21 Aug 2023 14:42:35
Gravenberch any good? What kind of mid is he?

1.) 21 Aug 2023
21 Aug 2023 14:52:12
Versatile with a lot of potential.

2.) 21 Aug 2023
21 Aug 2023 15:04:47
"The 6’3″ Dutchman has largely been deployed as a central midfielder for both Ajax and Bayern, either in a two-man or three-man unit, and recently Thomas Tuchel explained he is at his best as a No. 8".

"Gravenberch is a progressive midfield player who looks to move the ball up the pitch whenever possible, with FBref statistics claiming Alexis Mac Allister as the midfielder he is most similar to".

"Gravenberch is at his best as a ball-carrying, line-breaking No. 8, who is also capable of dropping deeper to build up play from the No. 6 position. He is far from the finished product, but he slots in well as a midfielder who carries possession before linking with the attacking players, while also serving as a goal threat. Over the past year, Gravenberch is in the 95th percentile for shot-creating actions among midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues, and in the 93rd percentile for expected goals and assists. However, there remain concerns over his work rate off the ball, with Munich publication Abendzeitung Munchen reporting in November that Bayern coaches identified his defensive game as “problematic. ”

(Various quotes from the internet, should help a little) .

{Ed001's Note - he is very average. I would avoid anyone coming through from Ajax in recent years, their academy is not in a good place.}

3.) 21 Aug 2023
21 Aug 2023 15:32:16
If we signed Doucoure we could play him box to box or DM. Similarly Fofana. He would add a range of options.

Why on earth would we sign Phillips or a project like Gravenberch.

This transfer window is like pulling teeth at times. I just hope the rumours are nonsense and there's a better plan going on behind the scenes. Please please please let there be a better plan.

4.) 21 Aug 2023
21 Aug 2023 15:48:26
Ed1 what do you think we need in the rest of this window?

{Ed001's Note - a reliable centre-back and to offload Matip and Phillips. I am not so sure what we need in midfield, it depends on how we are going to play. I would prefer to see Trent moved into midfield instead and give Bradley a run of games when he is fit, than buy for the sake of it.}

5.) 21 Aug 2023
21 Aug 2023 16:09:26
Agreed Ed001, those days of the 70s, 80s and 90s where their academy was churning amazing players, one after the other, is long gone. I have no idea why it's happened but maybe because of a vacuum at the top with Overmars, Van den Sar and Ten Hag out of the picture now? And it always seemed to me that their Board was always fighting among it's members. They had succès with Dutch (and Surinamese) players initially, then they turned to African players and then they turned to South America. Now, it's all quiet in terms of talent.

{Ed001's Note - they lost their way a long time ago, they are surviving on people remembering them as being good years ago now.}

6.) 21 Aug 2023
21 Aug 2023 18:24:47
Barca lost their way as well when they abandoned La Masia which was their bread and butter for providing players for their first team many years ago and started getting into spending on players and signing a ton of duds in the process. Shambolic recruitment strategies that got them in the serious financial money pit they are in now.

7.) 21 Aug 2023
21 Aug 2023 18:25:11
I’m not sure that Trent could play as a lone 6. He is/ would be more of a deep laying play maker (a bit like Thiago) who needs a dedicated CDM to play next to him. That would need a formation change from us, as we usually only play with one 6. He could play as a 8, but we are well stacked there already.

8.) 21 Aug 2023
21 Aug 2023 19:38:57
“there remain concerns over his work rate off the ball…”

That’s an understatement. Besides he apparently only wants to go to United. Surely we’d learn a lesson from. caicedo?

9.) 22 Aug 2023
21 Aug 2023 23:41:59
sounds a not for me kinda player.