robsblubot

I wouldn't downplay werner's ability to often get himself into the right positions (behind the opposition's defense line), creating open chances for him and his teammates. This will be very important in big games where his energy, pace, and skill can help us unlock tight defenses. Besides, it is his first season in the PL, isn't it? Hardly fair to compare him to players who were either born in the PL, or have played forever in it.

Agreed, but it's not like he can't get into the right places to score. His finishing is just lacking atm and I also think that his current role in the team won't help his confidence either.

Would Laporte be available, maybe? He sat on the bench for Ake (no more than a decent player for me), so I'm wondering if Guardiola could let him go for the right amount of money. This guy has the potential to replace Silva, imo. No he hasn't reached that level yet, but he won't be available once, and if, he does.

Been watching my hometown team (Gremio) play libertadores and there is a 22-year old player catching the eyes of everybody. Brazil legend tostao wrote an article praising him and asking Tite to not only call him up, but also make him the center of the team. (Matheus Henrique and Pepe are also good young players from Gremio). https://www.transfermarkt.us/jean-pyerre/profil/spieler/351903 He's been a little too injury-prone for my taste and missed last game against santos-Gremio tied 1x1 at home which makes them now the underdog (they have the deeper squad but santos were the better side). The return leg will be mid next week in Santos (1h from sao paulo). Jean Pyerre is expected to play. Characteristics wise, he reminds me of Pogba in the way he moves, but he's way more creative, more like KDB now. Scores quite a bit from afar too - really good with freekicks. Bunch of youtube videos if you are interested. Anyway... one to keep an eye on.

hmm his injuries are totally tied to fitness... muscle injuries (hamstring esp) are less likely to happen with fitter athletes. Hamstring is notoriously known as the "coming back" injury. Isn't the simplest explanation the most likely one? He just isn’t there with the greats-never was and never will be. He's just not built that way. if you can get a full translation, this is a pretty good read from Arthur who was at barca and now is at Juve (in BR portuguese): https://globoesporte.globo.com/futebol/futebol-internacional/noticia/da-influencia-de-pirlo-na-juventus-a-saida-do-barcelona-arthur-abre-jogo-sobre-nova-fase-da-carreira.ghtml Having played with both CR and Messi, Arthur opens up about what he saw in them: "Realmente, agora convivendo com os dois, eu entendo o sucesso, a mentalidade que esses caras têm é algo incrível. Não se contentam com pouco. Sempre querem mais, fazem o segundo e querem o terceiro. A cabeça dos dois é a maior virtude deles. O pensamento, a força mental deles é incrível." Roughly translated, "really, now having spent time with both, I understand their success. Their mentality is something else. it's never enough for them and they always want more: if they score 2 they'll want the third. Their head is what makes them special; the strong mentality, their determination, is just incredible and their main virtue."

wow what a goal! https://streamja.com/y3KaO (third against united wasn't much worse)

As positives, aside from Anjorin (strong and skillful), Rudiger looks to have regained some form.

too many changes in the starting XI - difficult to draw conclusions in a game like this. I've missed watching Emerson play... not!

the midfield is not closing down quickly enough... need more aggression there. Abraham is not playing particularly well either.

Struggled a bit against Leeds, but not a huge deal. He was out of position too. Think Lampard wanted to make the team a bit more attacking-minded with Kai's runs from the back, which did happen tbf. Kova in CM brings more balance which was clear to see when he came on.

I'd add Giroud to the list. He made that goal. Yes, it was a great assist by Reece, but that was a striker's finish. Good win against a difficult opponent; they've got some good players - very skillful and quick up front. No wonder they've been doing well.

Agreed. On the other hand I was wondering whether goalie aficionados see any weakness in Mendy's game, because I certainly don't. Distribution? I may have heard positioning from someone, but I don't see it. dunno. yes! You don't need a top GK to get silverware (it does help though), but you definitely cannot win without at least a competent one (esp because the whole confidence thing).

agreed. Hard to measure his influence in numbers, but it's plain to see. Have to confess that goal keeping is the position I have the most trouble assessing ability and potential. I look for a few things, the very things Kepa has always lacked, but by no means it is a comprehensive list: positioning, reach, and command of the area (esp in set pieces). Still, this guy is looking better than "good" to my layman's eyes... is this his normal? because if it is, then perhaps he's WC or in the thereabouts; or am I missing something?

Agree that he has, but he is still not as effective in tougher matches as he is against weaker opposition, and I think there are reasons for that. Fair enough. Think most thought Giroud would have been a better fit for the spurs game, but now we will never know.

yes, he was dominant. As a Gremio supporter, I grew up listening to stories about how Figueroa was unplayable and led (gremio's rival) international to glory. Surprised you've heard of him, cool! Rumor has it that he wasn't shy about using his elbows either.

