Boubacar Kamara | Signs for Aston Villa

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Danish Wizard

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Seems a no-brainer to me. Just get him in, if he is interested. He would suit ten Hags style of play I think.
Like Rangnick said, we need at least a few new midfielders. Some are leaving, some are not good enough.
Kamara as a free, would give more money to put towards other signings.
 

Cassidy

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Yes, it's abysmal situation in which Matic is still our best DMF.
We’re about to have 0 DMs in the squad. Think this signing is important for at least depth and competition
 

Adam-Utd

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Even if he's only signed for a squad position it still makes sense. He can be 4th choice CB also if we lose Bailly/Jones this summer too.
 

Adam-Utd

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We better lose them ffs.
You'd think Bailly is definitely moving but it depends whether the club get an acceptable offer. They've shown in the past they're happy to let players sit here unless they get the right fee.

Hopefully though if ETH decides they won't play any part they can get moved on. Having unhappy players here not playing is way worse than a few extra quid.
 

croadyman

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I think he's considerable inferior to Aurelien Tchouameni as a DM. He's also weak in the defensive transition at getting back goal side in a high line. The article above highlights the areas of concern, and his lack of pace/physicality is seen as a weakness against the opposition transition/counter. That would be a big problem in the EPL and we'd need a extra player to help out in that regard.
Yeah trouble is we can't shop at Waitrose when we are going to be in the Europa League
 

Herculean

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Even if he's only signed for a squad position it still makes sense. He can be 4th choice CB also if we lose Bailly/Jones this summer too.
I think the club are in a great position to sign players (silver lining after such a terrible campaign) because every player that comes in will believe that they can/will be an automatic starter next season!
 

Adam-Utd

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I think the club are in a great position to sign players (silver lining after such a terrible campaign) because every player that comes in will believe that they can/will be an automatic starter next season!
with the amount of players we are losing/selling, they just might!
 

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Wasn't there a story some time ago that said he'd already agreed to join us this summer? Or was that complete bollocks?
 

bosnian_red

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I think he's considerable inferior to Aurelien Tchouameni as a DM. He's also weak in the defensive transition at getting back goal side in a high line. The article above highlights the areas of concern, and his lack of pace/physicality is seen as a weakness against the opposition transition/counter. That would be a big problem in the EPL and we'd need a extra player to help out in that regard.
Worse than Tchouameni sure (hard not to be!), but I'd say Kamara still shows a lot of potential while being only 22. I think his passing looks quite good, he's very secure in position and doesn't give it away cheaply, while defensively he'd be more solid than anything we have now too. A lot of his game just looks very similar to Fabinho, especially stats wise. Which on a free we should be all over.

As you said, signing Kamara on a free and Timber as well to be our right back would be a very good move and make sense in a lot of ways. For this year we could partner Kamara with Fred and Bruno, have Timber and Shaw at fullback and then Sancho and hopefully Antony on the wings. feck knows who up top, and then picking from who we have at CB. That'd be an 11 that at least suits each other and would suit Ten Hag IMO, though still opportunities to improve next year.
 

croadyman

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Worse than Tchouameni sure (hard not to be!), but I'd say Kamara still shows a lot of potential while being only 22. I think his passing looks quite good, he's very secure in position and doesn't give it away cheaply, while defensively he'd be more solid than anything we have now too. A lot of his game just looks very similar to Fabinho, especially stats wise. Which on a free we should be all over.

As you said, signing Kamara on a free and Timber as well to be our right back would be a very good move and make sense in a lot of ways. For this year we could partner Kamara with Fred and Bruno, have Timber and Shaw at fullback and then Sancho and hopefully Antony on the wings. feck knows who up top, and then picking from who we have at CB. That'd be an 11 that at least suits each other and would suit Ten Hag IMO, though still opportunities to improve next year.
That idea actually makes a lot of sense
 

Trophy Room

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I really like him. He strikes me as a very coachable player. On a free, it’s a no brainer.

Just means someone else will.
 

TwoSheds

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I'd sign him up sharpish to put us in a good negotiating position for Tchouameni and hopefully sign them both. If he can fill in at CB and at worst he's our 2nd choice DM then I think he'd get loads of minutes, and you never know he might surprise us. Looks talented to me.
 

