He’ll be at left back. The Gvardiol experiment hasn't worked, defensively!!
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- Thread starter Bubbagump
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Interesting comment.
I'm arguing in a different thread that we had barely two fit CBs from the start of this season (which is equally mad)
Who's the 9?
Ake: Always injured.
Akanji
Stones: Always injured
Dias.
Pusey: Not a Pep option.
The other two EDS guys: It's Pep, even less an option than Pusey.
Gvardiol: Will never play CB for Pep. He's now a LB.
ChicagoBlue
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Tbf, he’s a lot more than just a LB in the City set up.
Depending on who is playing RB, he’s often a LM, and he has been shifted into the LCB position in many games.
With Pep, you have to be a footballer first, then have the positional sense to be able to play multiple roles. I think Gvardiol has done that magnificently.
Aye,
I do wonder if new players coming to the club could be put off by Peps positional jiggerrypokery.
Does Gvadiol really want to be a LB?
Does Jack really like being a winger?
Foden hates playing on the left.
Nunes isn't a defender
You can go on and on.
But Gvardiol, really isn't ever going to be a serious option as CB whilst/if we have genuine CB options no?
I don't see it. I know he can and was brought in for that role, but he's just too useful on the left.
Unless we do something absolutely bonkers like buy a proper LB!
Dias, Akanji, Stones, Gvardiol (he is not a full back. Good going forward, been a liability defensively), Ake, Khusanov, Reis, JSP and Bah. Were not without issues at Centre Half I’d agree, we should have dealt with the Stones fitness issue at least a year ago for example.
However the full back situation is frankly a disgrace for a professional football club. Zero legitimate full backs at the club, where do you even start with that. The squad/succession planning has been a mess for the last 18 months/2 years, after being excellent for the previous decade…
Thankfully it looks like Vianna at Sporting has multiple full backs options, so hopefully he fixes that issue early on…
ChicagoBlue
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I think if we buy a seriously good attacking LB, Gvardiol can become an excellent left footed LCB in a back 3 with Khusanov and a RCB (Reis?). That’d be 3 tall, fast and intelligent defenders.
If you throw an attacking/overlapping RB into that mix, and have the DM hold in front of the two CB, you now have the old 2-1-4-3 that we used to be able to dominate games with…when the personnel allowed it!
Cambiasso (if he signs) will play left back surely. He’s played the majority of games there in the last 2/3 seasons in Serie A. Hopefully he’s not another player that signs and is then played out of position!!
Im with you about Gvardiol being a LCB, and not a LB!!
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you know what’s funny. Cambiasso isn’t better than gvardiol on defense!!
Semper aggressus
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I think Gvardiol would be amazing at centre back, it was the position he played that convinced us to spend about £70m on him. He’s not slow but not quick enough to be an absolute world class full back.
Gvardiol should be centre back and we need to find someone who is the next Phillip Lahm, Ashley Cole or Roberto Carlos. Who is there that level these days? Whoever it is, offer about £100m and get it done.
Gvardiol should be centre back and we need to find someone who is the next Phillip Lahm, Ashley Cole or Roberto Carlos. Who is there that level these days? Whoever it is, offer about £100m and get it done.
Matt Diablo
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He's too quiet for me to be C/B. Pep will make him world class LB though
Well Gvardiol is at the top for mistakes leading to shots/goals here, so was hoping Cambiasso wasn't the same in Italy?
Is Cambiasso as error prone? Seen him a few times and didn’t strike me so, but not seen him loads to be honest!! Will be disappointing to hear if so…
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Gaz (FMwkdsoul)
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Think it'll be a FB switch hitter (Cambiaso or Livramento) and they grab another CB. Don't see much more defensively.
Tevez City
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Any stat that support that ? or its just and observation ?
Eye test. He causes more unforced errors leading to big chances than anyone else on our team.
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Gaz (FMwkdsoul)
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Errors leading to shots = Josko
Errors leading to goals = Akanji
In the prem this season
Tevez City
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I thought that award will go to Nunes
If he has played as many games, perhaps.
Theres at least three in the premier league who could do a cracking job(and available and affordable) in Ait Nouri, Kerkez or Robinson, with our scouting network must be at least 10 worldwide youd think. Id prob take anyone who classes himself as a left back at this stage as its been a million years since we had one.
There is a reason for his stats. He is a progressive passer, he passe the ball a lot, he breaks lines with lines.Here you go pal….
What i would also add, and isn't completely reflected in these stats, he passes the ball inside to the opposition and the opposition have gone onto score not necessarily with their first touch from these unforced errors.
How many of the other guys on the list do that?
Any other of the top clubs defenders that dies what Josko does?
The problem is not Josko’s defending, passing or anything else. He had a rough patch but the problem lies with no solid replacement for Ridri, Akanji being poor, Ake and Boulders being constantly injured and Walker being a liability.
We should build the team around Khush, Josko, Rodri and Haaland. All the other players are dispensable to a smaller or larger extent.