Neville Kneville
Well-Known Member
Angelino played as an attacking wide/mid the other night & was the most dangerous player on the NY team. (That's not the biggest compliment, as the rest were utter dogshit & Lampard/Pirlo, should be ashamed).
He really can deliver a ball at top level. That's TOP level, ie his delivery was way better than Lampard or Pirlo. He was also seen as enough of a threat that the oppo often doubled up on him. On the big downside, the energy we are used to seeing from him back here has pretty much gone. He does it from time to time, but he was perpetual motion for City. Over there, I could often criticise him for not covering enough ground quickly enough (not something I would ever even have dreamed saying about Angelino). He wasn't getting into scoring positions when the ball was out wide on the other side (always would for City, whatever role he played) & was often jogging, watching, when the ball was potentially winnable, rather than flying in & challenging or simply holding up the oppo, as he would here, every time.
Whether it's simply down to fatigue as a young player getting so many games, or whether it's something else, I have no idea, but he's not currently the Angelino we know. But the talent is clearly still there & it's obvious there is much more talent there than we are seeing.
Watching NYC, what does become apparent is that it is very far from an easy ride sending a kid there. It's a real physical test, more like playing in the Championship, possibly harder. That's not just down to the athleticism involved, it's also harder, playing with a bunch of absolute clueless mugs, with athletes on the oppo.
Pirlo & Lampard are struggling like fuck. They are truly awful. It's too fast for them, because they have to do more stuff themselves, rather than relying on others to make the runs for them, & they have quick, aggressive players closing them down quickly. They have no 'out' ball & have no ability other than playing 'out' balls, so currently, both are screwed. Some of their passing is horrible.
This must be the same difficulty for Angelino, used to having 5 or 6 passing options, now has one, or often none. Then there is the question as to whether this is good or bad for him. I would say that depends on the individual player & his mentality. SWP at 18, for instance would score 50 goals & run rings round everybody. Stephen Ireland at 18, would retire.
He really can deliver a ball at top level. That's TOP level, ie his delivery was way better than Lampard or Pirlo. He was also seen as enough of a threat that the oppo often doubled up on him. On the big downside, the energy we are used to seeing from him back here has pretty much gone. He does it from time to time, but he was perpetual motion for City. Over there, I could often criticise him for not covering enough ground quickly enough (not something I would ever even have dreamed saying about Angelino). He wasn't getting into scoring positions when the ball was out wide on the other side (always would for City, whatever role he played) & was often jogging, watching, when the ball was potentially winnable, rather than flying in & challenging or simply holding up the oppo, as he would here, every time.
Whether it's simply down to fatigue as a young player getting so many games, or whether it's something else, I have no idea, but he's not currently the Angelino we know. But the talent is clearly still there & it's obvious there is much more talent there than we are seeing.
Watching NYC, what does become apparent is that it is very far from an easy ride sending a kid there. It's a real physical test, more like playing in the Championship, possibly harder. That's not just down to the athleticism involved, it's also harder, playing with a bunch of absolute clueless mugs, with athletes on the oppo.
Pirlo & Lampard are struggling like fuck. They are truly awful. It's too fast for them, because they have to do more stuff themselves, rather than relying on others to make the runs for them, & they have quick, aggressive players closing them down quickly. They have no 'out' ball & have no ability other than playing 'out' balls, so currently, both are screwed. Some of their passing is horrible.
This must be the same difficulty for Angelino, used to having 5 or 6 passing options, now has one, or often none. Then there is the question as to whether this is good or bad for him. I would say that depends on the individual player & his mentality. SWP at 18, for instance would score 50 goals & run rings round everybody. Stephen Ireland at 18, would retire.