9 | Gabriel Jesus - 2021/22 Performances

[WallyA]

Because some people think in clichés (footballers are specialists either in defending or in creating or in finishing) and reckon that if we sign a finisher, we'll score much more goals.

There are only 2-3 strikers in the world who may improve our first XI. And they'll need time to learn the system, and they may be reluctant to put a shift for the team wrt pressing/defending.

I think this team - without a striker - can outscore any team in the world including Liverpool and Bayern. Bold claim, but I think it is likely to be true. The sheer creativity of this team is on another planet.

There is something to be said about if we lose a False 9, what do we lose in terms of our play style?

The perfect solution is getting a player who can do all the False 9 work AND amazing goal scoring to the list.

Haaland who I definitely still want, won't fit in instantly. He will cost alot and still need to improve on many things to be where we need him to be. Vlahovic is somewhere along those lines as well, will need time to adapt.

Benzema is probably perfect for us as a striker right now, but he is ancient.

In the meantime, Foden, Grealish and even Palmer as a false 9 works very well.

In particular, I think if Grealish can add more goals to his game, then he can be something like 70-80% of what False 9 Messi was in his early years (70-80% of that Messi would still be an incredible False 9 to have).

 

[mccity]

Happy birthday to the true El Fenomeno

 

[Big$pendingPeppers]

There is something to be said about if we lose a False 9, what do we lose in terms of our play style?

The perfect solution is getting a player who can do all the False 9 work AND amazing goal scoring to the list.

Haaland who I definitely still want, won't fit in instantly. He will cost alot and still need to improve on many things to be where we need him to be. Vlahovic is somewhere along those lines as well, will need time to adapt.

Benzema is probably perfect for us as a striker right now, but he is ancient.

In the meantime, Foden, Grealish and even Palmer as a false 9 works very well.

In particular, I think if Grealish can add more goals to his game, then he can be something like 70-80% of what False 9 Messi was in his early years (70-80% of that Messi would still be an incredible False 9 to have).

should we also expect 70-80% of Messi's goal tally as well, because that is well over 30 a season minimum.

I dont See Grealish scoring more than 10 goals a season in all competitions. Goals are not everything, but Grealish isn't a player who can put the ball in the net on a consistent basis

 

[Millwallawayveteran1988]

Not his finest game.

 

[Withnail]

You can never fault his workrate, but not at his best tonight

 

[DATOIA]

Worked a lot, that dribble during the last minutes was great as well.

 

[Hart of the Matter]

He was poor..

 

[ninjamonkey]

No lack of effort, made enough of a contribution to the side but wasn't his night, should have been moved upfront where he could have offered more with mahrez or sterling replacing Grealish.

 

[mccity]

Not a great game. Usual work rate and pressing at least was there.

Bit unlucky that his two best moments were with the disallowed goal and right at the death, but he'll not be pleased overall.

 

[Deleted member 81382]

I think he'd be far more effective on the left, at least in terms of beating players anyway.

 

[FromPollockToSilva]

Seemed particularly indecisive and unfocused tonight, for whatever reason

 

[BlueMedic]

Beat his man a few times tonight, then tried to beat them again and lost it.

Just tried too much, sometimes simple is better. Not one of his finer performances.

 

[The Fat el Hombre]

Tough assignment tonight with their 5 at the back and 3 deep in midfield. In tight ones like that sometimes he has that bit of skill to open them up and almost did once or twice and was unlucky with the effort at the end. Not the best performance but pretty reliable to do a job on the whole, as usual with the lad

 

[lancs blue]

Sterling and Mahrez are our best wide options by some distance right now. Jesus is a trier but he kept over elaborating when we needed a quick cross.

 

[Akira]

Not his night.

Seemed frustrated towards the tail end of the 2nd half, as nothing much seems to be going his way the whole game. Eventually tried to do too much, not feeding KDB/Cancelo the overlaps, or shooting at slight chances.

 

[Hart of the Matter]

Not his night.

Seemed frustrated towards the tail end of the 2nd half, as nothing much seems to be going his way the whole game. Eventually tried to do too much, not feeding KDB/Cancelo the overlaps, or shooting at slight chances.

Thrives more with Walker behind him. Hope we see Kyle back, especially when Mahrez is at AFCON. Cancelo back on the left and Rodri back in the team .. Jesus on the right looked great for the most part until last night.

 

[waspish]

What I’ve notice is when a player has an average or just an ok game they hold on to the ball to long dias early in the first half just held in to the ball to long. Ake had a very good game because he received the ball controlled it passed it kept it simple.

 

[Saddleworth2]

Not his night. Very little going down his wing first half but didn't do much when that was rectified in the second. His touch was Lukaku esque at times which was strange to see.

 

[DATOIA]

Why people expect that GJ will play better than that as a RW ?

In Brazil he has more like defensive duties and covers for Neymar / Coutinho and others, who aren't that good in defense.

But at City, there is no one to cover - everyone runs and defends like Pep instructs them to do.

So, only defensive duties aren't important and we need more contribution in terms of offense as well. GJ won't do that as a RW, just look at his skills and everything - is he a RW ? :D

He can play LW and do his job or False9 and be productive both defensively and offensively.

But as a RW, he will always work yes and press and retain the ball and et.c, but don't expect anything more than that.. Those 2-3 assists at the start of the season made people believe, but the reality is different.

And I don't see this as a problem. Mahrez and Sterling are both doing great as a RWs, Foden is great LW and GJ can cover both LW and False9 positions if needed.

Of course you can play GJ as a DM or LB and he will still do his job, but to get his full potential - he should play LW or CF

 

[kaz7]

That is why he is not a regular starter