#9 | Gabriel Jesus - 2020/21 Performances

[Millwallawayveteran1988]

True. But he's not in the bigger games due to Pep's want of control of possession. Bernardo is a safer bet against counter attacks due to his midfield ability than Jesus. And it's counter attacks that Pep seems to be most bothered by.


It's worth noting that until last season Jesus had the best xG/90 minutes out of anyone in the league. Whether you like that kind of statistic or not, it generally indicates that Jesus was better than anybody on average at getting goalscoring opportunities, including Aguero. As was remembered his issues were that he missed a lot of them.

This season, those numbers have dropped dramatically. Interestingly, we're not complaining about him being offside as often anymore. This season, due to Aguero's injury, we're playing with a false 9 system as it's more replicable with the players that we had. Jesus as a result since returning from his first injury this season has played a much, much deeper role. In the games Aguero has played this season, he's been doing the same thing. Dropping deep, and focussing on space creation for others.

Jesus is playing an extremely different role this season. He doesn't help himself with his non-confident finishing but as a centre-forward he's doing precisely what he's told to. Otherwise he wouldn't be getting picked at all.

i agree that he does good work but when we have no other striker fit, we really need him to be stepping up. I think he had scored 8 goals this season in 24 matches which for a team like us who create so much, is really poor. I just think he lacks that strikers instinct.

 

[mccity]

i agree that he does good work but when we have no other striker fit, we really need him to be stepping up. I think he had scored 7 goals this season in 24 matches which for a team like us who create so much, is really poor. I just think he lacks that strikers instinct.

See, I've had this discussion with many others. Why does HE need to do anything? As far as I'm concerned, as long as what he's doing benefits the team to win games, then I'm ok with it. I don't care if Jesus never scores a goal again if it means we constantly win with him in the team.

And maybe he doesn't have the striker's instinct. But I'd say Zinchenko lacks the true defenders instinct and yet he's consistently made a strong go of it, due to his many other qualities supporting him.


Just because he isn't scoring a ton doesn't mean he's not stepping up or doing his part. It's clear that his role has put him further away from goal and it's consistently irritating to see all of his good work ignored because of some old-school thinking that individual players have to do specific things.

I'm not excusing Jesus's woes in front of goal. He'd be a truly top-tier player if he was a ruthless goalscorer on top of what he already is. He needs to be better in front of goal because he's got it in him, and he's only holding himself back by not being a scorer to the best of his ability.

I strongly believe that he has top tier movement, and if Pep said play like an old school forward he'd be on the receiving end of a load of chances he created with his own movement. He doesn't finish like a guy with striker's instinct but I refute that his movement is lacking.

 

[FantasyIreland]

He was doing great until sacrificed.I thought he was unlucky in that respect,my choice would have been the more placid Mahrez.

 

[dhruvblue]

Didn't see anything great in him yesterday. Now sure what great means or mayb Jesus has exceptions.

Was missing most of the part of the match only involvement was running shirt part of ground and giving square passes to zinchencko

 

[nellyonthewing]

True. But he's not in the bigger games due to Pep's want of control of possession. Bernardo is a safer bet against counter attacks due to his midfield ability than Jesus. And it's counter attacks that Pep seems to be most bothered by.


It's worth noting that until last season Jesus had the best xG/90 minutes out of anyone in the league. Whether you like that kind of statistic or not, it generally indicates that Jesus was better than anybody on average at getting goalscoring opportunities, including Aguero. As was remembered his issues were that he missed a lot of them.

This season, those numbers have dropped dramatically. Interestingly, we're not complaining about him being offside as often anymore. This season, due to Aguero's injury, we're playing with a false 9 system as it's more replicable with the players that we had. Jesus as a result since returning from his first injury this season has played a much deeper role that's predicated on dragging defenders around. In the games Aguero has played this season, he's been doing the same thing. Dropping deep, and focussing on space creation for others.

Jesus is playing a different role this season. He doesn't help himself with his non-confident finishing but as a centre-forward he's doing precisely what he's told to. Otherwise he wouldn't be getting picked at all.

In recent games he’s just stood in the shadow of some big defender asking for a ball that cannot be played. His work rate has fell off as well.

 

[B\connellblue]

Phil has shown you can put the shift in and still create and score.
Totally anonymous.

 

[jimmygrimblesboots]

Basically ineffective in most games he plays , reminds me of a 12 year old playing in an Under-16 game, tries his best , bags of enthusiasm but essentially doesnt affect games , said loads of times he has a great attitude and honest as the day as long but its not good enough for our level
He will get his fair share of poachers goals but most stikers would in our team.

 

[Phil1]

He's been fairly ineffective recently. Needs to start releasing the ball quicker and using his energy better.
Nothing to get concerned about though, he's a top player.

 

[Bobby the blue]

I really want him to succeed but to me there just seems to be something missing from his game. This season he should really have stamped his authority on the CF role and made it his own but he just hasn't done it.
What does it say for him when we look more dangerous/effective without a recognised CF.

I just want him to spark in to action but it doesn't seem to be happening.

 

[fredmont]

I read a comment on Wednesday that Gabby needed a hat trick to boost his confidence. I thought that he probably wouldn't even kick it forward three times. In the event, every pass/ movement was backwards, then he was subbed.
If that's what Pep wants, so be it.