Jean-Clair Todibo

[Barnfred 55]

He was waiting behind Kabak in that Schalke team when both were healthy (they rarely were) Kabak is quality but a bit reckless for me, so IF Todibo was not even good as Kabak in the eyes of Schalke manager, then huge alarm bells.

Maybe Kabak was just deemed fitter, maybe he thought the lad lacked experience to be exposed in a team getting battered every week.

If he comes it's as cover. When he plays it's alongside better defenders and a proper midfield in front

What's the risk with a loan. At worst he returns to Barca next year and we may just unearth another gem. You never know

 

[Barnfred 55]

I think he will and if he doesn't hopefully Branthwaite might. He needs to be Readings best player that is the standard I'm looking for.

I like Gibson. Looks very assured on the ball and is a powerful unit. I expect him to do well at Reading

 

[Barnfred 55]

If Mina and Keane get through the next month without injury buying this fella will only
complicate selection. Holgate, for me, is next in line and then the young fella signed from Carlisle, though
in a perfect world this player looks good.

The priority is buying a top right winger then a top right full back in the next two weeks then a centre-half.

I suppose though it can be done in any order.

True. But what if they don't. What if one of them also gets an injury for say 3 months. We're left with just one CD until Bramthwaite returns, and still no cover until Holgate is fit. Brands would get crucified on here and rightly so

 

[catcherintherye]

....if we really wanted Todibo then surely he would be here by now. It suggests to me that we’re either not interested or have a few others ahead of him on our shopping list.

Just to play devils advocate Eggs, does is not suggest that the club is doing what it has done with most deals, including this summer-waiting until Barcelona come to our asking price?

This doesn't mean he's certain to sign, as at some point we explore alternatives, and if one comes in then the Todibo deal is off.

I suspect Brands wants £15m option to buy at the end of the loan. In a buyers, with Todibo probably wanting to work under Carlo Ancelotti over Scott Parker we are in a strong position.

As long as Mina/Keane stay fit through today, you'd imagine there will be some blinking over the following days.

 

[catcherintherye]

Or it suggests that they want to sell and we want to loan and we're still negotiating

Or it may suggest that Tomori is still first choice and we are still negotiating on that front. This lad is back up in case we miss out.

Could be a number of reasons Eggs

The first point is almost certainly the case and I've oitliend some thoughts above.

The second point is interesting as well. There is a lot of bluff and counter bluff going on in the situation. People exploring alternatives, but if they come in, they will progress with tem.

I think the club has moved away from Chelsea. After Zouma last summer, where I believe we were kept dangling on Zouma but probably given assurances on Tomori and they all evaporated I'd imagine Brands has taken a firm decision not to waste much time with them. They clearly seem undecided on Tomori. Now if the money people at Chelsea have a revised view that he can go on loan, and they come back to us, and it's before Todibo is secured then I think we pursue that. However with Rudiger being dropped and Christensen being suspended I find it unlikely.

I would have said our preference for CB was Gabriel, Tomori, Todibo in that order. We are fortunate that we are essentially looking for a backup option, ideally for a year. That gives us a fair bit of wriggle room and allows us to negotiate quite stringently on deals.

I would say we look to complete Todibo over coming days, and if Barcelona won;t budge we probably explore other options.

 

[catcherintherye]

True. But what if they don't. What if one of them also gets an injury for say 3 months. We're left with just one CD until Bramthwaite returns, and still no cover until Holgate is fit. Brands would get crucified on here and rightly so

The gamble he would play, is Brainthwaite gets fit a bit uicker. Once you have 3 fit, and Holgate a few weeks away you have got some flexibility. The cavaet as always is that with Covid going the way it is, you could easily lose half your squad, so it's probably faourable to be one too many, where possible.

 

[Zatara]

A lot of people with strong opinions on a player they are unlikely to have seen play much.

I watched his games for Barça. I remember clearly how class he looked away from in a win at Inter which was not an easy game. Other than that I don’t recall too much about his performances in the other couple of games. One was in a loss when the league was won and the whole first team didn’t play so doesn’t mean too much. I asked others that I meet up with to go to the games and they basically said the same. No major excitement or strong opinion on him, but that he did look excellent at Inter.

