[Albion] Diego Coppola (Italian CB)

[PlayMoran]

But it only takes one poor passer of the ball and your whole playing out from the back strategy is unworkable. See Potter getting rid of Duffy.

Much more likely is that Coppola is a far better passer than he is being credit for.

Diego Coppola Stats, Goals, Records, Assists, Cups and more | FBref.com

Check out the latest domestic and international stats, match logs, goals, height, weight and more for Diego Coppola playing for Hellas Verona FC and Italy men's national team in the Serie A, Coppa Italia and WCQ — UEFA (M)

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[Nobby Cybergoat]

Diego Coppola Stats, Goals, Records, Assists, Cups and more | FBref.com

Check out the latest domestic and international stats, match logs, goals, height, weight and more for Diego Coppola playing for Hellas Verona FC and Italy men's national team in the Serie A, Coppa Italia and WCQ — UEFA (M)

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Like all the young players we sign, it's less what he's sone in the past, more what we think he can do in the future.

We'll have much more detailed data and we won't have signed a centre back who will forever be incapable of passing. As someone very wisely said earlier, Dunk would have had similar stats under Hughton, his potential for improvement was obvious. 21 is still very young for a centre back

 

[macbeth]

I'm actually surprised that Brighton are signing him.

His passing and ball progression stats are concerning. Maybe they want to add a different profile to the CB options at the club, but he's definitely more of an old fashioned CB than a modern, ball playing type. Strong in the air and likes a tackle.

The second part of your post is exactly how I’d have described Dunk, pre-Potter. Shows the ball-playing side of the game can definitely be learned, and it’s quite nice to see the club prioritising signing a defender who’s actually good at defending.

 

[PlayMoran]

Like all the young players we sign, it's less what he's sone in the past, more what we think he can do in the future.

We'll have much more detailed data and we won't have signed a centre back who will forever be incapable of passing. As someone very wisely said earlier, Dunk would have had similar stats under Hughton, his potential for improvement was obvious. 21 is still very young for a centre back

You'd ideally be looking for a CB who can do both. That's what's required at the highest level now.

It's not an expensive signing, so worth the gamble.

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

You'd ideally be looking for a CB who can do both. That's what's required at the highest level now.

It's not an expensive signing, so worth the gamble.

But I guess that depends on what timescales you're looking at.

JPVH was on loan at that age, Dunk was a decentish Championship League 1 defender.

£10m isn't going to get you a defender who can do it all right now. I don't see this lad as a regular starter right now, there are too many quality experienced players in front of him for that position. In a year, or two years, that's when we'll find out if he was a good purchase or not

 

[Justice]

I'm VERY excited about this one. Stop FAFFING with it and give the ball to the GOOD KIDS up front. I want my defenders to be like this. Head shit away. Thou shall not pass (the player or the ball)

Shall we get Dyche in to manage the job properly

 

[Mancgull]

With Dunk struggling physically now, we need someone who can give us a physical presence. He’s six foot four, which is the same height as Lewis or an inch taller.

I’d be surprised if this guy has a lack of technical ability as most Italians are well coached. He’s played for a club where they play a low defensive block and so passing ability hasn’t been tested too much.

He’s just broken into the Italian first team so for € 10m I think we could have a bargain.

 

[mejonaNO12 aka riskit]

Shall we get Dyche in to manage the job properly

No. But the desperation for defenders to continually be on the ball and try to do something they are not as good at as a midfielder is madness

Here is the passing stats for last season compared to a mid 00s one I picked at random.

We've stopped giving the ball to the players who can make stuff happen

It's mad how it's changed. Look at the quality midfielders who were dictating the play compared to the CBs doing it now. Look at the amount of passes we are having to sit and watch.

Taylor Harwood Bellis passed the ball more times than Paul Scholes


PAUL SCHOLES

 

[Dave the OAP]

No. But the desperation for defenders to continually be on the ball and try to do something they are not as good at as a midfielder is madness

Here is the passing stats for last season compared to a mid 00s one I picked at random.

We've stopped giving the ball to the players who can make stuff happen

It's mad how it's changed. Look at the quality midfielders who were dictating the play compared to the CBs doing it now. Look at the amount of passes we are having to sit and watch.

View attachment 203977

View attachment 203978

Taylor Harwood Bellis passed the ball more times than Paul Scholes


PAUL SCHOLES

Which backs up the rant Gary Neville went on saying who would you rather pay to see, beckham running a midfield and game or dunk passing it backwards and sidewards.

 

[Berty23]

Which backs up the rant Gary Neville went on saying who would you rather pay to see, beckham running a midfield and game or dunk passing it backwards and sidewards.

I get what Neville rants about but there are more goals now. Far less just hoofing it forward and seeing what happens. I suspect This is why the gulf has grown between the leagues because when they all just hoofed it and hoped it was more even due to more 50/50s. Now the best teams try to keep the ball.

The way they talk about the past is a bit rose-tinted. It is different and they don’t like it. Fair enough but it does sound a bit dinosaur like. If it could work with hoofing it then I expect teams would do that more.

 

[mejonaNO12 aka riskit]

Which backs up the rant Gary Neville went on saying who would you rather pay to see, beckham running a midfield and game or dunk passing it backwards and sidewards.

