Nicolò Zaniolo

[Mannnos]

I like how big our team is becoming, this guy is another giant

 

[doctor stefan Freud]

View attachment 115046

From Enrico Camelio who is apparently very reliable for Roma

"Before the friendly between Roma and Tottenham there will be no negotiations between the two clubs and no medical examination scheduled in London"

I assume he's responding to a rumour about a medical but no idea where that originated.

Did he type that in the 1950s?

 

[ChappersES]

I like how big our team is becoming, this guy is another giant

We will be like Burnley but with some technical ability.

 

[CantSmileWithoutYou]

We will be like Burnley but with some technical ability.

I don't think we'll go down.

 

[BehindEnemyLines]

Reminds me a little of Ginola - miss a good dribbler!

 

[Snarfalicious]

We will be like Burnley but with some technical ability.

This was in Conte’s initial pitch to Levy and Paratici. Had ‘em hook, line and sinker.

 

[InOffMeLeftShin]

If we have the money and Conte sees that role as valuable as part of his wider plan/vision then I think we absolutely would.

Id be surprised if he didn’t want a player like this because he’s always had one typically to give him the versatility to play 3-5-2 and unlock teams centrally when needed.
E.g. Barella/Eriksen at Inter
E.g. Fabregas at Chelsea

He didn't have Kane at Inter or Chelsea though and part of Kane's effectiveness is his ability to drop off and be a playmaker sometimes and at other times be the focal point. It makes him extremely hard to defend because it pulls defenders out of position and allows the automations and patterns of play to be far more impactful. In the 3-5-2 the strikers have to work the channels really well to create the similar space and overloads. I think Conte realized pretty quickly that Kane is such a unique weapon that he has to use him in the 3-4-3 and then get the right players around him. I like the idea of having a Zaniolo that Kane could release, allowing him to run at whatever poor defender gets isolated. I feel like there is the potential to play Kulu in a similar role to Kane on occasion if you had enough goal scoring threat off him. Less effective but possible with his creativity and guile.

 

[Bulletspur]

Hojbjerg as a more creative player,

 

[InOffMeLeftShin]

I would not discount Hojbjerg as a more creative player, imo. In our set-up, he has typically been the better of the defensive options at CM, but if you pair him with Bissouma - I think you would find that Hojbjerg could be a more attacking/creative player. He plays a more advanced role for Denmark, and could do so here also.

I think having Bissouma in the squad will allow Hojbjerg to be much more of an aggressive higher up the pitch pressing menace. I think he does that a lot better than when he has to sit as often his out balls from deeper tend to put his own teammates in a bad spot and lose possession. It was noticeable when Bentancur came in that he was a better cover midfielder (although good at the high press too) and it allowed Hojbjerg to roam more and I think Bissouma will allow even more freedom. So in that sense he will be more creative as 1. he will win challenges much higher up the pitch and 2. his passing will be closer to the end of the moves than the start. I think it's why he thrives for Denmark too.

 

[DodgyLasagne]

He didn't have Kane at Inter or Chelsea though and part of Kane's effectiveness is his ability to drop off and be a playmaker sometimes and at other times be the focal point. It makes him extremely hard to defend because it pulls defenders out of position and allows the automations and patterns of play to be far more impactful. In the 3-5-2 the strikers have to work the channels really well to create the similar space and overloads. I think Conte realized pretty quickly that Kane is such a unique weapon that he has to use him in the 3-4-3 and then get the right players around him. I like the idea of having a Zaniolo that Kane could release, allowing him to run at whatever poor defender gets isolated. I feel like there is the potential to play Kulu in a similar role to Kane on occasion if you had enough goal scoring threat off him. Less effective but possible with his creativity and guile.

