Do you think Bernabe could take over Zinchenko's role?Currently top of the PL2 table with a very young team. We`ve been a midtable club for several seasons now, and I feel this group of players is the best we`ve had in a long time. Not necessarily the best individual players (Foden, Sancho level), but the better overall team. We seem to have plenty of good players in every position.
McAtee was MOTM for me today. Reminds me of a Ozil/Kinkladze hybrid. Just glides around the pitch so effortlessly and seems to get on the scoresheet almost every time (5g 4a in 8 games). Some of his passes today was absolutely magnificent.
Palmer absolutely destroyed their LB again and again, but he was really poor in front of goal. Should have scored a couple, but he`s incredibly skillful, way too good for the PL2
Delap got another goal but should easily have gotten a few more. Looks a little too raw for the first team right now, but plenty of potential and undoubtedly a future star. The mix of pace and physicality is very rare. Most strikers seem to have max one of them
Nmecha is obviously a good player, but he just seems a little lazy every time I see him. Passing is often poor, but regularly gets a goal or an assist. Could need another challenge, a loan would do him good
Doyle energetic as always, constantly looking to make things happen with his passes. The defence didn`t have much to do, but Bernabe did well in the inverted LB role. Certainly has a bigger chance to make it at City as a LB than a midfielder, we`re stacked in that position. Enjoy watching these games, great that the club lets us watch these games, there`s clearly a lot of interest in the academy
Yep. He has lovely feet and a good change of pace.Agreed, McAtee has really quick feet, reminds me a bit of Kinkladze when he runs with the ball.
Bernarbe was very good at left back in the previous game. As the previous poster points out, there’s a stack of talent in front of him in the creative midfield positions so a switch to a position where we don’t have many options might give him a chance.Do you think Bernabe could take over Zinchenko's role?
Couldn't see the game, but heard he did send in alot of great crosses, and from what I remember when I could watch him, he was always pretty good at that.
Disappointing about Nmecha, is it his body language? Physically he is completely ready for adult football, and seems like he has the ability, but perhaps not the work rate.
I`ve been one of Zinchenkos biggest fans, but he`s been absolutely dire the last 18 months. As originally an offensive midfielder with little pace I didn`t think he would be a good fit at left-back, but he was a great over ever since Delph got injured in the 17/18 season. Part of the reason he worked so well there, was that Laporte was an absolute rock and covered for him defensively, and everyone in the team had great confidence. Last seasons CB pairings was a horror show with Garcia, Otamendi, a converted 34yo midfielder, and lots of injuries, and Zinchenko as a result lost all his confidence, and nowadays he`s only capable of passing it backwards and his crossing is poor. He`s just not good enough sadly, and I can`t see him staying here for the long run, even though he`s a very likable character.Do you think Bernabe could take over Zinchenko's role?
Couldn't see the game, but heard he did send in alot of great crosses, and from what I remember when I could watch him, he was always pretty good at that.
Disappointing about Nmecha, is it his body language? Physically he is completely ready for adult football, and seems like he has the ability, but perhaps not the work rate.
I think Foden was slightly better than both at that age, but not by a big margin. Palmer and McAtee have improved massively the last year, and they`re both huge talents. I just hope we can replace Mahrez (30 in feb) with Palmer and not buy his replacement like we usually do. They`re quite similar, but Palmer`s a lot less predictable and not so selfish. Did very well in his debut too. We have so many brilliant young players coming through at the moment, exciting times aheadI think McAtee is a Foden level talent. He is so two-footed, finds space effortlessly and finds the goal or a killer pass very well. Cole Palmer is extremely gifted and I have noticed in a number of games that full-backs simply cannot deal with him: he is skilful with his feet, can go both ways and also is adept at dropping deeper - a really dangerous player who I can really see breaking through.
Yeah I get that sense too, alot of other attacking midfielders, McAtee and Palmer who are ahead in that position.I`ve been one of Zinchenkos biggest fans, but he`s been absolutely dire the last 18 months. As originally an offensive midfielder with little pace I didn`t think he would be a good fit at left-back, but he was a great over ever since Delph got injured in the 17/18 season. Part of the reason he worked so well there, was that Laporte was an absolute rock and covered for him defensively, and everyone in the team had great confidence. Last seasons CB pairings was a horror show with Garcia, Otamendi, a converted 34yo midfielder, and lots of injuries, and Zinchenko as a result lost all his confidence, and nowadays he`s only capable of passing it backwards and his crossing is poor. He`s just not good enough sadly, and I can`t see him staying here for the long run, even though he`s a very likable character.
