Gianfranco Zola reckons Krystian Bielik’s recent performances for Birmingham City are proof that the young Pole has everything to become a ‘top player’.
The Blues have seen their defence tighten up with the 19-year-old playing on the right of a three-man centre-back unit with only one goal conceded in the two draws with Cardiff and Newcastle.
Having had a young Hector Bellerin on loan during his stint managing Watford, Zola was quick to draw comparisons between the two young Gunners.
“It reminds me of when (Hector) Bellerin came to Watford (on loan from Arsenal),” Zola told the Birmingham Mail.
“He stayed with me one week, then I said ‘go!’.
“You see the player straightaway when he has got something special.
“Krystian is calm with the ball. In a tough match against Newcastle because of their strikers, the pressure, I don’t think he lost his composure once.
“He came here on the back of a problem, maybe defending on physicality. But Newcastle, Cardiff and Wolves as well, he has shown he can do that and he enjoys that side of it, too.
“I think he is going to become a top player.”
The Birmingham Mail also have a scouting report on Bielik following his showing against league leaders Newcastle, worth a read.
I don’t know much about Bielik but if he continues to receive glowing reviews then that’s only a positive thing.
Trust me,this boy can play..I don’t know why the fuck wenger don’t play him..he’s been on the books4 3seasons?
Finally something positive
this guy is destined for a good future . amoung the experienced defenders he didint looked out of place at all against newcastle , so i hear . i dont watch his matches but whenever he plays he is hailed by the supporters of the club . and to think he is just 18 years old is unbeleivable . arguably the player with the most potential in our academy apart from riess nelson.
Let’s hope the club listen and don’t just pull what they pulled with Jon Toral and not put him in the senior side.
Toral felt like such a wasted opportunity by throwing back at Spain. Gutted about that one, would’ve been good to bring him into the squad, even if it is a bit slowly. Some of our other youths could take the loan chance in the mean time.
I’ve been wondering what became of him, I must’ve missed the loan news. Glad he’s getting games at a high level and is impressing. I wondered if he’d go back to the middle as a DM in the future, sounds like his calling could stay at the back and that’s cool.
Nice to hear good thing about him and see Chambers doing well as well as a few other youths in the academy with of course Holding still a shout. Hopefully they all keep on the incline.
I kind of hope he goes back to CDM, I know he could possibly make a very good CB but I feel like he already has all the qualities to be an excellent CDM. The transition to CB seems unnecessary. In my view he could be the physically imposing CDM we’ve been searching for
Agreed.
We already have 2 young CBs in Chambers and Holding, then above them are Gabriel and Mustafi in mid 20s then of course Kos and the soon to retire Per.
Whereas we have Xhaka, Elneny and Coq (the latter being replaceable) for DM competition.
That’s a glowing report… Impressive.
Looked real good during pre season for us, looking forward to seeing this kids development
ok great. since we have him, mustafi, kos, holding, gabriel and chambers next season, let’s try a 3-man central defence w/ 2 wing backs in bellerin and a new left back (since we’d been talkin bout getting a left back all summer).
stick coq at the base of the midfield, w/ 1 CM + ozil free role (if he’s still around), and alexis (if he’s still around) + another striker up top, or play 3 CMs (1 coq at base + ram/ ox/ xhaka in midfield w/ licence to burst forward) n let’s c how things go!
Any team with coquelin in ignoring won’t win the league. He’s not as awful as some believe but nowhere near the required standard
Things won’t go well with coq and Ramsey in that line-up. In my opinion two players that should be sold along with several others to help finance better players.
I will take anything positive.
#LANS
Just testing
Intresting Because we are in need of reinforcement in deep midfield. One of the major reasons to this season’s failings IMO is we have been short on options in midfield through injury and the short sighted decision to let Jack go out on loan. Coquelin seems best suited to Santi alone. Next to Ramsey last season (who held with Flamini for a good spell), Coquelin and the Welshman conspired to leak 13 goals in 7 matches straight. I mentioned this but of course like Jenko and Elneny, some people have favorites not rooted in reality. This is not to say… Read more »
A very promising update. Hope he comes back and kick some arse in the middle.
Wenger out. NOW.
The problem with you CB’s is that you really need top level experience to become a quality player…that’s why it takes until you’re 25+ Personally I don’t get too excited about cb’s because I’m scarred from the days of Senderos and Johan dourou! ( can’t remember how to spell his name). I’m super excited about Holding, but would prefer he went on loan to a pm club for 3 years before we even consider him for first team. In th meantime bring in bonnucci level players with experience and leave the youth experiment for the attacking players where the pressure… Read more »