Transfer Rumour Sami Khedira

[Saint Domingo]

I never really liked him even at his peak, a physical animal with great positioning but he was never great on the ball. Fully willing to be proven wrong by Carlo through.

 

[Efcjake]

Well when he was playing he was the best player in the league or one of. So all I can say, is we must be very very good if we cant accommodate him.

In Serie A? No chance.

He had one brief purple patch where he scored a few goals but my Juve mate despises him. Crab statue.

He's not the player he was in the 2014 World Cup and has not been for a long, long time.

 

[Country Mac]

Welcome back to GOT buddy

Thanks mate. Who am I though?

 

[Efcjake]

He is Juventus' Morgan Schneiderlin. Just ask their fans.

This is 100% the opinion of Juve fans.

I've watched him play a few games over the years with a mate of mine and he doesn't stop swearing at him out of frustration.

A non-mobile defensive midfielder is basically useless in this league.

 

[Egil Olsen]

This is 100% the opinion of Juve fans.

I've watched him play a few games over the years with a mate of mine and he doesn't stop swearing at him out of frustration.

A non-mobile defensive midfielder is basically useless in this league.

Yes I know. Juve has been my team in Italy and he is not well liked there. He is a great guy, but he does not add anything to the team. Stops the game all the time, and passes backwards and to the side. Does not have the pace and energy in his game to play in Serie A. He is on the Juve fans' wasters "list.

 

[riddick]

I get peoples trepidation with signing older players but this could be similar to the time we signed Gareth Barry. Similar positions, similar pedigree,both had been there and done it. These players raise bars in terms for professionalism within squads,so as far as this one goes i'am all in.

The biggest difference being that Barry was physically in great shape and played almost every match. Khedira hasn't played a minute of football since November 2019.

 

[Brizzletoffee]

btw @catcherintherye - we definitely have 'dynamic' players in Allan and Doucoure.

The latter's off-the-ball running is very good at times, but we need to get him into more attacking positions regularly. Allan can run with the ball from deep, but he's not going to unlock a defence by curling in a brilliant cross or threading a pass etc.

We have James to do that, but we are so bogged down at times by trying to get the ball to him that - as we saw the other night - he has to drop deep. He can't drive with the ball, so has to rely on his passing, but he's only really got two feasible options to aim at (Richarlison, DCL) in the box. Digne coming back will help that for those quick switches.

I think teams know, with your reasons, we are desperate to get the balls to James to make things happen, which makes us obvious to play against. Having other players with experience and quality like khedira, it’s another way of the team expanding and getting the ball to James, rather than through the same routes. If that makes sense

 

[kenada_blue]

I fear this is gonna be another Delph or Rooney - signed for their past accomplishments and nothing else. Please vault me if I’m wrong.

Rooney was our top goalscorer and arguably best player when we signed him. At least he turned up in some big games.

 

[Pat Butcher]

Is great positionally, has had injury troubles but is a guy Carlo would love to have in and around the squad with the no how and experience of winning things

On a free too, even if he is injured 100% of the time he is 1000 times better than Delph

 

[Exeter_Gently]

The biggest difference being that Barry was physically in great shape and played almost every match. Khedira hasn't played a minute of football since November 2019.

That's a fair point, we'll just have to wait and see. Could all just be Pie in the sky and paper talk at the minute.

 

[davids]

I get peoples trepidation with signing older players but this could be similar to the time we signed Gareth Barry. Similar positions, similar pedigree,both had been there and done it. These players raise bars in terms for professionalism within squads,so as far as this one goes i'am all in.

Barry was a one off,a gamble that worked, ask a bookmaker they rarely do.

 

[davids]

I trust carlo not fans on forums

I'm more interested in the fact he hasn't played in over a year.

 

[catcherintherye]

That is a bold statement. By all means, he has been a good football player. But he was no Radja Nainggolan.

I'm not sure hes played in this league.

It's not an opinion either. It's just the reality of his performances.

There was nobody better than him earlier this season. There may be a case for Grealish and Kane now. And he may not keep that level, but so far hes been a massive plus for us. We should at least reflect reality with honesty and integrity.

 

[catcherintherye]

In Serie A? No chance.

He had one brief purple patch where he scored a few goals but my Juve mate despises him. Crab statue.

He's not the player he was in the 2014 World Cup and has not been for a long, long time.

I was referring to James mate. Khedira seemed to start well at Juve but his level has fallen off in the last 2 years.

 

[aglee]

I think Khedira coming in pushes Allan up the pitch to become more box to box, which I really like.
In a few games, Allan showed he can carry the ball and drive forward with his good dribbling.

Khedira
Doucoure Allan
James

That shape has a good balance to it of experience, creativity, power and passing.

Plus we have depth of

Gbamin/Delph
Davies Gomes
Siggurdsson

Just need a pacey RW to balance with Richie on the left.

If you're suggesting that midfield diamond of 4 players then we can't have Richy, DCL AND a RW - unless you're thinking 3 CBs which would mean leaving Digne out when fit. I think it's more likely James will continue wide right - if we brought in a Zaha type then he could be moved into a 10 role but would only have 2 of Khedira, Doucoure and Allan behind him. I'm fine with the idea of getting Khedira - we need squad options and I believe he would be an upgrade on Delph and Davies. A quality RB and a pacey forward who can play wide or more centrally would really round us out and mean that we could rotate more / cope with injuries