NP
@__TheNearPost__
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Still figuring the sport out. Opinions and Analysis only. Blog:
Joined March 2024
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Another week, another piece where I give my thoughts- this time on Manchester City's game against West Ham.
I talk about Jack Grealish, City's interesting patterns and structure, how Haaland scores so many goals, and more.
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Short, stocky build with the ability to burst past defenders + produce powerful finishes?
It's legitimately funny how some of his actions remind me of Kun Agüero.
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Observe Foden.
-Excellent turn to evade pressure in the second phase.
- Escapes Kroos to find the free man on the other side.
Perfect touch & body orientation to manipulate Madrid's shape.
Grealish pins his FB back, gives room for Gvardiol and the rest is pure brilliance.
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I love Phil Foden, but we need to be a little honest about his tournament.
Must just be a huge coincidence that England’s two best games and best attacking patterns of play were when:
1. Foden was played in midfield; and
2. Foden was given the ball.
We get it, you’re upset he denied Arsenal the Premier League.
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It must be said, I rated Kovacic, but I did not imagine he would become this important for us this season.
Upgradable? Perhaps so. But I underestimated his role this season, and I'm happy that I was wrong.
Terrific player. Superb partnership with Rodri, super vital for control.
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Haaland's actually one of the easiest players in the world to build around.
Doesn't need too many touches, works with most players- ball to feet/runner.
Gives you 60 goals a season, gravity to help other players and more. He starts for every team in the world.
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Josko Gvardiol will only get praise now because he's getting G/A.
But barring a few errors, he has been performing at an elite level all season.
This is a fact.
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Leny Yoro, Kobbie Mainoo, Garnacho, Rasmus Højlund, Amad Diallo- that's a lovely young core there for me.
Rashford, Bruno, Onana, Shaw and Martinez provide some much needed experience.
A proper
#6
, fullback and maybe one more quality CB make this squad better.
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Salah isn't the best at dribbling to *take* his man on— he can do it, but it's not his best trait.
Salah's a master at dribbling to actually create that separation for the shot or pass— those small, tiny yet rapid steps, constant deception to throw defenders off balance.
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This brother does everything on a phone ffs, nobody can beat him on this app
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Love Mbappe but truth is, he isn't held to the same standard as Haaland is.
People also don't understand Haaland's game which is sad.
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I fear for this fanbase sometimes, they saw a game where he was getting double-teamed more often than not for the first time and this is the conclusion they've become to.
The only thing that Pep could've done yesterday was give him more isolated 1v1s- which isn't a worry.
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Désiré Doué is one of the smartest signings a club can make.
Ball-striking, clean wing play, smart touches in central areas with the ability to consistently generate separation for a carry/dribble.
Less than 50M, no brainer.
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'Bench player'
'Can't score gamechanging goals or assists'
'Needs KDB'
'When Haaland and KDB come back he will get benched and overshadowed'
'Can't score in big games'
What's next, guys?
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Haaland's ability to create separation for the shot is beyond incredible. Unsettles defenders, creates space between him and his marker.
How many defenders have lost balance against him? This is not a coincidence at this point.
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Haaland x KDB. Elite mental profiles. Arrogant bastards.
Talk the talk. Walk the walk. What a duo.
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I totally get why Arsenal fans let Haaland and Foden live rent free in their heads.
I'd be upset too if my team missed out their chance to win a league title after 20 years or so because of those two.
He was also captain in Ødegaard's absence and refused to meet the press after the game.
That's weak leadership. Other players had to do it. That would never happen with Ødegaard as captain.
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You see, I never understand how you can watch this with your eyes and think there's a lack of technical ability or intelligence.
Had 1 or 2 moments of giving it away but look at the:
- Use of body to retain possession.
- Lovely little croquetas to evade pressure.
- Innovation.
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People said Pep Guardiola doesn't like 'big
#9s
' and proceeded to sign Erling Haaland.
People said Pep Guardiola doesn't like 1v1 wingers anymore and proceeded to sign Doku and Savio.
We talk about 'defensive work' but Pep signed Mahrez.
Pep likes good players. Pretty simple.
