Franck Kessie, anyone?

davidmichael

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Whilst I think Kessie is an upgrade on McTominay and Fred he’s not a pure out and out defensive midfielder and that’s what’s needed in order to play 4-2-3-1 with Pogba in a 2 man midfield, Kessie is a box to box ball winner very much like McTominay and Fred.
 

Lash

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He’s calmer and better on the ball than Scott I would say.

Also probably as good in the tackle.

What I liked about him was he seemed cool under pressure from our pressing and kept it simple but linked up well with his teammates.

We really just need somebody to be defensively sound, tidy enough in passing and who can cover the ground well. If we can get him cheap I think he would do a decent job at that. Better than what we have anyway.
Yeah, if its a cheap one, for sure. I just wouldn't want to drop a packet on him. Not sure there's enough of a step up for what I think we'd potentially pay.
 

Desert Eagle

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Perfect scott replacement. Problem is we need a matic replacement even more and if pogba leaves our midfield is fecked. I'd have Ndidi over him but class player would love to have him.
 

RUCK4444

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Yeah, if its a cheap one, for sure. I just wouldn't want to drop a packet on him. Not sure there's enough of a step up for what I think we'd potentially pay.
Yeah it comes back to price, he could be a real bargain if we get the right sort of deal for him.

I know he's probably a tad more of an 8 than a proper DM, but that's what we have already and I think he's more capable of playing the 6 role than what we have currently.

It's frustrating as proper DM's aren't readily available and so we either try to get a bargain on somebody like this or go all out for one of the top DM's (which then limits what we can spend on Haaland! which should be the priority at all costs.) :)
 

DatIrishFella

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I fell in love with him in the first leg. He's so composed when surronded by multiple opponents. Can do a bit of everything. Would take him in a heartbeat.
 

Glorio

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I don't think he was great to be honest. I think we were just that bad
 

SAFMUTD

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He played great on the first leg, and was ok yesterday. Definitely wouldnt mind having him here, he's supposedly a United fan if it helps somehow.
 

Mickeza

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There are some high profile central midfielders who have one year left on their contracts this summer according to transfermarkt:
Camavinga
Boubacar Kamara
Kessie
Brozovic
Goretzka
Zakaria
Pellegrini
Sabitzer
 

Ekeke

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Fred and McTominay were better yesterday at actual DM things if you're being honest. I think there are upgrades on Fred for sure but I'm not going to pretend he didnt outperform Kessie last night

More touches, more passes, more accurate passes, won the ball more, pressed more. I think Kessie has a better eye for a pass most likely, more composure, hes a lot more powerful than Fred and im sure hes better in the air because Fred is particularly weak there. But Kessie is better than Fred in the ways that Pogba is better than Fred. So we'd just play Pogba if we want that. And if you want someone who compliments Pogba's style to partner him it would be someone who covers his weaknesses, not has a lot of the same strengths.
 

Green_Red

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Although he ended up on the losing side I thought his performances over the 2 legs were very good and could be a great addition for our midfield. Very energetic and hardly misplaced a pass. Replacement for Matic or could give Fred and Scott some competition?

I have only ever watched, or heard of him over the last 2 games against United. What do Serie A observers who have watched him on a regular basis think?
Strong player too. Can't see him being out muscled much. I think he'd be a good signing.
 

city-puma

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I don’t see him an upgrade to McFred, instead, I think he will form a great partnership with either of McFred. This is what we actually lack this season because Matic’s legs are really gone. With him, we can handle rotation and afford injuries.
so, let’s sign him!:drool:
 

Random Task

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I don’t see him an upgrade to McFred, instead, I think he will form a great partnership with either of McFred. This is what we actually lack this season because Matic’s legs are really gone. With him, we can handle rotation and afford injuries.
so, let’s sign him!:drool:
If only it were that simple.

You have to account for the Ed factor when weighing up any transfer involving our club. Sad but true.
 

izec

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Makes no sense when we have McT and Fred here.

