#11 | Oleksandr Zinchenko - 2020/21 Performances

[doobyedoobye]

He is the present and future Lord of Left Backs (Inverted)

 

[MarsLlama]

Look no further than our current squad. Ake is much quicker, better defensively and is threat on corners with his heading ability which also helps defending corners. He’s also a leader.

Aké trying to do what Zinchenko does would be a disaster.

 

[Dax777]

Haha I can’t believe you said it again. I know you’re not really calling Zinchenko a WORLD CLASS left back.

We’re beginning to sound like rags here who notoriously overrate their own players. See Tom Cleverley one of many examples.

Zinchenko is a good player but he’s not top class. He is working well in a system that is currently suiting his strengths. Delph did the same for a season, moved to Everton and is still struggling to get in to the team there.

If Zinchenko were to move, it wouldn’t be to a Top, top club to be first choice LB.

Does anyone here really think he would get into Real Madrid’s team or PSG or Bayern or even Chelsea? Liverpool? Even Arsenal?

Let’s be honest. He wouldn’t.

I support Zinchenko as he is a City player. He stayed, worked hard and always gives his all.

At the moment he is even first choice LB for me in the team. At least until we see more of Ake at LB like he played against Newcastle.

The claim from 4-5 years ago ALWAYS was - Zinchencko and Delph could become World Class Leftback in "Pep's System"

Your response above tells me you now see that.

Happy to have been your Guru through this process of growth. I know it was a tough journey for you.

If anything, you can learn the simple lesson that not everything you can't imagine, is impossible. :)

 

[Easy]

If asked to play LB like Robertson he would struggle, but asked to play in the current City setup he does extremely well. I think the setup has a lot to do with it, but there is nothing wrong with that.

Cancelo coming in and doing what he does, has taken a lot of focus away from what Zin does or doesn't do. Previously the full back partnership of Zin and Walker, really showed how we were lacking in that department, and a lot of weeks it was a horrible watch. Cancelo being better on the ball, and more offensive than Walker has meant that Zin keeping it simple is perfectly acceptable, and I am unsure how effective adding a Cancelo like left back into the side would be. It might be fantastic, or it might upset the balance of the side completely.

There is a risk with any transfer and on current form, I wouldn't say that replacing Zin was a priority in comparison to other positions. He has his limitations, but is thriving in our current set up. There is no guarantee that bringing

The claim ALWAYS was - Zinchencko and Delph could become World Class Leftback in "Pep's System"

Your response above tells me you now see that.

Happy to have been your Guru through this process of growth. I know it was a tough journey for you.

If anything, you can learn the simple lesson that not everything you can't imagine, is impossible. :)

Not world class in any system. Take the blue tinted glasses off.

 

[Skybluezoo]

Brings balance to the force...

 

[SamBlue]

I think his best asset is the supreme self-confidence and a very phlegmatic nature, apart from the obvious quality with the ball. I've just read Angelino''s interview on BBC where he said Pep had killed off his confidence by playing him only sporadically. And after reading that I respect Oleks even more, asked to play in totally unnatural position for him, he needs to compete for that position with 2-3 players at least, he knows he is never gonna get a serious look to play in our MF, disappears for weeks if not months from the first eleven and still he's been chugging on.

 

[Andrew___K]

I think his best asset is the supreme self-confidence and a very phlegmatic nature, apart from the obvious quality with the ball. I've just read Angelino''s interview on BBC where he said Pep had killed off his confidence by playing him only sporadically. And after reading that I respect Oleks even more, asked to play in totally unnatural position for him, he needs to compete for that position with 2-3 players at least, he knows he is never gonna get a serious look to play in our MF, disappears for weeks if not months from the first eleven and still he's been chugging on.

I'm pretty sure he thinks otherwise. Don't be surprised if Zin eventually gets there

 

[Dax777]

Not world class in any system. Take the blue tinted glasses off.

He is better in this system than most of the best LBs around would be. That by definition, makes him the standard in this system.I.e. World Class or thereabout.


But let's not get caught up in semantics. At this point, your view has clearly changed. 4 years ago you had a palpable disdain for the idiot online who thought some 19 year old midfielder would be a great option at Leftback and believed said player would succeed in a Pep team if given the shot

Your eyes are now witnessing what your imagination couldn't comprehend 4 years ago.

That can't be denied.

 

[Easy]

He is better in this system than most of the best LBs around would be. That by definition, makes him the standard in this system.I.e. World Class or thereabout.


But let's not get caught up in semantics. At this point, your view has clearly changed. 4 years ago you had a palpable disdain for the idiot online who thought some 19 year old midfielder would be a great option at Leftback and believed said player would succeed in a Pep team if given the shot

Your eyes are now witnessing what your imagination couldn't comprehend 4 years ago.

That can't be denied.

My view hasn’t really changed, Zin still has the same attributes he’s always had. His main attribute is recycling the ball. His crossing is useless and defensively he’s not great. Lucky for him Dias or Laporte are always there to mop up.

As someone mentioned on another thread you only need to look at all the players we played at LB recently to see Pep isn’t all too convinced with Zin either. This season alone we’ve seen Cancelo, Laporte, Ake, and Mendy all play LB.

If Pep was so convinced by Zinchenko being this “world class” LB in his system why would he play FOUR other players in his position in the same season?

 

[FromPollockToSilva]

My view hasn’t really changed, Zin still has the same attributes he’s always had. His main attribute is recycling the ball. His crossing is useless and defensively he’s not great. Lucky for him Dias or Laporte are always there to mop up.

As someone mentioned on another thread you only need to look at all the players we played at LB recently to see Pep isn’t all too convinced with Zin either. This season alone we’ve seen Cancelo, Laporte, Ake, and Mendy all play LB.

If Pep was so convinced by Zinchenko being this “world class” LB in his system why would he play FOUR other players in his position in the same season?

I think you’re still looking at the position of “left back” as it exists at other clubs with other managers. Zinchenko doesn’t even attempt many crosses because that isn’t how the role works. It’s like criticizing Agüero for not making enough goal-line clearances

Defensively he is much better than you give him credit for. That certainly wasn’t always the case but you need to watch the player as he is now and not the rookie whose sometimes shaky defensive performances seem to have calcified in your mind. His defensive contribution stacks up very favorably with most other leftbacks you could care to name

The last point is a bit weird. Pep has also used several players in Sterling’s position this season, does that mean he doesn’t rate him either?