The BBC article about us signing Ricky in 2013: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21877134 One of the comments: 117. Posted byTony_Munky_Canary on 23 Mar 2013 21:13 This is a fantastic signing for the club, and hopefully shows our intent to develop a more expansive and entertaining style of play under Crissy Hootun next season. We surely wouldn't be splashing out potentially triple our previous record transfer fee to then deny him any decent service like we have done this year. All part of the evolution of NCFC, a superb piece of business, well done McNally! Sorry Tony, I couldn't resist!
So the Marseille trip wasn't to look at a striker after all?... http://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/norwic...marseilles_defender_nicolas_nkoulou_1_4209222 Can't say I know anything about the guy, but interesting that he has played with Bassong! He's quite short for a CB (less than 6') if that matters to you, played regularly for Marseille other than a few injuries. Been linked with Newcastle and though he only has a year left on his contract I should think will come quite expensive... From a totally unscientific review of his appearances for Marseille - their record seems to be very poor when he's not playing!
Leeds looking at Liam Moore from Leicester. I really like him, and it wasn't too long ago Arsenal were watching him.
I'd be nervous about signing a small centre half, we have enough trouble defending set pieces at the moment without buying a short#rse! What's his spring like? Bah!
Wow. He is a player! I'd expect a side like Everton or Spurs would go for a guy of his quality. In fact him linked with Everton rings a bell, Maybe also someone like Newcastle. He is short, but can play right-back, and defensive midfield. I don't think he's too bad in the air. The height would be a slight worry, but would be a very exciting signing. Again, seems a bit out of our league.
That really confused me, I only read your first post after I read the second. Wondered what was going on!
It's nice to be aiming high, as long as we have back ups in place. We don't want to be aiming for players out or reach for too much longer though. If we have to panic and buy backup options we will end up paying way over the odds.
Nkoulou is definitely very much a ball playing CB, as you'd expect as he can play DM. Very confident, comfortable on the ball. Very strong and quick. It's just defending set-pieces that I'm not sure about. Not much youtube evidence of him winning headers.
Both Bassong and R Bennett are decent in the air. My concern would be if it was someone like Nkoulou paired with Martin. Coloccini is (or perhaps was at his peak) a fantastic player IMO and is about the same height. On set pieces - I don't think our CBs can be blamed much for our woes there. I didn't see the goal last night (so that might have been a CB's fault), but the ones we have conceded have been because the fullbacks or midfielders have gone to sleep rather than Martin or Bassong.
Here's a bit of what Bleacher Report said when Arsenal were scouting him a few years back: "Style The N'Koulou of old boasted an immense physical presence, combining decent power and strength with incredible pace and speed. He's not the tallest, not by a long shot, but he's serviceable in the air and plays a stopper-sweeper combination alongside a taller, more bruising centre-back extremely well. His cameos at right-back have allowed him to keep his extreme quickness, while his appearances in holding midfield have cultured him in terms of calmness on the ball and picking passes. On form, he's the ball-playing centre-back everyone is looking for, with the athleticism to play a very high line given his ability to match strikers stride for stride. Positionally he is a little hit and miss, but that's to be expected of a 23-year-old—they make mistakes. He tends to play more assuredly next to Souleymane Diawara, an experienced head, than Lucas Mendes (also 23). We've picked out one of his finest moments in Marseille's tussle with Arsenal, and by all accounts N'Koulou dealt with in-form Olivier Giroud quite well over the course of the evening. He and Mendes guarded the space in front of the back four efficiently and passed Giroud on as a marker seamlessly throughout" Dunno about you guys, but that gives me D*cktingle! If we can get him, I'd feel a hell of a lot better, just can't see how we would be able to nab him.
Agreed. I'd put him slightly above Van Dijk in terms of reach-ability. Celtic walking the league, and no Champions League makes him more accessible, but Strong interest from Southampton and Everton makes it even more unlikely. With Nkoulou, only hope is he fancies the Prem, we get in before others see his available, and we offer him a massive pay package. To be fair, we need to put a decent amount of money into such an important area. Just can't see this happening.
We have to start moving fast on some of these coz the tick of the clock has just got louder and every other club can hear it too. If we miss out and overpay for the mediocre in January we will have nullified the endless desire to save money that is generally at the forefront of about 80% of our transfer policy!
