mancityscot
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Gonna struggle to shift the fucker at this rate
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7 | Joao Cancelo - 2022/23 Performances
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He was never one of the best full backs in the world. He was at times a very good player who lined up as a fullback.
The problem with Cancelo is h's not good enough defensively to be a fullback, not aware enough and too 1 footed to play in midfield and not good enough in the final third to be an attacking midfielder/winger.
Pep created a system where he could hide a lot of his weaknesses and show off his strengths, but even that came at the expense of 2 of our best attacking players - Foden and Grealish. Foden's best form was in the CL run with Zinchenko behind in 20/21 and Grealish has fluorished since Cancelo left. Why? Because they're in the positions he used to occupy, no longer forced wide onto the touchline, and they're simply much better players than him.
I don’t disagree with the majority of that. But a lot of players flourish because of the system they’re in. Sterling was one of the best globally between 2017-2020 but it’s because the system was perfect for him. That’s how football works.
I’m not part of the Cancelo fan club by any means but the way he was playing last season and the start of this put him in the conversation for the best full back in the world - regardless of the system he was being used in because he was so effective. He wasn’t the best defensively but he was/is fantastic going forward, a lot like most other full backs (or in reverse like Wan-Bisaka).
It’s been pretty evident for about 12 months before he went that he was restricting Grealish - that’s nothing groundbreaking - but he himself was producing enough goods that it could be overlooked. As soon as he wasn’t, he was dropped and subsequently fucked off allowing Grealish to finally flourish.
Yeh but apart from all that, what's not to like?He's been dropped by 4 coaches in 6 months, had tons of bad press about being a shit teammate, was never a good fullback in a traditional system, is on 200k/week and turns 30 next year.
super_city_si
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In poor form so didnt play as often but was still getting good game time - throws his toys out the pram. Moves to Bayern - doesnt play at all. How's that working out for you Joao?
It's showed at every club he's been at. Self destructive behavior at its best. Can't feel bad for him.
Hope to god its not another loan deal next season. Hope we get a few quid for him, but Im not sure who would pay, Madrid? PSG? Chelsea?
If nobody coughs up I would prefer to bring him back than loan him.
We were in for a new fullback last summer when all was good, and almost got our fingers burnt with Cucarella, so we will almost certainly be in for one this summer but who?
Probably a bit naive of me to think he will have grown up a bit these months, and be willing to swallow his pride and come back commited.
If nobody coughs up I would prefer to bring him back than loan him.
We were in for a new fullback last summer when all was good, and almost got our fingers burnt with Cucarella, so we will almost certainly be in for one this summer but who?
Probably a bit naive of me to think he will have grown up a bit these months, and be willing to swallow his pride and come back commited.
In poor form so didnt play as often but was still getting good game time - throws his toys out the pram. Moves to Bayern - doesnt play at all. How's that working out for you Joao?
He plays - but usually does not start. Problem is that you do not play with 2 offensives full backs in a back 4 (Davies then is the offensive one) if you do not have a real defensive holding midfielder - and if you play with 3 in the back on the right he has Coman as rival... (and we probably will play the 4-2-3-1 again with Tuchel as our players feel best with it).
He may have looked reckless at times, and given the nature of his attacking role, he was out of position a lot, but he had some of the best stats in the league defensively.He was never one of the best full backs in the world. He was at times a very good player who lined up as a fullback.
The problem with Cancelo is h's not good enough defensively to be a fullback, not aware enough and too 1 footed to play in midfield and not good enough in the final third to be an attacking midfielder/winger.
Pep created a system where he could hide a lot of his weaknesses and show off his strengths, but even that came at the expense of 2 of our best attacking players - Foden and Grealish. Foden's best form was in the CL run with Zinchenko behind in 20/21 and Grealish has fluorished since Cancelo left. Why? Because they're in the positions he used to occupy, no longer forced wide onto the touchline, and they're simply much better players than him.
Last season he was 6th highest in the whole PL for tackles which resulted in a turnover of possession - 11 more than Rodri, and nearly double as many as Bernardo, who was the third best at City.
He was 17th in the PL for recovering loose balls, with only Rodri above him at City.
He was 8th in the PL for interceptions, more than double the number Rodri made.
He was 9th in the PL for attempted tackles, and at City only Rodri had a better win % than Cancelo.
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