24 | Joško Gvardiol - 2024/25

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Lewis playing RB hinders him, as he has to stay back in the 3, and defending is unfortunately not his strength, its his ability to go forward.
 
Hes playing every minute of every game as the only consistently available defender and he's moving positions with very different roles game to game and through the nature of being the only consistently available defender hes got a different player either side/infront of him game to game. It's no real surprise mistakes have increased but these comments are truly pathetic.

Not a defender? He was the most sought after defender on the planet when we got him, he's top class and showing it most weeks. Stick him in the Arsenal back 4 or the dippers back 4 and he'll look like the rolls royce that he is. He's also rather comically our second top scorer this season. We should be thankful for him, without him we would be in an infinitely worse situation.
 
Thinking about those incredibly stupid passes from Guardiol and Nunes, it’s hard not to be suspicious. Why the hell do they keep repeating these same dumb passes straight to opposition strikers every game? It’s not normal, even lower-tier players from relegation teams don’t make the same mistakes every week like we do.
 
bluethai said:
Thinking about those incredibly stupid passes from Guardiol and Nunes, it’s hard not to be suspicious. Why the hell do they keep repeating these same dumb passes straight to opposition strikers every game? It’s not normal, even lower-tier players from relegation teams don’t make the same mistakes every week like we do.
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What are your suspicions?
 
Dr Jacoby said:
Talented footballer but I don’t think he’s much of a defender.
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And yet we bought him as a young left sided defender and paid the 2nd highest transfer fee in our history to bring him in as a defender.

I don’t disagree with your sentiments by the way. I think there’s a very talented footballer in there.
 
Gvardiol is such a weird player. He looks both World class and flop at the same time.

Don't know what to think about him.
 
Not sure whether he’s just lax in his play, or whether he’s shot mentally/physically at the moment. But that mistake at the start was brutal. Could/should have had us 1-0 down inside a minute, which would have been a new low.
 
bluethai said:
Thinking about those incredibly stupid passes from Guardiol and Nunes, it’s hard not to be suspicious. Why the hell do they keep repeating these same dumb passes straight to opposition strikers every game? It’s not normal, even lower-tier players from relegation teams don’t make the same mistakes every week like we do.
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?
 
Our defenders are used to strolling around and stroking the ball left and right. What Villa did was lull us by sitting an extra yard off, but then as soon as the first pass was made, they sprang the press, having already cut out the next man pass. It caused us fits for a while, but we finally came to terms with it. That said, it almost cost a goal that would have challenged the Brentford record!!!

From there, only a good save from Ortega on the breakaway and then a ridiculous save from the corner (2 cm from crossing the line and swatted out against the bar!) stopped us from being behind after two good chances in the first 2 minutes.

Gvardiol, as a one sided defender, only has two real outlets…down the line to the winger or back to the keeper. That’s not a lot of options. What he should have is a longer option to the CF, who should be looking for the kick down for the advancing midfielder, or the knock on for the winger. We rarely see either!

In the second half, he was moved further inside, with Lewis playing LB, but his reading of the game isn’t always suited to that position, because he turns like the Titanic! Any onrushing midfielder or attacker can give him 5 yards and still probably beat him to the ball in behind.

His best position by far is roving LB, but with the CB troubles we have had and Pep’s preference for Rico to play inverted, he finds himself stuck at LCB. When he does get forward, he leaves a gaping hole that needs filling, but which doesn’t always get accomplished.

Let’s be honest, Pep has NEVER been a coach who cares much for defending. His idea of defending is to have possession of the ball, regardless of whether we are attacking with it or not, and then the Kamikaze one on one or two on two against rabbits, with the hope of a block, a save or a poor shot! Sadly, “one shot, one goal” has become the norm!

None of this has been Gvardiol’s fault and I feel like he has settled in very well. However, along with a team out of sorts, he has been put under tremendous pressure by an almost non-existent, or poor, defensive midfield shell.

As our second leading scorer from LB, it’s hard to complain too much, as we rarely lose goals from that side of the field, but like most, he’s not where he has been and we need him to be.

Leonidas needs to add a little more Spartan to his game.
 
bluethai said:
Thinking about those incredibly stupid passes from Guardiol and Nunes, it’s hard not to be suspicious. Why the hell do they keep repeating these same dumb passes straight to opposition strikers every game? It’s not normal, even lower-tier players from relegation teams don’t make the same mistakes every week like we do.
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If you’re suggesting a betting scandal, I’d caution you to be careful and tell you your suspicions appear misplaced…in the strongest way possible.
 
sh249 said:
Not sure whether he’s just lax in his play, or whether he’s shot mentally/physically at the moment. But that mistake at the start was brutal. Could/should have had us 1-0 down inside a minute, which would have been a new low.
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His mistake so early on sadly set the tone yesterday. Invited early pressure and the whole team knew straight away they were up against it.

I’d love to see Josko have a settled run at CB but it is what it is at the moment.

I’m strangely stress free this season and simply hoping Pep gets it right and we get a top 4 finish and perhaps a decent FAC run…..
 
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