Guerrier wrote:
Is that not true of a quite a lot of foreign centre backs though?
Not really. Look at Vidic, Vermaelen, Kompany, etc. Even a player like Carvalho, who was originally deemed a bit soft, toughened up and got physical.
You get some centre halves, particularly younger ones, that come over and take a while to adjust, like Daniel Agger, but even he's toughened up and 'gets it' now.
I've not seen a lot of Coates, in fact, I only watched two of Uruguay's games and they were both on poor streams. It seems when you read his measurements and nationality, you instantly think big and fierce, but reading the thoughts of those that have seen him, they say he's not that quick, not that agile and not that dominant. Sounds a bit like Paletta who we signed a few years back, it never worked out for him, but hopefully it does for Coates if he comes. Either way, I'd rather see him than Kyrgiakos, and, if Coates doesn't instantly settle, we can move Kelly across, who is a beast.