7 | Joao Cancelo - 2022/23 Performances

[youngbob]

Get him back on the left where he's best. Forgets his own name playing at right-back. Always has, always will.

No coincidence that his under-par first season (19/20) was spent at right-back, no coincidence that he suddenly became one of our most important attacking players when we switched him to the left.

He's been here nearly four years and you could count on one hand the good displays he's put in on the right, whereas I could handpick you several games off the top of my head where he's dropped a massive bollock playing there.

Walker, Stones, Laporte, Cancelo is our strongest back four.

 

[Mon Autre]

If we can get him to a point where he hits some form again I'd be looking to sell him when his stock is high. He makes for good highlight reels but I don't think I've ever fully trusted him tbh. I think we need a more reliable and consistent performer at LB. Ideally someone bought as a left back and with a proven track record at left back.

 

[Raskolnikov.]

Poor Joao, his head looks like it’s all over the place. I can’t help feeling that his major slump in form is down to a delayed reaction to the ordeal of the burglary and the effect it’s had on his family.

 

[thanatos]

Fucking terrible. Not much else to say here

 

[FantasyIreland]

Abysmal,an accident waiting to happen every time he steps on the pitch.

He should have been sold some time back and a proper fullback brought in.

 

[lancs blue]

I was half-wondering last night if his performance was a bit of a hissy fit as he's found a teenager and a centre back deservedly ahead of him in the full-backs pecking order. It's a while since I've seen so many misplaced passes from a City player.

 

[Millwallawayveteran1988]

Get him back on the left where he's best. Forgets his own name playing at right-back. Always has, always will.

No coincidence that his under-par first season (19/20) was spent at right-back, no coincidence that he suddenly became one of our most important attacking players when we switched him to the left.

He's been here nearly four years and you could count on one hand the good displays he's put in on the right, whereas I could handpick you several games off the top of my head where he's dropped a massive bollock playing there.

Walker, Stones, Laporte, Cancelo is our strongest back four.

But bar 2/3 games he has been crap all season wherever he has played. His form has fallen off a cliff, his head doesn’t seem to be in the right place after his wc dropping and he doesn’t seem to me to be the sort of player with the mental attitude to lift himself from the slumber he is in. Pep clearly mustn’t be happy with what he is seeing from him on the left so had moved him to see if that helped, but it hasn’t worked either and in fact has made it worse. He will be rightly dropped on Saturday and after that it is anyones guess.

 

[Xhavenjoe]

Walker, Stones, Laporte, Cancelo is our strongest back four.

3 of them started last night but in the wrong positions

 

[Mancini’s Pastilles]

Don't care how many outside of boot fancy crosses he puts in. He can head off to Madrid or somewhere that he might smile. While we hopefully sign a competent left back

 

[SleepingBlueTiger]

He has been average at best the entire season but after his deserved benching in World Cup for Dalot it feels he has lost his confidence and maybe a bit of motivation. Should be benched and used as impact sub for foreseaable future until he gets his head right.

Not signing a proper LB coming back to hurt us. Ake is a fine stand in from defensive view but playing a CB there is limiting our offense when our LW can't produce much on his own (regardless who plays at LW).

 

[City_Sean]

He needs playing into form. We know how good he can be. The fullbacks need to go back to playing in positions they're most comfortable in.

 

[alexmcity]

I'm afraid we won't win anything (big) this season without Cancelo (in form). The other FBs are not sufficiently good going forward and passing wise. No Cancelo, no party. It's that simple.

First Pep overplayed him, he played more minutes than any player last season and before the WC, including Ederson. Then he lost form and something happened between him and Pep. No other FB at the club has his qualities, though. Pep will have to play him into form at LB again or risk the whole season. Ake ain't a solution, he is limited going forward. Rico is too young.

 

[Roachy]

Last nights showing easily falls into the "utter dogshit" category.

 

[Dogtanian]

Not sure what the problem is this season but he's been way off form

 

[TheFatAndUglyPhilFoden]

Last night was the perfect amalgamation of just how below par he's been this season. The foul throw capped it off. Honestly damning how this supposed world class modern full back has been dropped not just at international level but by a lad who turned 18 a couple months ago, never mind how good he is. He really needs to sort it quick because he's a liability the way he's lining out as of late.

 

[Dazzle84]

I know we make jokes about "anyone in the crowd could have played instead of him tonight" but in this case it's true. I know lads who play Saturday football not even semi pro who couldn't have done any worse than him

 

[supercity88]

I'm afraid we won't win anything (big) this season without Cancelo (in form). The other FBs are not sufficiently good going forward and passing wise. No Cancelo, no party. It's that simple.

First Pep overplayed him, he played more minutes than any player last season and before the WC, including Ederson. Then he lost form and something happened between him and Pep. No other FB at the club has his qualities, though. Pep will have to play him into form at LB again or risk the whole season. Ake ain't a solution, he is limited going forward. Rico is too young.

Well he had a good chance to find some form last night but was fucking abysmal.

 

[madloaf]

Where's my friend on here where we debated Cancelo and he was in the camp of he's one of the best full backs in the world and took the opposite point of view? I don't want to be right, but i think my case got a little stronger last night.

 

[alexmcity]

Well he had a good chance to find some form last night but was fucking abysmal.

That's true, but Pep is yet to play him at LB and in a normal formation after the WC. He gave him 2 starts in 6 games, both starts were in weird formations. Why not play him where he was mostly played the last two seasons, i.e., at LB? Why play him at RW? Pep is trying to change something (due to Haaland?) but it's not working now. Neither Rico (too young) nor Ake (average going forward) will provide solutions for this season. Guess, if something doesn't change, Cancelo will leave in the summer anyway. But we should find solutions for this season. Rico and Ake are decent and can do a job. Won't be enough in (some) big games, though, especially in the CL.

 

[alexmcity]

Where's my friend on here where we debated Cancelo and he was in the camp of he's one of the best full backs in the world and took the opposite point of view? I don't want to be right, but i think my case got a little stronger last night.

This sounds a bit like those rag fans who would say their case that KDB isn't among the best PL midfielders got stronger after the last 2-3 games. 2-3 poor games or months prove little. Cancelo made the PFA team of the year in back to back seasons and was the first FB in PL history to do it both at RB and LB.