I Knew these posts would start . But I just strongly disagree. I thought he was brilliant and his freak athletic abilities are perfect for the way Pep wants to play . Allows a high line and nobody is going to beat him in a foot race . Very good on the ball aswel . The only real weakness in his game is aerial duels . And Dias is awful at that anyway .We all want him to succeed but people are going on like he’s Maldini or summat. Calm down
The only real weakness in his game is aerial duels? Have you seen him pass? Come on now ffs.I Knew these posts would start . But I just strongly disagree. I thought he was brilliant and his freak athletic abilities are perfect for the way Pep wants to play . Allows a high line and nobody is going to beat him in a foot race . Very good on the ball aswel . The only real weakness in his game is aerial duels . And Dias is awful at that anyway .
Khusanov?The only real weakness in his game is aerial duels? Have you seen him pass? Come on now ffs.
The lad that plays for us? The one who's not played for 12 games because he's not ready on the ball and in general. Yeah, that one.Khusanov?
I agree. But I stand by the fact that you can’t be acting like he’s the second coming after 6 appearances.I Knew these posts would start . But I just strongly disagree. I thought he was brilliant and his freak athletic abilities are perfect for the way Pep wants to play . Allows a high line and nobody is going to beat him in a foot race . Very good on the ball aswel . The only real weakness in his game is aerial duels . And Dias is awful at that anyway .
Did you not read the contracts?Wasn't aware we signed them all on 6 month contracts.
He's also young and inexperienced, thus prone to mistakes, and we're at that time in the season where every mistake is consequential.He is the only defender with real pace. It seems strange that he doesn't feature against teams with low blocks and fast transitions.
yeah, agree but others have not been error free. I just think if Pep continues with a high line next season he will need more pace in defence. Hope he trusts Khusanov then. Maybe Kyle will be back and problem solved ;-)He's also young and inexperienced, thus prone to mistakes, and we're at that time in the season where every mistake is consequential.
It's but another part of this unfathomable season and our confusing evolution. If we persist with the high line, we encourage teams to retreat en masse, but that denies space to the attacking players we have assembled. Unlike previous iterations, these attacking players need space to perform, as they have different skillsets. If we do play more expansively to create space for them, then we will need midfielders who are more athletic (Reijnders/Gibbs-White) but that means less need for Khusanov's recovery speed. Where then, too, for midfielders like Rodri and Gonzalez? Neither of them are suited for running box to box, more camping in the opposition half, and allowing the likes of Khusanov to sweep behind him. If we persist with the high line, then, as we have seen in recent weeks, teams dropping off mean our central defenders are on the ball much, much more, so Khusanov is going to have to improve his passing if Guardiola is to trust him in there.yeah, agree but others have not been error free. I just think if Pep continues with a high line next season he will need more pace in defence. Hope he trusts Khusanov then. Maybe Kyle will be back and problem solved ;-)
You say obviously they will take time to settle but then immediately after it you are complaining that they're taking time to settle...Did you not read the contracts?
Obviously they’ll take time to settle in, but players like gonzalez or khusanov have barely played. Despite the team being terrible.
I can’t see long term how some of them will start, especially with players coming back or the players we’ve been linked with.
I think it’s fair to question why we made some of these signings
Some good analysis but Akanji since he returned is probably our most pedestrian passer. I have high hopes of Guardiol but to me we need pace and better passers.It's but another part of this unfathomable season and our confusing evolution. If we persist with the high line, we encourage teams to retreat en masse, but that denies space to the attacking players we have assembled. Unlike previous iterations, these attacking players need space to perform, as they have different skillsets. If we do play more expansively to create space for them, then we will need midfielders who are more athletic (Reijnders/Gibbs-White) but that means less need for Khusanov's recovery speed. Where then, too, for midfielders like Rodri and Gonzalez? Neither of them are suited for running box to box, more camping in the opposition half, and allowing the likes of Khusanov to sweep behind him. If we persist with the high line, then, as we have seen in recent weeks, teams dropping off mean our central defenders are on the ball much, much more, so Khusanov is going to have to improve his passing if Guardiola is to trust him in there.
Both Akanji and Dias are low-risk passers, especially when there is no Kovacic/Bernardo to take it off their toes, but Guardiola, who himself appears more risk averse, sees them as safe and to be trusted. Their lives would all be made easier if we had signed proper fullbacks.Some good analysis but Akanji since he returned is probably our most pedestrian passer. I have high hopes of Guardiol but to me we need pace and better passers.
Impossible to understand how he can’t even make the bench after being POTM, and Pep to start Akanji ahead of him. Khusanov is already 10 times the player and is a part of our future, Akanji is not
I don’t think so - I think Pep at this point in the season wants steady heads which he knows exactly what he’s getting from them. Just needs time to settle - same as Reis.I think something is definitely wrong here, it makes no sense to start game after game and then completely disappear and not even make the bench most of the time, the fact an injured Ake was on the bench tonight and not Khus proves that, also Grealish is making the bench game after game when it's obvious he's not part of Pep's plans anymore but Khus can't, I don't know if he fell out with Pep but something must've happened.
No reason why he shouldn't make the bench at least.I don’t think so - I think Pep at this point in the season wants steady heads which he knows exactly what he’s getting from them. Just needs time to settle - same as Reis.