4 | Tijjani Reijnders - 2025/26

[leighton]

Rijanders just needs to get his physical side up. He seems a smart guy. I think they will get him up to speed. A bit like Nico last term it takes time for some players to get used to the system there trying to play. He won't be used to people getting as close to him as they do in England.

 

[Dax777]

He is still deserved time, because all new signings are.

But the excuse of him playing higher up so that excuses the lack of defensive work... im sorry that doesnt apply.

We can compare his role to Gundogans if we want, for which then yeah he needs more goals and assists to justify this, which he still might do.

But dont forget that Gundogan played in a system where both fullbacks stayed back predominantly or inverted into midfield, so he had the freedom to not defend as much.

But... our fullbacks aren't just centrebacks staying back, so this logic doesnt apply anymore.

Since the fullbacks are pushing up, we can't afford a Gundogan style weak midfielder anymore, we need a harder worker.

Im hoping he can still get his intensity to match the league, otherwise he won't have a chance here as a starter.

I think Gundogan defended way more than he seems to be getting credit for. By far the best intercepter of the ball for multiple years. And was almost perfect at playing the high press game ( where he got most of his interceptions).

Granted, he wasn't a chase you down and put in a crunching tackle type, but he was savvy defensively.

Now as for Mr. Smiley, Its hard to judge his "press defensive work" because we don't actually have a press anymore.

We don't have a coordinated pressure on defensive players scheme, other than the specific targeting of Konate against Liverpool (we shown nothing resembling a plan in any other game). We also never brought back the ' first 5 seconds pressure" after losing possession scheme we used to deploy for years back in the day.

The excuse for binnig it a few years ago was that we had older players. But we don't have that excuse now. Everyone outside of Bernie is comfortably under 30 now. What's the excuse for this level of unorganized team defending?

It is easy to blame Smiley or claim Bernardo and Phil are not CMs. But the issues are primarily systemic, and only secondarily individual.

Im sure wed be fine if we added Caicedo and Anderson to our midfield. But i fear even they'd be inferior versions of their current selves playing in our uncoordinated defensive structure.

 

[citytill1die84]

Pep says he's a forward player and for me he's definitely more suited further up But we also has Cherki & Foden lol where does he plan to play them all?

 

[01cravend]

Come on to replace tired legs and add energy in midfield. Did nothing defensively and dropped the lowest pass completion % on the pitch.... Time to settle excuse wearing extremely thin, he just looks bad/not good enough like 80% of the time.

 

[Chak19]

Come on to replace tired legs and add energy in midfield. Did nothing defensively and dropped the lowest pass completion % on the pitch.... Time to settle excuse wearing extremely thin, he just looks bad/not good enough like 80% of the time.

I saw Sav and Omar fight to keep the ball , I didn't notice Reijnders at all, invisible again.

 

[ninjamonkey]

That lazy back leg behind his front leg "block" on the edge of the box as they sidestepped it then slid it across for a dangerous chance is deserving of a fine. Hope he gets a proper bollocking for that.

That scenario that he came into was primed for him to excel in the one thing he's good at yet he was barely involved, missed chance to shine.

 

[FJRMCFC]

His lack of presence despite being 6’1 is astonishing. Rico Lewis and Bernardo are tiny and get stuck in more than him

 

[Alexia_Ko]

How do you come on to provide energy and just disappear? Don’t rate this guy (hopefully he turns it around but I don’t think Pep rates him much either) and I don’t see how he becomes a world class 8 in the next year. In his prime and hasn’t settled down after five months. Squad depth at best

 

[oldius]

So we have spent over 100 mill on 2 midfielders (Nunes & Reinders) who cannot be trusted as central mids. One has no brains & the other is weak.

Very good.
I shall look out for your 34th post with great interest.

 

[5 Hit Gibbon]

He seems to have an inability to be able to tackle anyone. He offers very little when he plays. Hopefully he will come good, but he looks a poor signing so far.

 

[Rolo]

He somehow has this special ability to make me completely forget he's on the pitch.

 

[B\connellblue]

He somehow has this special ability to make me completely forget he's on the pitch.

Sums him up perfectly. An astoningly bad cameo. Pep should know by now that he offers fuck all when you're looking to see the game out.

 

[domalino]

His lack of presence despite being 6’1 is astonishing. Rico Lewis and Bernardo are tiny and get stuck in more than him

I'm surprised Rico hasn't come on more when we're trying to see these games out. You know he'll give you 100% commitment and energy, and he's really good at keeping hold of the ball.

 

[bell_mcfc]

Pleased to see Pep bring Foden off for him as opposed to Bernie.

Just the idea of him playing deeper now worries me, almost like we will play him in a more free role.

That said everyone still needs to chip in, Foden never stops.

 

[Scoobz3]

I'm surprised Rico hasn't come on more when we're trying to see these games out. You know he'll give you 100% commitment and energy, and he's really good at keeping hold of the ball.

Especially in European games where the ref is more likley to blow for a foul and players or more protected!

 

[BLUE THUNDER]

Maybe HE is the invisible man

 

[jaiguruKun]

I thought he did OK when he came on

 

[Blue Hefner]

I thought he did OK when he came on

Same. Did enough, I think
But the wider points about him being weak, not winning challenges and seemingly disappearing still stands

 

[St.Pauli support]

Wish he was a man like Nico O`Reilly (20).

 

[Alexia_Ko]

Is that an instruction or just not his game?