24 | Joško Gvardiol - 2023/24

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Haaland94 said:
He is not perfect as it stands by any means, but I think the sky is the limit for this guy. In a few years, he might be a legitimate contender for the first defender since...Cannavaro (I think) to win Ballon d'Or.
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He's still in the enigmatic stage at the moment. There was one occasion in the second half where he skipped in with a twinkle-toed foxtrot, and one occasion in the first half where he passed the ball all of four yards straight to a Sheff U player. But at 20-yrs-old he's still a little rough around an edge.
 
Dave Ewing's Back 'eader said:
He's still in the enigmatic stage at the moment. There was one occasion in the second half where he skipped in with a twinkle-toed foxtrot, and one occasion in the first half where he passed the ball all of four yards straight to a Sheff U player. But at 20-yrs-old he's still a little rough around an edge.
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Something Kovacic and Grealish also managed repeatedly. I think we were playing too close together and quite narrowly.
 
Gabriel said:
Something Kovacic and Grealish also managed repeatedly. I think we were playing too close together and quite narrowly.
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Yeah, there's not much space between an opposition who line up two banks of five. Yer do need someone who can slip a pass through the needle - Oscar - or go round the outside. I do like the players who can shimmy onto the goal line. Nothing better fucks up a back five with a ball round the back of 'em - own goal territory.

I don't know why teams play the way they do, 'cos they must know, as I've said time and time again, blanket defences have to get it right EVERY time! Yer know one of 'em will cock up sooner or later.

There was one point in the second half where Akanji, apart from Eddie, who was our last line of defence and he was about fifteen or twenty yards from the Sheff U area!
 
It's probably a bit of a cliche, but it's easy to forget how raw he still is.

There's a ton of talent there. He dribbles really well and has a great eye for a pass. Defensively, he's strong in the air and makes some really impressive tackles all over the pitch.

However, his decision-making on the ball is a bit iffy at times, and his positioning can leave us vulnerable. Plus, I feel that he's a bit too eager at times. I suspect that's why we haven't seen him at CB much yet (Much like the reason it took a long time to see Foden get consistent minutes centrally). Still, I'd like to think that's because he's not had much time at the club.

I really do think that he'll be absolutely top quality once he's had time to properly bed in.
 
How some City fans are failing to see what a cultured footballer this is just bemuses me. Yes, he's made the odd mistake in defence — join the club, these last few weeks! I mean, really, who hasn't?
But he reads the game beautifully, and he's got the pass of a midfielder on him.
 
Lovebitesandeveryfing said:
How some City fans are failing to see what a cultured footballer this is just bemuses me. Yes, he's made the odd mistake in defence — join the club, these last few weeks! I mean, really, who hasn't?
But he reads the game beautifully, and he's got the pass of a midfielder on him.
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Nothing much surprises me.

I think this lad has the tools and just needs time to develop. City have an excellent people identifying players that we should buy. They don’t get much wrong and they would have been very confident about Josko before shelling out so much to acquire his registration.

Pep plays him a lot so he must trust him.
 
Thought he was exceptional today. His ball playing is otherworldly. Only 21? This lad is set to be one of the greatest we have ever had if he keeps working hard.
 
A mixed bag for me. Sometimes brilliant. Other times frustrating. He's young, playing in a new position, and a new country, so...
 
He’s a brilliant player, would love to see him thrive in the middle of defence, probably will next year. Tough gig on the left as I prefer Ake there.
 
His passing is superb, particularly his first time drilled passes to quicken the tempo. Theres number 10s that cant play some of thr passes he does.

I'm still of the opinion peps hanging our entire back 4, but especially him out to dry with his defensive tactics but he's coping very well. We have a genuine gem on our hands, anybody who cannot see that should be picking another sport to follow.
 
I watched the game later, so had already perused live reactions and thus was expecting he’d played terribly. But I thought he did a good job neutralizing Almiron and his one on one defending along the sideline looked better than it has - especially in second half. The He also matched Almirons pace during a few shorter runs. And there are always a few passes a game that seem so close to becoming assists. He did lose the ball that eventually led to one of the goals, but it was pretty high up…certainly something other players have done before. I’m surprised there weren’t many comments on this thread given the comments during the game, but maybe heads have cooled.
 
Middedon said:
He did lose the ball that eventually led to one of the goals, but it was pretty high up…certainly something other players have done before.
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It was very high up but it was from a set piece. So the whole backline except Walker was up around the box.
 
Thought he was going to score a worldly in that first half. Played well considering the pace of Newcastle on the break, still think he would offer far more in the centre and Ake on the left instead but Pep knows best.
 
kenbelly said:
He’s a brilliant player, would love to see him thrive in the middle of defence, probably will next year. Tough gig on the left as I prefer Ake there.
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But why can't Pep see that.
A simple swap with him and Ake doesn't sound like brain science
 
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