The underlying article describes how Inter are interested and have been in discussion with Sampdoria in the context of Stefano Sensi’s loan to Samp. Would rather we went for Sensi; he’s exactly what our midfield is missing.
Sensi isn’t a defensive midfielder and would be yet another (although better) in the exact same profile as many of the others we have in centre midfield. Don’t see how he’s exactly what we are missing?
I think he’s much more progressive and will create chances. We have a lot of 8s who run around pressing a lot but no one who can progress the ball. We might be lacking a defensive midfielder as well but someone with some guile seems a bigger priority to me.
Well that’s my point - he’s just a better level of similar profile to what we have already. I’d be all for moving a couple out and getting someone like him in. Showing me those stats proves rather than disproves my point? But it wouldn’t fill the obvious void we are missing. A quality player who screens the back-four. That’s the biggest hole in midfield that needs plugging because we literally don’t have one so I don’t agree at all that Sensi is exactly what’s we are missing.
I don’t think it proves your point at all. Sissoko, Kucka, Etebo, Cleverley - none of those players have the guile to create chances from midfield. They don’t screen the defence but their primary job is to hassle the opposition when out of possession. In my view we have a lot of midfielders who can function as shuttlers and no one who can either screen the back four or create chances/score goals from midfield. It is an open question whether the screener is more important than the attacking midfielder given our squad make up but it’s pretty clear Sensi is a very different player from our present options. Can you really look at Sensi’s fbref stats and say he is the same profile as Sissoko and Louza (see below - included since they are arguably our best two midfielders) I recognise that some of the difference with Sensi is the quality of his team, but he is clearly not of the same profile
Thorsby isn't a defensive midfielder, well not when I've seen him play. I'd still have him though, be a massive upgrade on Kucka.
We will agree to disagree. Obviously stating players are similar profiles isn’t an exact science - because 2 players can be of a similar style but of different standards. And I think that’s what your figures show in my opinion. And my main point was your statement was that Sensi is ‘exactly what our midfield is missing’ when personally I think it’s obvious that a defensive midfielder is the far greater need. I’m not suggesting someone more creative further forward wouldn’t be great too - but if there’s a singular ‘biggest need’ in our midfield, I think it’s obvious what it is.
I don’t think Sensi is just a better version of Cleverley/Louza/Sissoko/Kucka. He is a totally different player. I recognise that profiles as you say are somewhat subjective though. I think between Kayembe/Etebo/Sissoko/Louza we have options at 6 even though none of those are ideal. However I think however hard we try, none of those are decent options as midfield creators. So I think on that (ie whether the DM or more progressive midfielder is the greater need) we can certainly agree to disagree.
Sissoko and Etebo aren’t No.6s though. They just aren’t. They haven’t spent the vast majority of their careers playing in that position. And I’m actually shocked if you don’t think a defensive midfielder is a greater need - considering I ranked our most needed positions the other week and you replied in agreement. So it seems you’re agreeing to disagreeing with something you agreed with not long ago and hasn’t been rectified in the meantime!
I suppose I’ve changed my mind. I think with Etebo coming back soonish and Kayembe looking somewhat decent we can find almost some solutions at DM. I agree though that we have no natural 6. Maybe we play Asprilla (should he come now) or Pedro as a midfield creator in which case that’s probably fine too. I just think we need someone to create and link midfield to attack and don’t have that at all now.
Louza seems to be playing further forward for Morocco and he has looked good all be it against weaker opposition.