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Foden and De Bruyne are way too talented not to co-exist centrally. It can and should happen over the course of the season.
One of the best goalscoring connectors itw + the best creator itw. Don't fight, just appreciate 'em both while you can.
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Jack Grealish is an interior out wide- slows down the tempo, keeps the team in shape. Constantly tries to find runners, combines with those around him.
He makes this team better. A true playmaker who gelled together the attack today for all goals.
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Watching Phil Foden's goals this season- the guy is a natural box crasher at LCM.
Quick on the half-turn, straight line carries, secure in tight spaces, incredible hard to mark and take ball away from.
Gundogan-esque.
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City are in the process of getting the ball to Jérémy Doku.
Pep screams 'Go Jérémy!' and the man darts into the box, dancing his way through the Chelsea defenders.
Empowering your players. They'll tell you that Pep doesn't like his wingers to dribble though.
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I think Pep did his job just fine.
Coached a near-perfect poss. game with good counter pressing.
He also likely wanted to keep sustaining pressure and break down their block, so he brought on Doku (1v1 isolation) and Alvarez (socio-affective play).
He did nothing wrong.
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There's a strong case to be made for Rico Lewis being a top 3 City player this season.
Makes us a vertical side whilst maintaining control in possession. Half-spaces, first phase play, underlaps. Liquid footballer.
19. Years. Old.
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I think Erling Haaland has been the best player in the 2020s.
People will cry because according to them, he isn't a 'complete footballer', but note his impact on games, the goals, the assists- how he can lift a team's ceiling to a treble-winning side.
He's a phenom.
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This is where Rodri hype ends, I'm sorry guys.
Incredible player, but Kevin De Bruyne is numero uno.
Nice consistency from Rodri but are we going to ignore the game-breaking qualities we've seen from KDB in the last decade? Look at what he did last season with limited minutes.
@MCFCTone
David Silva was 8/10 every week. Kev plays in snapshots. He's a high percentage/risk reward player. Rodri will be recognised globally as our greatest ever player based on what he has already done for both Club and Country. Rodri has already made himself our most important player
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Arsenal fans want to prop Saka super hard when Foden has his ups and downs.
But when it comes to voting their Player of the Season, they would much rather give their flowers to Martin Odegaard and Saliba.
You don't value your academy player like we do, and that's on you.
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Oscar Bobb: Manchester City's *NEXT* Academy Player to make it to the first team?
A thread on what I think his strengths are, and the type of player he *COULD* become.
🧵
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Another monstrous Josko Gvardiol performance- powerful ball carrying, security in tight areas, incredible duelling and defending.
UNICORN- so much potential to invert too, giving us an extra tactical tool.
The people who slandered him were fools.
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@abz7ii
@__LFCJack__
@ozilwashed
@savitarfn_
@walterwhitelfc
@whrlpooll
Oppenheimer literally creates a gripping narrative around one some of the most tragic events to take place- literally every dialogue is either meaningful or engaging, you just don't have the attention to sit through it lol.
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I just love wingers- the sort of ones that have multiple tools to break a game.
Manchester City had Leroy Sane, Raheem Sterling and Riyad Mahrez at one point- incredible collection of profiles.
Here are *SOME* of my favourite wingers currently.
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It's 2024 and there are people who still think João Felix should join Manchester City.
We should lowkey sell Alvarez for 80m euros and get Joao Felix for half price
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🪡Football, for some, is all about *arriving* into specific zones and exerting a high level of influence- especially for the 'dynamic' profiles of the sport.
[A SMALL THREAD].
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Can't believe I'm saying this, but I think the City fanbase is underrating Bernardo Silva currently.
In a system that sees the
#8s
press aggressively, Bernardo times his jumps right whilst covering the gaps in the middle.
All that + his build-up work and final third play.
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When we needed him most, Ederson stepped up. Legendary sweeper keeper- cross claims, sweeping, quality on the ball.
Ederson helped us play our game, he helped us add control and precision to our style.
Manchester City's greatest keeper OAT.
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Don't assign your primary creators the job of dictating tempo. Don't assign your tempo setters the job of primary chance creation.
Don't let them overlap. Don't expect players to perform a role that doesn't align with their profile.
