Samuel Umtiti

[Aryagorn]

Yes, that's what I figured initially. But I'm perplexed at the above reasoning, because you all claimed he's aerially dominant despite his stature and justified it by posting stats/graphs and such. So for Deschamps, who obviously watches the player more up close in training, to choose Umtiti only because of Gomez's absence is vote of no confidence to the former's aerial game.

Now it's either one of three cases
- It was a mere rumour,
- Deschamps' wrong in his evaluation
- His aerial stats are misleading.
I just hope we haven't bought a relatively taller Masch, who shares the same weakness as him. I was expecting an upgrade.

1.81 m (5 ft 11 in) > 1.74 m (5 ft 8 1⁄2 in)

I hope the math is reflected in their performance as well!

 

[Flavia]

Yes, that's what I figured initially. But I'm perplexed at the above reasoning, because you all claimed he's aerially dominant despite his stature and justified it by posting stats/graphs and such. So for Deschamps, who obviously watches the player more up close in training, to choose Umtiti only because of Gomez's absence is vote of no confidence to the former's aerial game.

Now it's either one of three cases
- It was a mere rumour,
- Deschamps' wrong in his evaluation
- His aerial stats are misleading.
I just hope we haven't bought a relatively taller Masch, who shares the same weakness as him. I was expecting an upgrade.

It's just squawka, but it seems he's not bad in aerial duels. I really don't know, just saw his matches for France, and he seemed ok in those. [MENTION=19793]Jombi[/MENTION] probably could tell us more about it.

 

[Messi983]

Rami is 1.90m, Umtiti "only" 1.81 m. You can get a lot in aerial game with right positioning and timing but it's hard to ignore the height difference between them. I think Umtiti is great in the air for his height and he can cope with most attackers in that aspect. He'll also be an improvement over Mascherano in aerial game but of course he still needs to learn a lot of things to be overall as good and consistent CB as El Jefecito.

Umtiti will have this season to adapt and learn the most from all experienced CBs we have but no doubt he has talent and personality to succeed. I was impressed with his calmness in a high pressure game yesterday. We play different way than France has for most of the game so he'll have to adapt to our system but if yesterday's game shows anything is that he has great confidence in his abilities and mental strength is one of the key factors to be successfull at Camp Nou.

 

[TornAndFrayed]

I think Deschamps picked Umtiti not because of Gomez's absence, but rather because Rami disappointed him. Rami seemed shaky the entire tournament and has not been reviewed well at all. It simply made sense to drop him altogether.

 

[Xavinho]

I just hope we haven't bought a relatively taller Masch

I would be ecstatic if we have.

 

[zanela]

I think Deschamps picked Umtiti not because of Gomez's absence, but rather because Rami disappointed him. Rami seemed shaky the entire tournament and has not been reviewed well at all. It simply made sense to drop him altogether.

That seems plausible, and hope it is the case.

I would be ecstatic if we have.

I think we all would be, but as gr8 as Masch has been, his size has proved to be a handicap at occasions, and some imp. ones. And I rather not see our potential longterm CB taken to cleaners by aerially commanding opponents. And Barca won't always have Pique to defuse the aerial threats coming our way.

 

[Icarium]

I think Deschamps picked Umtiti not because of Gomez's absence, but rather because Rami disappointed him. Rami seemed shaky the entire tournament and has not been reviewed well at all. It simply made sense to drop him altogether.

Exactly. Rami has been quite unpredictable. Umtiti showed more composure.

 

[DennyCrane]

Rami is 1.90m, Umtiti "only" 1.81 m. You can get a lot in aerial game with right positioning and timing but it's hard to ignore the height difference between them. I think Umtiti is great in the air for his height and he can cope with most attackers in that aspect. He'll also be an improvement over Mascherano in aerial game but of course he still needs to learn a lot of things to be overall as good and consistent CB as El Jefecito.

Yes, and sheer jumping power factors in as well of course.
I usually discard height completely unless the difference is extreme (think Leo vs. Zlatan for perspective) not only due to that, but also because a height comparison implicitly supposes that the reported heights are actually correct and not inflated for a lot of players. In professional sports, height inflation is common practice.

 

[DonAK]

Yes, and sheer jumping power factors in as well of course.
I usually discard height completely unless the difference is extreme (think Leo vs. Zlatan for perspective) not only due to that, but also because a height comparison implicitly supposes that the reported heights are actually correct and not inflated for a lot of players. In professional sports, height inflation is common practice.

ter Stegen seems like a good example there.

He's really not 1.89m is he?

 

[DennyCrane]

ter Stegen seems like a good example there.

He's really not 1.89m is he?

Perfect example. DFB lists him at 1,89, other sites list him at 1,87. Then look at this picture

and compare his height to Bartra who is listed at 1,83.

 

[Alik]

Has he misplaced a pass yet?

 

[Flavia]

Perfect example. DFB lists him at 1,89, other sites list him at 1,87. Then look at this picture

and compare his height to Bartra who is listed at 1,83.

bartra seems to be at the top of his toes, to look taller. But mats looks 1.85m. Same height as Bravo. They really seem the same height when side by side, and that's bravo's height.

 

[Vilarrubi]

Perfect example. DFB lists him at 1,89, other sites list him at 1,87. Then look at this picture

and compare his height to Bartra who is listed at 1,83.

Love how serious Alves and Messi look.. The deadly right side ready to attack!!!

 

[zanela]

Speaking about height inflation, the worst one yet is that of Alen Halilović. Listed as 1.7 (same as messi), when he actually looks closer to Giovinco's.


Back to Umtiti, here's the opinion of our resident lyon fan...

he is good with the ball technicaly but he is not good with head.

And tbh that's the impression I had from watching his highlight reel. He made non-contested aerial clearances, but looked uncomfortable in duels.

May be somebody can provide me with a more comprehensive footage..

 

[khaled_a_d]

1-Halilovic looked same height as Messi when they had photos together
2-Those players get officially tested for their height.The club for example changed MATS height list from 189/190 to 187.sometimes when the difference is negligible it doesn't change (Neymar measured 175 instead 174 during the medical but it wasn't corrected)
So while we can talk too much about who look taller than whom.I would still take the club official measurements ,photos can be truly misleading