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2024/25 Orel Mangala

Lanolin said:
Your determination for him to be awful is a bit weird. He’s pretty decent, nothing special at all but a perfectly functional PL midfielder.
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"Your determination for him to be awful"

Come again? How can i be "determined" for a player to be awful? What logic is this?

His passing isnt great -- everything else is below average at best.

He is calm under pressure, thats his attribute.

Theres nothing else to him and he's hardly "perfectly functional" when he cant turn or run.
 
Paul Rideout said:
Yeah fair point, however the overarching point I’m trying to make is that we should be buying young players with a high ceiling then moving them on for (re-checks sums) 1.5x what we bought them for IF they don’t want to stay or IF we have someone else lined up.

Orel is 26, there is no way we should be spending decent wedge on him. Yes he seems more consistent than Onana (he’s played about 5 games for us so really it’s tbd), but you can’t sell his potential when he’s 28 in 18 months time.
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He's a good loan signing and will contribute this season (already has). But I agree we shouldn't be spending any serious money on him.
 
….he’s composed in possession which is something the Manager has been wanting and he linked well with Gueye but I think the game suited him yesterday because we were sat deep and under the cosh. He’s dreadfully exposed when there’s space behind him (the way Joelinton ran past him at home to Newcastle was embarrassing).

Looks another in a long list of mediocre acquisitions that will fall into the category of just being ok.
 

Eggs said:
….he’s composed in possession which is something the Manager has been wanting and he linked well with Gueye but I think the game suited him yesterday because we were sat deep and under the cosh. He’s dreadfully exposed when there’s space behind him (the way Joelinton ran past him at home to Newcastle was embarrassing).

Looks another in a long list of mediocre acquisitions that will fall into the category of just being ok.
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It shows how bad our options are in the middle of the park are, that just being ok warrants a place in the side. To judge a side you look at the spine of a team, well there is nothing past central defence in ours.
 
Paul Rideout said:
Yeah fair point, however the overarching point I’m trying to make is that we should be buying young players with a high ceiling then moving them on for (re-checks sums) 1.5x what we bought them for IF they don’t want to stay or IF we have someone else lined up.

Orel is 26, there is no way we should be spending decent wedge on him. Yes he seems more consistent than Onana (he’s played about 5 games for us so really it’s tbd), but you can’t sell his potential when he’s 28 in 18 months time.
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Fair point which I can't disagree with, but this is not aimed at you and again agree with you're point, but wouldn't it be great to just buy a player who would make us a better team and not just for sell on value. Mangala may not even be that player, but thought he played well alongside Gueye yesterday and has looked promising, few have pointed out he's not quick enough, but to get the player were all after, the complete player, will cost a lot more. Getting younger promising players are a risk and maybe in some cases worth it, but money, FFP, PSR has killed the football i used to love. Maybe the Friedkins may deliver better commercial deals, sponsorship revenue, new ground etc, this version of football is awful in my opinion, but can't see it changing anytime soon.
 
Zatara said:
Clearly and by miles Onana when used as a midfield anchor. Its not even a point of discussion.



I'd struggle to understand why we'd spend anything on him. Just the wages alone seem a stretch to me.



£20mil for someone who can calmly pass the ball ?

Bloody hell.



The centre looks pretty dreadful to me. If were looking for negativity and below average play with no standout performer then yes its definitely "balanced" :o

I'm struggling to understand what anyone sees in this player aside from him being able to pass a football under pressure.

Aside from that, he has no attributes.
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A totally one sided view which I am coming to expect from you Zat, again not saying he's the answer, but he was our best most composed midfielder we had yesterday and passing, well yes it is important to a team like ours, who don't or can't pass a bloody football. Who knows buy more a bit better and we may even start to play proper joined up footy.
 

mahermi1 said:
A totally one sided view which I am coming to expect from you Zat, again not saying he's the answer, but he was our best most composed midfielder we had yesterday and passing, well yes it is important to a team like ours, who don't or can't pass a bloody football. Who knows buy more a bit better and we may even start to play proper joined up footy.
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So if my view is 'wrong' or "one sided" perhaps you could explain what Mangala excels at aside from being a composed passer of a football?

Because in the premier league if you have no other redeeming features that makes you a liability unless your passing and positioning are world class.

I am saying we need his attributes and much more from anyone we sign.

If he's a 5 or 6/10 player we need an 8/10.
 
Zatara said:
So if my view is 'wrong' or "one sided" perhaps you could explain what Mangala excels at aside from being a composed passer of a football?

Because in the premier league if you have no other redeeming features that makes you a liability unless your passing and positioning are world class.

I am saying we need his attributes and much more from anyone we sign.

If he's a 5 or 6/10 player we need an 8/10.
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Then 8/10 players Zac cost a lot of money, psr/ costs us points remember, but I hope that drastically improves under the Friedkins, though even if it does in sure Richard Masters and Co will find reasons why it won't.
 
Zatara said:
So if my view is 'wrong' or "one sided" perhaps you could explain what Mangala excels at aside from being a composed passer of a football?

Because in the premier league if you have no other redeeming features that makes you a liability unless your passing and positioning are world class.

I am saying we need his attributes and much more from anyone we sign.

If he's a 5 or 6/10 player we need an 8/10.
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Zat, the only teams who sign 8/10 players are Real Madrid and PSG. we need to be looking at 6/10 players then its the managers job to make those players into 8/10 players, otherwise you are expecting huge amounts of money too be spent and that simply won't be happening imo.
 
mahermi1 said:
Then 8/10 players Zac cost a lot of money, psr/ costs us points remember, but I hope that drastically improves under the Friedkins, though even if it does in sure Richard Masters and Co will find reasons why it won't.
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Simon Buttle said:
Zat, the only teams who sign 8/10 players are Real Madrid and PSG. we need to be looking at 6/10 players then its the managers job to make those players into 8/10 players, otherwise you are expecting huge amounts of money too be spent and that simply won't be happening imo.
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I think TFG need to spend big money.

That isnt optional, if they want to safeguard their investment for the long term -- as they tried with Roma -- they will have to spend.

Signing a Mangala sends the wrong message and I dont think TFG are seeking mediocrity.
 

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