DONE DEAL: Valentino Lazaro

[Speedo]

Looks like this is going to happen. RWB/RW, with a lot of assists in Germany but a poor 6 months in Serie A. Gives us a natural right winger, but less of a forward than Almiron and ASM - perhaps a reflection of Bruce’s desire to play the 3-5-2, with Almiron and Lazano as wingers and Saint Maximin behind the striker.

[bodacious benny]

3 goals and 7 assists in 31 games last season in Germany isn't bad.

[Toondes]

Never heard of him but those stats don’t look too clever to me ? I hope we’re not getting people just for numbers ?

I desperately hope to be proved wrong but we already have a squad full of unproductive players .

[Captain Obvious]

Apparently he's absolutely class

[Remember Colo]

Never heard of him but those stats don’t look to clever ? I hope we’re not getting people just for numbers ?

I desperately hope to be proved wrong but we already have a squad full of unproductive players .

17 of his 34 starts last season were at RB, in which he had 2 goals and 3 assists
13 of 31 starts were in right midfield, with 2 assists
1 goal and 2 assists in his 4 starts as RW

[Toondes]

Never heard of him but those stats don’t look to clever ? I hope we’re not getting people just for numbers ?

I desperately hope to be proved wrong but we already have a squad full of unproductive players .

17 of his 34 starts last season were at RB, in which he had 2 goals and 3 assists
13 of 31 starts were in right midfield, with 2 assists
1 goal and 2 assists in his 4 starts as RW

Fair enough , don’t know anything about him tbh.

[Remember Colo]

17 of his 34 starts last season were at RB, in which he had 2 goals and 3 assists
13 of 31 starts were in right midfield, with 2 assists
1 goal and 2 assists in his 4 starts as RW

Fair enough , don’t know anything about him tbh.

Oh I won't pretend that I do either, nor did I necessary mean that those stats were good or bad, just wanted to dig into them a bit and let people decide for themselves.

[krully]

is that the same 3-5-2 that allows the opposition to absolutely batter us without question every time we try to implement it?

[Don Sholeone]

Looks like this is going to happen. RWB/RW, with a lot of assists in Germany but a poor 6 months in Serie A. Gives us a natural right winger, but less of a forward than Almiron and ASM - perhaps a reflection of Bruce’s desire to play the 3-5-2, with Almiron and Lazano as wingers and Saint Maximin behind the striker.

The only problem with that is it sacrifices Ritchie, Yedlin/Manquillo and would put even more defensive responsibility onto Almiron, also Lazaro would essentially carry on being a shoehorned RWB when we have more natural players for that position, doesnt make sense to me that we would buy someone for their attacking ability and have them defending most of the game.

[Colly]

Agreed. For ASM to play through the middle we have to go back to the back 4.

[Remember Colo]

Looks like this is going to happen. RWB/RW, with a lot of assists in Germany but a poor 6 months in Serie A. Gives us a natural right winger, but less of a forward than Almiron and ASM - perhaps a reflection of Bruce’s desire to play the 3-5-2, with Almiron and Lazano as wingers and Saint Maximin behind the striker.

The only problem with that is it sacrifices Ritchie, Yedlin/Manquillo and would put even more defensive responsibility onto Almiron, also Lazaro would essentially carry on being a shoehorned RWB when we have more natural players for that position, doesnt make sense to me that we would buy someone for their attacking ability and have them defending most of the game.

Not sure where the "shoehorned RWB" comes from when RM and RB are the positions he's played most in his career? Or that he's necessarily just being bought for his attacking ability. At the moment he would potentially be replacing Hayden, who is playing completely out of position, or Ritchie who is also playing out of position at LWB.

[Don Sholeone]

The only problem with that is it sacrifices Ritchie, Yedlin/Manquillo and would put even more defensive responsibility onto Almiron, also Lazaro would essentially carry on being a shoehorned RWB when we have more natural players for that position, doesnt make sense to me that we would buy someone for their attacking ability and have them defending most of the game.

Not sure where the "shoehorned RWB" comes from when RM and RB are the positions he's played most in his career? Or that he's necessarily just being bought for his attacking ability. At the moment he would potentially be replacing Hayden, who is playing completely out of position, or Ritchie who is also playing out of position at LWB.

I'm sure I read that he prefers to play as a right winger and that the reason hes not getting in for Inter is because hes defensively suspect so conte doesnt trust him, so I'd assume his main asset is his attacking ability.

[Remember Colo]

Not sure where the "shoehorned RWB" comes from when RM and RB are the positions he's played most in his career? Or that he's necessarily just being bought for his attacking ability. At the moment he would potentially be replacing Hayden, who is playing completely out of position, or Ritchie who is also playing out of position at LWB.

I'm sure I read that he prefers to play as a right winger and that the reason hes not getting in for Inter is because hes defensively suspect so conte doesnt trust him, so I'd assume his main asset is his attacking ability.

Fair enough, I'll admit I hadn't read too much about it. Though Conte probably doesn't even trust his own dog to poop in his yard, so I'll be open minded about his defending.

[Don Sholeone]

On his way tonight apparently, so obviously all the twitter weirdos are tracking his flight

[Tsi]

On his way tonight apparently, so obviously all the twitter weirdos are tracking his flight

so how far out is he then

[beatski]

On his way tonight apparently, so obviously all the twitter weirdos are tracking his flight

so how far out is he then

He's in the Greggs at Newcastle airport right now

[Captain Obvious]

He'll slot straight in on the right hand side of our back 5 and provide more of an attacking threat than Yedlin or Manquillo. Can't see there being an effect on ASM or Miggy who both play much further up.

Strange the persistent links to Rose too, undoubtedly we need short term left back cover but Rose signing would push Ritchie to the bench....

[bodacious benny]

He'll slot straight in on the right hand side of our back 5 and provide more of an attacking threat than Yedlin or Manquillo. Can't see there being an effect on ASM or Miggy who both play much further up.

Strange the persistent links to Rose too, undoubtedly we need short term left back cover but Rose signing would push Ritchie to the bench....

There's relatively frequent murmurs of Ritchie being sold (which would be a huge mistake IMO) so perhaps something is going on behind the scenes. Not necessarily for this month, but a summer move maybe.

[biggeordiedave]

He'll slot straight in on the right hand side of our back 5 and provide more of an attacking threat than Yedlin or Manquillo. Can't see there being an effect on ASM or Miggy who both play much further up.

Strange the persistent links to Rose too, undoubtedly we need short term left back cover but Rose signing would push Ritchie to the bench....

There's relatively frequent murmurs of Ritchie being sold (which would be a huge mistake IMO) so perhaps something is going on behind the scenes. Not necessarily for this month, but a summer move maybe.

The problem with Ritchie is that he wouldn't be leaving for a top club. If he was to say in the PL, he would be leaving to join a team in the 8th - 20th block which will either be a sideways move or a slight improvement on where he is now with us. I'd hate to see him playing for West Ham or Watford. If he does leave, I hope he goes to somewhere like Celtic or Rangers.

[Captain Obvious]

I don't think he'll leave if he's playing week in week out