We need a different type of midfielder IMO, someone more technical and a specialist in positioning, passing and movement.
 

Lash

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Yeah it comes back to price, he could be a real bargain if we get the right sort of deal for him.

I know he's probably a tad more of an 8 than a proper DM, but that's what we have already and I think he's more capable of playing the 6 role than what we have currently.

It's frustrating as proper DM's aren't readily available and so we either try to get a bargain on somebody like this or go all out for one of the top DM's (which then limits what we can spend on Haaland! which should be the priority at all costs.) :)
Yeah, its a fine balance we're going to have to strike and that's if we can even get Haaland for a reasonable price. Not really Dortmund's MO.
 

Suedesi

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I love these type of threads - opposition player has a blinder against - let's buy him.

Anyhow, he's Milan's best midfielder, doubt they would want to sell. The time to buy was when he was at Atalanta, but to pull that off you need an actual scouting department that does it job and a sporting director that can convince the Glazer in charge to open the purse strings.
 

Zoo

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He disappeared in the second half when we started playing football. Yeah I’d take him but he’s not really what we need.
 

Adcuth

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Well 90% would be every game bar City and Liverpool home and away as an example.

But yeah, it was a slightly arbitrary number used more to show that I think we need to move towards a definitive starting XI. I feel we adapt to the opposition too often at present and that stems from perceived weaknesses in the middle of the pitch (at both CB and CM).

I don’t think Kessie would be the player to help us balance a midfield of Pogba and Bruno while providing stability to the defence.
What if the defence was also stabilised
 

AgentSmith

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What if the defence was also stabilised
I’d question the financial viability of securing a CM, a CB, a RW and potentially a CF (maybe even a back up RB) in one window given our alleged transfer budget.

I really like look of Kessie as a player but I think we have greater priorities atm.
 

beingshe7don

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There are some high profile central midfielders who have one year left on their contracts this summer according to transfermarkt:
Camavinga
Boubacar Kamara
Kessie
Brozovic
Goretzka
Zakaria
Pellegrini
Sabitzer
Wouldn't mind getting these two if we lose Pogba
Camavinga
Sabitzer (pressing machine)

If Pogba remains, then I would get Boubacar Kamara
 

TrustInOle

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Might get backlash, but I'd rather we keep Scott and go for a deep playmaker or a pure DM like N'didi if Pogba sticks around.
 

Josep Dowling

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Looks a decent player. At this moment midfield is the least of our worries. Just seems an unnecessary purchase.
 

MadDogg

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I know he was highly rated a few years ago but the hype seemed to die away for a while. A question for anybody who actually watches Italian football - did he stagnate or was it simply that the media stopped looking at him?

Statistically he's pretty much smack-bang in the middle of Scott and Fred. Better than Scott at most things (more involved in the game, better passer, more creative, involved in more goal scoring opportunities, slightly better defender), but Fred is better than him at basically everything (except scoring goals himself obviously). But then Fred's overall statistics place him as one of the best midfielders in the league but many people don't consider him all that good. Stats obviously don't tell the whole story.
 

Carl

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Although he ended up on the losing side I thought his performances over the 2 legs were very good and could be a great addition for our midfield. Very energetic and hardly misplaced a pass. Replacement for Matic or could give Fred and Scott some competition?

I have only ever watched, or heard of him over the last 2 games against United. What do Serie A observers who have watched him on a regular basis think?
I try and make a point of never judging players on how they perform against us. We seem to make players look levels above their normal level, and last week Kessie looked like prime fecking Seedorf.
 

croadyman

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There are some high profile central midfielders who have one year left on their contracts this summer according to transfermarkt:
Camavinga
Boubacar Kamara
Kessie
Brozovic
Goretzka
Zakaria
Pellegrini
Sabitzer
Yeah Murtough should be putting feelers out to the agents of some of these players because it's such a massive hole in the team and it's stageering that it's considered such a low priority by Ole
 

Random Task

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Kessie looks increasingly more appealing after the debacle of tonight's midfield showing.

