Author Topic: The Indomitable Ibou (Read 276091 times)

lgvkarlos · « **Reply #640 on:** August 9, 2021, 10:24:24 pm »

You can tell he's buzzing to be with us, absolute beast.

macmanamanaman · « **Reply #641 on:** August 9, 2021, 11:02:04 pm »

I wonder if at some stage, he might be able to play in midfield.
Shades of Yaya Toure dominance, on the ball, and physically as well, anyone?
Loved that phase of play where he overran the ball a couple of times but kept winning it back every time, bulldozing though the opposition player.

JasonF · « **Reply #642 on:** August 10, 2021, 01:33:40 am »

Quote from: macmanamanaman on August 9, 2021, 11:02:04 pm

I wonder if at some stage, he might be able to play in midfield.
Shades of Yaya Toure dominance, on the ball, and physically as well, anyone?
Loved that phase of play where he overran the ball a couple of times but kept winning it back every time, bulldozing though the opposition player.

There were a couple of times he almost gave the ball away, but his obscene recovery pace and strength saw him get there first with ease. He's huge, but he looks quick over short distances too.

newterp · « **Reply #643 on:** August 10, 2021, 01:34:58 am »

Beast.

Hazell · « **Reply #644 on:** September 18, 2021, 05:04:08 pm »

Early days but looks class. Fine debut.

Funky_Gibbons · « **Reply #645 on:** September 18, 2021, 05:04:52 pm »

VVD and Konate

tubby · « **Reply #646 on:** September 18, 2021, 05:04:56 pm »

Solid enough, think the speed of the game over here caught him out once or twice, but he'll get used to it. Encouraging debut.

palimpsest · « **Reply #647 on:** September 18, 2021, 05:05:12 pm »

Never panics.

Red Cactii · « **Reply #648 on:** September 18, 2021, 05:06:40 pm »

Quote from: Hazell on September 18, 2021, 05:04:08 pm

Early days but looks class. Fine debut.

Didn’t panic when he was 1-on-1 and backed his pace to show their forwards wide onto a tougher angle. He’ll do just nicely.

farawayred · « **Reply #649 on:** September 18, 2021, 05:07:14 pm »

Complemented Van Dijk's game really well, kept the line perfectly, never panicks, can bring the ball out and his long-range passing was great. One game and all that, but did really well.

Samie · « **Reply #650 on:** September 18, 2021, 05:07:27 pm »

Good debut from the Mini Virj.

DelTrotter · « **Reply #651 on:** September 18, 2021, 05:07:53 pm »

Good debut, he's going to fit right in.

Chig · « **Reply #652 on:** September 18, 2021, 05:08:17 pm »

Was bullied once or twice but otherwise solid and calm. Think he will need a few games to get use to the physicality of the premier league. But his ability to pick a forward pass is ridiculously good.

Dim Glas · « **Reply #653 on:** September 18, 2021, 05:14:28 pm »

Yeah he did good, so strong, loved how he shielded the ball a few times and wouldn’t allow their forwards a sniff.

A few times there where instances you could see it was a debut and he was a bit unsure of positioning and got a few passes wrong. But all in all, a very solid debut.

RedBootsTommySmith · « **Reply #654 on:** September 18, 2021, 05:16:08 pm »

Quote from: Samie on September 18, 2021, 05:07:27 pm

Good debut from the Mini Virj.

Nothing ‘mini’ about this lad

RyanBabel19 · « **Reply #655 on:** September 18, 2021, 05:24:08 pm »

Solid debut, few moments where you can see he's still getting used to our way of playing but I like his composure

blamski · « **Reply #656 on:** September 18, 2021, 05:25:00 pm »

Not an especially spectacular debut, but you can see his attitude, athletism and intelligence are right. He'll definitely come good.

Bobinhood · « **Reply #657 on:** September 18, 2021, 05:31:49 pm »

Quote from: tubby pls. on September 18, 2021, 05:04:56 pm

Solid enough, think the speed of the game over here caught him out once or twice, but he'll get used to it. Encouraging debut.

