[Albion] Diego Coppola (Italian CB)

[Nobby Cybergoat]

The turning circle of the QE2, but I loved Butters and Cullip next to him!

That was a great partnership and I love a defender who loves to defend his box ... But I reckon the difference now is less about the division we're in and more to do with the manager's tactics.

There are lots of players from the past being quoted on this thread, but we are now requiring an extraordinary skillset from our centre backs, to be able to defend the box at times, but also to break the lines with passing and crucially to win a 40 yard foot race in recovery against a PL striker or winger.

 

[Uh_huh_him]

Sometimes it's all about reading the game and thereby either being in position or getting a head start in getting to that position. Its all about getting the right mix.

yeah that's all well and good, but when the coach's tactics is to leave acres of space behind you, a bit of pace comes in handy, too.

 

[The Fits]

Is there any possibility that we buy and loan back with Coppola?

I know i'm going to get the "But he's an Italian International ... blah blah blah". I guess he is, but that honour has been pretty devalued recently ... and the lad is still very young for a PL centre back

I just wonder though if the idea is for him to be ready to replace Van Hecke, who will have a year left on his deal next summer, for the season after next.

In my mind it looks like Boscagli and Dunk are fighting it out for the left CB slot ....... Van Hecke and Webster for the right CB .... and the likes of Baleba, and Veltman ready to come in at CB if we're in big trouble with injuries. That seems pretty good cover to me

I'm presuming we stay playing only 2 centre backs, also that Webby stays around and nobody comes in for JPVH now.

Also i'm assuming no Cashin or Igor

But if it gets to the end of the summer and we've got Dunk, JPVH, Webby and Boscagli all fit and ready to play, might we be better sending Coppola off, or back, at least until January?

Beyond his obvious ability to at least contribute something next season it’s a big no from me. No point going back to the team that’s basically told him not to pass the ball.

 

[The Fits]

Also worth nothing this one is quite obviously primarily a value signing. He’ll undoubtedly make us a huge profit whether he entirely fits Fabs style of play or not. And that’s our reality.

 

[chickens]

There are lots of players from the past being quoted on this thread, but we are now requiring an extraordinary skillset from our centre backs, to be able to defend the box at times, but also to break the lines with passing and crucially to win a 40 yard foot race in recovery against a PL striker or winger.

Are we though? We have absolutely (at times) set up with the highest of high lines, but not consistently so, and I’d argue that we’ve had better all round performances when we haven’t done that.

FH strikes me as a pragmatist rather than an ideologue, I don’t think we can assume that it’s his intention to play CB’s on the halfway line next season.

He might do precisely that of course, but I don’t think we can treat it as a given.

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

Is there any possibility that we buy and loan back with Coppola?

I know i'm going to get the "But he's an Italian International ... blah blah blah". I guess he is, but that honour has been pretty devalued recently ... and the lad is still very young for a PL centre back

I just wonder though if the idea is for him to be ready to replace Van Hecke, who will have a year left on his deal next summer, for the season after next.

In my mind it looks like Boscagli and Dunk are fighting it out for the left CB slot ....... Van Hecke and Webster for the right CB .... and the likes of Baleba, and Veltman ready to come in at CB if we're in big trouble with injuries. That seems pretty good cover to me

I'm presuming we stay playing only 2 centre backs, also that Webby stays around and nobody comes in for JPVH now.

Also i'm assuming no Cashin or Igor

But if it gets to the end of the summer and we've got Dunk, JPVH, Webby and Boscagli all fit and ready to play, might we be better sending Coppola off, or back, at least until January?

Really need to get past the idea that van Hecke will still be our player next season

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

Really need to get past the idea that van Hecke will still be our player next season

I agree. There's a good chance he moves. I don't think it's certain though and towards the end of the window we may even be able to get him to sign a new deal.

If not though, it's a huge ask for this lad to come in and do the job that JPVH does

 

[JBizzle]

Really need to get past the idea that van Hecke will still be our player next season

Why?

 

[Garry Nelson's Left Foot]

Really need to get past the idea that van Hecke will still be our player next season

Variously NSC has claimed that Van Hecke, Pedro, mitoma, Baleba are all going to be sold this summer.