This is exactly why he was able to go with 3-4-3 at Chelsea as well. World class players who can effectively do two jobs at once (in Hazard and Kane) allows for more tactical flexibility.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

He didn't have Kane at Inter or Chelsea though and part of Kane's effectiveness is his ability to drop off and be a playmaker sometimes and at other times be the focal point. It makes him extremely hard to defend because it pulls defenders out of position and allows the automations and patterns of play to be far more impactful. In the 3-5-2 the strikers have to work the channels really well to create the similar space and overloads. I think Conte realized pretty quickly that Kane is such a unique weapon that he has to use him in the 3-4-3 and then get the right players around him. I like the idea of having a Zaniolo that Kane could release, allowing him to run at whatever poor defender gets isolated. I feel like there is the potential to play Kulu in a similar role to Kane on occasion if you had enough goal scoring threat off him. Less effective but possible with his creativity and guile.

Yep great points mate and agree Kane can of course drop off and create but Conte has also been quoted saying he wants him to mainly be a n.o9 in our system so will be interesting to see how it all pans out. Of course it’s great for us to have Kane who has that ability to drop off a create as you say it’s so hard to mark someone who can do both, a la messi.

I don’t think he decided to play 3-4-3 because of Kane, I think he decided to play it because it’s his preferred formation, because he knows it works well in the PL like it did for him at Chelsea and because we only have one striker and quite a few wingers so it makes sense, at inter they had latauro Martinez and bought Lukaku so 3-5-2 made sense.

I get what you’re saying but I also don’t think we should rely on Kane for creativity, it should come primarily from the wing backs and our patterns of play opening up space for the front 3.

Sure at times Kane could release Kulu or if we signed him Zaniolo but ideally we sign a creative CM in addition to a Zaniolo to just give us that extra dimension and flexibility like he had at Chelsea and Inter with Fabregas and Barella/Eriksen etc.

His Chelsea PL winning side was a prime example, he played 2 fairly defensive athletic strong physical destroyer types for most the season but when needed he put Fabregas in there to help thread through balls or balls over the top from deep etc.

Exciting times, the puzzle ? is building ?

 

[N'Obody]

We will be like Burnley but with some technical ability.

Indeed.. Instead of going down we are going to the top.

 

[Roberts84]

I would not discount Hojbjerg as a more creative player, imo. In our set-up, he has typically been the better of the defensive options at CM, but if you pair him with Bissouma - I think you would find that Hojbjerg could be a more attacking/creative player. He plays a more advanced role for Denmark, and could do so here also.

Hojbjerg plays more box to box for Denmark but his final ball and shot isn’t a strength.

 

[chas vs dave]

I’m not sure there’s even been anything very solid about Paqueta, beyond the fact that Levy has a good relationship with Aulas.

Could you imaging Levy and Aulas going for dinner together. They'd be negotiating about who is picks up the tab for days ?

 

[daryl hannah]

Thereve been reports we bid €40m for paqueta in January but it was turned down.

Also didn’t we have interest in Dybala before halting that one?

 

[Ruffinthepuffin]

Thereve been reports we bid €40m for paqueta in January but it was turned down.

Also didn’t we have interest in Dybala before halting that one?

Yes and yes, but what has that got to do with Zaniolo?

 

[Moorpheus19]

To those on the fence - manager after manager haven't been backed. Now we are.

I don't necessarily buy into the "Conte knows best" line 100% but if we get him the players he wants and something doesn't work out then it's on him really.

If we don't back Conte and we either get halfway-house players or, worse, he leaves then it's on the club (read - Levy).

If we back him it either works (which is great) or it doesn't (and then it's on the manager). This way the club aren't as at fault.

 

[Ruffinthepuffin]

To those on the fence - manager after manager haven't been backed. Now we are.

I don't necessarily buy into the "Conte knows best" line 100% but if we get him the players he wants and something doesn't work out then it's on him really.

If we don't back Conte and we either get halfway-house players or, worse, he leaves then it's on the club (read - Levy).

If we back him it either works (which is great) or it doesn't (and then it's on the manager). This way the club aren't as at fault.

Absolutely spot on imvho. ??

 

[daryl hannah]

Yes and yes, but what has that got to do with Zaniolo?

They’re just very different sorts of player/#10

 

[Ruffinthepuffin]

They’re just very different sorts of player/#10

Totally agree mate, I’m just a little confused as to why you’re conflating those issues.
Dybala was pre Conte for instance and our options have generally ebbed and waned as to who has been or become available. ?