FanPost

My choice to replace the irreplacable Mousa Dembele: Marcelo Brozovic



So here goes, my first and probably last post before I use my one name change and go into the Witness Protection Program.

We need to replace the irreplacable. We have passed through denial, anger, resignation and just about reached acceptance. It is time to face the future.

Here is TransferMarkt's comparison of the players:

https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/vergleich/spielervergleich/statistik/def/spieler/156617&19368

Ignore the valuations, TM is pretty strict about updating market values until a player actually fetches a price in the market. Ie, no comparisons between Christian Eriksen's value and Coutinho's, because one changed clubs, the other didn't. It can make valuations look crazy. (Raheem Sterling is worth three Trippiers according to TM ??? )

Mousa and Brozovic are like-for-like positionally: primarily central midfield, both with the same secondary options noted. Brozovic is 5+ years younger than Mousa, contracted for two years more. (The age difference really matters because players have more injuries as they get older. )

We need someone to do the job Mousa did in 2016/17, when we virtually never lost a game with him starting, and never won much without him. He really was critical.

Victor Wanyama was great before he started getting injuries, but has become physically unreliable. I believe Dier has lost his confidence at Central Midfield because he has been used as an emergency CB, which he has never made his own position. All of our defensive midfield looks shaky without Moose.

Brozovic was impressive at the World Cup: especially accurate in passing long (Toby will have to be replaced one way or another) and was steady in midfield.

(Finally, not long ago Inter were strapped for cash. Daniel Levy's eyes normally light up at such news.)

Anyone can write a FanPost, and we encourage you to do so! FanPosts are the voice of the Cartilage Free Captain readership. But before you write one: Lurk! Comment! Talk with your fellow members and get to know the site.