Adnan

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Yeah trouble is we can't shop at Waitrose when we are going to be in the Europa League
We can sign Jurrien Timber and he'd be our best RB, our best DM and arguably with Varane, our best CB pairing imo.

I honestly believe Timber would be better than Kamara as a DM. Because Timber can more than match Kamara on the ball, but he's also more explosive over the first few yards, which makes a big difference for a team who wants to play the game in the opponents half.
 

BenitoSTARR

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We can sign Jurrien Timber and he'd be our best RB, our best DM and arguably with Varane, our best CB pairing imo.

I honestly believe Timber would be better than Kamara as a DM. Because Timber can more than match Kamara on the ball, but he's also more explosive over the first few yards, which makes a big difference for a team who wants to play the game in the opponents half.
I’d really worry about Timber as DM though. He’s better bringing the ball out from deep not receiving on a half turn or with his back to his own goal. He’s absolutely better for a defensive transition but only really because of being quicker. He doesn’t seem specialised for that role.

He’s a composed player but I think he’s best when the whole game is in front of him. At DM in the PL I think he’d get caught out at RB or CB he’d have much more joy in my view.
 

Adnan

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I’d really worry about Timber as DM though. He’s better bringing the ball out from deep not receiving on a half turn or with his back to his own goal. He’s absolutely better for a defensive transition but only really because of being quicker. He doesn’t seem specialised for that role.

He’s a composed player but I think he’s best when the whole game is in front of him. At DM in the PL I think he’d get caught out at RB or CB he’d have much more joy in my view.
I wouldn't have him as a DM either but we should be able to do better than Kamara, who IMO is weak at defending opposition transitions in a high-line, which is what ten Hag will look to work towards.

I think it's of absolute paramount important that we evaluate the potential ability of a DM in both offensive and defensive transitions in a compact high block.
 

BenitoSTARR

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I wouldn't have him as a DM either but we should be able to do better than Kamara, who IMO is weak at defending opposition transitions in a high-line, which is what ten Hag will look to work towards.

I think it's of absolute paramount important that we evaluate the potential ability of a DM in both offensive and defensive transitions in a compact high block.
I think the problem is the quality of potential DMs on the market. In an ideal world you bring in someone with the qualities of Tchouameni but I don’t think it’s on the cards.

I’d struggle to find a better cheaper option than Kamara but I do agree he’s not the best running back. Not that he doesn’t do it but he’s more of a ball keeper than a chaser. His success would depend on the CBs behind him. Two pacey ones and it’s fine. But Maguire behind I think could cause problems like you suggest.
 

Adnan

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I think the problem is the quality of potential DMs on the market. In an ideal world you bring in someone with the qualities of Tchouameni but I don’t think it’s on the cards.

I’d struggle to find a better cheaper option than Kamara but I do agree he’s not the best running back. Not that he doesn’t do it but he’s more of a ball keeper than a chaser. His success would depend on the CBs behind him. Two pacey ones and it’s fine. But Maguire behind I think could cause problems like you suggest.
That's a good point about the CBs you raised, so I think in our case it would be better if we targeted someone who is adept at defending a large space, as well being composed on the ball. Not sure who that player is outside of the more obvious ones. But I'm sure that player is out there somewhere, and if/when we sign him, our fans won't be pleased.
 

Abraxas

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This guy has an interesting profile statistically. Seems a likely guy to have at the base of midfield that can be consistent with his build up. If anybody is sad enough to look at midfielder stats regularly it's actually very rare to find somebody as instrumental and accurate, especially in a young midfielder that is also free.

His defensive stats are also pretty good, but not many pressures. Which I guess could just indicate he holds a position.

Ultimately even if he's slow, does it matter that much? If you have a couple around him like Fred and somebody else that isn't work shy, I don't see a problem. Wouldn't call Rodri a physical powerhouse when he came over. It's all about getting the right balance, we can't have 3 technically average guys running round like maniacs. Usually each player will lack something, there aren't many complete mids.
 

SAF is the GOAT

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He'll be great as a back up DM.

If we'll get Tsouameni also - This will be mint.