I didn’t see any of his games for Schalke but you just have to read a bit to see he was picked when fit, and also that he was voted player of the month back in Feb.

I can only say I like that he is very quick and that he was boss In an away victory in the Champions League at Inter for a club that often struggles on the road. If Ancelotti is happy to sign him, I’m very confident we will like him.

I watched him play Defensive midfield, like an anchor in one game (huesca?) and he looked very calm and assured.

Also the Inter match where, like you say he looked class. Best player on the pitch.

Brands know she has upper hand and now the player has to say to Barca only Everton and Brands wins.

Basically looks that way though Fulham seem to be offering cash

....if we really wanted Todibo then surely he would be here by now. It suggests to me that we’re either not interested or have a few others ahead of him on our shopping list.

Just to play devils advocate Eggs, does is not suggest that the club is doing what it has done with most deals, including this summer-waiting until Barcelona come to our asking price?

This doesn't mean he's certain to sign, as at some point we explore alternatives, and if one comes in then the Todibo deal is off.

I suspect Brands wants £15m option to buy at the end of the loan. In a buyers, with Todibo probably wanting to work under Carlo Ancelotti over Scott Parker we are in a strong position.

As long as Mina/Keane stay fit through today, you'd imagine there will be some blinking over the following days.

Agree with Catcher, clear example with us after Lenglet (Gabriel) then putting an offer down for Mina (Todibo) and waiting it out.

 

[blueblue]

I think by the time Ancelotti has seen Keane for a season he will realise great defender majority of the time but prone to lapses and once caught out rarely recovers. Gibson its in the balance I personally would have kept him and played him alongside Keane until Holgate returned but as we agreed with him to go on loan this didn't happen. I personally think it will be Mina who gets sold. Next season I imagine it will be Holgate and whoever we get now as first choice with Keane on the bench and Gibson 4th choice. Hopefully we will have European football so should be games for everyone.

Ancelotti has been manager for about nine months now.
How long would you think it would take him to assess his squad. I would have said about a month.
It is clear that Keane is one of the players he trusts most.

 

[blueblue]

....if we really wanted Todibo then surely he would be here by now. It suggests to me that we’re either not interested or have a few others ahead of him on our shopping list.

I think CA would prefer somebody with more experience of the Premiership than Todibo.
We already have a number of young players for centre back so signing a young player is not a priority.

 

[Eggs]

I think CA would prefer somebody with more experience of the Premiership than Todibo.
We already have a number of young players for centre back so signing a young player is not a priority.

...signing somebody with the right physical attributes and quality is surely the most important.

 

[Zatara]

Ancelotti has been manager for about nine months now.
How long would you think it would take him to assess his squad. I would have said about a month.
It is clear that Keane is one of the players he trusts most.

Yet if it did take him a month, Keane was clear 3rd choice and only got in due to injuries.

I think CA would prefer somebody with more experience of the Premiership than Todibo.
We already have a number of young players for centre back so signing a young player is not a priority.

Who would you sign from the premier league then?

 

[Seathestars]

His name sounds like a snide aftershave

it’s a yes from me

 

[brian labone]

Just read that Todibo has not been given a shirt number for this season. Make of it what you will.

 

[messymascot]

Ancelotti has been manager for about nine months now.
How long would you think it would take him to assess his squad. I would have said about a month.
It is clear that Keane is one of the players he trusts most.

I think Keane has played well since Ancelotti took over. I also think he played well alongside Zouma but there was a spell at the start of last season when he was awful again. Eventually crowds will be allowed in again and that is when I fear he will revert to his more error prone ways. Happy to be proven wrong on this.

 

[messymascot]

Ancelotti has been manager for about nine months now.
How long would you think it would take him to assess his squad. I would have said about a month.
It is clear that Keane is one of the players he trusts most.

I think Keane has played well since Ancelotti took over. I also think he played well alongside Zouma but there was a spell at the start of last season when he was awful again. Eventually crowds will be allowed in again and that is when I fear he will revert to his more error prone ways. Happy to be proven wrong on this.