Elliot Anderson

[WallyA]

Tbh I find this statement baffling. Nothing about Nico doing well at LB is specific to being a left back. He’s playing well there because he’s fast, strong, reads the game well and technically gifted.

The only reason you think he should stay there is it’s the first place he’s started a run of games in a row. It’s like seeing Szobozlai do well at RB for Liverpool and assume he can only play there.

Anyway Nico keeps maintaining he’s a midfielder and Pep said this before the international break so I think it’s moot -

“I admire a lot that he's playing in a position he's never played before. He's learning, he has to improve, but with the ball he's quite good! But his position is attacking midfielder. I'm pretty sure if he played attacking midfielder for every cross he's on the penalty spot.“

This is ridiculous to claim.

All of those things are characteristics of good LBs absolutely, you are insane to suggest otherwise. His timing on tackling is also so good and bolstered with his long legs.

Frankly, he is tailor suited to LB more so than midfield in our system.

He gets to invert, bomb wide, and still get on headers and has taken loads of shots. But it also minimizes his biggest midfield weakness in ability in small spaces not being elite like Foden or Bernie.

 

[Alexia_Ko]

I don’t really see why we’d buy him when Rodri is 29 and Nico is 23 at the #6 and Reijnders is 27 and Phil 25 at the #8’s/10, which is where Cherki will end up because he’s not a winger.

O’Reilly and Lewis will both end up in midfield long term and replace Kovacic.

Great player just don’t think we need him.

Don’t think Lewis makes it here tbh. NOR will probably end up as a LB. We also need a midfielder that can actually make tackles. As good as Foden has been recently, he’s not a defensive minded 8 and neither is Tijani

 

[blueparrot]

Don’t think Lewis makes it here tbh. NOR will probably end up as a LB. We also need a midfielder that can actually make tackles. As good as Foden has been recently, he’s not a defensive minded 8 and neither is Tijani

When under Pep when have we played with a defensive minded 8 ? Silva, Gundogan now Foden or Bernardo

 

[domalino]

All of those things are characteristics of good LBs absolutely, you are insane to suggest otherwise. His timing on tackling is also so good and bolstered with his long legs.

They're characeteristics of good football players, including midfielders, not just good left backs.

 

[WallyA]

When under Pep when have we played with a defensive minded 8 ? Silva, Gundogan now Foden or Bernardo

When under Pep have we played with both fullbacks bombing wide? Not often!

We typically didn't need defensive 8s as much, moreso controllers in Bernie or Gundogan because a fullback or both usually stayed back or inverted.

But if both fullbacks bomb wide, you still need to balance the defensive line.

Edit: to add I'd say Bernie's hard running and positioning helps him as a sort of defensive 8.

 

[WallyA]

They're characeteristics of good football players, including midfielders, not just good left backs.

They aren't of midfielders is the thing. You even suggested molding Lewis into a midfielder so you already know its not true.

Name the top 8s in the world like Pedri , Vitnha (like a 6 or 8) it is most important to have elite ball controllers who can run hard, its why Bernie is working well for us.

O Reilly at LB is logical, every aspect of a fullback O Reilly can easily be world class at.

But the same can't be said about midfield, or its a lot harder for him to get there.

 

[TurboDuo]

Best player on the pitch

Among best midfielders in the league

 

[blueparrot]

When under Pep have we played with both fullbacks bombing wide? Not often!

We typically didn't need defensive 8s as much, moreso controllers in Bernie or Gundogan because a fullback or both usually stayed back or inverted.

But if both fullbacks bomb wide, you still need to balance the defensive line.

Yes, but playing with Foden and Bernardo deeper we’ve had that control without playing 2 purely defensive midfielders, we have the second best GA in the league. If we decide we do need it once Rodri is fit we have the option of Rodri Gonzalez but not sure we’ll see it much.

 

[domalino]

They aren't of midfielders is the thing. You even suggested molding Lewis into a midfielder so you already know its not true.

Name the top 8s in the world like Pedri , Vitnha (like a 6 or 8) it is most important to have elite ball controllers who can run hard, its why Bernie is working well for us.

O Reilly at LB is logical, every aspect of a fullback O Reilly can easily be world class at.

But the same can't be said about midfield, or its a lot harder for him to get there.

To be honest I can't really be bothered to argue when both the player and his manager are 100% adamant he's going to be a midfielder long term. They keep saying it again and again, just listen to them.

 

[WallyA]

Yes, but playing with Foden and Bernardo deeper we’ve had that control without playing 2 purely defensive midfielders, we have the second best GA in the league. If we decide we do need it once Rodri is fit we have the option of Rodri Gonzalez but not sure we’ll see it much.

