Sekou Kone

Ali Dia said:
He would have had RB written all over him. Nice pickup for sure. He reminds me of Hannibal or Amad and co playing u23. Too good technically for the level for his age but has kinks in his game to iron out before he gets a real go in the first team. Whatever happens he's either going to play for us or we will make good money on him. Exciting player, looks decently two footed and has a good first touch and scanning/awareness of what's around him to give himself the extra step. He's the best CM prospect at the club then Thwaites who also looks really interesting so far.
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Yea and kinks make a big difference, I really hope he works on them because he looks good in multiple aspects.
 
ATXRedDevil said:
Was thinking the exact same thing. The development is very obvious. Looks very composed and things seem to be slowing down for him. Hopefully he can continue to mature physically, go on tour this summer and start to break into the first team over the course of next season.
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Yea the composure is good, he's aware of what's going on around him.
 
Hammondo said:
Yea the composure is good, he's aware of what's going on around him.
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If Casemiro stays as he said he would, it could buy Kone time to get ready for first team football. I think he has more tools than Collyer.
 
Trex said:
If Casemiro stays as he said he would, it could buy Kone time to get ready for first team football. I think he has more tools than Collyer.
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He should geet some time this season. Casemiro tires towards the end of most games, Kone could get 15 -20 minutes in the league games before the end of the season
 
I think Collyer will be sold while his stock is high - ish. Personally I don't see him being anything more than a bit part squad player. If we could get a few million for him I think it would be smart business as we only paid a tribunal fee for him. His injury came at the worst possible time for him as is nearly always the case here. If he'd gotten a few more games who knows but with signings I can't really see him breaking through in a more meaningful way. Happy to be wrong though of course
 
Trex said:
If Casemiro stays as he said he would, it could buy Kone time to get ready for first team football. I think he has more tools than Collyer.
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I agree, but I think collyer shows better passing currently.
 
Hammondo said:
I agree, but I think collyer shows better passing currently.
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I strongly disagree with that. Collyers single biggest attribute is his physicality. He is very limited on the ball.

Kone is pretty much the opposite, can play through the lines, pass with imagination, shows a good range of passing but also the ability to play it short when needed.

Maybe I've not seen enough of either but the observation seems mad to me.
 
dubplate warrior said:
I strongly disagree with that. Collyers single biggest attribute is his physicality. He is very limited on the ball.

Kone is pretty much the opposite, can play through the lines, pass with imagination, shows a good range of passing but also the ability to play it short when needed.

Maybe I've not seen enough of either but the observation seems mad to me.
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Yea he's clearly better on the ball, but plenty were better on the ball than Carrick but not close to his passing.

Both are very physical, athletic, but kone is more so.

Kone has better imagination, he pushes forward more, but his passing isn't accurate. It's inconsistent.
 
Kone is probably at a similar stage to where Caicedo was before he was loaned out to Beerschot.

Would be nice if Vivell could identify someone a bit more ready for central midfield this summer. Someone like Onana from Lille before he moved to Everton would be perfect.
 
Think his potential was obvious first time I really watched him. First thing is that he always seems to have time in the centre of the park. Technically very strong and plays quick, but isn’t rushed. He can spot an oncoming midfielder before he receives it and takes the right first touch to ensure he moves it away and has space and time. Passes well with both feet and a strong ball carrier too.

Off the ball he snaps into tackles and can run box-to-box. If he were in a man’s body then he’d be ready to go tomorrow at St James’s I think. That physique and strength should come in time, plus more experience and refinement to his game. Just please don’t get injured.
 
Rozay said:
Think his potential was obvious first time I really watched him. First thing is that he always seems to have time in the centre of the park. Technically very strong and plays quick, but isn’t rushed. He can spot an oncoming midfielder before he receives it and takes the right first touch to ensure he moves it away and has space and time. Passes well with both feet and a strong ball carrier too.

Off the ball he snaps into tackles and can run box-to-box. If he were in a man’s body then he’d be ready to go tomorrow at St James’s I think. That physique and strength should come in time, plus more experience and refinement to his game. Just please don’t get injured.
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He looks clever and technical.

Also very agile and good balance.

He's possibly similar to Modric. Similar physique although maybe he's a little taller.

Fantastic scouting to find him.
 
I really like Kone. Terrific signing, given his strengths and potential. The two things he really needs to work on is his strength and his ability to show for the ball. If he improves on both, he's a first team player. Simple as that. To be honest, he'll probably be a first team player anyway, but if he improves in these two areas, he can be a big player for us.
 
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How is his build? How easily could he develop his upper body?
Just curious as based on whats being said he sounds very promising for first team, but the times I've seem him he looked very gangly.
 
It is a shame that Gore picked up an injury as he was so highly rated in the youth level and was even given time with the first team not so long ago so it will be interesting how he comes back from that.
Toby has impressed whenever he has been given a chance and it cannot be overstated how physicality and doing the simple things well at Premier league level is essential to a team and we seem to have struggled in recent years to bring those types in. I think Ruben is probably the first manager since Fergie that looks like addressing that issue.
 
AkaAkuma said:
How is his build? How easily could he develop his upper body?
Just curious as based on whats being said he sounds very promising for first team, but the times I've seem him he looked very gangly.
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He's very skinny and 5'9" ish.
Modric is a similar build and he did ok.

I'd like to see him make a few appearances.
 
next_number_seven said:
He's very skinny and 5'9" ish.
Modric is a similar build and he did ok.

