is why we should sign him.

The fact he's also a LCB is a massive importance. All our other CB's prefer the right side, so 1 of them is always uncomfortable.
 

Beaucoup

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I feel mad typing this, but I would prefer slab head at this present moment in time
 

Adam-Utd

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Impressive stats considering he played less than Van Dijk. But he could improve on clearances; does that mean he isn’t great in the air or that he prefers to play it short out from the back?
He definitely isn't a hoofer. He is good in the air but I wouldn't say that's where he stands out. He's very strong and quick and rarely loses a 1v1 duel with a striker on the floor.

He's very good at passing out from the back, great with both feet. he loves to run forward with the ball after intercepting which is great for launching counter attacks.

He's just a very good modern CB, he would fit in perfectly at City or Barca.
 

Champagne Football

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Still think it’s a risky signing and there’s no guarantee he’ll hit the ground running with us, far from it if anything. Still, we’re desperate. Do I think he’d save our defence on his own? Nah.
There will definitely be a proper DM coming in with pace. I'd say Idrissa Gueye. That and perhaps Cancelo too and we've got a defense that should perform.
I won't believe the Koulibaly rumours unless it happens. His agent will probably use us to get a bidding war going, so that a Champions League club like PSG or Madrid will offer him a monster salary.
 

bosnian_red

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Still think it’s a risky signing and there’s no guarantee he’ll hit the ground running with us, far from it if anything. Still, we’re desperate. Do I think he’d save our defence on his own? Nah.
Not sure how its risky. Hes a world class centerback, fast, strong, quality on the ball, defensively and in the air. He's a few leaves above any defender we have. Of course, he won't fix all of our problems, but he'd be competing with Laporte for the 2nd best CB in the league if he came, behind Van Dijk. Our back 4 would look brilliant if we managed to get both him and Cancelo in though.

People kinda go overboard with what they think we need IMO. A summer of Cancelo, Koulibaly and Tielemans would be around £160m probably, so there should still be money for some others, but those 3 alone would completely transform us. I don't want to go cheap or take a risk on a CB. Koulibaly will cost a premium because he is at that top level, and since he's possible, we need to do all we can to get him.
 

bosnian_red

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I feel mad typing this, but I would prefer slab head at this present moment in time
Maguire is a few levels below Koulibaly. It's actually not very close. Koulibaly beats him in pretty much every aspect of the game.
 

bosnian_red

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Signing a 100m defender is not going to fix our problems. We need better passing, movement and pressing. Koulibaly in a park the bus setup is pointless, we'd better off with buying from Burnley or a low lever PL club. We could save a lot of money too.
:houllier: We conceded more goals than half of the league. We can't build up from the back in the slightest. The exact reason for that is because of a massive lack of quality in the back 4 and how we've neglected it for years. We need a top CB, a right back, a midfielder and a winger at the bare minimum this summer. Probably 2 midfielders, maybe even 3. But a CB is a must, especially if we can get someone like Koulibaly. Just look at how Liverpool went from a joke defensively to having the best defence in Europe just by adding Van Dijk instead of always using both Lovren and Matip. We need both a right back and a CB, but that's one area we can't afford to cheap out in.
 

Brophs

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He doesn’t offer any sort of long term value but what he undoubtedly is is a top class CB who has, easily, 4 or 5 good years in him. If he performs at a world class level for that period, then he’d solve one massive issue in the side and allow the others the security to play ahead of him. Obviously he might not have the sort of transformative effective of someone like Van Dijk but people need only look back at how poor Liverpool’s defence was considered to be when he arrived. If you can buy one of the best players in the world, turning that down is incredibly difficult. Particularly if you’re a club in disarray who are ‘only’ fighting for CL places. Buy cheap, but twice and all that.
 

RD94

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Missing height and heading ability to compliment to lets say Lindelof.He could be Lindelof replacement..Koulibaly is 1.85,no more,never was great in heading the ball which would be seriously exposed in Premier league with him partnering Lindelof if Lindelof is the one we aim to partner with.

He is a great defender on the ground,fast,good on the ball and would be a great signing for a top team which already is great and would give even more quality but missing some important attributes we need in our defence and would consider for 70m max but anything higher not a chance.

We need a towering centre back,great at heading,comfortable on the ball but mainly a Chris Smalling upgrade because he cant pass the ball and we suffer in building attack from the back and that is what modern football is all about.

Maguire is a better option to what we need even if Koulibaly is a better player all-round but also Maguire asking price isnt probably low but a better option for certainly and used to Premier League.

Younger options that could fit the bill:Andersen,Tah or really young Saliba and maybe Zagadou,Milenkovic.
 

Beaucoup

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Maguire is a few levels below Koulibaly. It's actually not very close. Koulibaly beats him in pretty much every aspect of the game.
I agree, however, Maguire is Prem proven and seems to have a very good mentality, hence why I said I would prefer him for where the team is right now. It's not always about who's the best, it's who's best for the team, Klopp's Liverpool is testament to this. Maguire just seems the better fit.
 
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