19 | Julian Alvarez - 2023/24

[TrentGrisham]

Alvarez, Bernardo and Foden have to run around like headless chickens pressing on the opposition defence often to little effect . They are then out of position and knackered when our midfield gets swamped by teams by-passing that press. Its a crazy tactic imo. Pep tried to get Kun to do the same and I reckon it took 2 years off his career. How much of KDB's injuries came from making him do the same....??
Haaland is having a try at pressing but is too cumbersome. Opponents are now pretty comfortable at playing out and around the press .Meanwhile we are easy meat on the break and our trio of offensive midfielders are burnt out.

I agree.

I mentioned previously that it feels at times like everyone is trying to pick up the slack for Haaland a bit regarding our pressing off the ball. I'm not blaming him. I do think at times he's a bit lazy, but more so think he's just not physically built to press like Jesus or Alvarez is over 90 minutes.

Idk what the solution is, though. Do we not press at all, and just try to be very solid and win the ball back in midfield versus final third? Idk.

 

[jmdetom]

An assist, a hit in the post, and pressure all over the field, what else do you guys want??

 

[Txiki Txiki Bang Bang]

An assist, a hit in the post, and pressure all over the field, what else do you guys want??

Same way some clowns were having a go at Doku. Almost the same stats from both of them and yet they seem to be the ones singled out

 

[Vincennes Blue]

An assist, a hit in the post, and pressure all over the field, what else do you guys want??

I think a lot of us are frustrated with the results and are looking for someone to blame, which clearly can't be Julian. The defence is clearly not up to last year's standard, with Stones injured, Dias clearly not at his best, Akanji making a number of mistakes and Walker's catastrophic defensive record strangely overlooked. Also, if Erling hadn't missed two unmissable chances, we wouldn't even be having this debate.

 

[ID70]

Needs to be dropped to allow a better balance across the midfiel, gives possession away too easily and too often

 

[Lavinda Past]

Just another City player being expected to perform at a high level in the wrong position.

Doesn't merit a start unless Haaland is out.

 

[Dr Jacoby]

Unless we’re going to change the way we play, it should be Alvarez or Haaland - seldom both.

 

[jimmygrimblesboots]

He is only starting games because of the amount of injuries and suspensions ,really out of form and needs benching for a few games , he has lost some sharpness and has played a lot of football

 

[kenbelly]

Great player who just needs a rest.

 

[Goater=Legend]

Can't go on playing him and Haaland in the big games.

 

[Bluewars]

Keep this guy far away from our midfield, he's an absolute disaster in there.

 

[City_Sean]

I love the guy, but he's played far too much and isn't a #8. I feel for him as it's unfair to ask him to do a role that he is clearly not comfortable in.

 

[Don Karleone]

He was shit tonight

 

[Tricky_Trev]

He’s been one of our better players this season (not hard) yet he should not be in the starting 11. Both statements are true, despite seeming contradictory.

 

[RayCTID]

I said this in the Foden thread we could with both really stepping up to cover from Kev's injury.

 

[super_city_si]

Needs a run as an impact sub. Hes a forward not a mid. just loses the ball way too often in midfield and doesnt really know wheres hes playing.

 

[Millwallawayveteran1988]

Absolute crap tonight. Needs dropping. We have to find a way to get Grealish and Doku playing in the same side.

 

[ninjamonkey]

We can't drop him as we have nobody else but he's surely a better option out wide and allow foden to play central off haaland.

He and foden need to be flipped. It's foden you want on the ball in the gaps going towards goal with alvarez making movements to receive the pass not the other way around, it hinders both and doesn't offer any benefits.

 

[Goldust]

We can't drop him as we have nobody else but he's surely a better option out wide and allow foden to play central off haaland.

He and foden need to be flipped. It's foden you want on the ball in the gaps going towards goal with alvarez making movements to receive the pass not the other way around, it hinders both and doesn't offer any benefits.

Give it up mate he’s not the player we think he is and never will be

 

[upb78]

He's been playing too deep lately, too far away from the box, and it's very clear that he cannot play there as he is no midfielder, besides i agree that he needs a rest, he's been looking slow on and off the ball lately.