ChicagoBlue
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- 10 Jan 2009
- Messages
- 17,725
Needs to gain a greater understanding and grasp of where the space is to receive the ball, both from the defenders (who are looking for the triangle) and the attackers (who are looking for the relief pass to maintain possession).
He is very languid, and jogs around ALOT! He needs to realize that once you understand the space, you CAN float in and out of it, like Rodri (and now Stones) are doing. However, it’s not a natural picture (in his own mind) where he should be now AND after the next pass has been made. That is putting him behind the flow of the game and the player on the ball is looking for him in space he isn’t occupying…yet! And, to get there needs a sprint, not a jog!
It’s really as simple as saying to yourself, “A has the ball, where am I in his triangle?” and “When A gives it to B, where to I need to shuttle to in order to be available in B’s triangle?” It is a CONSTANT 5-10 yard shuttle movement, and there’s a reason that, when Pep sees its breaking down a bit, he puts Bernardo into the second midfielder role!
Pep has said repeatedly that Bernardo not only has the Magic Eye, but the skill and technique to play EVERYWHERE! He understands SPACE and how to both occupy it and create it for others. He has the ball control and skill to hold the ball when needed or make the telling pass when needed.
Sadly, to date, Kalvin has learned the basics:
1) Don’t lose the ball, then
2) Pass the ball.
3) Make yourself open for a pass.
3) See Rule 1.
But has not yet mastered (1) or (2) sufficiently well enough to not create problems at the back when we are committing forward, and (3) is simply not a strong enough part of his game.
I would hope he is literally sitting down and studying how Rodri moves around the field, because Kalvin is not a bad player, he just looks out of place in a team of world class players, especially trying yo emulate the performances of the best player in the world in his position!
I wouldn’t be surprised if a serious bid, and an almost guaranteed opportunity to play every week, didn't pry him away this summer. It’d leave us short in midfield, but with the money we’d get, we have to have identified 3 of 4 potential Rodri back-ups around the world that we could replace him with and save money.
He is very languid, and jogs around ALOT! He needs to realize that once you understand the space, you CAN float in and out of it, like Rodri (and now Stones) are doing. However, it’s not a natural picture (in his own mind) where he should be now AND after the next pass has been made. That is putting him behind the flow of the game and the player on the ball is looking for him in space he isn’t occupying…yet! And, to get there needs a sprint, not a jog!
It’s really as simple as saying to yourself, “A has the ball, where am I in his triangle?” and “When A gives it to B, where to I need to shuttle to in order to be available in B’s triangle?” It is a CONSTANT 5-10 yard shuttle movement, and there’s a reason that, when Pep sees its breaking down a bit, he puts Bernardo into the second midfielder role!
Pep has said repeatedly that Bernardo not only has the Magic Eye, but the skill and technique to play EVERYWHERE! He understands SPACE and how to both occupy it and create it for others. He has the ball control and skill to hold the ball when needed or make the telling pass when needed.
Sadly, to date, Kalvin has learned the basics:
1) Don’t lose the ball, then
2) Pass the ball.
3) Make yourself open for a pass.
3) See Rule 1.
But has not yet mastered (1) or (2) sufficiently well enough to not create problems at the back when we are committing forward, and (3) is simply not a strong enough part of his game.
I would hope he is literally sitting down and studying how Rodri moves around the field, because Kalvin is not a bad player, he just looks out of place in a team of world class players, especially trying yo emulate the performances of the best player in the world in his position!
I wouldn’t be surprised if a serious bid, and an almost guaranteed opportunity to play every week, didn't pry him away this summer. It’d leave us short in midfield, but with the money we’d get, we have to have identified 3 of 4 potential Rodri back-ups around the world that we could replace him with and save money.
