#27 | João Cancelo - 2021/22 Performances

[M16 citeh]

If walkers the best authentic full back in the world (which I strongly believe) what does this make cancelo? Oh my days... Roberto Carlos eat your heart out. Even defensively made some excellent contributions today and what he adds to our pressing game goes unnoticed. I feel like him and phill work best together too

 

[Tricky_Trev]

Zinny is gonna have a tough time because with Walker able to defend and be the 3rd defender in a back 3, Cancelo is simply way too good a creator over him.

Zinny's left foot offers very good control though, so maybe we can slot Cancelo in midfield so both can play or the opposite where Zinny gets to try midfield.

Either way, a good problem to have I suppose.

Does show a real problem though in that Pep loves Walker as the fast defending full back (with the other fullback having slightly more freedom) and we need to find a replacement for him.

I’ve said before, despite all the modern day legends we’ve had, Walker will be harder to replace than all of them. Best defender in the world in large open spaces. He can lock down huge areas by himself. Can’t think of another player that could come in and do that, which as you say, is linked to Cancelo’s freedom. Without Walker being the beast that he is, Cancelo can’t really do what he does. So we will have a fair bit to change when Walker’s qualities wane.

 

[Claytop]

A ridiculously creative defender who also manages to shit me up a couple of times a game!

 

[bobom]

Reading some comments I'm reminded of some reactions to de Bruyne when he first joined. "Yes, but he needs to stop giving ball away". They miss the wood for the trees.

This season, and in parts of last, Joao has been one of the first names on the team sheet - getting a player with his creative abilities into the side without taking up a place in midfield or up front is an incredibly valuable addition to the team. Best attacking full back in the world in my view.

 

[BlueMoonAcrossThePond]

Best attacking full back in the world in my view.

And, at best, average on defense.

I like Joao (for the most part), but on defense he's a liability against any side that's good enough and managed well enough to take advantage.

 

[bobom]

And, at best, average on defense.

I like Joao (for the most part), but on defense he's a liability against any side that's good enough and managed well enough to take advantage.

Average does not equal liability, sorry. Our fan base are really spoiled if you think Cancelo is a liability. But world class going forward and average defending is a great equation. Do people really expect a world class attacking winger together with a world class defender? Does one even exist?

I mean, I'd be happy with a world class striker who was average at pressing; or a world class crosser on the wing who was average at dribbling. Arguably we have a world class sweeper keeper who is average at shot stopping.

 

[BlueMoonAcrossThePond]

Exactly. But world class going forward and average defending is a great equation. Do people really expect a world class attacking winger together with a world class defender? Does one even exist?

I mean, I'd be happy with a world class striker who was average at pressing; or a world class crosser on the wing who was average at dribbling. Arguably we have a world class sweeper keeper who is average at shot stopping.

>> Do people really expect a world class attacking winger together with a world class defender? Does one even exist?
Dani Alves was a great defender and an off scale attacker, albeit on the right - the best fullback/wingback I've ever seen (watching world football since 2010 or so). But in the words of the Night's Watch, "We will never see his like again."

At any rate, I expect more from Cancelo on defense. Some of his defensive mistakes are positional, some are due to carelessness and others are due to laziness. Cancelo can easily improve on defense if he puts his mind to it.

 

[alexmcity]

And, at best, average on defense.

I like Joao (for the most part), but on defense he's a liability against any side that's good enough and managed well enough to take advantage.

Can you back what you say with any data?

Tackles, interceptions, duels, etc. are DEFENSIVE actions, and Cancelo has made/won the most out of any City player this season, and is up there with the best in the league, DESPITE the fact City have a lot of possession and don't defend as much as other teams.

People should confront their perceptions with hard data, and stop believe in lazy cliches when reality is nothing like what they think.

 

[BlueMoonAcrossThePond]

Can you back what you say with any data?

Tackles, interceptions, duels, etc. are DEFENSIVE actions, and Cancelo has made/won the most out of any City player this season, and is up there with the best in the league, DESPITE the fact City have a lot of possession and doesn't defend as much as other teams.

People should confront their perceptions with hard data, and stop believe in lazy cliches when reality is nothing like what they think.

Watch City's games. It's obvious. Or if not, listen to on-air commentary.

Cancelo's defense has improved - but it's still weak. He's a left (or sometimes right) back. His number one job is to stop crosses from coming into the box. And he often fails to do so for a variety of reasons (laziness, out of position, poor one-on-one defense). Some of these reasons are easily remedied by focusing on defensive duties (laziness/out of position). Some will probably improve over time (better one-on-one defending).

 

[bobom]

Cancelo can easily improve on defense if he puts his mind to it.

I don't really know where to start with this comment tbh. It shows an amazing failure to appreciate the level of coaching/hard work that goes into player development. The idea that elite players, with the help of the best coaching team in the world, could "easily" transform their performance in one area if only they tried harder is blatantly nonsense. You don't think perhaps they already, you know, train quite hard?