#27 | João Cancelo - 2020/21 Performances
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OrigamiNinja
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One of the things I find most telling about the stats you have shown, is that Walker has more open play crosses than either Sterling or Mahrez. A right back, who barely crosses the half way line has attempted more balls into the box than either wide forward. Terrible that.
As mentioned by myself and others before, Pep seems to like this 1 defensive fullback and 1 offensive fullback against teams who sit back (he splits the players, 6 attack vs 4 defend, versus his normal 5-5 split):
Mendy and Walker, or Cancelo and Ake
The "problem" if you can call it that is that our best offensive fullback (Cancelo) and defensive fullback (Walker) do not play in the same pairing based on above...
Well they have, Pep has played Cancelo LB and Walker RB many times because he clearly sees them as our best fullbacks as many of us do, and he is forcing them on like this.
It's not ideal, but Cancelo is still decent at creating on the left (many stats show this and we can see too), but clearly on the right we see more of things like Cancelo making through ball passes to Sterling time and again, as well as crossing to Aguero's golden chance, things that are more natural on the right side for him as he's right footed.
Somebody mentioned just putting Walker as a LB to solve it, but Walker is our least proficient defender on the ball, playing him on his weaker foot seems like a bad idea, and probably why Pep does what he does, this means our best combos are usually (due to an unreliably fit Mendy):
1) Cancelo LB, Walker RB
2) Ake LB, Cancelo RB
Which means Cancelo is a must to have maximium effectiveness, and I could see going forward, Pep almost having to play him every game because teams aren't pressing as effectively like normal seasons.
Playing Ake and Walker together is probably TOO defensive, but maybe preferred by Pep against top teams as he may want to defend with 5 (2 CBs + 2 FBs tuckin in + 1 DM) versus 4 (Shifted back 3 + 1 DM)
Mendy and Walker, or Cancelo and Ake
The "problem" if you can call it that is that our best offensive fullback (Cancelo) and defensive fullback (Walker) do not play in the same pairing based on above...
Well they have, Pep has played Cancelo LB and Walker RB many times because he clearly sees them as our best fullbacks as many of us do, and he is forcing them on like this.
It's not ideal, but Cancelo is still decent at creating on the left (many stats show this and we can see too), but clearly on the right we see more of things like Cancelo making through ball passes to Sterling time and again, as well as crossing to Aguero's golden chance, things that are more natural on the right side for him as he's right footed.
Somebody mentioned just putting Walker as a LB to solve it, but Walker is our least proficient defender on the ball, playing him on his weaker foot seems like a bad idea, and probably why Pep does what he does, this means our best combos are usually (due to an unreliably fit Mendy):
1) Cancelo LB, Walker RB
2) Ake LB, Cancelo RB
Which means Cancelo is a must to have maximium effectiveness, and I could see going forward, Pep almost having to play him every game because teams aren't pressing as effectively like normal seasons.
Playing Ake and Walker together is probably TOO defensive, but maybe preferred by Pep against top teams as he may want to defend with 5 (2 CBs + 2 FBs tuckin in + 1 DM) versus 4 (Shifted back 3 + 1 DM)
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Seems dead in line with how we play for the last 2 1/2 seasons which is to have the wide players head inside to the box in the final third.
PannickAtTheDisco
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was everywhere in the Newcastle game
Not really. Our side forwards are meant to cut in from the wings (hence why they play on the wings opposite their dominant foot mainly). And our fullbacks are meant to run the line and put in crosses.
The stats show exactly what it ought to show. And also, I don't know what City team you've been watching, but Walker often bombs down thx right side in game after game consistently.
OrigamiNinja
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Our forwards are meant to do that and with Sterling’s goal return you could argue he does. What’s Mahrez been doing?
As for this game after game, consistent bombing on that Walker does...myth. And seeing as you’re big on stats, Whoscored.com shows the following for this season: Kyle Walker averages an insane 0.1 crosses per game. TAA who averages 1.5 per game must be absolutely shitting himself. Maybe if you took your eyes of Gundogan for a min you wouldn’t get so confused.
"Walker often bombing forward" disputed your claim that he doesn't get past the half line. "Completed Crossing Stats" are not particularly relevant to that claim. But nice try.
If you want to prove your claim, the stat you want to use is that comparing Walker's average position vis a vis every other Fullback in the league. And see where he ranks.
You'd quickly find your "barely ever crosses the half line" claim ridiculous.
But keep it up :)
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