26 | Savinho - 2024/25

[supercity88]

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

Our defensive structure and system in previous campaigns hasn't required our forward players to bomb back to help their fullbacks, it's been a front foot press. Bernardo was one of our best at it, because he'd block the easy and obvious pass to ensure it was either kicked long, and back to us 9 times out of 10, or a risky pass we could intercept. Our pressing has been miles off it this season. That's what's causing us so many issues defensively. We're allowing 4-5 of our forward players to just be bypassed with a couple of passes and then we're scampering.

Savinho can easily do the job. Girona played quite a complicated system of players moving into different positions and covering each other on and off the ball. He just needs to know which players and space to press and attack it on the front foot. If everyone else is doing the same then we'll win the ball back and he won't need to be tracking back much.

The trouble is, we've not got a very deep squad and plenty look completely fucked. De Bruyne can't press, Haaland's probably too nackered to do it consistently. Foden doesn't look fit enough to do it either!

 

[balotellishaircut]

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.

Makes a change from asking for 2 new wingers in the transfer forum.

 

[franksinatra]

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.

I don’t disagree with your post at all, but Savinho has only been shifted to the left the last couple of matches and Gvardiols problems this year have outstretched this period. Not correct to blame him for failings which have been evident most of the season.

 

[Kippax Street 1880]

+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.

I didn't appreciate how good Mahrez was at this while he was here. He wasn't a tough tackler but he knew where to position himself and always helped his fullback out.