Simple as.
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People like this need to seek genuine help. And more importantly, some form of employment.
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Last bit of Foden prop, but his evolution as a player has been insane.
Outlet forward (LW) in 20/21.
Leading the frontline as a F9 in 21/22.
Added right-wing play to his game in 22/23, and won his club another league title in a midfield role for much of the season.
Wow.
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Two lovely wingers to have.
Savinho eats up space, peeling away from his man with his incredible burst and frame.
Bobb's coordination w the ball is *TOP*— shifty in his movements, disguised actions to make up for a lack of physical build- Retentive *AND* incisive.
I love it.
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Ederson is underappreciated by City's own fans lol.
Ortega isn't better. He might be a better shotstopper, but that also comes down to a lot of his own errors in possession.
Eddie PREVENTS GOALS before they happen.
Stefan Ortega is a superior goalkeeper to Eddie. There is a calmness he brings to his backline that Eddie perhaps doesn't? Ortega distribution also not that far behind.
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I feel bad for the casuals that can't appreciate this guy. Lost in aesthetics and this narrow 'idea' of what a striker is supposed to do.
He converts shots into goals at a Cristiano-esque rate. Go figure.
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David Silva and Agüero made us regular title challengers, Kevin De Bruyne made us a force to be reckoned with on the European stage.
One of the greatest passers of the ball paired with immense running power + the ability to find people whilst on the go. The greatest.
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You always saw me defend the lad to death, but I'll always try looking at it objectively.
NONE of these players had the right dynamics, and yet the others have at least shown more than he has, whether it be thru imp. G/A Or general play.
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That Amadou Onana performance, I was moved.
As a sitting
#6
, might need bit more work that can't be taught, but such an incredible player.
Disguised line-breakers, carrying and clean duelling. That's a top class partner to Rodri right there.
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Common theme in certain games was that Man City's flanks were fairly free with congested space in the middle.
Grealish and Bernardo aren't lethal enough in 1v1s, and neither are Gvardiol or Walker, so teams could afford to open up there.
Doku and Savinho change that, though.
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I love Phil Foden so much.
Excellent pass to Doku in the build-up, lovely box crashing to score that.
Gundo-esque. He's back. Looks so much more fit. Need him.
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Old followers know that it's been a good week for NP player propaganda.💙
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Arsenal fans have suddenly become Rodri enthusiasts, interesting..
@premierleague
@EASPORTSFC
@ManCity
Such a shame. The player who deserves it the most is Rodri and he wasn’t even nominated
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Wrote a bit about who Manchester City's next midfield signing could be:
- What's needed.
- Potential targets and thoughts.
- The way forward.
Likes and RTs always appreciated.
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Sávio Moreira de Oliveira.
A detailed piece on Manchester City's *NEWEST* winger signing.
- His role for Girona.
- Strengths.
- Potential flaws to iron out.
- How Manchester City could use him.
Likes and RTs appreciated as always.
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I've seen a lot of weird things on this app, but making a fail comp for a 17 year-old because he struggled in his first ever Copa America start is jobless behaviour.
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Sávio's game is way too good. High ceiling. Incredible brain. Looks so much better now that he's getting more isolated 1v1s/an extra runner to help him out.
So many tools to hurt you. Perfect in most game states. Mark of a great player really.
Goals will come too.
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Squad plagued with injuries, constantly bothered by the media and club drama.
Still integrated some young talent, coached some decent footy and won a game at the Parc des Princes.
He may not be perfect, but Xavi Hernández has shown he's capable of becoming a top top manager.
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There is no doubt about Erling Haaland being the best striker in the world.
Link up and dribbling have been *CLEAN* today. Drops deep at the right time.
Other-worldly ballstriking to top it all off. We haven't seen many goalscorers be *THIS* efficient.
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One of the best players in the world, man.
Give him the pockets, let him drive, carry, combine and release in small spaces, and more importantly— shoot and crash the box.
Large space carrier + small space passer + devastating shooter.
Next step in his development must happen.
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- Unbelievable threat against high-lines.
- Disruptive movements against settled defences.
- Good channel running.
- Minimal touches to release the shot.
