2 | Kyle Walker - 2022/23 Performances

[Paul1970]

Who needs enemies when, after 5 years of impeccable service, your own fans queue up to tell everyone you're shite after 3 games in a new role (2 clean sheets).

When he plays well his praises are sung and rightly so and when he plays as bad as did he should he called out aswell because that just wasn’t a bad performance it was one of the worse seen in a long while but next week he will probably have a great game and be praised .

 

[WallyA]

I think against teams that sit back, the 235 is probably the best way to go. Cut out counterattacks from midfield and create a choke point high up the field as the team is defending deep.

BUT... If teams actually try to play like NewCastle, like we saw in the 2nd half, Pep should probably only have Cancelo invert and Walker to sit back and make the 325 shape we made more commonly last season to stop teams who press high. The interiors have to drop more in this case to help the midfield.

 

[1Basti]

like the rest of the team he had a bad period of 25 min in the first half where he gave ASM to much space...2nd was good...Newcastle only had 0,2 xG in the second half...his passing has improved immensely

 

[Platt Lane 59]

I think against teams that sit back, the 235 is probably the best way to go. Cut out counterattacks from midfield and create a choke point high up the field as the team is defending deep.

BUT... If teams actually try to play like NewCastle, like we saw in the 2nd half, Pep should probably only have Cancelo invert and Walker to sit back and make the 325 shape we made more commonly last season to stop teams who press high. The interiors have to drop more in this case to help the midfield.

Agree with a back 3 (inc. Kyle for his pace) when we play teams such as Newcastle with very quick attackers.
Walker has many attributes, especially his recovery speed. He is primarily a defender. I feel he is not comfortable or accomplished enough to play in a more forward role.
Perhaps Kalvin Phillips can/will play as the right "middle 3" role, if Pep persists with the 2-3-5 formation ?
Surely Pep didn't just sign him to be Rodri's reserve ?

 

[1Basti]

outstanding 2nd half

 

[WallyA]

No more inverted Walker Pep, he was way more comfortable in the back 3.

 

[argyle]

Much improved 2nd half.

Made to look foolish in the inverted fullback thing in the 1st.

 

[OrigamiNinja]

This. It’s 100% not on him that he didn’t look good as an inverted full back.

Just tell him to defend and he will be fine 99% of the time. Tell him to get overly involved In the build up and he will look terrible.

 

[Goater=Legend]

Please dont put him through that again, he's obviously not comfortable doing it.

 

[bluealf]

When he plays well his praises are sung and rightly so and when he plays as bad as did he should he called out aswell because that just wasn’t a bad performance it was one of the worse seen in a long while but next week he will probably have a great game and be praised .

The thing is, there is no point or justification for slagging Walker off for playing badly in the inverted FB come midfielder role, a role he is blatantly unsuited to play, the only person you should be lambasting for this is Pep.

It would be like dogging Walker for being shit in goal if Pep put him in there... oh Wait!!!

 

[Lankers]

Play to his strengths. Passing isn't one of them.

I hope Pep puts this inverted fullback nonsense to bed. I imagine it will reappear for a champions league semi-final however.

 

[FantasyIreland]

Play to his strengths. Passing isn't one of them.

I hope Pep puts this inverted fullback nonsense to bed. I imagine it will reappear for a champions league semi-final however.

Its the most none Walker system going.

Apart from the fact he is technically poo....Old dogs and all that....

 

[MCFCFanTX]

When asked to play simple passes within the system and defend in the 2nd half, he was great.

Playing in a pivot style role in Pep's system is beyond Walker's technical skills. Not his fault but it just doesn't work.

 

[wolfie1988]

Looked fuming at the end and was straight off down the tunnel.

 

[vincent]

Looked fuming at the end and was straight off down the tunnel.

Any idea why?

 

[Winchester]

Any idea why?

Saw that too
Looked like he was ready to punch some1

 

[Goater=Legend]

Probably heard his passing stats

 

[Shaffer92]

Needs to pick it up and fast. Shocking first half.

More concerning is how much he's getting done for pace.

 

[RandomJ]

Not only is his passing shite he has clearly also lost a yard of pace as well. I'm seeing him lose foot races he used to win with ease.

 

[domalino]

People overreacted comically to his inside position, quite a few posters were trying to pin the entirety of the first half performance on him personally, despite the fact we'd not managed a single goal in the preceding 2 matches vs. Palace and we have issues breaking them down whoever is in the middle. It did the job I suspect Pep would have wanted, it stopped Palace doing anything with the ball through the middle of the pitch.

His passing was a bit naive, he was trying to hit gaps that weren't there, but I'm sure Pep will keep playing him there and he'll improve.


I think if anyone is expecting Guardiola to decide he made a mistake and revert to the old system, they're kidding themselves.

By the end of the season we will all once again be saying Kyle Walker is in our top 5 most important players, like we have for the last 5 seasons straight.