I'm sure Laporte could do a half decent job as a target man, but barring any emergency that should and most likely will never happen.It's Pep we are talking about here, i thought he was mad when he put Zinny on LB position too but look how it turn out now. I'm just saying there's posibility he can be decent in here, if Pep thinks he can do it.
Paul Gascoigne was prob the best English player I saw play football live.Modern football is played on a carpet, proper tackling isn’t allowed and players are looked after far better than they were.
It's progress. Not necessarily a bad thing for the business as long as it entertains the masses.
It doesn't mean football is better or that players are better than the past.
Three things I am 100% sure of though...
Prime Paul Gascoigne would dominate any midfield in the current PL.
Prime George Best would win the Ballon d'or by a landslide.
I'd still pay good money to go to watch Frank Worthington in his prime.
You don't put the best player in the team in at full back.
My head hurts.
Interesting argument there.complete disagree. if you play him on the wing you lose his playmaking if you play him on the midfield you lose his attacking threat but as a false 9 you can have the best of both worlds. the reason he was ineffective as false 9 at chelsea is because he didn't play well as he should have. Foden is still learning the false 9 position, there was no inherent flaw in the system, he just need to learn more and play at a higher level against top teams.
I still haven't forgotten the dreadful challenge by Harry maguire at Leicester in the cup a few years back.put our Phil out 3 months.Brilliant player. Hate to see him on the end of so many hard tackles from CB's but comes with the job up top, I suppose.
Rascal was the poster I believe.A poster during the summer (can't remember who) said they heard on good authority that Pep wasn't even that peeved about missing out on a striker, as he has earmarked Foden for the false 9 role. The poster said their source mentioned that Pep feels Phil has potential to score a bucket load.
Yeah, was definitely Russ.Rascal was the poster I believe.
I was talking in general.I didn't compare them, think you have read it wrong.
Phil isn't a striker he isn't clinical enough . To me it should be clear by now that his best position is as a no 8 or central midfielder . His passing range is insane . I never knew he had it in his locker .A poster during the summer (can't remember who) said they heard on good authority that Pep wasn't even that peeved about missing out on a striker, as he has earmarked Foden for the false 9 role. The poster said their source mentioned that Pep feels Phil has potential to score a bucket load.
I think a lot of people have a misconception about Gazza that he was just moments of magic . He was far more than that he was able to dictate games from midfield as well . When he played in serie a for Lazio against the might of AC Milan Capello had to put a man on him to try and shut him down.Paul Gascoigne was prob the best English player I saw play football live.
I remember going to The City ground notts to watch England u21 v s Scotland u21s,..mainly because 4 or 5 City players were in the squad.
Also Paul Gascoigne...he did not disappoint.whilst I cannot remember anything that our lads did, I do recall Gazza receiving a high ball in central midfield,he immediately drew the attention of 4 opponents all seeking to pick up the loose ball...
There was no loose ball..
Gascoigne simply stuck his chest out and ran past the lot of them with the ball seemingly glued to his chest.It was absolutely incredible to watch.
Briliant player,who incidently,turned up for his team home and away...in those days there were any number of players who could turn it on in front of their own fans,but shrunk away from home in a hostile atmosphere. Intimidated,or not up for it today sort of thing.
That's why I think even some City fans should look at what Bernardo Silva is doing week in week out for us ,and start shouting his name ,as quite possibly the best player in the world right now.
You don't have to score a stack of goals to be the best player.
That's why Tony Book(right full back) and Dave McKay ( scottish centre back) were joint Player of the Season winners in 1969 or 70.
Two committed strong men,professional,hard,.and ....consistent.week in week out.
It's not just about goals.
Phil isn't a striker he isn't clinical enough . To me it should be clear by now that his best position is as a no 8 or central midfielder . His passing range is insane . I never knew he had it in his locker .
I feel like until very recently Foden was an exceptional finisher. I'd need some stats though to back that up in case I'm just letting some selection bias cloud my judgement.
lol is that a joke? he is one of the most clinical players in our team. as a false 9 he he also act as a mid and use his passing range as was seen last game.Phil isn't a striker he isn't clinical enough . To me it should be clear by now that his best position is as a no 8 or central midfielder . His passing range is insane . I never knew he had it in his locker .
False 9 is theoretically perfect for Phil.lol is that a joke? he is one of the most clinical players in our team. as a false 9 he he also act as a mid and use his passing range as was seen last game.
I would politely disagree. I may not be your age, but I've seen plenty of the first two at least. Best was often up against players that would be lucky to be league one in terms of quality right now. Drop him in the game now and he'd be shocked by the pace of it. Maybe he would get up to speed eventually, but there's no guarantee. Played on a crap pitch or not, most of those players were heavy smokers and drinkers. Sports science wasn't a thing, they didn't train or practice with anywhere near the same intensity. Of course they wouldn't be up to the same level as today's game where you have to do everything better, quicker and more precisely. Brentford would probably beat the Brazil 1970 team IMO. The game is *vastly* better now. I'm not saying it's more entertaining, but the overall average technical ability, the fitness, the organisation etc is world's apart from even 20 years ago.
EDIT - this Best video just proves my point. The standard of defending is fucking dreadful. Genuinely amateurish at times. All throwing themselves in, all look so unsharp and lacking physicality. There is zero discipline. You couldn't do that today. They're just too strong, too organised, too fast.
I would politely disagree. I may not be your age, but I've seen plenty of the first two at least. Best was often up against players that would be lucky to be league one in terms of quality right now. Drop him in the game now and he'd be shocked by the pace of it. Maybe he would get up to speed eventually, but there's no guarantee. Played on a crap pitch or not, most of those players were heavy smokers and drinkers. Sports science wasn't a thing, they didn't train or practice with anywhere near the same intensity. Of course they wouldn't be up to the same level as today's game where you have to do everything better, quicker and more precisely. Brentford would probably beat the Brazil 1970 team IMO. The game is *vastly* better now. I'm not saying it's more entertaining, but the overall average technical ability, the fitness, the organisation etc is world's apart from even 20 years ago.
EDIT - this Best video just proves my point. The standard of defending is fucking dreadful. Genuinely amateurish at times. All throwing themselves in, all look so unsharp and lacking physicality. There is zero discipline. You couldn't do that today. They're just too strong, too organised, too fast.
I looked closely into this and researched how messi evolved his game into an F9. at 2007 when he was 19-20years, he showed no signs of being a F9. in 2008 in some games he played like a false winger who first starts in the wing and then drops into the middle while the striker eto interchanging between the wing and striker. in 2009 he was still a false winger but this time alves was like a winger and ibra was the forward. it was not until the 2010 season at the age of 23 did he actually become a F9 where he both was able to play-make and get at the end of things as a striker. so it took him a good 2 years to learn the role fully. I have linked videos of messi showing his evolution in that role.False 9 is theoretically perfect for Phil.
But also the hardest position to master, you need to:
1) Learn to get on the end of a pass to score
2) Be a great finisher overall
3) Link up with the other midfielder and wingers , 360 spatial ability
4) The freedom to drift on the wings means you need to be a great winger
5) The freedom to drop deep means you need to be a great midfielder
6) Have the stamina to press all over the pitch
Phil’s only weak point is 1), as stated above, he could have had a hat trick in a game he got no goals and and he was still praised.
If he can reach his full potential as a F9, which admittedly will be harder than mid or winger, then he will be better than Haaland in that position or any striker.
Messi showed the dominance you can get with a godly F9.