Ismaila Coulibaly

[Mouth of the South]

A good point very well demonstrated by BB. It's a mystery why, given the advancement in analysis of football data, why more teams don't identify this and set-up to not give Norwood any time on the ball, thereby disrupting Utd's preferred style of play and, more often than not, resulting in Utd either going sideways/backwards to very direct to the front 1 /2.

 

[Davalon]

Not as big as I expected but saw nothing to be enthused by.

Easily outshone by Arblaster imho.

 

[BushBlade]

A good point very well demonstrated by BB. It's a mystery why, given the advancement in analysis of football data, why more teams don't identify this and set-up to not give Norwood any time on the ball, thereby disrupting Utd's preferred style of play and, more often than not, resulting in Utd either going sideways/backwards to very direct to the front 1 /2.

My guess is that a lot of the time other teams don’t have enough time between games to keep working on tactical tweaks. In the PL, there’d be plenty of managers who’d just take the view that they didn’t need to adapt their own play to deal with Norwood, they should be able to beat us playing their normal game. I saw similar when Leicester won the league, teams didn’t change their style of play and often had their arses handed to them on a plate.

In the championship, you barely get time to train between games, your players might not be as tactically flexible as PL players. And if you press Norwood too deep, you either get big gaps between your defence and midfield or the defence has to push up and is then vulnerable to balls over the top.

 

[jono_t2000]

Dont write him off yet. Getting more and more involved and confident game by game

 

[Corkblade]

Dont write him off yet. Getting more and more involved and confident game by game

One of the better performers tonight

 

[GKhantRebel]

One of the better performers tonight

Showing some very nice touches and passing.

Likes to get stuck in too which I'm liking!

 

[Jimmy Fleck]

Looking better each game, will be in and around the first team for sure this season.

 

[Varkanoid]

Came back and helped out defence which looked great especially with the ball over the top we are weak at.

 

[blades14]

I’d play him as a double pivot with Norwood/Doyle and play berge more advanced so berge can concentrate on attacking

 

[SufcBilly]

He’s obscenely good

 

[Bergen Blade]

Second half he ran on the ball and it was clear his marker couldn't keep up so he grabbed his shirt and pulled him down. Although meaninglessly booked, I'm sure that player was praised, as he "took one for the team". We do this ourselves of course, and I think Hecky criticised individuals when they failed to do this on at least one occasion last season.

But it is really time to punish these destructive and entertainment-killing fouls. A yellow card is not enough. I suggest an immediate one match suspension following this type of ugly and cynical foul. It may at least force players to think again.

 

[Nedski]

But it is really time to punish these destructive and entertainment-killing fouls. A yellow card is not enough. I suggest an immediate one match suspension following this type of ugly and cynical foul. It may at least force players to think again.

Something definitely needs to be done to combat cynical fouls, they ruin the game. Pulling shirts isn't so bad (more annoying than anything), but when players literally kick the attacker making no attempt to get the ball- why isn't this violent conduct and a red card?

 

[MobileBlade]

Something definitely needs to be done to combat cynical fouls, they ruin the game. Pulling shirts isn't so bad (more annoying than anything), but when players literally kick the attacker making no attempt to get the ball- why isn't this violent conduct and a red card?

Fleck and Norwood would be suspended every other game.

 

[Brewster Cost £70 million]

WE HAVE NO MONEY

I'm confused why so many fans aren't grasping this concept.

As things stand, we will be relying on him to play 30 games this season, at a guess. Most of these appearances might be off the bench but if we get injuries he will be starting games.

Our midfield is:

Fleck, Norwood, Osborn

AMC

Berge

That is 4 midfielders. 4, and Osborn has never done particularly well there and Berge has not looked very good in the Norwood role. Norwood and Fleck are both the wrong side of 30 and we desperately need some legs in there.

We need to bring in 2-3 midfielders.

He will take up one of those slots.