Oh I like Bernie and Foden deeper like this as well.

For me Anderson is in the Bernie mold of replacement type.

He operates deep to control the game but also offers all the running Bernie gives with some maybe more tackling potentially.

To add to this, Foden runs a lot and helps this defensive stability and why I demand more from Reijnders.

 

[WallyA]

To be honest I can't really be bothered to argue when both the player and his manager are 100% adamant he's going to be a midfielder long term. They keep saying it again and again, just listen to them.

Sure, they can say that, and you can believe that's gonna happen in the future.

Nunes also thought he was a midfielder, and we are seeing how he is actually better at RB.

 

[blueparrot]

Oh I like Bernie and Foden deeper like this as well.

For me Anderson is in the Bernie mold of replacement type.

He operates deep to control the game but also offers all the running Bernie gives with some maybe more tackling potentially.

Maybe, think it is partly dependent on Rodri’s recovery if we have doubts then more chance we spend big on Anderson or whoever. If he does recover think with Gonzalez then less chance of it happening, maybe depends how Reijnders adapts too.

 

[WallyA]

Maybe, think it is partly dependent on Rodri’s recovery if we have doubts then more chance we spend big on Anderson or whoever. If he does recover think with Gonzalez then less chance of it happening, maybe depends how Reijnders adapts too.

I agree it depends a bit on Reijnders, who need to learn to play deeper and be more defensive oriented.

In his thread people were talking about his goal and playing him higher up, and sure right now he is very forward oriented, but we need him deeper

 

[Alexia_Ko]

When under Pep when have we played with a defensive minded 8 ? Silva, Gundogan now Foden or Bernardo

Gundogan was definitely defensively minded and if Rodri continues with his injury woes we can’t turn up to matches with only Nico for physicality. Look at what happened vs Villa

 

[domalino]

Sure, they can say that, and you can believe that's gonna happen in the future.

Nunes also thought he was a midfielder, and we are seeing how he is actually better at RB.

Might be a good point if not for the fact while Pep is telling everyone Nico is going to be a midfielder, he literally said in a press conference Nunes didn't have the intelligence to play there.

 

[WallyA]

Might be a good point if not for the fact while Pep is telling everyone Nico is going to be a midfielder, he literally said in a press conference Nunes didn't have the intelligence to play there.

I had to look up your Pep quote as I don't remember him saying this recently, and I found it from 7 months ago (April) after O Reilly only played LB for few games.

Latching on to that comment now, many games after him playing LB is a massive stretch in your reasoning if you think Pep still believes this.

So no, Pep is not telling everyone he is going to be a midfielder. He only said that early on when he barely played LB.

Pep has also more recently talked about Nunes in midfield in more positive terms as well, but you ignore, and has decided to use him wide for his physical attributes... sound like someone we know?

 

[domalino]

I had to look up your Pep quote as I don't remember him saying this recently, and I found it from 7 months ago (April) after O Reilly only played LB for few games.

Latching on to that comment now, many games after him playing LB is a massive stretch in your reasoning if you think Pep still believes this.

So no, Pep is not telling everyone he is going to be a midfielder. He only said that early on when he barely played LB.

Pep has also more recently talked about Nunes in midfield in more positive terms as well, but you ignore, and has decided to use him wide for his physical attributes... sound like someone we know?

He referred to him as a midfielder yesterday.

He said he was first choice Rodri back up in September.

The man says it every fucking week. If you want to pretend he doesn't, fine. LIke I said, I'm not interesting in arguing when the player and manager have made their positions abundantly clear. I notice you can't post anything from Pep saying he's going to be a LB for the rest of his career?

In 2 years he'll be starting in midfield, if you don't want to believe that, you're free to.

 

[WallyA]

He referred to him as a midfielder yesterday.

He said he was first choice Rodri back up in September.

The man says it every fucking week. If you want to pretend he doesn't, fine. In 2 years he'll be starting in midfield.

As he did Nunes as a midfielder.

Have we seen him play as the 6 since he said that? Nope, even Reijnders played there before him.

You can pretend all you want.

Let's see in 2 years, I'll come back to the thread to say I was wrong if thats the case, doubt you ever will when your wrong.

 

[TurboDuo]

Bring him here on january 1st

 

[Alexia_Ko]

Gundogan was definitely defensively minded and if Rodri continues with his injury woes we can’t turn up to matches with only Nico for physicality. Look at what happened vs Villa

Look what happened to us vs Newcastle. We can’t go into these away matches without physicality, it’s not sustainable. Especially when our technical floor has declined.