A. Santos|🇧🇷|20|; B2B midfielder, 5'11, consistent pivot player, really good positioning, relishes the dirty work in the middle, has a knack for interceptions, passing range getting more expansive, needs a +1 to be UCL ready. City should be keeping tabs on him.
Khusanov will help relieve minutes from Ake, Akanji and Dias - they all need to reach full recovery.
Scouting report for Wilfred Singo
A lot of people have been high on Singo but after my assessment on Singo, he has dropped significantly in my rankings although he still features in my top 10 list of centre-backs / right-backs to replace Walker. He would potentially cost between £40 - £50M.
The next step in his development is having a competent positional coach, who can streamline his role and hash out some of his inconsistencies. The potential is there but he's capped right now.
Wilfred Singo reminds me of Mario Hermoso as I think that's his ceiling- Singo still needs to improve both he's defensive and attacking basics as I believe he's still very raw and instinctive with majority of his actions.
Singo made his debut at Torino in 2019 as a fullback at 19. Also interesting to note, when Singo joined and was assigned to the under-19 squad coached by Federico Coppitelli he was initially deployed as a CB before being shifted to the FB position over the course of the season.
—Inconsistent in decison making when under pressure
—Could be prolific in the air if he works on his heading technique
—Covers ground fairly easily, has the energy, work rate and determination of an Ox
—Still has question marks on his positional awareness
—Extremely quick & a good dribbler in OPEN space
—Very effective neutraliser against pacy forwards
—Instinctive in defensive situations which can lead to poor clearances / opposition turnovers
—Initiates ball carrying / dribbles with a heavy touch & relies on speed primarily
🇨🇮 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: Wilfred Singo (23)
—6ft 3
— Can play as CB/RB/RWB
— Incredible upper body strength
—Physically dominant in duels
—Expert in executing difficult passes from defensive 3rd - final 3rd
Short 🧵
A more detailed Scouting Report on Bafode Diakité I wrote earlier this year
[6/6]
Diakité is high on my list of centre-backs to replace Walker at RB, very much a similar profile to Ake as a lockdown/wide channel defender but more mobile, has a better frame and can fill in across all the 4 defensive positions. Potentially would cost between £25 - £30M.
[5/6]
His passing ability is highly underrated
Amongst Centre backs under 24, Diakité consistently ranks in the top 5 for Progressive passes, accurate passes % and passes into the final third.
[4/6]
Diakité made his senior debut with Toulouse at 17 years. 4 years later, he signs for Lille and has delivered impressive performances.
He is no stranger to the physical requirements of playing at the top level against shifty & tricky midfielders/wingers/strikers.
[3/6]
—Excels at ball manipulation / disguise techniques akin to high-level defensive midfielders.
—Capable of ball-carrying into open space if/when under immense pressure.
—Consistent body co-ordination when engaging in duels; not easily bypassed.
[2/6]
🇫🇷 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: Bafode Diakité (23)
— 6ft 1
— Can play as LB/CB/RB/CDM*
—Exceptional wide channel defender
— Prolific in the air
— Exhibits multiple traits revered for powerful athleticism
—Calm & composed on & off the ball
[1/6]
Absolutely. He's our only reliable defender
bsky.app/profile/city...
The defensive masterclass shift Ruben Dias put in yesterday has to be talked about, very little got past him. He singlehandedly kept City in the game.
When he's in the middle of the pack the difference is always clear.
Nikola Milenković for £12m, the smartest / cheapest buying decision Forest made in the summer to bolster their defence — a tall athletic bully & physical duelist at the heart of the defence. the fella has been mad consistent so far. a diamond amongst men.
Project tested then
considering Forest haven't typically conceded lots of high quality chances this season I'd say we are making good progress.
First effy game for Milenkovic as well & that doesn't happen often
This was by far Man City's best game in a long time — Grealish increased our physicality levels; De Bruyne upped our creativity/output levels; Doku ensured repetitive intensity. All round confidence restored and this is just the starting point. Ortega resurgence btw; genio
Only 4 players were impressive today; Ortega, Dias, Ake & Doku
A slight glimpse of intensity but City were never going to win at Anfield. Big statement from Ortega to keep the score low.
The youth core of Lille are one of the most exciting teams to watch in Ligue 1 alongside Monaco
Ayyoub Bouaddi, Lucas Chavalier and especially Bafode Diakité were impressive today against Montpellier despite the draw.
Starting Nunes in midfield to inject energy and intensity in duels as well as Ake in defence to tame Salah should prove useful
Pace, Power & Chaos the very kryptonite of the current City squad is what Liverpool embodies. Anfield has always been a tough ground even with a fully fit squad.
Limiting Salah, Gravenberch and Nunez to fewer chances is where the battle can be won if City are to get any result.
just a matter of time before high end UCL clubs come knocking.
Matheus Cunha (25) has an exciting profile for a #9 and those are going extinct as the day passes
athletic & pacy, effective in the channels, shifty dribbler, playmaker & ball carrier and a self-sustaining goalscorer
a very very effective One-Man Army.
Matheus Nunes has surprised me in a positive way, he's honestly the closest City get to an unpolished style-esque Kevin De Bruyne.
He should be a first choice in Pep's midfield reconstruction. Flawed but the energy, intensity & creativity he brings to the team is unmatched rn
