[Albion] Napoli interested in Billy Gilmour **Sold 30/08/24**

[Hugo Rune]

The manager and the club has said nothing about playing or buying tall, big midfielders. Its something people made up on the basis of St Pauli having some tall midfielders. That matched up with people's childhood fantasies so now people are literally living the dream - pretending the manager is going to give them what they always wanted.

In reality, one of our midfield signings this summer is 169 cm tall, while a 172 cm loan returnee has been given a lot of game time in midfield during the pre-season. And its been looking good. Much to the, I assume, surprise of many, our game won't revolve around winning aerial duels in the midfield.

It’s a lot more than St Pauli having ‘some tall midfielders’ though isn’t it?

It’s Hürzeler’s specific tactic of using one of your countrymen as a hybrid centreback/deep lying playmaker midfielder. Here is your Eric:

Eric Smith - Market value over time

This is the market value site of FC St. Pauli player Eric Smith which shows the market value development of the player in his career.

www.transfermarkt.co.uk

So when people are looking at Hürzeler’s tactics and thinking, will he play a hybrid centre back/deep lying playmaker midfielder and we sign Wieffer, a man with very similar attributes to your 6ft3” Eric, the penny starts to drop.

You are of course correct in suggesting that other Hürzeler midfielders from St Pauli don’t need to be 6ft+. However, we both know that they need goals and assists to justify their selections in his starting line-up.

WBG is not a hybrid centre back. WBG has never racked up the goals and assists up like a Moran, O’Riley or Enciso.

It’s nothing against a great guy like Billy but the conclusion from most on NSC is that WBG is not a fit for Hürzeler’s tactics. The conclusion is not that he is a poor player. He is clearly a specialist that lacks adaptability and utility but that is going to be a huge strength in the right system. I think he’ll be a massive success under Conte.

 

[The Fits]

Napoli are a huge club. I suspect that's the key factor here.

 

[chaileyjem]

Napoli are a huge club. I suspect that's the key factor here.

And their coach.

 

[CheeseRolls]

- Whatever , try making your point like an adult.

It’s a lot more than St Pauli having ‘some tall midfielders’ though isn’t it?

It’s Hürzeler’s specific tactic of using one of your countrymen as a hybrid centreback/deep lying playmaker midfielder. Here is your Eric:

Eric Smith - Market value over time

This is the market value site of FC St. Pauli player Eric Smith which shows the market value development of the player in his career.

www.transfermarkt.co.uk

So when people are looking at Hürzeler’s tactics and thinking, will he play a hybrid centre back/deep lying playmaker midfielder and we sign Wieffer, a man with very similar attributes to your 6ft3” Eric, the penny starts to drop.

You are of course correct in suggesting that other Hürzeler midfielders from St Pauli don’t need to be 6ft+. However, we both know that they need goals and assists to justify their selections in his starting line-up.

WBG is not a hybrid centre back. He WBG does not rack the goals and assists up like a Moran, O’Riley or Enciso.

It’s nothing against a great guy like Billy but the conclusion from most on NSC is that WBG is not a fit for Hürzeler’s tactics. The conclusion is not he is a poor player. He is clearly a specialist that lacks adaptability and utility but that is going to be a huge strength in the right system. I think he’ll be a massive success under Conte.

The signing of Malick Yalcouye, tells us that the club are not necessarily looking for tall midfielders, but that there is an emphasis on athleticism in these positions.

 

[Wardy's twin]

I know very little about our new manager and his style of play ( I only watch Brighton) but from watching the friendlies he clearly likes more pace and direct play than say Potter or RDZ. Personally I think we need a decent passer of the ball and both Billy and Facundo are very good passers of the ball and the latter could add a few goals. The guys bought in are not proven PL players, yes the friendlies showed great work by Minteh but we need to see that repeated in the PL. Time will tell.

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

The signing of Malick Yalcouye, tells us that the club are not necessarily looking for tall midfielders, but that there is an emphasis on athleticism in these positions.

Possibly. But i'm not sure he's a signing for this or next season

 

[Hugo Rune]

It’s always ‘in the next few days’ with Romano and Billy Gilmour:



Being a tap-in merchant, he’ll of course be unaware that Billy Gilmour was not in the squad for yesterday’s friendly but was at the stadium to support his mates. No mention of this, only more tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrows.

 

[WATFORD zero]

It’s always ‘in the next few days’ with Romano and Billy Gilmour:



Being a tap-in merchant, he’ll of course be unaware that Billy Gilmour was not in the squad for yesterday’s friendly but was at the stadium to support his mates. No mention of this, only more tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrows.

The fact that WBG was there yesterday, signing autographs and getting selfies with the kids just shows what sort of person, never mind player they are going to get

 

[heathgate]

I know very little about our new manager and his style of play ( I only watch Brighton) but from watching the friendlies he clearly likes more pace and direct play than say Potter or RDZ. Personally I think we need a decent passer of the ball and both Billy and Facundo are very good passers of the ball and the latter could add a few goals. The guys bought in are not proven PL players, yes the friendlies showed great work by Minteh but we need to see that repeated in the PL. Time will tell.

It was clear on several occasions yesterday, as soon as one of the midfielders got a pass out of defence, FH was gesticulating in what I interpreted as encouragement to speed up the transition forward, to me this looked the key difference... PL midfields may interrupt this tactic of course.

 

[albionalex]

Seems to be at the media day, which would suggest a move isn't imminent.

I wonder if his departure is dependent on O'Reily coming in.

 

[Johnny RoastBeef]

Seems to be at the media day, which would suggest a move isn't imminent.

I wonder if his departure is dependent on O'Reily coming in.

So was Ibrahim Osman, he's now in Rotterdam, due to be announced on loan to Feyenoord.

 

[chaileyjem]

Seems to be at the media day, which would suggest a move isn't imminent.

I wonder if his departure is dependent on O'Reily coming in.

The Media Day was last week i think. ( although the video was released today)

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

£17m, double the money we paid, feels a lot more understandable

Very good business.

 

[Han Solo]

Still think this move is a lot closer in peoples heads than in reality. I don't think £17m is anywhere near what we want.

 

[Hugo Rune]

Still think this move is a lot closer in peoples heads than in reality. I don't think £17m is anywhere near what we want.

You made the right call that Napoli are extremely slippery when it comes to dealing in transfers. The Brentford experience confirms this.

Perhaps the interest from Italy has pushed some teams closer to home into the race. Would we sell to a Southampton or Ipswich?

 

[Flounce]

Still think this move is a lot closer in peoples heads than in reality. I don't think £17m is anywhere near what we want.

One of my favourite players but if there is no place for him in an FH team I would prefer him to leave and go to a club where he gets first team football. Too good to be a bench warmer imo

 

[maresfield seagull]

Not sure Where WBG fits into Conte s 343 formation he seems to be favouring so far
Cajuste to Bees falls through
Brescianna to Napoli also fall s through
ADL s gonna have a disgruntled Conte on his hands

 

[Hiheidi]

 

[The Fits]

It's not enough but he's a top pro and you can see why he's keen. Reckon he'll excel in Serie A and ultimately prove a steal.
Still, with Ferdi and Gruda likely joining it's been a remarkable window.

 

[Han Solo]

Wonder if he has some sort of injury? Maybe we'll know more after the pre-game press conference (whenever it is?).

Hoping to see him back in action soon, I'd much prefer him over Milner in the starting lineup.