robsblubot

Heh between Samu and Felix, I'd take the former for characteristics alone, but it seems Felix will happen otherwise Conor won't, which means he'd leave on a free. Felix is just too much of a "firefly" for me. It's pretty incredible to think assets worth millions reach final year in their deals without any planing ahead. Feels like the amateur side of the game is still lurking there somewhat.

I'm not sure tbh. Yes, City has an xG machine, but Real Madrid has historically preferred players, or strikers, who increase the "expected" variable in the expect goals equation. Yes, I see both approaches in the top teams, so I'm not sure there is a single way to go here. With that out of the way, expecting an "automatic" improvement from Jackson can be a bit naive -- football doesn't work like that. So, I was expecting some movement in the striker role, esp getting a target man even if not a starter.

*the kid* (Guiu), which means we've only got Jackson. And no target man in situations where we may need one.

Felix is a player at his peak whose ceiling wasn't as high as once expected, which is the reason he has trouble finding a home. He's also a player on high wages who will likely demand a starting XI role, or at least in the whereabouts. I'm not a fan o the player to be honest and he has nothing to do with the striker position which is one of the weakness in the roster right now: only got Jackson (the kid is a big question mark at this level).

Friendlies are helpful for the manager to make experiments and get the team closer to match fitness.... nothing else really. I'm glad to see the players running better and looking ready for the real thing. Competitive matches test both temperament and physicality of players, while that's not tested at all in friendlies. This is especially important for younger players as their weaknesses lie in the mental area, which means they tend to look a lot better in friendlies. Frankly, if you ever kicked a ball and also played a remotely competitive match, it is really hard to compare. And evidently I can only extrapolate at how competitive a PL match can be.

Agreed on both counts. I'd not mind a run of good form from Sterling at some point tho. 😅

Like I wrote before, I'm a big fan. Fantastic player who is aggressive, hard working, and an excellent rounded footballer. He can play in tight spaces, slow down tempo, which means a player we were missing esp for the new system. He reminds me of Pool's Luis Diaz. Just stay fit....

Only option would be to remain paying % of his wages, and in such scenario I’d actually keep him. He hasn’t been good enough, but aside from being a poor footballer I just can’t see how Mudryk would work in this system given all he’s got is pace.

Agree with the rest, but not the creative part. I think Noni's quite direct and does not have a whole lot of range to his game. He operates better with more space esp in counter situations, which is going to be harder to find in the new system with higher lines.

I'm a big fan of Pedro Neto and brought his name up last season when Wolves beat us. Yes, the injury proneness is a concern evidently. I don't think he's that direct; yes, he can beat players with pace, but he can also slow down tempo and linkup in tight spaces. He's got aggression too, so a perfect fit for the positional game Maresca is trying to implement. Pedro is super skillful and would really like to see him and Cole play together. Pedro is quite a bit better than Madueke as a footballer, esp when operating in tight spaces. Noni is also not a great fit for Maresca's system IMO. Given that he can play LW, the less Mudryk the better. I want to see Filip more before passing judgment, so CBs look like the main weakness left, especially given the lack of a good ball-playing CB. I remember telling folks here that the team that ended last season wasn't going to be the same one starting this season. 😅 the team last season wasn't good enough.

The Liverpool match? ah maybe I'm mistaken -- always thought Liverpool were the better side despite missing most of their attack. BYW, I do remember our bench options being dismal when playing them... like not really better than "Liverpool kids."

Agreed concerning the City match even with the caveat that they were tired (once again tired does not only mean less running) and missing Haaland. But not the Liverpool match; we just did not look like winning that one not even in OT.

That's what I'm afraid of: the success rate (of developing potential) and conditions needed in a free-flowing contact sport like football can be drastically different. Knowing where to move, how to move, is often more important than being able to run faster or longer. THat's esp true in certain positions where knowing the "shortcuts" like Thiago Silva did can be invaluable esp in tough matches where a mistake will send you home.

I wonder that perhaps the issue isn't such much as identifying potential, but understanding what potential means *in football* vs other sports. Perhaps the execution part is slightly misunderstood? Referring to the actions and conditions required to develop potential, regardless of the outcome.

Smart buy for them; that has been their main weakness for a while.

Fair enough. 👍 BTW, I don't rate Saka that highly. He's an excellent winger, but Salah is a tier above, and Cole is posed to get there.

Understood. However, Jackson is the striker, a player whose focus is mainly to score goals. Of all players on the pitch he’s got the freer role and plays centralized: there are fewer opposition players between him and the goal. Those wingers would have to do a lot more aside from scoring, so their focus is split… as is their work. so, basically I’m suggesting based on the data you shared is that aside from haaland, there isn’t a striker in the league firing in all cylinders considering that the top wingers lead in goals scored. i also hope Kai does not carry his end of the season form over to this one.

Yup remember that as well; Lukaku was never good enough in his overall technique. The PL has a history of overvaluing physicality esp power. That has changed over time, but old habits die hard. Wonder if the owners have a bias towards that as well. I think City was the club that changed all that having skill on the ball above all else.

yup and on top of that he's a good player; as in he's not clueless with the football at his feet. Not sure comparisons with wingers help his case tho, esp Salah and Cole, who are pretty dominant players scoring or not. I'm not a fan of Isaak; while he can finish, he's just so freaking slow. Now in tight games, esp when we are chasing a goal, we may need a physical player who can attack headers in tight spaces and under pressure (from the opposition CBs), and Jackson isn't that player.

yup hence the "in different times" bit.

Heh suppose Alvarez would’ve been tailor-made for Barcelona in different times.

Which prob meant any “convincing”, if at all possible, would require a significant wage increase. Something we have not been doing lately.

Plausible yeah. There was a mention about warmer climate.

I think they should play anyway to get that important PL seal of approval, "Can they do it on a cold, rainy night in Stoke?"

He did improve a lot from his early games, in which he was pretty much a liability costing us points. You take the whole season tho, and for me, he wasn't that great; certainly not the player people claimed he was at Brighton. I expect him to resume playing at a good level (not his early season form), but I wouldn't project his end of the season form towards this season. Way too many variables esp around fitness levels and other sides losing interest. We were one of the few clubs still playing for something in the end. We also need to take into account the new manager and system.