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Remember;Hopefully the reports are true and he'll sign in the summer. Valencia is a beast for now but with his age we'll have to look at phasing him out soon, so someone like semedo can replace him perfectly with his pace and attacking ability while also not relying on him right away, and geadually bringing him in/valencia out. Plus with other big clubs like Bayern and Barca allegedly interested, its a good sign getting him (and lindelof). If shaw gets his shit together thats our back 4 sorted for the next while and hopefully they all develop well!
It sounds like this will be a deal for the summer though, a January move for Semedo doesn't seem necessary for us at the minute.Benfica fan here. Although the Lindelof deal is being reported as practically done here in Portugal, it would come as a big surprise if Semedo also left the club in Jan. The fans would be devastated because of a relevant lack of options for RB.
Yes it doesn't make sense unless someone's leaving.It sounds like this will be a deal for the summer though, a January move for Semedo doesn't seem necessary for us at the minute.
Val is probably good for another good 3 years plus. So we buy someone now to replace him in 3 years? Very fit bloke who looks after himself very well.Hopefully the reports are true and he'll sign in the summer. Valencia is a beast for now but with his age we'll have to look at phasing him out soon, so someone like semedo can replace him perfectly with his pace and attacking ability while also not relying on him right away, and geadually bringing him in/valencia out. Plus with other big clubs like Bayern and Barca allegedly interested, its a good sign getting him (and lindelof). If shaw gets his shit together thats our back 4 sorted for the next while and hopefully they all develop well!
True. But if semedo and lindelof work out, bailly looks class already especially with Mourinhos ability to make any defence look good, I'm pretty confident. With all those above their problem and ultimate downfall was injuries (apart from smalling who fixed that part but lacked on the ball ability). For us, shaw is the only one with injury problems I think and generally would be more worried about him (provided these 2 prove to be good signings).Remember;
Rafael - Smalling - Jones - Fabio
Not saying it won't happen but it very rarely works out like that unfortunately.
If we buy this guy you can bet that Mourinho has made the assessment that he wants more pace, technical flair and attacking threat out of the position. I'd say Valencia will gradually transition out of the position and into a back up role beginning next year.Val is probably good for another good 3 years plus. So we buy someone now to replace him in 3 years? Very fit bloke who looks after himself very well.
In my opinion you don't phase out probably your most consistent player, who is numerous years away from being a spent force. You'd think he was 35 the way you're going on.
Agreed. The argument that he is playing well now and is one of our most consistent players may hold true in the present, but that could quickly unwind given that he will be 32 and rapidly approaching an age where his pace will decline. I'm sure Mourinho and staff are looking at it in those terms. No guarantees that his replacement will take over immediately. He may well take a year or so to gradually settle into the position with increasing sub appearances until Tony loses a step.Valencia is already not as quick as he once was and the pace is the first thing that seems to go when you're on the wrong side of 30's. He has enough experience to deal with it to an extent but I wouldn't expect him to still be on top of his game at 33-34
I also think Valencia is unusually reliant on it for a defender (well it's not that unusual given that he started as a winger) and often relies on his acceleration and speed to bail him out of situations he gets himself into through bad positioning. Thats fine whilst he's got the pace, but I imagine it will lead to a dramatic drop off.Valencia is already not as quick as he once was and the pace is the first thing that seems to go when you're on the wrong side of 30's. He has enough experience to deal with it to an extent but I wouldn't expect him to still be on top of his game at 33-34
Of course he wont, valencia is class. But next season could be when they rotate with each other while semedo develops a bit and adapts to the premier league. Probably first half of the season we wont see him much and then he'll bed in more in the second half, and then the season after to potentially have a bigger role. We are a bit reliant on Valencia at the moment so it is an important signing to make.Valencia has been one of our best players this year, and arguably the best right back in the league.
Think those thinking he will immediately dislodge Valencia may be mistaken.
Doubt many non-Reds would argue his superiority over Bellerin.Valencia has been one of our best players this year, and arguably the best right back in the league.
Think those thinking he will immediately dislodge Valencia may be mistaken.
To be fair there isn't really a great RB in the league.Doubt many non-Reds would argue his superiority over Bellerin.
You may well be right but Bellerin is the nearest we have and he has potential for further improvement unlike Valencia who surely has already peaked?To be fair there isn't really a great RB in the league.
Bellerin has been injured a lot of this season hasn't he? I do think he's better than Valencia if he's playing and in form but you can't really say he's been better this season if he hasn't played all that much.You may well be right but Bellerin is the nearest we have and he has potential for further improvement unlike Valencia who surely has already peaked?
why? Valencia is not getting younger and Darmian is crapThe only reason to purchase a right back is if Mourinho and our scouts believe they have identified someone truly special. And Semedo actually looks quite special.
???Bellerin has been injured a lot of this season hasn't he? I do think he's better than Valencia if he's playing and in form but you can't really say he's been better this season if he hasn't played all that much.
It sounds like this will be a deal for the summer though, a January move for Semedo doesn't seem necessary for us at the minute.
I don't think we need semedo now anyways. Valencia, Bailey and darmian can hold down the RB for the rest of the season.Yes it doesn't make sense unless someone's leaving.
Better player based on what exactly? And the age comment is pointless, as we are comparing players in the here and now, not based on future potential.???
Missed a month with an ankle injury that could have happened to anyone.
He's a better player than Valencia (no offence to him, he's just not as good as the other poster suggested) and as he's only 21 is likely to improve further.
You don't usually pay for your pricey player to play for another club. What if Benfica overuses him between now and the end of the season and he's burnt out by next season. If he's still Benfica player and potential a big money transfer, Benfica would pay extra care with his condition. Not so much if a luxurious loanee.If the plan is to buy him in the summer, why not do the ole buy but loan back to Benefica for the rest of the season
I don't think you can really wear a player out for the next season if he has no post season tournaments to play in, also if he is one of the best players for Benifica the rest of the season, and it's already known we are interested, they will only raise their price and attract more attention to him from other clubsYou don't usually pay for your pricey player to play for another club. What if Benfica overuses him between now and the end of the season and he's burnt out by next season. If he's still Benfica player and potential a big money transfer, Benfica would pay extra care with his condition. Not so much if a luxurious loanee.
It works both way. The player may show the flaw in his game with the more games he plays, or worse get injured. So it's a gamble for Benfica too. It's worse gamble for the buying club if they pay pricey and loan him back. That's what I see why these big back loan back transfer is not too common.I don't think you can really wear a player out for the next season if he has no post season tournaments to play in, also if he is one of the best players for Benifica the rest of the season, and it's already known we are interested, they will only raise their price and attract more attention to him from other clubs
Yeah actually just having a look to see how many games he has actually played for Benifica, him being 23 i thought he would probably have been more involved over the last season or two but turns out he has only played 27 games for their first team so there is definately a higher chance of finding flaws in his game than what i would have thought if he had played a full season in 15/16 (12 games played, 15 so far this season - according to wiki)It works both way. The player may show the flaw in his game with the more games he plays, or worse get injured. So it's a gamble for Benfica too..
Semedo is a keyplayer for Benfica anyway this season so it won't really change how they play himYou don't usually pay for your pricey player to play for another club. What if Benfica overuses him between now and the end of the season and he's burnt out by next season. If he's still Benfica player and potential a big money transfer, Benfica would pay extra care with his condition. Not so much if a luxurious loanee.