Being English and going by what Ben White went for, he's got to be worth £70-£80 million minimum.The level of performance week in week out is getting to unbelievable levels, The worry I have is that the top top Teams will have noticed this and I mean Top 4 and European giants, whats his value at the moment 30/40 million? and he is still learning, plus as an English player he will have a premium, just changed my mind has to be a minimum of £40 million now.
I have to say Tring, that bar Van Dyke, I am struggling to think of better, or equal.Brilliant again today.
He’s actually starting to develop a bit of an aura about him in the same way as some of the real top defenders in this league.
The quality was definitely there, all Lage's done is unleash him: see all of his performances when played in position.Top performances. If the quality was already there or Lage has taken the best of him I don't know, but with Saiss in the back 3 with Kilman and Coady I don't understand why so many were calling for new signings to replace them.
I agree - I mentioned something similar on the commentary thread, saying that he now seems like a senior player - I think it was his comportment/aura that I was responding to (and the fact that there was a debutant center back). He takes responsibility and is quietly, efficiently confident and effective.Brilliant again today.
He’s actually starting to develop a bit of an aura about him in the same way as some of the real top defenders in this league.
The quality was definitely there, all Lage's done is unleash him: see all of his performances when played in position.
He’s looking more and more like what John Stones was supposed to be when he grew up.He is a brilliant brilliant defender. I'm a harsh judge but he's just so composed.
Also - and this is perhaps a particular nuance of what I like - he always wants the ball. He always wants to break forward. I love that confidence in a player. He will play for England
Are you sure that it's just his defending that you're watching? I have heard from a number of females that he is rather easy on the eye. I wouldn't know.Fantastic again today. Im one of these fans I love watching attacking play and not so much defending, but I actually love watching Kilman defend. It’s so good to watch.
And too think Nuno wanted to sell him to Barnsley for a pint & pack of crisps.
Unbelievable how he has progressed this season I can't ever recall a player improving so rapidly in 6 months.
Easily one of the best defenders in the league ATM
If all our Defenders were 100% fully fit, who would be the starting 3/5?
Hoever
Semedo
AIT
Otto
Marcal
Boly
Coady
Mosquera
Saiss
Kilman
Gomes
Sanderson
Indeed. Thought Kilman was a standout yesterday, so calm and assured on the ball, and rarely makes a bad pass. Great that Micah Richards picked up on him yesterday. I think we can beat anybody in the PL now, apart from maybe City, and even that remains to be seen.So many things to be positive about this season. Kilman's emergence from Nuno's shadows is for me the main one. Lage seems to be able to bring players up a level or 3, as well as Kilman, Coady is a different player, Saiss has moved up a level and he's got Moutinho playing every minute of every Prem game and now playing like a 25 year old. This really could be some season.
Back 3 picks itself still, considering the number of solid performances they’ve put in.If all our Defenders were 100% fully fit, who would be the starting 3/5?
Hoever
Semedo
AIT
Otto
Marcal
Boly
Coady
Mosquera
Saiss
Kilman
Gomes
Sanderson
It surprised me how they seemed to keep attacking down the left rather than testing Toti a bit more. Especially considering it meant they kept bouncing off Kilman.I can imagine that this afternoon he was thinking 'Yeah, just keep sending runners this way....'
He has made more mistakes than that, but they havent cost us a goal. The difference this season to last is just this: as soon as Max had made that slip against Brentford he would have been dropped under Nuno. This season he wasn't. That may be because Lage liked him, or because he didnt have much choice but to play him given our squad situation. I maintain that Kilman was an excellent player last season too, Nuno just didnt stick with him. I think the same is true of Vitinha and one or two others. You have to show some faith.Max is absolutely brilliant. When teams break on us on his side I have absolutely no worries at all.
The only mistake he’s made for us was against Ivan Toney for their second (?) goal.
I’m not worried yet but I could see Chelsea or Spuds looking at him soon.
Fair point about Kilmans mistakes. He has only made one glaring error was my point.He has made more mistakes than that, but they havent cost us a goal. The difference this season to last is just this: as soon as Max had made that slip against Brentford he would have been dropped under Nuno. This season he wasn't. That may be because Lage liked him, or because he didnt have much choice but to play him given our squad situation. I maintain that Kilman was an excellent player last season too, Nuno just didnt stick with him. I think the same is true of Vitinha and one or two others. You have to show some faith.
On a separate note Lage also seems to consistently favour experience. As an example, yesterday he apparently considered Cundle to replace Neves, but decided to go with Gomes. I think that was the right decision but I wish he would start taking Moutinho off in games when he gets tired. That free kick that Southampton scored was from a free kick conceded by Moutinho in exactly the fashion he often does when he is tiring. Lunging at things, dragging people down often in the wrong areas. Cundle is a very similar player and Lage says he rates him - then at some point he needs to show it. My feeling is he wont until he has to, but if he did he might surprise everyone in the we need to spend big on a midfielder camp (at least in this window). If we start scoring a few goals so we have a cushion in games he may give him a chance. I hope so. There has been a lot of criticism of Jeff on the transfer window thread but mostly, I think he has us on the right track.
Quite. Our MF was already weakened with Donk for Neves, would you really want a kid next to Donk, having responsibility of being the only real passer of the ball in midfield than a knackered Moutinho?Fair point about Kilmans mistakes. He has only made one glaring error was my point.
Agree with the experience favouring but that’s a lot of managers. A lot of our games are tight so I can see why he goes for experience in the midfield areas. It was the right decision yesterday as I would say it’s easier to play in our back 3 if you’re young than it is to play in a 2 man midfield. Cundle could do with more minutes but, like you say, we need a cushion in games. Fabio seems to have earned Bruno’s trust so I’m certain Cundle can too.