1. We don't have the time to take a good look at his to see if he's good enough. We should already know this given he's been at another club in the group for 2 years, but our seeming lack of enthusiasm to bring him back previously would make me think we are far from convinced.
2. It has been mentioned several times that he needs to 'have his hand held'. Are we really that kind of club? We've had several of these type of players recently and it normally hasn't worked out.
3. The obvious person he'd befriend is Ndiaye (age, language, background). If he starts to become unsettled or wants to leave is he likely to unsettle him as well?
4. What I can gather from comments and reports, the defensive side of the game is not his strength. That's in a slower league. Ndiaye struggles to play in midfield, despite his workrate, due to this.

If this was last year when we had cover, I would agree with you. Worth taking a look at him and seeing how it goes. However, we're basically gambling on him being able to step into a new country/league straight away. If we can't do this, then that might be a major factor in where we end up. Sure, he might be a great player in 3 years but we're not in the position to carry him. Plus, he can leave on a free at the end of the season and even if he plays every game are you telling me he won't go to a bigger club?

With comments like this:

""Almost all Belgian top clubs have inquired with my broker. AA Gent is very concrete, but Sheffield United are apparently holding off. I regret that.”"

We have no money? We've just spent a rumoured 3 million on Anel

 

[Brewster Cost £70 million]

Fetch me my clipping glove!

 

[Millhousesblade1889]

I’m not sure he’s starting 11 for me. Norwood, Berge & Doyle would be my preference. Coulibaly is a ball winning midfielder that’s for sure but it will take him a few sub appearances to get used to championship pace

 

[Brewster Cost £70 million]

He looks good let's see if he can do it against better opposition though I for 1 hope it works out for him.

 

[blades14]

He starts for me in a double pivot with Norwood against Watford. Not Osborn or fleck

 

[JohnDenver]

Second half he ran on the ball and it was clear his marker couldn't keep up so he grabbed his shirt and pulled him down. Although meaninglessly booked, I'm sure that player was praised, as he "took one for the team". We do this ourselves of course, and I think Hecky criticised individuals when they failed to do this on at least one occasion last season.

But it is really time to punish these destructive and entertainment-killing fouls. A yellow card is not enough. I suggest an immediate one match suspension following this type of ugly and cynical foul. It may at least force players to think again.

Something more needs doing, partly because of the new 5 subs rule (which is a nonsense in itself). It’s now perfectly feasible for a manager to replace an entire midfield once they’re all on a yellow for such cynical fouls.

I‘d like an orange card. Same as a yellow within the match, but it carries extra points towards a suspension. And if that doesn’t work, trial sin bins.

 

[Carlton Blade]

A good point very well demonstrated by BB. It's a mystery why, given the advancement in analysis of football data, why more teams don't identify this and set-up to not give Norwood any time on the ball, thereby disrupting Utd's preferred style of play and, more often than not, resulting in Utd either going sideways/backwards to very direct to the front 1 /2.

Every time you commit player/s to taking away something the opposition doe well you leave spaces. Goodteams exploit those spaces as United did against Forest in the away leg (they shaded an extra player at MGW).

If it was that easy, Norwood wouldn't have a career

 

[Mouth of the South]

Every time you commit player/s to taking away something the opposition doe well you leave spaces. Goodteams exploit those spaces as United did against Forest in the away leg (they shaded an extra player at MGW).

If it was that easy, Norwood wouldn't have a career

And in the first leg, pushed Yates onto Norwood thereby giving him no time on the ball and thus negating his playmaking ability, at least his forward passing. Forest pressed high and worked extremely hard and Utd were unable to exploit any space.

 

[Carlton Blade]

And in the first leg, pushed Yates onto Norwood thereby giving him no time on the ball and thus negating his playmaking ability, at least his forward passing. Forest pressed high and worked extremely hard and Utd were unable to exploit any space.

They did. And the failure of United was having 2 absolute non-contributors at WB in that first leg. It was Norwood, getspressured, ball to wing back, panic/lump it/give it away. Watch the 2nd leg. As soon as the United WBs showed they could contribute Forest backed off. Like I said, if you over commit defensively to one player youlise something elsewhere

 

[BobblesBlade]

I’m not sure he’s starting 11 for me. Norwood, Berge & Doyle would be my preference. Coulibaly is a ball winning midfielder that’s for sure but it will take him a few sub appearances to get used to championship pace

Isn’t that what we are missing though. Someone who can take command of the middle of the park.
I’d prefer to give a start and a good run out. If he does really well it would be like a new stellar signing. If not what have we lost.