It seems unlikely that all four would be sold, almost equally unlikely that we'd sell three so at most that leaves two. We know that Mitoma has interest from Bayern and Pedro according to one of his teammates wants out. Chelsea, inevitably have been rumoured to be interested in Baleba. With that in mind why are you so certain that one of them will be Van Hecke?

And if you had to hazard a guess who would be the other to leave?

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

Why?

Because he will be sold later this summer

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

Variously NSC has claimed that Van Hecke, Pedro, mitoma, Baleba are all going to be sold this summer.

It seems unlikely that all four would be sold, almost equally unlikely that we'd sell three so at most that leaves two. We know that Mitoma has interest from Bayern and Pedro according to one of his teammates wants out. Chelsea, inevitably have been rumoured to be interested in Baleba. With that in mind why are you so certain that one of them will be Van Hecke?

And if you had to hazard a guess who would be the other to leave?

Bournemouth are selling Kerkez, Zabarnyi, Huijsen, Semenyo. Let's hope we don't sell that many.

Van Hecke is really really good. He's an obvious future captain of a title challenging club. For me the only question is whether it's a British transfer record for a defender. CBs that good don't come on the market often.

If he isn't sold this summer, I don't know what the Liverpools of this world are playing at

 

[Merlin57]

Why?

Exactly, all I’ve read from him, is that he’s already raring to go for next season, probably as our captain!

 

[Deadly Danson]

Because he will be sold later this summer

Just for clarity - is this based on any insider info or just what you feel might/will/could happen?

 

[Munchkin]

Because he will be sold later this summer

Fake news.

JPVH, Baleba and Mitoma will all be here next season.

Pedro, Enciso, Estupinian, Igor and maybe O’Riley probably won’t be.

Not unrealistic to believe that’s a combined income of at least £120m.

I’m sure TB and the fans would be more than happy with the above.

 

[Machiavelli]

Because he will be sold later this summer

Have you been in the Tardis and come back as Nostradamus?

 

[Garry Nelson's Left Foot]

Bournemouth are selling Kerkez, Zabarnyi, Huijsen, Semenyo. Let's hope we don't sell that many.

Van Hecke is really really good. He's an obvious future captain of a title challenging club. For me the only question is whether it's a British transfer record for a defender. CBs that good don't come on the market often.

If he isn't sold this summer, I don't know what the Liverpools of this world are playing at

Is Van Hecke on the market? As in actively up for sale rather than will be sold if someone stumps up huge piles of cash?

Bournemouth have sold Huijsen, will probably sell Kerkez. We'll have to wait and see what they do with the other two. I think it's an act of madness to sell four of your top players in the same window, I'd be surprised if Bournemouth did it and I'd be incredulous if we did(as in all of Mitoma, Pedro, Baleba, Van Hecke).

 

[Mancgull]

Fake news.

JPVH, Baleba and Mitoma will all be here next season.

Pedro, Enciso, Estupinian, Igor and maybe O’Riley probably won’t be.

Not unrealistic to believe that’s a combined income of at least £120m.

I’m sure TB and the fans would be more than happy with the above.

I certainly would be happy with that.

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

yeah that's all well and good, but when the coach's tactics is to leave acres of space behind you, a bit of pace comes in handy, too.

Depends whether you tuck your full-backs in though or leave them way too far upfield. I think Fab had grasped that post Brentford.

It is a fair point though, if he is indeed slow, not seen him so can’t comment.

The only thing I would say is, if he’s anything like a typical Italian CB, he’ll know how to deal with a player with a bit more pace…..

 

[JBizzle]

Because he will be sold later this summer

Thanks for the inside track, Tony. Any other news to share?

 

[Doonhamer7]

Bournemouth are selling Kerkez, Zabarnyi, Huijsen, Semenyo. Let's hope we don't sell that many.

Van Hecke is really really good. He's an obvious future captain of a title challenging club. For me the only question is whether it's a British transfer record for a defender. CBs that good don't come on the market often.

If he isn't sold this summer, I don't know what the Liverpools of this world are playing at

Seriously JPVH is good but he ain’t Virgil Van Dijk so won’t be breaking the transfer record for a centreback