Special, special CF. Have a piece coming out soon but I think he's the next England CF if everything goes right.
Liam delap has 4 goals from 1.16 xG guys.
This is a CF with gambreaking ability.
Plays in a dismal team but trust me he holds his own in possession teams.
Better profile than someone like gyokeres just because of his agility & how well he can escape small/big defenders.
Rare
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@Lifeuknow1
This is a perfect example of your biases getting in the way of bring truly objective
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'Central' players will always be the biggest threats.
The middle also becomes the most important part to protect from any transitions/incision.
The greatest players in the sport have had an incredible influence there.
CR7- Inside Forward
Lionel Messi- F9
Neymar- PSG's
#10
.
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Signings like Kovacic and Akanji have taught me a lot.
When you can't find the right long term targets to fill in certain roles, players like these who can slot in immediately and provide a superb floor to build on, are well worth their weight in gold.
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Might be part of the current minority, but I have so much respect for him.
The way he presents himself, the belief in his ability, the self-confidence- to produce a bicycle kick in the dying minutes of a knockout game as a 20 year-old is commendable!
So much to learn from him.
"Sometimes it feels like there's a pile-on from the fans... moments like tonight throw it back to some people" 👀
Jude Bellingham on how England's dramatic 2-1 win over Slovakia can hush the doubters... 🍿
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@Ic3Evaa
He's got more G/A than Vinicius, should he win the ballon dor over him in your opinion?
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I decided to write a fairly detailed (and hopefully comprehensive) piece on Jack Grealish.
- How he was used at Aston Villa.
- Repeatable actions in possession.
- His role at Manchester City.
- The way forward.
Likes and RTs appreciated!
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I'm an immense believer in Phil Foden's talent.
Nothing erases the brilliant season he's just that for Man City.
You could see the glimpses of the passing from outside the block, some of the movements.
He needs to apply himself. Has to unlock his full potential otherwise...
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Oscar 'Mbappe' Bobb with the dummy shot against Chelsea.
He's ready. Just give him more minutes and he'll deliver you moments like these.
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Oh give me a fucking break lol.
The stuff I read..
Mourinho rightfully criticised for his failure to bring through players such as KDB Salah (nod to his impatience with youth) but has Pep has gotten away with his failure to bring through Cole Palmer…
Was he not cyborg enough for a Pep system? Does Guardiola dislike mavericks?
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Haven't seen much mention of it- I believe Josko Gvardiol deserved to be a part of the PL TOTS.
Wide centre-back, incredible carrying from deep, overlaps and hints of showing the ability to invert— a brilliant debut campaign from a young defender.
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Even without that desirable physical profile, Rico Lewis is an *INCREDIBLY* intelligent fullback who can break most presses + defend smaller spaces/overlaps.
The next step in his development should be to improve the final third play.
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Yeah Rodri has his weaknesses but we are witnessing the PEAK level of midfield play.
Makes the pitch look bigger than it is with his large zone of influence— first phase build-up, switches, facilitating Nico Williams.
Superb in the duels too.
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Sometimes, the players must find solutions. Foden doesn't necessarily do that *yet* all the time.
I would like to see Pep make him play deeper in midfield at times- let him suffer and figure it out.
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Julián Álvarez was such a successful signing.
2 years of good output. Versatile, hard worker. Helped in the fine margins with his ball-striking.
Bought him for £14m, selling him for £81m— incredible increase in value + opens a path for Bobb to play.
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Goalscoring connectors who can help combine and release in tight spaces, receive the ball BTL, carry the ball over large/small distances *AND* provide incredible value in the final third thru ball-striking + assists.
Rare for Spain to produce a player like Fermin Lopez.
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I don't think I can ever criticise a manager for substitutions or the timing of it, personally.
Managers have access to data that we don't re: fatigue levels/intensity. Sometimes they might just want to continue sustaining pressure/maintain rhythm.
Hindsight is 20/20.
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Feel like there's a slight misinterpretation.
Gundogan can do both. But the point is, the best teams should never expect a player to do both these tasks.
Guys like Xavi, Pedri, David Silva and Gundogan *CAN* do everything.
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I love this City XI.
