Lessons from Gnoukouri

[.h.]

Repost from here

Gnoukouri’s back-to-back starts for Inter against Milan and Roma is largely unprecedented amongst our youth players this season, several of whom have debuted but failed to be given any real opportunity to lay a claim. What lessons should our youth players learn from Gnoukouri, and where should their focus be in future?

Gnoukouri celebrating with Hernanes against Roma

After the Milan derby, Roberto Mancini gave a lot of insight into his way of thinking, by revealing a pre-match conversation he had with Gnoukouri, asking him ‘Are you scared for tonight?’, and upon hearing the response ‘No’, replying with ‘Then you will start the game’.

The one consistent message out of the club in the last few weeks is that Gnoukouri has amazing composure, and doesn’t get afraid of the stature of the level he is playing at. Playing out of position against Roma didn’t phase him – and whilst I am keen to emphasise that he is most definitely NOT a defensive midfielder, managing only one tackle all game – he still put in a reasonable performance. Against Milan he was better utilised, with Gary Medel offering the primary defensive cover giving Gnoukouri the chance to roam forward and provide his real box to box capabilities.

So, what lessons should our other Primavera stars take from Gnoukouri? As with any career, there are elements of luck – no doubt Gnoukouri would probably not have started against Milan if it wasn’t for the berth of suspensions which severely depleted our midfield – but such luck was also there for George Puscas, who has also started two games for Inter, and leaves little impression beyond trying hard and hitting the post once from an audacious shot.

If we look at the other big Primavera success story which comes to mind under Mancini, it is Mario Balotelli. And we see a similar story there. Composure was the element that really propelled him to the forefront of Inter’s team that season – scoring a brace against the Juventus first team in the Coppa Italia brought him to the front of the choices and his continued composure from there saw him play a vital part in the second half of the season.

If there’s one thing I want our Primavera starts to learn from Assane Gnoukouri, it is the importance of keeping your calm and composure. Play like it is the Primavera level again, but with more passion and more commitment. Don’t get intimidated by the level of the game play, or the stars you’re playing against, if you can do it then it doesn’t matter who they are.

 

[Sassuolu]

He played out of position against Milan, according to Sky he's original position is DM

 

[.h.]

He's been playing more central midfield for the youth team, and he's not a DM in the sense of a defensive midfielder. I.e. I would not expect to see him replace Medel or Gattuso. He's more like a slightly deeper Guarin

 

[Sassuolu]

Oh OK then, you know launching Gnoukouri really makes me wonder how many talents should have been launched who weren't necessarily good players but players that could've given a service to the team rather than making short term signings to fill holes.

 

[.h.]

Oh OK then, you know launching Gnoukouri really makes me wonder how many talents should have been launched who weren't necessarily good players but players that could've given a service to the team rather than making short term signings to fill holes.

well, that's always the tough question. It's hard to separate people who impress at youth level vs people who are just good players, without trying them out and risking them.

He's been lucky in so far as we basically HAD to play him. And he's really seized that opportunity.

Thats why it'd be nice to continue to play with youth teams in the Coppa Italia next season (in the early rounds at least) like Mancini did last time at Inter - where Balotelli really seized his chances and went on to the first team.

It'd be interesting to see what Puscas could do given a real chance, or Bonazzoli (Who never really had much time), or even someone like Dimarco maybe.

 

[Inter7]

Apparently he was better defensively then we thought.


E 'was developed by Roberto Mancini in the field, there where the Spring of Stefano Vecchi has impressed since the beginning of the season: Assane Gnoukouri found himself well in place of Pitbull Gary Medel, in the role of pure incontrista: 12 balls recovered and 5 intercepted. A real wall.

 

[VLE]

His technique wasn't impressive at all and his passes weren't in sink with the team. However, he did well in positioning himself which is often far more important.

 

[thatdude]

Were we watching the same game? Player? Anything?

And we say this after watching Medel.

 

[TGDella]

Bad technique?

2.50, 3.15, 4.40, 4.58...looks like great technique to me, at least in terms of touch.

 

[VLE]

eh, technique in terms of deserving a spot and meriting the team, not as a youngster.

 

[.h.]

Techbqiue isnt that big a deal. I'd rather someone who can position themselves well, tries hard, and can pass well.

 

[VLE]

Ya and he did well in positioning, which usually takes football brain and not many have luxury of having.
I did notice that his balls were kinda slow and got anticipated a lot however. It may be due to him being used to playing with kids and passing at what they are comfortable at, not the first team. I"m sure it'll get better.

 

[Pharaoh]

Techbqiue isnt that big a deal. I'd rather someone who can position themselves well, tries hard, and can pass well.

Meh I think composure and technique are what set him apart from the other youngsters we've seen this year. His positioning is fine, but everytime the ball comes to him I'm extremely confident that his pass will reach his target.

 

[Devious]

If there’s one thing I want our Primavera starts to learn from Assane Gnoukouri, it is the importance of keeping your calm and composure. Play like it is the Primavera level again, but with more passion and more commitment. Don’t get intimidated by the level of the game play, or the stars you’re playing against, if you can do it then it doesn’t matter who they are.

Easy to think that playing in Serie A nowadays.

 

[bandiera]

I'm personally curious if this is the reason we haven't seen much of Bonazzoli under Mancini. I wonder if he's asked that question to anyone else (Sciacca, Di Marco, the true interisti), and they haven't given 'good responses'. I'd be really disappointed if true but that's all speculation.

Though Mancini has always had his ideas of what his players must be like. Didn't he want to strip Zanetti of the captaincy because he thought he was far too passive to be captain? He's the one who has told Ranocchia to be more aggressive because 'that's how a leader must be'? And now this.

 

[Pharaoh]

At least he has a vision of what a player should be, and a checklist for the qualities he would like from his captain.

Better than some of the tools we had the past few years where it was just put 11 monkeys on the field and hope one of them scores.

 

[bandiera]

Still, you can see where there may be some holes. I really hope this isn't keeping Bonazzoli back.

And no one compared him with gasp, ranieri, WM, strama etc. You guys also forget how close JZ was to losing the captaincy under mancio.

 

[Pharaoh]

Every manager has holes in his philosophy, these however are the least of my worries.

 

[chipschups]

and we know how he will end up..

 

[Black Knight]

Every manager has holes in his philosophy, these however are the least of my worries.

and we know how he will end up..

With his holes exploited? okerface: