26 | Savinho - 2024/25

[BlueMoonAcrossThePond]

Off the ball he's got loads to learn, you can see that he doesn't quite know where to stand when pressing and doesn't track particularly well. Offensively, skies the limit.

+1
For me, Savinho's biggest weakness is his defensive play off the ball. Time-and-again, the ball turns over and we are in huge trouble.

Savinho's reaction is to jog past leisurely - every single time. This is unexceptable.

Savinho needs to sprint back on D to cover the opponent's right back or to generally help out on defense. Instead, it's a leisurely jog back. On numerous occasions this leads to a goal b/c the opponent's right back has all day to pick out the perfect cross into our box.

Is this something that Savinho can learn? - or is he simply lazy? Beats me - maybe Pep can fix this area of his game - but I doubt it.

 

[shemnel]

+1
For me, Savinho's biggest weakness is his defensive play off the ball. Time-and-again, the ball turns over and we are in huge trouble.

Savinho's reaction is to jog past leisurely - every single time. This is unexceptable.

Savinho needs to sprint back on D to cover the opponent's right back or to generally help out on defense. Instead, it's a leisurely jog back. On numerous occasions this leads to a goal b/c the opponent's right back has all day to pick out the perfect cross into our box.

Is this something that Savinho can learn? - or is he simply lazy? Beats me - maybe Pep can fix this area of his game - but I doubt it.

while i'm glad we agree that Savinho has room (much) to improve defensively, i dont quite share your pessimism that he can't

He's a natural attacker, without doubt, and some Blues have likened him to Jesus with his attacking dribbling from the left and goal potential, and some to Mahrez with his touch and skill and natural attacking instinct.

But he does not yet have Jesus's tenacity and fight but i would point to Mahrez, who eventually (it took a few seasons!) became respected for the work he did with and without the ball.

For me there is no reason Savinho can't be a healthy mix of Jesus and Mahrez. If he works on his out of ball positioning this season, i think there'll be improvement and that'll be fantastic.

(NB i still dont know where i stand on training pure attackers on defensive duties, and where to find the balance of detracting from their attacking ability for the sake of defence, but there is clearly a balance for every manager/system)

 

[mexico1970]

Some of the best wide men out there have been shit defensively they are not hired by the club to track back they are hired to make opportunities happen.

If they do this well all the rest is just bollocks, this lad looks like the real deal he's exciting to watch and has a great attitude.

 

[shemnel]

Some of the best wide men out there have been shit defensively they are not hired by the club to track back they are hired to make opportunities happen.

If they do this well all the rest is just bollocks, this lad looks like the real deal he's exciting to watch and has a great attitude.

in Pep's case, i think he does want wide men who can contribute defensively as well, even if that means just getting back into the right position off the ball, not necessarily tackling.

 

[mexico1970]

in Pep's case, i think he does want wide men who can contribute defensively as well, even if that means just getting back into the right position off the ball, not necessarily tackling.

I think he does that now, some people want dirty shorts and slide tackles everywhere it isn't happening.

 

[BlueMoonAcrossThePond]

Some of the best wide men out there have been shit defensively they are not hired by the club to track back they are hired to make opportunities happen.

If they do this well all the rest is just bollocks, this lad looks like the real deal he's exciting to watch and has a great attitude.

Agree.

However, consider our system.

It's ball control and possession as a means of defense. Once the ball turns over, our system relies on immediate pressure and cover to quickly get the ball back.

We can only give one or maybe two players a pass on defense if we're to play this system. And we probably can't afford a pass on our wingers.

Halland isn't great on D - pass one.

And because of this...

Savinho absolutely can't be given a pass on D in our system. Opponents are targeting long balls to our flanks. Much of Gvardiol's perceived weakness on defense is down to the fact that Savinho is jogging back, nowhere to be found, and it's killing us.

 

[mexico1970]

Agree.

However, consider our system.

It's ball control and possession as a means of defense. Once the ball turns over, our system relies on immediate pressure and cover to quickly get the ball back.

We can only give one or maybe two players a pass on defense if we're to play this system.

Halland isn't great on D - pass one.

And now...

Savinho absolutely can't be given a pass on D in our system. Opponents are targeting long balls to our flanks. Much of Gvardiol's perceived weakness on defense is down to the fact that Savinho is jogging back, nowhere to be found, and it's killing us.

For the very best there are exceptions made mate, I have a feeling that this lad may very well turn out to be the exception.

Gvardiol shouldn't be a defender he's a left sided midfielder all day long he is only playing there because the plague has hit the camp and he is filling in ( did we buy him as a defender I genuinely don't know what Pep was doing there ) he seems to have the yips like Kyle and Akanji recently.

Either way and I know this is personal preference I would like Savinho to have carte blanche to terrify the opposition.

 

[BlueMoonAcrossThePond]

For the very best there are exceptions made mate, I have a feeling that this lad may very well turn out to be the exception.

Gvardiol shouldn't be a defender he's a left sided midfielder all day long he is only playing there because the plague has hit the camp and he is filling in ( did we buy him as a defender I genuinely don't know what Pep was doing there ) he seems to have the yips like Kyle and Akanji recently.

Either way and I know this is personal preference I would like Savinho to have carte blanche to terrify the opposition.

Cheers. I guess we disagree :-)

For me, Savinho can't be forgiven defensive lapses b/c otherwise our system collapses. Pep forgave Messi and now forgives Haaland - is Savinho even close to this territory? - and even if he were - given our system - do we need to drop Haaland b/c w/ Savinho lapsing on D - we can't afford two poor defenders?

Gvardiol's main position when we bought him was left-side center back. I'd like to see him play there. You may be right that this position doesn't fit him - in which case I'd try him at left mid.

 

[sir baconface]

Re recent posts, it’s probably a case of adjustment rather than either stunting Savinho or compromising the system. I see no reason why that can’t happen as it’s surely more easily taught than the more ethereal flair skills.

 

[Craig]

Cheers. I guess we disagree :-)

For me, Savinho can't be forgiven defensive lapses b/c otherwise our system collapses. Pep forgave Messi and now forgives Haaland - is Savinho even close to this territory? - and even if he were - given our system - do we need to drop Haaland b/c w/ Savinho lapsing on D - we can't afford two poor defenders?

Gvardiol's main position when we bought him was left-side center back. I'd like to see him play there. You may be right that this position doesn't fit him - in which case I'd try him at left mid.

Well, if you ever want a genuine world class attacker from the left or right you’ll have to have a set up that supports them doing their work in the final 3rd and not bombing back to help fullbacks half the game. Think of Messi, Robben and Salah