When it comes to Bernabe it`s too early to say. His pace is decent, he`s a good dribbler and can put in a cross and could potentially score some goals as well, I think Raphael Guerreiro is a good comparison as some other poster said. His defending has actually been surprisingly good these last couple of games, and he`s actually a bit of a little warrior like Zabba. Haven`t seen that from him until this season. He seems to have responded very positively to his new role. The first team now has four genuinely top class CBs, and Bernabe should only improve, so it`s not impossible actually. Pep also seems to like him
He has surprised me this season with his defensive work. Tackling`s been good and it was really fascinating to see that Zaba mentality, he hasn`t shown any of that earlier. As a winger I`ve often found him to be a bit meh, and it didn`t look like he believed much in himself, but he`s been good so far in his new position. Previously I`ve felt pretty confident he wouldn`t make it here, but now there`s actually a little hope. I think he has more to his game than Zinchenko, but the step from EDS football to the PL is massive. He was really bad against Bournemouth for the first team, but he hadn`t played in ages before then, and everything just went wrong for him that night. A game to forget. Pep might have seen something in him since he played him as a LWBYeah I get that sense too, alot of other attacking midfielders, McAtee and Palmer who are ahead in that position.
But his crossing seems particularly standout, every cross I've ever seen him play (or heard today) has usually been good and that would be nice to have on the left side.
If he can develop that warrior mentality like Zabba (as you said), then he can really carve out a great career in this position.
Good write up that pal,and although i didn't watch todays game,i recognise the comments about the players you have mentioned from previous outings.Currently top of the PL2 table with a very young team. We`ve been a midtable club for several seasons now, and I feel this group of players is the best we`ve had in a long time. Not necessarily the best individual players (Foden, Sancho level), but the better overall team. We seem to have plenty of good players in every position.
McAtee was MOTM for me today. Reminds me of a Ozil/Kinkladze hybrid. Just glides around the pitch so effortlessly and seems to get on the scoresheet almost every time (5g 4a in 8 games). Some of his passes today was absolutely magnificent.
Palmer absolutely destroyed their LB again and again, but he was really poor in front of goal. Should have scored a couple, but he`s incredibly skillful, way too good for the PL2
Delap got another goal but should easily have gotten a few more. Looks a little too raw for the first team right now, but plenty of potential and undoubtedly a future star. The mix of pace and physicality is very rare. Most strikers seem to have max one of them
Nmecha is obviously a good player, but he just seems a little lazy every time I see him. Passing is often poor, but regularly gets a goal or an assist. Could need another challenge, a loan would do him good
Doyle energetic as always, constantly looking to make things happen with his passes. The defence didn`t have much to do, but Bernabe did well in the inverted LB role. Certainly has a bigger chance to make it at City as a LB than a midfielder, we`re stacked in that position. Enjoy watching these games, great that the club lets us watch these games, there`s clearly a lot of interest in the academy
He's one of those enigmatic kind of players - one minute he exhibits sublime skill and a clinical finish, and the next he's demonstrating the worst aspects of a fifties centre forward from Division Four with a a very limited skill set. And he can also showcase a fine rugby tackle as he did this afternoon.Should have had a hattrick by now. He might kill someone on the pitch one day, he`s really aggressive and gets frustrated really quickly
I thought McAtee was brilliant, MotM for me. Palmer played well but was incredibly greedy at times and Delap needs to work on his composure because he misses a lot of chances.
In my opinion Foden was a level above, but Palmer is improving at a very steady and impressive rate and can definitely be a first team player. What Palmer absolutely has is the physicality to play senior football much sooner, on a more consistent basis than Foden did. McAtee looks like he is going to be like Foden in the sense that he has to be eased up because he looks about 8 stone soaking wet through.I think Foden was slightly better than both at that age, but not by a big margin. Palmer and McAtee have improved massively the last year, and they`re both huge talents. I just hope we can replace Mahrez (30 in feb) with Palmer and not buy his replacement like we usually do. They`re quite similar, but Palmer`s a lot less predictable and not so selfish. Did very well in his debut too. We have so many brilliant young players coming through at the moment, exciting times ahead