I'd like to see him make a few appearances.
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Modric moved to spurs at 23? Madrid at 27? Id guess he was able to develop a style of play to avoid physicality in the croatian league then refine it at spurs.
 
Rozay said:
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he looked good in this game, I like how he sometimes turns with the ball so quickly and create space for himself, he did at 0:18, 0:35 and 1:20, in the PL and playing this deep in midfield and being pressed, such a skill will be key for a midfielder, hopefully he develops and sooner than later, gets into the first team next season.
 
next_number_seven said:
He's very skinny and 5'9" ish.
Modric is a similar build and he did ok.

I'd like to see him make a few appearances.
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It's very strange because until I read this I didn't notice how small he is. I think because of the way he uses his body in the game Vs reading it did a mind trick on me.
 
Hammondo said:
It's very strange because until I read this I didn't notice how small he is. I think because of the way he uses his body in the game Vs reading it did a mind trick on me.
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He's fine really for CM. Looks very agile and well balanced so his size doesn't matter.
 
It'll be interesting to see if he takes minutes from Casemiro and maybe Ugarte next season.
 
Interesting development in a very short time period. Remember the first vidoes of him when he just arrived.

I hope we manage to give him a few minutes during this season. Do not need to be more than 3-5 minutes at end of the games just to ease him in and prepare him for senior football. Depending on how he do we should either add him to the first team next year and slowly get him worked up or loan him out so he can get valuable first team football. 1 more year in the U21 set-up would not do him much more.
 
Hammondo said:
It's very strange because until I read this I didn't notice how small he is. I think because of the way he uses his body in the game Vs reading it did a mind trick on me.
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Plent of midgets make great CMs, see Veratti, Hazard, Modric, Cazorla etc.
 
Toblerone92 said:
Plent of midgets make great CMs, see Veratti, Hazard, Modric, Cazorla etc.
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Oh my favorite CMs tend to be smaller, I am all for that. I am jsut saying he looked stronger than his size suggested, he looked physical.
 
I’m sure he will add to his frame with time, in this country unfortunately we have become obsessed with physicality, even Man city who were Spanish in approach for obvious reasons seem to be concerned with adding physicality. From the bits I’ve seen he looks decent, and like he can look after himself despite his slight frame. If he doesn’t make it here he can always go and become world class in Spain where they appreciate proper footballers. A bit early to hype but he looks promising
 
stealthy said:
I’m sure he will add to his frame with time, in this country unfortunately we have become obsessed with physicality, even Man city who were Spanish in approach for obvious reasons seem to be concerned with adding physicality. From the bits I’ve seen he looks decent, and like he can look after himself despite his slight frame. If he doesn’t make it here he can always go and become world class in Spain where they appreciate proper footballers. A bit early to hype but he looks promising
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Completely agree. The main areas which I think is important is technical ability, dynamism and agility. All these are fundamental for a central midfielder and I believe Kone has that in abundance.

His intelligence on and off the ball is evident. One or two touch passing, good positioning and reading of the game, range of passing and mobility. I think he will do well if given the chance unlike some of the midfielders United currently have who either have no mobility, treat the ball like hot potatoes, and incapable of controlling games. Physicality is good but you don't neee to be built like the Hulk to succeed. Kone will be fine.
 
Watched 80 minutes of the game yesterday and he was good. As @trevor newnham said in the match thread, he has great maturity for his age, his decision making and reading of the game are excellent.

Would like to see him improve physically before he is considered for the first team, which I'm sure he will. If he could develop more of that "bite" like someone like Ugarte has then he could be very good for us.
 
What makes me think he'll make it quite quickly in the first team is his first touch. He's very good at using it to create space to play the ball quickly and he can do it with both feet.
 
next_number_seven said:
He's very skinny and 5'9" ish.
Modric is a similar build and he did ok.

I'd like to see him make a few appearances.
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Modrid has extreme other qualities so for him it didnt matter he wasnt big or strong. I dont know if Kone has those extreme other qualities but saying it didnt stop Modrid is not really a fair argument in my opinion. Modrid was so good because of his extremely high level of other qualities.
 
Stadjer said:
Modrid has extreme other qualities so for him it didnt matter he wasnt big or strong. I dont know if Kone has those extreme other qualities but saying it didnt stop Modrid is not really a fair argument in my opinion. Modrid was so good because of his extremely high level of other qualities.
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Not when he was the same age
 
Revival2024 said:
Completely agree. The main areas which I think is important is technical ability, dynamism and agility. All these are fundamental for a central midfielder and I believe Kone has that in abundance.

His intelligence on and off the ball is evident. One or two touch passing, good positioning and reading of the game, range of passing and mobility. I think he will do well if given the chance unlike some of the midfielders United currently have who either have no mobility, treat the ball like hot potatoes, and incapable of controlling games. Physicality is good but you don't neee to be built like the Hulk to succeed. Kone will be fine.
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I am not sure about his range of passing, but otherwise looks good.
 
stealthy said:
I’m sure he will add to his frame with time, in this country unfortunately we have become obsessed with physicality, even Man city who were Spanish in approach for obvious reasons seem to be concerned with adding physicality. From the bits I’ve seen he looks decent, and like he can look after himself despite his slight frame. If he doesn’t make it here he can always go and become world class in Spain where they appreciate proper footballers. A bit early to hype but he looks promising
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City focusing too much on physicality too much has had a negative effect on them.
 
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