Player Topic: Samir Nasri (2015/16)

[BillyShears]

If anyone bothered to do a vid of how many times he passes sideways and kills our attacks it would be a lot, lot longer than that highlight reel

Its amazing how something which football managers love him for football supporters ridicule him for.

 

[Gabriel]

Much of his best work comes through the middle and not playing out wide. Once fit and playing with the likes of Silva/de Bruyne/Sterling/Toure and Aguero he'll show his worth.

 

[Father Paul]

Whatever about the merits or otherwise of Mr. Nasri. When are all these muscle injuries going to end. I am praying constantly now for lads to get fit and I'm getting pissed off. Keep the faith

 

[cucumberman]

If anyone bothered to do a vid of how many times he passes sideways and kills our attacks it would be a lot, lot longer than that highlight reel

Strange if that is true, because in seasons 2012, 2013 and 2014 Nasri has been in the top 5 list of most final third passes in the league, being 2nd and 3rd in the last two years. And accuracy wise he has been at a constant 90% in final third passes accuracy, once being the leading passer in the league. I'm not sure exactly when but I assume it was in 2013 when Silva got injured and Nasri deputised, earning him that months PL player award.

And with the backwards and sideways pass, Nasri's data has him at 61% forward pass accuracy, an above average high for a midfielder. Admittedly, he had a horrible backwards pass spell against Juventus so I guess that has burnt the image into everyone. In terms of passing however, he is the only player in the PL to have such record over the recent years, more than Silva. Arguably they add different things to the mix, but Nasri during his prime was certainly not an average player. He was also playing with the likes of Garcia and Milner so that puts things into perspectives.

He is now a squad player I agree because we have better players now.

 

[waspish]

Strange if that is true, because in seasons 2012, 2013 and 2014 Nasri has been in the top 5 list of most final third passes in the league, being 2nd and 3rd in the last two years. And accuracy wise he has been at a constant 90% in final third passes accuracy, once being the leading passer in the league. I'm not sure exactly when but I assume it was in 2013 when Silva got injured and Nasri deputised, earning him that months PL player award.

And with the backwards and sideways pass, Nasri's data has him at 61% forward pass accuracy, an above average high for a midfielder. Admittedly, he had a horrible backwards pass spell against Juventus so I guess that has burnt the image into everyone. In terms of passing however, he is the only player in the PL to have such record over the recent years, more than Silva. Arguably they add different things to the mix, but Nasri during his prime was certainly not an average player. He was also playing with the likes of Garcia and Milner so that puts things into perspectives.

He is now a squad player I agree because we have better players now.

Yep agree and he should be playing in the final 3rd not picking the ball up of our defenders

 

[The Fat el Hombre]

Its amazing how something which football managers love him for football supporters ridicule him for.

Well pellegrini doesn't seem to think that much of him at the moment. France want nothing to do with him...

 

[kaz7]

Well pellegrini doesn't seem to think that much of him at the moment. France want nothing to do with him...

He is injured and retired from internationals before the last world cup but you carry on

 

[meeesh]

Love him or hate him (dislike in this case no blues should hate a City player) but he's nowhere near the player he was at Arsenal,injuries aside he's been woeful at times,a lot of times in fact,Arsenal fans were up in arms when he left,I dunno why they bothered,never been the same player since he came to us

 

[worsleyweb]

He is injured and retired from internationals before the last world cup but you carry on

You tell him Karen

 

[BigOscar]

Love him or hate him (dislike in this case no blues should hate a City player) but he's nowhere near the player he was at Arsenal,injuries aside he's been woeful at times,a lot of times in fact,Arsenal fans were up in arms when he left,I dunno why they bothered,never been the same player since he came to us

I don't think that's remotely true, he was just as sporadic at Arsenal, you just probably only saw the highlights and didn't see the games where he did absolutely nothing. He still every now and again decides to dribble the ball and remember that he's actually brilliant at it, or decides to actually shoot, as again, brilliant at it. Both he and Yaya have the same problem in that they are both far too happy to slow things down instead of constantly play with intensity. When he picks the ball up, plays it forwards and bombs on into the box for the return, he's exceptional, but for some reason he only does it about once every 5 games.

He doesn't get enough credit for his part in winning us our first title, it was his goal against Chelsea that really set us on our way, yet his part in it was eaten up by the Tevez "prodigal son" narrative, despite Tevez's role in the goal being pretty tiny compared to Nasri's. That one two from deep, just like when he scored this season against Everton, devastating, yet not done nearly enough.

He needs to go though, as he's really not suited to being a squad player. He sulks, he's inconsistent, he seems to struggle to stay in shape, he doesn't add energy if you bring him on late in a game and he's defensively unreliable. Pretty much the opposite of what you want from a squad player. No idea how we'd get rid of him though, hard to think of anyone who'd take him off our hands and that he'd be willing to go to.