Yes please.
 

Cassidy

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He’s not a DM. So explain to me how it works?
Kessie with a DM and Bruno ahead. Hes an 8 whos is miles better than McTominay and Fred. Sell Pogba and invest the proceeds in other areas
 

Mainoldo

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Kessie with a DM and Bruno ahead. Hes an 8 whos is miles better than McTominay and Fred. Sell Pogba and invest the proceeds in other areas
Okay so we buy him and we still need to buy another midfielder to play next to him. :lol:

Not being Mr Negative but we both know that’s not happening. Kessie would have to come in and play a 6. We have four 8’s already my guy. We play with two 6’s at all times.
 

Cassidy

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Okay so we buy him and we still need to buy another midfielder to play next to him. :lol:

Not being Mr Negative but we both know that’s not happening. Kessie would have to come in and play a 6. We have four 8’s already my guy. We play with two 6’s at all times.
I count 3 8s. Pogba Fred and Mctominnay.
2 of them are shite (Im sure you can figure out who).

Pogbas contract ends next summer if he doesnt sign he should be sold. Id take Kessi as replacement.

We absolutely need a 6, we certainly shouldnt go into next season relying on either Fred or McTominay to play a major role at 8 next season though and we don’t know if Pogba will be here given his contract situation.

Im not saying it would happen, because we already know our club. But if you want my opinion on what we SHOULD do. Then thats it sign Kessi and a 6 like Koopmeiners
 

Mainoldo

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I count 3 8s. Pogba Fred and Mctominnay.
2 of them are shite (Im sure you can figure out who).

Pogbas contract ends next summer if he doesnt sign he should be sold. Id take Kessi as replacement.

We absolutely need a 6, we certainly shouldnt go into next season relying on either Fred or McTominay to play a major role at 8 next season though and we don’t know if Pogba will be here given his contract situation.

Im not saying it would happen, because we already know our club. But if you want my opinion on what we SHOULD do. Then thats it sign Kessi and a 6 like Koopiermanns
Donny, Bruno, Pogba and McTominay. Suppose you can count Fred too. So 5 8’s. My point is we have a load of 8’s and don’t play them in their positions. So we are better of trying to by more actually 6’s instead of buying more 8’a to misuse them.

Kessie can stay where he is even if Pogba goes. Replace him with Sancho.
 

Cassidy

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Donny, Bruno, Pogba and McTominay. Suppose you can count Fred too. So 5 8’s. My point is we have a load of 8’s and don’t play them in their positions. So we are better of trying to by more actually 6’s instead of buying more 8’a to misuse them.

Kessie can stay where he is even if Pogba goes. Replace him with Sancho.
Bruno isnt an 8. But I forgot Donny ( easy to though)

If Pogba goes we should be able to get Sancho and Kessie (given Kessie only has a year left so wont cost alot)
 

Mainoldo

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Bruno isnt an 8. But I forgot Donny ( easy to though)
Bruno’s an 8 man. He’s just very efficient in his 10 role for us. Before us however he’s always played in a midfield 3. Now he plays as a support striker but it works for us. If a different manager came in playing 433. He’d fit in fine.
 

Cassidy

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Bruno’s an 8 man. He’s just very efficient in his 10 role for us. Before us however he’s always played in a midfield 3. Now he plays as a support striker but it works for us. If a different manager came in playing 433. He’d fit in fine.
Going of what I see on the pitch the guy doesnt play 8. And even the resident sporting fan said he wasnt really an 8 before we signed him
 

Mainoldo

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Going of what I see on the pitch the guy doesnt play 8. And even the resident sporting fan said he wasnt really an 8 before we signed him
The resident sporting fan means as much as one of us telling Sporting fans Pogba is a 6. He’s own Sporting manager said he’s a 8 and when I watched him that’s where he played.