Noticed in the warm up to one of our games that he seems to gave packed on some leg muscle during lockdown, strength conditioning hopefully know to start bullying defenders
I have high hope's for Jesus, but I get the point from others because he can be frustrating.
I think the biggest issue in my judgement is that I was a child in the era of Brazilian forward players such as Romario, Bebeto, Rivaldo and the best of the bunch Ronaldinho and the Ronaldo - and comparing him to those legends of the game is probably not fair especially as he is playing his trade in the premiership
When you watch Jesus when he was still in Brazil, he seemed to be playing with more creative freedom - and that is most probably down to the style of football played in his national league.
Since arriving at our club, I have only witnessed certain occasions when that brazilian flair and raw skill has raised itself - but when it has my god it makes the heart beat faster and gets you on the edge of your seat
The issue is, that we are not witnessing it enough. Is this down to Pep making him understand the game more better and be tactically more astute ? That could be a reason.....but if so then it is putting a ball and chain on his natural ability, and this is an ability we know he has.
Messi when even a young player at Barca and coached by Pep still decided to commit players and take them on - he was and is the worlds best, but that method runs the risk of losing the ball and possession - and we know Pep is all about possession and ball retention
It could be that this philosophy is holding Jesus back
I am not saying pep is telling jesus not to take anyone one but the thought process with Jesus on the pitch may be that he is thinking "okay I could take these 2 on, but I might lose possession and cause a counter attack, keep if safe and make a run instead"
I would love to just see him go out and play with freedom to take on his marker and just run at the goal - ut unfortunately we don't play that way or adopt that approach - it is upto the player to adopt that approach and make that creative decision in the final third of the pitch - mahrez as an example did it the other night against Burnley.
We gave seen that the only players who have done that so far - Kun, KDB, Mahrez and Sane are feared by the opposition because of their ability to drive forward take on players and score - I honestly think that the opposition respect Jesus but they do not fear playing him like they do the other 3.
Remember the hype and excitement when Jesus came on against Spurs in his first game and changed the attack immediately and nearly scored
This is a massive stage in his career now because Kun is nearing the end. We are going to need a striker that can not only drive into the box from out wide but a striker who can receive the ball, tufn and drive forward dragging 2 or 3 defenders with him but then still getting his shot away
I hope he can achieve it, noticing how much muscle weight he packed on his legs is a good start and he needs to build his confidence knowing he has the ability to bypass a player or even 2 but can also out muscle them as well
It might not be thus season as it is pretty much near its end, but next season I want to see him up it another level and start believing he is one of the best in the world