Doku x Savio— dynamic solution providers out wide.
Rico Lewis and Gvardiol— incredibly multifaceted as fullbacks.
Bernardo and Kovacic with small space manipulation, KDB x Haaland for large space threat.
I'm seated.
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Our whole window was built around the assumption that Rodri will be okay all season.
Oh well. Not expecting too much now. Complained enough during the windows. Let's see what happens.
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I think from a quality standpoint, he's already the *BEST* defender we've ever had.
Carries the team up the pitch with his ball-progression— punched balls to central players, ball-carrying.
Superb front-footed approach in defending. That left half space cross was mint too.
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Bruno Guimarães or João Neves- the latter would be an immense ceiling-raiser + super high potential.
City need a 'pass-first' midfielder with a high level of influence. They can provide this + versatility in multiple roles whilst being secure on the ball.
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Amadou Onana, Joško Gvardiol, Jamal Musiala, Eduardo Camavinga.
You just can't explain the fluidity and comfortability they have in possession. They defy logic, they are anomalies.
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Very interesting that Fabrizio Romano suddenly felt the need to post about a Ligue 1 player's debut.
@FabrizioRomano
do it for every Ligue 1 player you scum 🙏
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Matheus Nunes will need to come in at some point.
Unfortunate that he's a little rusty in possession in comparison to his peers, but the his progression value paired with that physical profile and duelling ability? Worth looking into even if I don't know how he fits.
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@janufooty
I remember when false 9 ran rampant people were saying 'what happened to someone who just put it in the net' now it's vice versa
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Matheus Nunes is not a bad footballer.
I'm not sure if he joined at the right time, or if he'll get chances here, but a player with:
- A top-tier athletic/physical base.
- Ball-carrying.
That's too good to fail. Just give him time. Trust him.
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Let us not lower the standards and mindlessly defend- see things the way they are.
He has been ineffective for most of the games, barring maybe Denmark and heck Netherlands, but that's far from what Foden is capable of producing.
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Sometimes there's a difference between players that can thrive in certain zones, and players that can thrive when *ARRIVING* in those very zones.
Trent Alexander-Arnold embodies this concept.
Clear to understand the difference.
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Matheus Nunes is *NOT* a bad footballer.
Matheus Nunes is not a bad footballer.
I'm not sure if he joined at the right time, or if he'll get chances here, but a player with:
- A top-tier athletic/physical base.
- Ball-carrying.
That's too good to fail. Just give him time. Trust him.
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I think Amad Diallo is my favourite player from United.
Physically ready for the league, creative ability from out wide— reliable in terms of retention and giving your team those extra few seconds to build attacks.
The calm amongst the chaos.
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Shame on any of you if you're going to fault Bernardo or Kovacic for not being able to take a penalty- a skill in its own right.
The team did their best. Respect it.
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Pep has always said he's grateful to the players he's had throughout his career.
Never fails to credit them— knows that at the end of the day, structure and tactics mean little if you don't have the players to enforce them.
This goal means a lot to many of us and rightfully so.
De Bruyne had Pep singing his name after the game bro, I've never seen a manager do this for a player 😭
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@Lifeuknow1
Be very very serious man there's an argument for him being the best in that regard.
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This was one of my favourite moves of the season. Perfection.
- Overloading the build-up phases.
- Wide FBs being used to soak up pressure thru 'wall passes'.
- Fluid front 2 capable of attacking space.
- Final third deliveries with dynamic FB arriving into space.
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When we talk about players that elevated teams, KDB is an example of that.
Grabbed games by the scuff of the neck in Europe. Had the balls to take us to places we'd never dreamed of.
Look at how much better we were in the CL after he joined. Respect talent when you see it.
De Bruyne vs PSG 15/16
Dragging City to their first CL SF
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Musiala is an incredible dribbler, but he's also gotten so much better at releasing the ball.
Expert at sucking in a pool of players to feed a runner in-behind. No angles bias, 0 issues in creating separation.
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Don't think people should be worried about Foden— team is doing great currently, and he's talented enough to take a spot when he's fully fit.
Season has only just begun. Calm. Sit back and relax. We will need him.
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