Likewise, he seemed a little nervous to me at the start which is to be expected, and the speed of closing down in the Prem for sure probably opened his eyes a tad (credit to palace they played a high tempo very good game) but for all that his foot speed and strength are apparent. Got more comfortable as things went along, and clean sheet in the end so well done toi him.

KirkVanHouten · « **Reply #658 on:** September 18, 2021, 05:40:18 pm »

He'll get used to the pace. Keen to see him play with Trent outside him. What's really encouraging was when he made that mistake where he let Eduoard in on goal and in the replay you can see he's good enough to get back and get a block in. He'll probably get another run out in the League Cup.

wemmick · « **Reply #659 on:** September 18, 2021, 05:44:33 pm »

Nice debut. I like how he uses his strength. Eases players off the ball or shields them away from goal without getting tangled in feet. Very VVD-esque.

RedSince86 · « **Reply #660 on:** September 18, 2021, 06:03:41 pm »

Those shoulder barges are amazing, i remember pre season he did one and i just out laughed out, going to be a common sight over the years, he's like a Line backer playing at CB.

RedForeverTT · « **Reply #661 on:** September 18, 2021, 06:05:56 pm »

Do you think he will start ahead of Matip and Gomez from here onwards?

farawayred · « **Reply #662 on:** September 18, 2021, 06:08:36 pm »

Quote from: RedForeverTT on September 18, 2021, 06:05:56 pm

Do you think he will start ahead of Matip and Gomez from here onwards?

Mix and match, I reckon. Matip, Gomez and Van Dijk all need protecting, and so does Ibou.

Last season we were forced into 19 CB pairings, but I think that it taught us a lesson and we can now chop and change the CBs, which is usually avoided in the game. Other teams won't do it until a CB needs to be dropped, but we CAN!

decosabute · « **Reply #663 on:** September 18, 2021, 06:12:50 pm »

Quote from: RedForeverTT on September 18, 2021, 06:05:56 pm

Do you think he will start ahead of Matip and Gomez from here onwards?

No.
I think it's been clear (and correct, based on performances) from the start that on pure ability, a fit Matip is the first choice next to Virgil. The problem is, he can't play every game, so it'll be a bit mix and match, as others have said. All four of them are boss though, and it's so nice to feel like any combination of two from the four will do the business.

Samie · « **Reply #664 on:** September 18, 2021, 06:15:59 pm »

I said it in the Matip thread the other day but I genuinely believe we've got the best group of Centre Backs in the League and probably in Europe too.

Schmidt · « **Reply #665 on:** September 18, 2021, 06:17:10 pm »

Quote from: RedForeverTT on September 18, 2021, 06:05:56 pm

Do you think he will start ahead of Matip and Gomez from here onwards?

Doubt it, I think Matip/VVD is our starting pairing, both have been impeccable.

I'm still a little surprised we've broken that duo up to be honest, I get the idea behind using one sharp defender in each of the last two games but with Gomez and Konate playing together a lot in preseason and Joe being pretty experienced at this point, I thought we'd just swap between pairings each game. We do have a tough CL group though so maybe it makes sense, or maybe we just want Virgil to give Konate some on the pitch training before he plays with someone else.

Dim Glas · « **Reply #666 on:** September 18, 2021, 06:29:06 pm »

Quote from: RedForeverTT on September 18, 2021, 06:05:56 pm

Do you think he will start ahead of Matip and Gomez from here onwards?

Be a bit of a mad call to break up the best central defensive partnership in the league in VVD and Matip!

But it’s nice to have a great group of central defenders, and it’s great that at the moment their minutes can be managed.

Wilmo · « **Reply #667 on:** September 18, 2021, 06:32:05 pm »

Quote from: Dim Glas on September 18, 2021, 06:29:06 pm

Be a bit of a mad call to break up the best central defensive partnership in the league in VVD and Matip!

But it’s nice to have a great group of central defenders, and it’s great that at the moment their minutes can be managed.

