Willy Boly

[bertlb2]

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.francefootball.fr/#!/news/2012/06/30/140237_a-traore-et-boly-seduisent-en-angleterre.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.francefootball.fr/#!/news/20 ... terre.html</a>

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.transfermarkt.de/de/willy-boly/profil/spieler_142310.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.transfermarkt.de/de/willy-bo ... 42310.html</a>

 

[iced22]

Starting CB of the last placed club in Ligue 1 with the 5th worst defensive record.

Vintage Arsène Wenger.

 

[GDeep™]

A young up and coming Frenchman who made his debut only months ago, 21, 6'3 and a CB. Linked with other tops but if our interest is genuine then he must be the business, our French based signings nearly always pay off.

Vintage Arsène Wenger.

 

[Pea-Tear-Griffin]

<a class="postlink" href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1204748-world-football-transfer-rumours-top-6-defenders-available/page/4" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1204 ... ble/page/4</a>
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.lequipe.fr/Football/NOTES_D1.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.lequipe.fr/Football/NOTES_D1.html</a>


Lequipe rated him 3rd best back in France last year even in such a poor team.

 

[say yes]

Starting CB of the last placed club in Ligue 1 with the 5th worst defensive record.

Vintage Arsène Wenger.

In all seriousness though, I've heard great things about this guy. Supposed to be a seriously good up-and-coming defender.

 

[GDeep™]

Ditch Djourou and sign a promising young CB who we can groom for the future - a player good enough to do a job but accepting a 4th choice bit part role while they are still 20/21.

 

[Armor for Sleep]

He sounds like a disease

 

[AFC-Phil]

He sounds like a disease

Obviously haven't a clue about this lad. If Wenger sees something and goes for it, this signing will have my backing.

Would rather a young CB with a high potential (And crucially, an already good level of reading the game) than Djourou.

 

[iced22]

Well, if you put it that way....

What's he like? Is he the ball playing type, or the big no frills defending type, etc?

 

[Hunta]

He sounds like a disease

 

[GunnerBP]

I've never heard of this guy, but just like everyone here says, sounds like a typical Wenger purchase.

Young french defender coming off of a successful season--at least individually--and at a good price since his team got relegated.

Auxerre has a history of developing quality players.

If he comes in that means Djourou will be out and that should be good for everyone. He can't stay as a fourth choice defender if he wants to improve his career.

 

[Irish_Owen]

Armor

As for this guy, does that link even state that we're even interested ?

 

[Kanonier]

He is being pursued by many Euro clubs like Inter Milan, Liverpool and AC Milan.

I found this description on him: "Good anticipation, a disciplined man-marker, and at 6ft3, a decent physique for our brand of the game (EPL)".

I think his price tag is around £4 Million. He would be a good choice for our rotation, his physique would be a plus and just imagine him and Mertesacker playing together! Two CBs that are 6'6" and 6'3" tall...wow!

 

[Vela]

Never heard of him, anyone watched him before?

 

[AnthonyG]

As for this guy, does that link even state that we're even interested ?

The France Football link says that, according to a source, several "big clubs" (in the PL) are following him and that we are among them. He's supposed to be leaving (along with a bunch of his teammates, some mentioned in this piece), because they've (AJA) been relegated.

 

[Clrnc]

Dalton on twitter rates him super highly...

 

[iced22]

Very good in the air, at least statistically:

Aerial duel success rate

Sakho: 77.6%
Boly: 76%
Ecuele-Manga: 74.2%
Congre: 72.8%
N'Koulou: 63.2%
Yanga-Mbiwa: 61.2%

Just picked out a couple of fairly well known CBs in Ligue 1, many of which have been linked with us before.

For comparison, Koscielny's rate in 09/10 with Lorient was 59.2%.

 

[Irish_Owen]

Ah, good then, I suppose. I do find it a bit odd that we're in for a centre back though, I must say..

But I'm all for it, and as a potential Squillaci replacement, this guy sounds like he could be a good signing. I know absolutely nothing about him, other than what has been posted in this thread though, so I'm putting faith in the opinion of others. If he's better than Djoruou, then this could be a very good signing indeed, and I'd feel considerably more confident about the CB situation if we had two adequate replacements behind the first choice duo, rather than one.

The last defender we signed from Auxerre wasn't half bad either.

 

[AFC-Phil]

Holds some impressive stats.

3.4 interceptions per game. Gets dribbled at the same rate that Koscielny does. 2.2 tackles per game. Statistically, he doesn't appear amazing on the ball though.

Just noticed that Koscielny averages 5 interceptions per game in the CL - Just brilliant.

 

[Anzac]

Holds some impressive stats.

3.4 interceptions per game. Gets dribbled at the same rate that Koscielny does. 2.2 tackles per game. Statistically, he doesn't appear amazing on the ball though.
Just noticed that Koscielny averages 5 interceptions per game in the CL - Just brilliant.

Not an issue if he's mainly a Stopper type CB rather than Cover/ball player.

What's his pace like?