 

[Kanye]

Second half he ran on the ball and it was clear his marker couldn't keep up so he grabbed his shirt and pulled him down. Although meaninglessly booked, I'm sure that player was praised, as he "took one for the team". We do this ourselves of course, and I think Hecky criticised individuals when they failed to do this on at least one occasion last season.

But it is really time to punish these destructive and entertainment-killing fouls. A yellow card is not enough. I suggest an immediate one match suspension following this type of ugly and cynical foul. It may at least force players to think again.

Something more needs doing, partly because of the new 5 subs rule (which is a nonsense in itself). It’s now perfectly feasible for a manager to replace an entire midfield once they’re all on a yellow for such cynical fouls.

I‘d like an orange card. Same as a yellow within the match, but it carries extra points towards a suspension. And if that doesn’t work, trial sin bins.

Orange card and sin bins would probably work, though can't see it happening unfortunately, too revolutionary.
Another option would be to broaden the definition of denying a goal scoring opportunity.

An obvious goalscoring opportunity doesn't need to be a perceived guaranteed goal.

 

[ucandomagic]

N'Golo Kante 2.0.

 

[Carlton Blade]

Second half he ran on the ball and it was clear his marker couldn't keep up so he grabbed his shirt and pulled him down. Although meaninglessly booked, I'm sure that player was praised, as he "took one for the team". We do this ourselves of course, and I think Hecky criticised individuals when they failed to do this on at least one occasion last season.

But it is really time to punish these destructive and entertainment-killing fouls. A yellow card is not enough. I suggest an immediate one match suspension following this type of ugly and cynical foul. It may at least force players to think again.

People get so angry about diving but I've always thought intentional/professional foulsare at least as bad. Both are cheating but one is considered "fancy dan/foreign"/selfish and the other "manly/English/taking one for the team"

 

[Champagneblade]

I’m not sure he’s starting 11 for me. Norwood, Berge & Doyle would be my preference. Coulibaly is a ball winning midfielder that’s for sure but it will take him a few sub appearances to get used to championship pace

But one of those you mentioned, Doyle. Is injured.

That being said, how much have any of us seen of Doyle to properly judge?

This pre-season fans have only seen Coulibaly and he seems on a very promising upward trend.

 

[Carlton Blade]

Something more needs doing, partly because of the new 5 subs rule (which is a nonsense in itself). It’s now perfectly feasible for a manager to replace an entire midfield once they’re all on a yellow for such cynical fouls.

I‘d like an orange card. Same as a yellow within the match, but it carries extra points towards a suspension. And if that doesn’t work, trial sin bins.

Penalty for amn intentional/professional foul anywhere on the pitch

 

[Millhousesblade1889]

But one of those you mentioned, Doyle. Is injured.

That being said, how much have any of us seen of Doyle to properly judge?

This pre-season fans have only seen Coulibaly and he seems on a very promising upward trend.

That would be my first choice starting 3 if all fit. I think Osborn will get the nod in all honesty based on pre season so far.

Coulibaly hasn’t massively impressed me in any of the other games apart from yesterday, I still think he needs to witness the pace of how championship football is played. Coming on for the last 20 mins would make more sense at the moment that starting and looking like a rabbit in headlights

 

[Millhousesblade1889]

Isn’t that what we are missing though. Someone who can take command of the middle of the park.
I’d prefer to give a start and a good run out. If he does really well it would be like a new stellar signing. If not what have we lost.

Apart from last night he’s been very average in all other games. I’m not saying he can’t be a good player for us I just think he needs to get up to the pace of English / championship football before we start throwing him in from the start.

If we’re basing our starting 11 on good performances last night then I think Arblaster is deserved of a spot in that 3 too.