09 Jun 2023 09:24:35
Ed001 with us being really heavily linked to both kone and thuram could you Thuram play in a number 8 role for us. I've not seen him play but with all the comments on here does not seem a push for him to move forward from the Dm role and with him Mac Allister and Kone that would add a lot of youth to are midfield and with the like of Jones Elliott and bajcetic that's a strong midfield going forward for a long time.

{Ed001's Note - I don't know, sorry, I haven't seen him play.}

1.) 09 Jun 2023
09 Jun 2023 10:03:51
Kone is pretty much an out and out DM, looks like a Kante/ Masch type. Thuram can play there as well but would probably be a bit of waste given how good he is on the ball, reminds me a bit of Yaya Toure. But either way it would certainly be useful if he can fill in on occasion where he has to.

2.) 09 Jun 2023
09 Jun 2023 10:08:10
Thank you Thomas, I'd never seen them before and was curious if one was a cdm, which I think we need.

3.) 09 Jun 2023
09 Jun 2023 10:20:48
On paper it seems like such a nice balance as well. All three are good defensively and Mac and Thuram go forward in different ways. Obviously we know Mac likes to spread the ball quickly and not take many touches, where Thuram is a great ball carrier and loves to run at people. Should make us less predictable and have a few different ways to break teams down. Particularly with Trent's new position on top.

4.) 09 Jun 2023
09 Jun 2023 10:26:19
Kone and Thuram are both very raw. While being the same age, Kone is probably 12 months ahead in his development.

Kone has had more experience playing in a two - with the responsibility of breaking up play but also breaking presses and progressing the ball. He's all action in the middle third. He has speed and power. He's a dual monster and wins a lot of free-kicks. His heading ability will need work.

Thuram is still finding his best position. Like Kone he is a powerful runner and ball carrier, and is good in duels. He typically carries the ball a bit further than Kone, often up to the penalty box - with a decent shot on him. Despite his height, his heading ability will need work.

In terms of raw attributes, they are very similar. Kone probably has a slightly more defensive role than Thuram, who has shown he can progress the ball much further, often up to the edge of the box. Whereas Kone usually hands it off to others once he's carried it to the final third.

Could Kone replace Fabinho? I don't think Kone has the technical ability Fabinho has so playing as a lone no6 might be difficult. Playing in a two - alongside Fabinho or Trent - would probably suit him more.

Could Thuram be used to replace Hendo's role? He certainly has the running power to play that right sided role that Hendo has occupied over the last two years, but the jury is out on his technique and short game in and around the box - especially those cute and disguised passes that Salah is usually involved in. Would definitely be interesting to see that. I can see why Veiga has been linked as he's a natural in that Hendo role.

Could we use both Kone and Thuram? Yes. Will we? I am not so sure. Can we predict how Klopp would use the pair of them? Honestly, we don't know.

5.) 09 Jun 2023
09 Jun 2023 10:37:03
Good read that Pelican.

6.) 09 Jun 2023
09 Jun 2023 11:00:53
I'd buy them both.

7.) 09 Jun 2023
09 Jun 2023 11:31:19
One thing I forgot to mention, Thuram has a completely clean injury record and Kone has had a few niggles here and there and one slightly serious injury so far.

8.) 09 Jun 2023
09 Jun 2023 11:41:46
I genuinely think both would be the ideal situation here.

Kone is far more defensive minded than Thuram, that being said he's a far better dribbler than Thuram. His passes are generally much safer and more risk adverse than Thuram too, making me think he would be better suited to a deeper role. Currently in Gladbach he doesn't play as a sole holding DM, he is often seen breaking the line and driving forward upfield.

Thuram is an all rounder. I think he'd be a great B2B player. He has the athleticism to get around the pitch and has a far more nuanced attacking ability than Kone. He, too, is a very good ball carrier (largely owed to good technical ability and size, 6'4, which means he's very hard to dislodge) .

Out of them both, if stuck for choice, Thuram would be the obvious choice. He has been consistently excellent for Nice this season and has made it into the Ligue 1 team of the season, coming off the back of a good season prior. Extremely versatile too, he could easily be a success playing as a lone 6, as he has done in previous seasons. Kone is a better defender per say but lacks the all around game of Thuram. He's also not as athletic, I wouldn't say he's slow but he certainly lacks the pace of Thuram (although both are excellent at covering ground) .

I don't think it would have to be 'either or' as they are similar in some aspects but have played in completely different set ups and operate in different positions.

My preference though would be that of Thuram and then test Southamptons resolve for Lavia. I think that would be an excellent window (in terms of recruiting midfielders) .

9.) 09 Jun 2023
09 Jun 2023 12:25:12
Flypelican, doesn’t seem either are natural dms then, which id like to see us target.

10.) 09 Jun 2023
09 Jun 2023 12:36:29
I would take both as they offer different things based on their specific skill sets, IMO. Klopp is prolly salivating at what he could do with both players. Ed02 has said it would be either of Kone or Thuram we are looking to sign but by all accounts, we are looking to sign both so I hope we do.

11.) 09 Jun 2023
09 Jun 2023 13:27:40
@Firmane for the CDM role we do have Bajcetic and Fabinho though.

I think having 2 new players with legs in midfield next to them in the 2 CM roles would help a hell of a lot!

12.) 09 Jun 2023
09 Jun 2023 13:30:18
A midfield Kone, Thuram and MacAllister has the skill, strength and athleticism to get us back to the top. Jude who?

13.) 09 Jun 2023
09 Jun 2023 19:48:05
I'll 2nd that Victor. that's a good 3 midfield. swapping baj Jones hendo in there occasionally to suit. Thiago and fabinho aren't needed anymore and past their best physically. we move forward. its the future and we have to except it.

14.) 09 Jun 2023
09 Jun 2023 19:50:33
So if they are 35m each roughly. why not spend 70m on caicedo. absolute baller and mac would love it.

15.) 09 Jun 2023
09 Jun 2023 20:17:16
Hey VV, let’s not do that with Jude. He picked Madrid just like Tchouameni did over us and there was no way on earth we were going to be able to match those reported wages he’ll be in so no shame in that. I don’t think there’s any need for the last sentence in your post. That said like you, I’m excited for next season already should we get the players we need.

16.) 09 Jun 2023
09 Jun 2023 20:27:19
Magico because If you spend 70 mill or over on a player it automatically with tax and wages becomes 250 mill and he’s likely to do his acl in the first game.

Not sure how it works but it’s written in folklore.

17.) 09 Jun 2023
09 Jun 2023 22:35:48
Oli, wasn’t a diss towards Jude. Just saying we can forget about him and move on. Personally I never thought we were in with a shout and would always far prefer we spent money better on three top quality centre midfielders. Which evidently we are doing. Each one of Mac Allister, Kone and Thuram bring something we’ve missed.