i have a feeling he's weaknesses have been masked due to formationhe does one thing very very very well but I think you really have to build around him and that skill set. He doesn’t play nice with everyone. His strengths and weaknesses mean he has a variety of outcomes
For a prem that is going more physical, I think it’s gotta be a no from me sadly
Wharton's best trait is his vision. Yes, he sprays the ball too. But what he really excels at ( more so than most CMs) is quickly diagnosing opportunities and executing early. He'd be a godsend for Erling. He does that thing Kova does sometimes (early through ball) but he does it a lot.Wharton’s game isn’t miles away from Kalvin Phillips’.
Their best trait is spraying balls around.
Not suggesting Wharton would flop as badly, but it’s a possibility.
You wouldn’t be signing a deep lying midfielder like Wharton for his goals thoughAs mentioned in another thread , this guy might actually be THE worst finisher in the prem .
I accept he has attributes , but it’s easy to suddenly find out that you’ve signed a host of midfielders , who collectively do not chip in with goals .
Agree with this (from the limited times I've seen him play).Wharton’s game isn’t miles away from Kalvin Phillips’.
Their best trait is spraying balls around.
Not suggesting Wharton would flop as badly, but it’s a possibility.
Yeah, I feel we’d have to build a team structure around him to limit his lack of physicality and defensive duelling.Agree with this (from the limited times I've seen him play).
Phillips was awful at the first few steps when out of possession. He was essentially useless against a fast midfielder so was a luxury we couldn't afford.
You would have to have a midfield of speed merchants to carry Phillips. It might have made sense if he was insanely good at creating attacks. He was OK... ish.
Wharton is probably better with and without the ball than Phillips but I'd be shocked if he came here and was a phenomenon. He'd probably just be ok. At best.
(His best attribute is probably his passport)
My week was getting off to a decent enough start and you go and mention the P word. The very fact that you have even suggested a potential link with Wharton has me in a state of panic.Wharton’s game isn’t miles away from Kalvin Phillips’.
Their best trait is spraying balls around.
Not suggesting Wharton would flop as badly, but it’s a possibility.
That’s true to an extent, but if our midfield no longer carries a combination of the likes of de Bruyne, Gundogan, Lewis, Rodri, Kovacic, and Silva, it means we can play more expansively and not jog up to the final third and set up camp for ten minutes.Yeah, I feel we’d have to build a team structure around him to limit his lack of physicality and defensive duelling.
The league has found a way to limit what we did in 2017-24. We need more physicality now. There’s no space in behind for wingers to exploit, like Sane and Sterling once did.
Will teams ever stop using the low block whilst Haaland is here?That’s true to an extent, but if our midfield no longer carries a combination of the likes of de Bruyne, Gundogan, Lewis, Rodri, Kovacic, and Silva, it means we can play more expansively and not jog up to the final third and set up camp for ten minutes.
I expect a more dynamic style in the coming seasons, though that in itself will create other problems for certain players.
Wharton’s game isn’t miles away from Kalvin Phillips’.
Their best trait is spraying balls around.
The opposition generally only settles into a low block because we run up the park and then realise that our midfielders are looking for respirators to catch up. We then turn back with the ball, our massed ranks fall in behind, the opposition organises itself, and the cat and mouse begins.Will teams ever stop using the low block whilst Haaland is here?
Whist I agree that the style will likely change, it’s not going to be that dynamic with Maresca in charge.
He was very good at the long diagonal switch of play and balls over the top.Kalvin Phillips never displayed anything like the vision and passing ability Wharton has.
I can’t see a world where teams regret to a high line to let Haaland run past them every time a ball is dinked over the top. It would be suicidal.The opposition generally only settles into a low block because we run up the park and then realise that our midfielders are looking for respirators to catch up. We then turn back with the ball, our massed ranks fall in behind, the opposition organises itself, and the cat and mouse begins.
If Maresca doesn’t adapt his style to the players available, then his will be a short reign.
All about showing real patience at the back and learning to draw teams forward. Our midfield has struggled with that because it still means more running. With a more energetic midfield, we can get back to the football from 2017-2020, so Haaland may have to adapt his game and run different routes and press more.I can’t see a world where teams regret to a high line to let Haaland run past them every time a ball is dinked over the top. It would be suicidal.
They may push up a bit more to try and make then through balls harder to execute, but we’ll still be mostly edging up the pitch under Maresca. I’ve never seen him do anything else as of yet.
We shall see. That 17-20 team had more space in behind against the better and middling teams. Only the likes of Burnley under Dyche used the low block.All about showing real patience at the back and learning to draw teams forward. Our midfield has struggled with that because it still means more running. With a more energetic midfield, we can get back to the football from 2017-2020, so Haaland may have to adapt his game and run different routes and press more.