Kylian Mbappé

What?

He is a magnificent player.
Pochettino is currently having to reorganise the entire PSG side behind him because him and Messi do nothing without the ball. They just stand up front waiting to have the ball given to them. They don't move, they don't press, they don't get stuck in. Sure, with the ball, the sacrifice is probably necessary, but they're the antithesis of Pep's methods and systems, where the team defends as a unit from the front and relies on the constant tracking of runners and pressing up on the opposition defence to stop a move developing.
 
I suppose the poster had in mind the notion that he is somewhat arrogant (something rare among football players, as you know) and Pep somehow wouldn’t want him for this reason. It’s bullshit, of course
Nope. Our glorious former captain was one of the most arrogant men in football and it served him well for as long as he was here.
 
Pochettino is currently having to reorganise the entire PSG side behind him because him and Messi do nothing without the ball. They just stand up front waiting to have the ball given to them.
This just isn’t true, I’m sorry
 
This just isn’t true, I’m sorry
Except it is true.

Look at Mbappe's defensive stats. https://fbref.com/en/players/42fd9c7f/Kylian-Mbappe

Look at Messi's. https://fbref.com/en/players/d70ce98e/Lionel-Messi

Compare them to Foden's. https://fbref.com/en/players/ed1e53f3/Phil-Foden

Even Mahrez presses more often than Mbappe. https://fbref.com/en/players/892d5bb1/Riyad-Mahrez

And Grealish. https://fbref.com/en/players/b0b4fd3e/Jack-Grealish

And Jesus. https://fbref.com/en/players/b66315ae/Gabriel-Jesus

Mbappe is an incredible striker but he's not suited to our current system whatsoever. Messi is the greatest of all time and I wouldn't have said no to signing him in the summer, but we would have to build the team around both of them if either was to sign for us. Haaland is just about more suitable (https://fbref.com/en/players/1f44ac21/Erling-Haaland) but we're still going to have to drastically change how we defend as a team in order to accommodate him. Our forwards are expected to press constantly, something that Messi and Mbappe simply don't do.
 
Except it is true
You are comparing the way a player works in a team that isn’t like ours to players that are having to work in our system. Put Foden, Mahrez and Grealish on PSG and see what their stats become. I would agree with you that Poch doesn’t yet know what to do with Messi there, but he gets out of Mbappe exactly what he wants
 
I'd fucking love him here, he's absolutely top notch who would elavate us to an even higher level we play at right now.
Though given a straight choice between the two I'd take Haaland ahead of him, just.
 
Pochettino is currently having to reorganise the entire PSG side behind him because him and Messi do nothing without the ball. They just stand up front waiting to have the ball given to them. They don't move, they don't press, they don't get stuck in. Sure, with the ball, the sacrifice is probably necessary, but they're the antithesis of Pep's methods and systems, where the team defends as a unit from the front and relies on the constant tracking of runners and pressing up on the opposition defence to stop a move developing.
Could not agree less.

Messi like Ronaldo is the problem, a Hollywood signing past his glorious best, added to Mr Attitude Neymar.

Mbappe is a magnificent player and IF there was the slightest chance we should be all over him as No1 choice and that from a person that desperately wants Haaland.
 
If it were a choice between getting one of Mbappe or Haaland, I would go for Haaland.
Mbappe is a genuine world class player, but I think Haaland is a better fit.
I remember seeing the footage of Haaland entering the Etihad Stadium and saying "it's amazing" to nobody in particular. He then walks around, not over, the City floor badge.
Tells you a lot about his character.
Just seems like a guy who would have his dreams come true playing at City under Pep, playing the best football in the world, within a tight knit group.
 
kind of is though
It isn’t. Mbappe plays exactly the way he wants. The only player he still doesn’t know 100% what to do with is Messi, but he will figure it out soon
 

Don't have an account? Register now and see fewer ads!

SIGN UP
Back
Top
  AdBlock Detected
Bluemoon relies on advertising to pay our hosting fees. Please support the site by disabling your ad blocking software to help keep the forum sustainable. Thanks.