Indeed. The other day there was a game from early 00s on Sky. Arsenal Vs United. It was FAST. It was FUN. it was FRANTIC.

Defenders immediately looked to see if they could get it onto the midfielder. In turn, their first thought was "can I find a winger/striker?"

When the wingers got it, what did they do? GO ROUND THE OUTSIDE. So what if they lost it? They were trying to create.

It was like watching a different sport.

 

[mejonaNO12 aka riskit]

I get what Neville rants about but there are more goals now. Far less just hoofing it forward and seeing what happens. I suspect This is why the gulf has grown between the leagues because when they all just hoofed it and hoped it was more even due to more 50/50s. Now the best teams try to keep the ball.

The way they talk about the past is a bit rose-tinted. It is different and they don’t like it. Fair enough but it does sound a bit dinosaur like. If it could work with hoofing it then I expect teams would do that more.

To be fair we've only moved from 2.5 goals to 2.8 goals per game (from mid 00s to now) so it's a nominal increase. I think it's about 380 games per season so 30-50 goals extra is relatively nominal. It means very roughly, on a round of fixtures, only one extra goal is being scored across the whole league Let's also remember the gulf from the teams coming up has increased in line with the MEGA CLUBS forming so there are quite a few more TONKINGS....and also VAR has come in which has DEFINITELY meant more pens are being given (not that I've checked any stats on that).

No one is suggesting teams should go to HOOFING it. I'm talking about giving it to the good players. At no time should JpvH be passing it more times than Scholes, Lampard and co. That just feels like something's gone wrong somewhere.

 

[PlayMoran]

No. But the desperation for defenders to continually be on the ball and try to do something they are not as good at as a midfielder is madness

Here is the passing stats for last season compared to a mid 00s one I picked at random.

We've stopped giving the ball to the players who can make stuff happen

It's mad how it's changed. Look at the quality midfielders who were dictating the play compared to the CBs doing it now. Look at the amount of passes we are having to sit and watch.

View attachment 203977

View attachment 203978

Taylor Harwood Bellis passed the ball more times than Paul Scholes


PAUL SCHOLES

Look at this game between the 2 best teams in the country 20 years ago. Apart from Henry, the rest are playing head tennis and hoofball from 3:29 for almost 2 mins.

There are parts of football that I don't miss.

 

[mejonaNO12 aka riskit]

Look at this game between the 2 best teams in the country 20 years ago. Apart from Henry, the rest are playing head tennis and hoofball from 3:29 for almost 2 mins.

There are parts of football that I don't miss.

I absolutely LOVED that. 2 mins of headers, battles, Henry running at defenders and a disallowed goal from a fine through ball trying to find an attacker that was JUST offside.

Pace, battles, full throttle stuff.

Brilliant stuff. God I miss football like that

 

[PlayMoran]

I absolutely LOVED that. 2 mins of headers, battles, Henry running at defenders and a disallowed goal from a fine through ball trying to find an attacker that was JUST offside.

Pace, battles, full throttle stuff.

Brilliant stuff. God I miss football like that

The only enjoyable aspect of that snippet was Henry. He's playing a different sport to the rest of them.

Brexitball is not my cup of tea. Each to their own.

 

[mejonaNO12 aka riskit]

The only enjoyable aspect of that snippet was Henry. He's playing a different sport to the rest of them.

Brexitball is not my cup of tea. Each to their own.

I'm not sure The Invincibles with Pires, Cole, Bergkamp, Henry, Vieira etc was quite "Brexitball"........

 

[Beanstalk]

Diego Coppola Stats, Goals, Records, Assists, Cups and more | FBref.com

Check out the latest domestic and international stats, match logs, goals, height, weight and more for Diego Coppola playing for Hellas Verona FC and Italy men's national team in the Serie A, Coppa Italia and WCQ — UEFA (M)

fbref.com

Whilst the implication is his personal stats aren't great in possession it's worth looking at how Hellas Verona actually play.

They had the lowest average possession (38%), the lowest passes attempted, the most cards, the most fouls committed, and the third lowest xG. This is not a team who were trying to entertain by playing a possession based attacking system, they were there to defend and Coppola was fabulous at that.

On Coppola's performance in that system: he received the most passes, he made the most passes (when the ball was live), took the most touches in the defensive and midfield third in his team. In the league, he ranks as the league leader for interceptions, 3rd for clearances, and 2nd for aerial duels won.

To me that speaks of a player who, in a limited system, is still comfortable enough on the ball and in possession but has prioritised his defensive responsibilities as per the team's needs and instructions. I think he'll be more than comfortable in our system and a real coup.

 

[PlayMoran]

I'm not sure The Invincibles with Pires, Cole, Bergkamp, Henry, Vieira etc was quite "Brexitball"........

The ref should have stopped play and told the players to stop trying to recreate the John Smith ad.



Thankfully Big Sam, Neil Warnock and the rest of the terrorists are now unemployed and the game has moved on.

 

[The Fits]

Arsenal invincibles played the most beautiful football you will see, ever. Head tennis or not.

 

[PlayMoran]

Arsenal invincibles played the most beautiful football you will see, ever. Head tennis or not.

Spain 2008 and Barcelona 08/09 are the reason behind tippy tappy football. Big Sam in tears.