24 | Joško Gvardiol - 2023/24

[vanchi]

He needs to speed up/decide when to pass but his positioning, use of strength and carrying the ball is much improved.
Can still dither a bit - but looking promising. More than I thought. 2 games running v quality opposition.

so he didn’t have a single good game before these two? you basically called him a stupid flop just 4 months after he signed for city.

 

[GaudinoMotors]

Well done you. He wasn't. At best he had average games before the last excellent 2 - since you ask.
He's not the fastest - but his positioning improvement and aggression is negating that now.

 

[vanchi]

I'm absolutely shocked he's making lots of numpties look very silly...

It's almost as if txiki and co. did their homework, identified our top target went all out for him, paid the big money that we usually walk away from because they knew how special he will be.

city scouts were keeping an eye on him for years. they contacted his agent when he was 17, before he signed his first professional contract. inter or
milan wanted to take him
to italy when he was 14 or 15. he was never average.

 

[Blu1]

Not his biggest fan so far this season but last few games he has been excellent

 

[vanchi]

Not his biggest fan

this is the understatement of the decade. :D

 

[Blu1]

this is the understatement of the decade. :D

You seem to of missed my entire post.

I said he’s been excellent these last few games.

 

[vanchi]

Well done you. He wasn't. At best he had average games before the last excellent 2 - since you ask.
He's not the fastest - but his positioning improvement and aggression is negating that now.

he is absolutely not fullback fast, as a cb i disagree. but the stupid thing was awesome.

 

[GaudinoMotors]

You seem to of missed my entire post.

I said he’s been excellent these last few games.

He's on a Vendetta.
Won't accept his player was, slow, ponderous, caught out of position previously. He's improved by adapting and focusing on the strengths he has.
Christ, you can't give credit where it's due on here with the fanboys.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

He's on a Vendetta.
Won't accept his player was, slow, ponderous, caught out of position previously. He's improved by adapting and focusing on the strengths he has.
Christ, you can't give credit where it's due on here with the fanboys.

She’s Croatian and takes any criticism of JG personally.

 

[super_city_si]

The control on an Ortega loopy spinning pass to the touchline...Chefs kiss. Looking every bit a Pep player.

Hope we see him more at CB next season. We have the CB players for a perfect 3 at the back, but dont really have the wing backs. Shame.

 

[Phil1]

She’s Croatian and takes any criticism of JG personally.

I’m Mancunian and take any criticism of JG personally.

My JG is a cheeky brummie though… :-)

In fairness you could see what a player Jasko was from day one. His quality was there for everyone to see but unfortunately he signed for a team where the fans prefer to focus on negatives instead of positives.

 

[vanchi]

@vanchi Gvardilol has been superb the last few games
Would love to see him playing centre back though.
Reminds me of a Baresi or a Hansen

i’d love to see that too! and he’d love it too! and i like pep, i don’t really want to sulk at him but i will if necessary :D

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

I’m Mancunian and take any criticism of JG personally.

My JG is a cheeky brummie though… :-)

In fairness you could see what a player Jasko was from day one. His quality was there for everyone to see but unfortunately he signed for a team where the fans prefer to focus on negatives instead of positives.

I’m not sure it’s that. It’s the slight drop off from where Ake was at the end of last season as JG learns his role.

He’s been asked to be our wide attacking outlet at times and he’s not natural at that. We looked miles better last night with him and Grealish on the left.

Not sure I’ve seen anyone write him off, just mention things that they notice.

Sometimes it isn’t constructive criticism and that helps nobody though.

 

[GaudinoMotors]

I'm absolutely shocked he's making lots of numpties look very silly...

It's almost as if txiki and co. did their homework, identified our top target went all out for him, paid the big money that we usually walk away from because they knew how special he will be.

They don't all work out - despite best hopes and intentions. Numerous successes and not so.... as we know.
Delighted to be a numpty if it means a player comes good. 2 games, let's hope for many more.

 

[Phil1]

I’m not sure it’s that. It’s the slight drop off from where Ake was at the end of last season as JG learns his role.

He’s been asked to be our wide attacking outlet at times and he’s not natural at that. We looked miles better last night with him and Grealish on the left.

Not sure I’ve seen anyone write him off, just mention things that they notice.

Sometimes it isn’t constructive criticism and that helps nobody though.

On this thread and the summer business thread there’s a few who lump in the not good enough bracket.
It’s funny how often people post what they notice when it’s a negative in comparison to a positive.

 

[Gabriel]

yeah but that poster was talking about pre-pep joško and he’s a cb.

also, pepballers often get crap, the narrative is they’re not good enough to hold one position. honest opinions or jealousy? i don’t know but i see it often.

we’ll never know would he have a better season playing cb, i think he would after i heard him talking about the differences in movements and positioning.
i don’t like the whole lb/lw thing and i can only hope the pep kindergarten for newbies theory is correct.

It's not really about having a better season, though, it's more about learning a completely different game and becoming an even better player. Once Gvardiol has gotten through this season, he'll presumably be asked to play in the centre of defense, but I can also see him being asked to step up into midfield as well. By then, he will have an even greater appreciation of where the chess pieces are on the board and where the opposing pieces need to be moved to create the necessary overloads and space. Players often want to play where they are most comfortable, which is understandable, but under Guardiola's tutelage they soon appreciate that they are being made into better footballers and become comfortable playing anywhere. Croatia will also benefit from his education, too.

 

[vanchi]

He's on a Vendetta.
Won't accept his player was, slow, ponderous, caught out of position previously. He's improved by adapting and focusing on the strengths he has.
Christ, you can't give credit where it's due on here with the fanboys.

you’re making stuff up now. i asked, you answered. i didn’t try to change your mind or insult you. and yet you have to go with fanboy stuff. you called him stupid but if i
mention that i’m a fanboy. cool. (i’m not a boy btw).

 

[GaudinoMotors]

you’re making stuff up now. i asked, you answered. i didn’t try to change your mind or insult you. and yet you have to go with fanboy stuff. you called him stupid but if i
mention that i’m a fanboy. cool. (i’m not a boy btw).

I said he was slow of mind - on the pitch - in his early performances.
You've made up "stupid" - which is insulting.
End of.

 

[vanchi]

She’s Croatian and takes any criticism of JG personally.

where did i take it personally? that’s a very lazy point, i know you can do better.

there are hundreds of posts containing gvardiol criticism, i don’t engage with most, so that’s factually incorrect.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

where did i take it personally? that’s a very lazy point, i know you can do better.

there are hundreds of posts containing gvardiol criticism, i don’t engage with most, so that’s factually incorrect.

Any criticism you jump on. That’s why I said what I did.

We’re City fans commenting on the good and bad things that players do for us. Some isn’t constructive and unhelpful, but for the most past, it’s just an immediate reaction to something that as just happened.

This happens for all players, as you can see from all the other threads!