by nottsblue » Wed Apr 29, 2015 11:51 am
I was very firmly in the camp of give the lad a go next season. I am starting to sway towards another loan season elsewhere. He is only 19 and was Nastasic that age when we bought him? Look how that turned out. A couple of bad games against good teams and confidence can go out of the window. See Mangala this season for evidence of that. A centre half hasn't even begun to learn his trade until 22/23 and even then it's more about the partnership IMO.
Couple of points about a potential though.
Would it benefit him to have another year at Celtic. More European football. Used to play in a winning team, sounds daft but sometimes players don't adapt to playing for winning teams as they may have an inferiority complex. Gets used to the partnership with van Dijk.
Or would a change of scenery benefit. A new coaching set up and manager. Playing with different types of defender. Maybe in a team where he has to graft a bit more
If we are talking a new club, an English one? What level? Championship is being mooted. Is that at the top end, a Middlesboro, a Norwich, a Derby? Or a middling to lower end? A Forest, Sheffield, Bolton? I assume the club would want him to go to a club that played half decent stuff, Bournemouth would have been ideal this season. But at the same time he needs a club that will play him. Be interesting to see how a season of stagnation has affected Zucculini.
Or is he good enough to play in the lower echelons of the Premier league. Maybe at Bournemouth or Watford? Is him playing a handful of games for us worth more than a full season elsewhere. I think on balance another season on loan won't do him any harm and if sent to the right club, could be very beneficial and he returns at twenty to at least take over from MDM. Remember John Terry had a season at Forest around his age before making the Chelsea place his own
