Jani Atanasov

Of course, but if we're going to sign a 6'2 midfielder who plays in a deeper role, I'd rather it was one who was more defensively minded.

I just don't really see where he fits in, unless he's literally just being signed to play second fiddle to McGregor. But then that's what I thought Mooy was signed to do...

 

With Haksabanovic and this guy appearing the last few days it's making me wonder if Mooy wasn't a slightly opportunistic panic buy. We'd missed out on Souza and Mooy came up, Ange knew him and trusted him and knew we were light in midfield, Mooy's versatility meant he could cover both Rogic and Bitton in a worst case scenario.

He clearly knew we needed a DM and Haksabanovic I'm sure will play a lot in the 8 role. If McCarthy and Ideguchi move on we might just see Mooy as a filler/support role, a bit like McCarthy last season.

 

Nothing in it according to Mark.

 

* off Mark!

 

Part of me hopes we aren't in for this guy, Hajduk fans are taking the mick like we do with MJ and Ajeti.

Fingers crossed we do get in a decent DM the next week or two though. Wouldn't mind a big powerhouse guy similar to Wanyama. Seen it with the other mob on the a day they got absolute bullied from Sangare in the middle

 

Croatian, Montenegrin now Macedonian.
Need a Serb and a Bosnian in the team as well.

Ange the new Tito.

 

Would be happy enough if his info is correct. Not keen on this one.

 

Left himself a get out on it though.

 

He's been right all the way through so I tend to believe him..

 

Hajduk was closest to the title in decades last year, and he was one of the reasons why. Great mentally, but his weakness is carrying the ball out, as with some other midfielders of Hajduk. This is why they often play an Italian DMF called Fossati next to a destroyer (like Atanasov is). I'd take the guy, but Ange won't, if he'd rather play McGregor at DMF to ensure attacks can be built from the back.

 

Reality: Ange signs lots of small, nimble, technical, attacking players.

Scattish fitbaw fan: This'll be Ange and his wife welcoming new DM signing any day now...

 

I’d welcome him on against the huns, aslong as he is allowed to use his sword

The reality, all the best managers in the world use a powerful CDM and most of them use a big powerful striker aswell.

 

The other reality is that most of the best managers in the world are managing clubs with vastly greater resources, who can sign midfielders with a combination of size, pace, passing, tackling and technical ability for 10, 20 million plus.

The Souza link indicated that Ange isn't adverse to that kind of well-rounded DM (why would he be?) but one thing is certain: he's not going to sign a player just because he's big, nor one only suited to sitting deep and breaking up play in the traditional sense, as that wouldn't fit our system. All the stats showed that Souza is a forward thinking passer, gets around the pitch, and aggressively presses players. If we can unearth somebody else like that, great.

 

Obviously, thats why we all wanted Souza as he was a ball player and a ball winner. Being a big CDM doesn’t mean you’re just there to sit back and smash the ball when it comes near. It’s the exact same with our CB’s, they need to be able to play football.

 

Exactly, and perhaps the reason half of Europe seemed to be after Souza is that players with those attributes, at a level good enough to get into a McGregor/O'Riley/Hatate midfield, obviously don't grow on trees.

As Ange has said repeatedly, we're looking for the right players.

 

Sky Sports News understands the Hoops are also interested in Hajduk Split defensive midfielder Jani Atanasov.

 

We badly need a another defensive midfielder