Agreed. I think Joe and Konate are in mind for the next phase.

newterp · « **Reply #668 on:** September 18, 2021, 06:48:55 pm »

Quote from: Wilmo on September 18, 2021, 06:32:05 pm

Agreed. I think Joe and Konate are in mind for the next phase.

That's the starters for Tuesday

Djozer · « **Reply #669 on:** September 18, 2021, 06:49:12 pm »

Quote from: Samie on September 18, 2021, 06:15:59 pm

I said it in the Matip thread the other day but I genuinely believe we've got the best group of Centre Backs in the League and probably in Europe too.

I don't think there's any doubt of that, to be honest. I guess City have got decent depth in that department too, but I think our first four centre halves trump theirs, especially if Gomez can get back to what he was.

aka_da_saus · « **Reply #670 on:** September 18, 2021, 06:50:26 pm »

i thought he was a liability for a lot of the game to be honest . looked clumsy on ball a few times , looked lost positionally a few times , looked slow ( and he is rapid ) and languid . smacked of a young lad in a new country who hasn't settled yet . and he has barely played last 6 months really . iv watched enough of him last two years to say it will probably be his worst game for us . he is going to be a colossus . he is really quick , mobile and very good at passing balls through lines into forwards ( we seen some of it today ) he defo has to start tuesday he needs games to up his level. i thought his performance was below way nat played the end of season ! which shows how good nat did for us ! but ya Ibu is going be some player when he settles and gets games under belt .

aka_da_saus · « **Reply #671 on:** September 18, 2021, 06:51:17 pm »

Quote from: Samie on September 18, 2021, 06:15:59 pm

I said it in the Matip thread the other day but I genuinely believe we've got the best group of Centre Backs in the League and probably in Europe too.

we have . best group 4 in world . then we have nat . and billy shaping up nicely if he cuts out school boy stuff .

JC the Messiah · « **Reply #672 on:** September 18, 2021, 07:00:36 pm »

Looked a bit raw, but massively talented, and massively massive.

Can tell he's been training with Virgil, and that's only going to help him (as well as with Matip and Gomez, and training against our forwards).

The incident mentioned above when his mistake let Eduardo through, but his recovery prevented the shot on goal, summed up his debut for me. He'll be very good for us.

Ravishing Rick Dude · « **Reply #673 on:** September 18, 2021, 07:06:36 pm »

The title of this thread for some reason always cracks me up

farawayred · « **Reply #674 on:** September 18, 2021, 07:15:59 pm »

Quote from: Ravishing Rick Rude on September 18, 2021, 07:06:36 pm

The title of this thread for some reason always cracks me up

I'd take credit for that.

Gods_Left_Boot · « **Reply #675 on:** September 18, 2021, 07:20:38 pm »

A couple of ropey momenty, but he showed his massive potential. Good debut, hopefully he'll get another start in the week.

Ravishing Rick Dude · « **Reply #676 on:** September 18, 2021, 07:22:06 pm »

Quote from: farawayred on September 18, 2021, 07:15:59 pm

I'd take credit for that.

You deserve all the credit my guy

PoetryInMotion · « **Reply #677 on:** September 18, 2021, 07:26:32 pm »

He needs to be a bit more aggressive in duels, but he was smooth on the ball and generally did well. The ingredients are there and it will come once he has more understanding with our other defenders.

Ghost Town · « **Reply #678 on:** September 18, 2021, 07:51:26 pm »

Don't forget it was a back four who had hardly played together before. A few uncertain moments but he grew and grew into the game and even did some nifty long-range passing.

His and Virgil's presence during attacking corners kept the opposition occupied and played a big part in all three goals being from corners

Bend It Like Aurelio · « **Reply #679 on:** September 18, 2021, 08:09:48 pm »

I just loved how he measured himself from the beginning, and got the angles on Zaha eventually. One of the most ineffectual games from him I’ve ever seen, going against with the Konate / Milner axis.

And how he handled Edouard was pretty good to see also. Very calm and positionally very well done.