A midfield next season that is built from Bruno, Donny, Fred, Scott, Kamara, Tsouameni is great as a start and I'll take it in any day of the week.
 

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Not sure where this notion that he's slow is coming from, he's not nimble like Caqueret, but he's got more than enough agility for his size.
 

DeeDee7

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HA!, I love how the general notion on most of these player transfer threads is simply "Hes a free agent, hes cheap, seems a no brainer, he covers this and that position, worst case hes 4th choice yadadadada"
Like this hasn't already been the type of crap recruitment strategy this club has used already so far.

These players need to be judged not only on skill and form. But on character. They need to want to play here but also convince US in an interview on why we should sign them. Ten Haag needs to be convinced that yes your may need to adapt, yes your form may go up and down, but I am bringing the right character and attitude to this club.
 

Bebestation

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He's been linked to Aston Villa recently, and Gerrard has even made the trip to watch him in France.
If he isn't being linked to top top clubs - is he really that good? This is what some fans say about other players but yet the fanbase seems to crave for this guy?

You seem to see some weaknesses in him that other fans don't.
 

Rampant Red Rodriguez

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Sounds like a Obi Mikel player, one who Chelsea thought was a DM but in fact was a CM/AM and was never used properly
 

jesperjaap

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Really active thread for a player we have no links for.
Nothing official, I do remember a lot of rumours a few weeks ago, something to do with some club supposedly said enquired and on his way here etc.

Outside of some of the bigger names linked Kamara free and Caqueret for £25m odd would be excellent astute deals in my opinion, but sadly very few links at all it seems
 

Adnan

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If he isn't being linked to top top clubs - is he really that good? This is what some fans say about other players but yet the fanbase seems to crave for this guy?

You seem to see some weaknesses in him that other fans don't.
His weakness I've always felt was against opposition transitions when caught up-field. And if that is a weakness for a DM in a compact high block, then concessions have to be made to thwart counter attacks. And his ability on the ball doesn't make up for his deficiencies off the ball in a high pressing team imo. The article posted a day or two ago in this thread, mentions the very same weaknesses I've mentioned. That wouldn't be too much of a issue in a team like Atletico Madrid (rumoured interest) who play a very compact low/mid-block.

I think he'd be a good squad player in a strong Man Utd squad. But I don't see him being the answer for us at DM in the mid to long-term. I think it's extremely important to evaluate player potential based on how the players in question would react to defending a large space in a high line. Players need to be good on the ball, which isn't difficult to identify imo. But it's equally just as important to have players who are strong in the defensive transition if a compact high block is to be effective in the EPL. So the CBs and DM need to be adept at controlling large space behind them, and Liverpool and the profile of player(s) they're targeting is a good example of doing just that.
 

VanDeBank

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I watched Marseille's game back against Feyenoord.

It was a lot like Liverpool vs Villareal.

Lots possession lost deep in their own half. Completely clueless in the build up on how to deal with a good press. This guy did feck all to help his team out. Put a few tackles in and that's about it. Was about as involved in the build up as McTominay.
 

antk

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I watched Marseille's game back against Feyenoord.

It was a lot like Liverpool vs Villareal.

Lots possession lost deep in their own half. Completely clueless in the build up on how to deal with a good press. This guy did feck all to help his team out. Put a few tackles in and that's about it. Was about as involved in the build up as McTominay.
Sampaoli got found out last night and the defensive shape of Marseille had to change multiple times (4 at the back, then 3,5, then 3, then back to 4) throughout the game, with Kamara playing the last stretch as a CB. Wouldn't look too much into it.

Either way I don't believe Kamara is a sure thing at the highest level at all and his trajectory has plateaued a bit those last two seasons. It's a gamble that can pay off though as the talent is still obvious. Tchouaméni is leagues above so don't expect this level of performance.
 

Adam-Utd

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I watched Marseille's game back against Feyenoord.

It was a lot like Liverpool vs Villareal.

Lots possession lost deep in their own half. Completely clueless in the build up on how to deal with a good press. This guy did feck all to help his team out. Put a few tackles in and that's about it. Was about as involved in the build up as McTominay.
He's a cheap gamble. We need bodies. If he doesn't work out then sell him on cheap.

As long as we don't pay him a ridiculous wage it will be fine.
 
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