Don't think we are talking about goals or goal streaks alone here. Giroud's overall game is way above Abraham's at the moment, esp in tougher matches where Abraham struggles a bit. Giroud is just a better player in tight spaces, which translates to tougher games. Abraham does well when he can find space for runs.

heh still may end up with PSG, Barca, and Juve (real and inter look beatable but still)? :/ Neymar had a massive game against united - really dominant performance controlling the game, assisting, and scoring. PSG look very strong again.

I'm actually worried about this. I mean, he's playing so often that he does not have enough time to complain. lol At some point I think it's fair of him to start questioning his role in the team. I don't really see what folks see in Abraham, but understand that he gets minutes esp for the pressing and his own development as a player - esp with Pulisic out, but he's definitely a bit pedantic on the ball IMO. Good to see Pulisic coming back and immediately showing what. he can bring. I'd really like to see Werner and Pulisic playing together - the pace alone will be something very difficult to contain. How good is Mendy? (won't even go into Silva heh)

Nothing world class in that list tbh. Just watched arsenal and they are not a good team: I know they can improve until we play them, but they don't have the players. Agreed that it will show which tier we belong in this season.

Agreed. Had a good competitive game and produced a fantastic shot from afar. Took a WC save from Lloris to stop that from going in. Kepa would've let that one in 10 out of 10.

Aside from being geniuses Pele and Maradona had one thing that made them legends: mentality. On the pitch both were sheer drive, determination, and passion... their teammates were made better by them, not the other way around. This is pretty obvious if you listen to any of Peles teammates, for example -- I've heard numerous reports on the subject. One could say that Pele was even stronger there, a natural leader, but Diego edged him in close control of the football (and controlling the game although Pele did that too). And that's one thing Messi lacks, even if not by much, in comparison with the above two. It's like in this generation we got Pele or Diego split into two different players: the crazy drive and determination went to CR7 while the creativity and ball control went to Messi. That perhaps explains why Messi has been unable to reproduce his club-level form for Argentina. WC games are often more about passion and determination than organization or even pure technique. Yes, he hasn't been particularly lucky with this Argentine generation of footballers, but Maradona led similar (good) quality players to WC glory. If Messi lacks a bit in the mentality aspect, Ronaldinho was a ZERO there. Perhaps there was more at play in Ronaldinho's case as the guy just does not seem "there" at times. I've watched great footballers as I caught the fantastic Inter Milan derbies, but for me, as in how influential they were/are, would go like this: 1. Pele/Maradona 2. Messi (/ R9 for a brief period before knees went) * garrincha was such an oddball that is difficult to place him. He was pure skill in dribbling, but a bit one-dimensional too. In terms of characteristics, think Robben at his very peak but stronger and more decisive. CR7 would still be in the whereabouts, but of a more dependent player - as in he requires far more service than the ones listed above. With the caveat I've not read/watched much about Cruyff, even if folks in Brazil have always said the guy was a genius on the pitch. One important mention, player nobody here likely ever heard of: Dener He was incredible, but died in stupid car crash https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dener

nice! lol FM has been in maintenance mode for years now... they change very little in the match engine and keep adding cosmetics to justify the almost full price DB update every year. Been several years since I bought one. Better games to play these days - unfortunately no good football manager. After the Ozil fiasco, no wages are too high. I like Arteta... he's got the right ideas IMO. Could not stand Wenger (hence my Werner->Wenger thing lol)... he was both clueless and arrogant in his last several seasons at Arsenal.

Fun stuff, but really awful stats and comparison. People really have trouble understanding that correlation does not establish causation. It's even worse in the footballing world where we try to do that all the time. We've changed our backline in a very drastic way. The biggest change by far was Mendy, which not only fixed Kepa's weaknesses at a technical level, but also the confidence of the whole defense (team?). Then, without even going into Chilwell, Zouma is getting a run with Silva (and Mendy!) who is really a dominant presence, which is something neither Andreas nor Tomori got (same for Rudiger). We don't have the sample to compare what would have happened had they played instead of Zouma - can speculate, but that's what it is, speculation. In engineering, we call control. You need the minimum number of changes to compare (against the unchanged control) and then maybe determine causality; when you have too many variables, that becomes impossible.

I was lucky enough to have seen him play on the telly. Yes, it was his final year as a top player and I barely remember it, but from what I do remember, the easiest way to describe Maradona play would be comparing him to Messi: Diego had MORE tight control of the football than Messi. Being originally from the south of Brazil, near Argentina (everything is many miles away over there), we have a somewhat different view of Argentina esp regarding football. For example, I wouldn't go into Pele vs Maradona because it is akin to Ronaldo vs Messi (apples to oranges) as they could have easily played together and even complement each other. But I'd say Messi is a little closer to Pele in style when compared to Maradona: a bit more direct than Maradona and a bit less about protecting the football and controlling the game like Diego was. Maradona controlled the game like no other player I've seen. The mentality of Maradona on the pitch was amazing. He was not as calm as Messi is and his sanguine demeanor would also influence his teammates in a positive manner. Maldini said once that Diego got kicked all the time and never complained.

😆 Wenger on the wing, Werner when striker.