Toni Kroos

[Dax777]

I think you're slightly missing the point on Kroos. He'll be playing as a Pivote / deep lying playmaker with two midfielders in front of him pressing the ball. It won't be his job to win tackles and put people under pressure. That's the job of the two guys in front of him. If that resistence is broken, the strategy will be for the whole team to drop back in to a defensive shape, each holding a position. It's likely teams are going to try and hit us early on the break as we'll be playing a high line.

This is a world removed from how Yaya was exposed defensively last season. He was exposed because we were constantly outnumbered in the middle of the park and our two man midfield got outnumbered and overran. I'm willing to bet any figure you like that not a single team is going to outnumber us in midfield next season. I can't recall a game in Guardiola's career where that has happened. Yet Pellegrini set us up that way for two full seasons.

Kroos' job won't be to win the ball back. It will be to take the ball off the defenders, dictate play, set the tempo from deep and hold his position.

Shael,

Take a look at the Pogba touches video. Ignore Pogba and pay close attention to Kroos. You'd see some disturbing attributes YOU used to complain about regarding Yaya. On multiple occasions, he shoesc no interest in joining in the defensive effort. Watch his actions when Griezmann scores. He just stands above the 18, watching proceedings lime a paying fan.

Not that it was his job to mark Griezmann. But there is Pogba with the ball at the corner inside his team's box and he leisurely just watches.

On 2 occasions you see Hector and Draxler run past him to go hell on defense, Kroos is barely jogging. On the Second it was Can and someone else. He often showed no interest in getting back into play once the ball got behind him.

These are worrying traits. Bit Domalino is trying to paper over it by saying he was playing 10, whatever that means. These are worrying characteristics regardless of where he plays.

Effort when your team is out of position should be none negotiable for everyone. Talk less a Central midfielder.

 

[Akiva]

Are people seriously questioning Kroos based on one Euros game? The guy with the highest number of passes and completion % in the tournament?

Kroos is world class, perhaps even the best at what he does. That's not just my opinion, that's Pep's too.

People need to stop pointing to the Euros and saying "see, told you he's not so good!" That applies for Pogba too.

 

[Dax777]

Are people seriously questioning Kroos based on one Euros game? The guy with the highest number of passes and completion % in the tournament?

Kroos is world class, perhaps even the best at what he does. That's not just my opinion, that's Pep's too.

People need to stop pointing to the Euros and saying "see, told you he's not so good!" That applies for Pogba too.

Like who for example?

 

[KCblue]

must have watched a different game.

Shots: Kroos 2, Pogba 2. Blocks: Kroos 1, Pogba 0. Clearances: Kroos 1, Pogba 2. Interceptions: Kroos 1, Pogba 1. Aerial Duels won: Kroos 2, Pogba 0. Tackles: Kroos 2/3, Pogba 0/3. Take-ons: Kroos 5/6, Pogba 3/3, Chances created: Kroos 2, Pogba 2, Passing: Kroos 84 pass (89% accuracy), Pogba 29 passes (82% accuracy).

Pogba didn't have a very good game IMO, and those numbers back it up. As you've shown, even regardless of the comparison Pogba had 2 shots, zero blocks, 2 clearances, 1 interception, zero aerial duels won, zero tackles, two chances created, and only 29 passes at 82% accuracy. World record bid type of player eh?

Yaya was a good player, Kroos is currently a good player

Exactly. Yaya COULD have fulfilled this role in Pep's team, but not at this point of his career. FWIW I think Kroos is a MUCH better passer of the ball. Even if you look at Yaya's passing statistics from last season let's remember how many short passes and backwards passes he made every game.

That's exactly what I mean about him dictating the possession and pace of our play, how many times did we see it last season where we had possession of the ball and we "slowed" the play down to nigh on walking pace through Yaya side to side, back, middle, side to side?

When Kroos gets the ball his first thought is forward, same as KDB, both Pep style players

See previous point. There is the big difference between Kroos and Yaya, and I think Sergio could score a fuckload of goals if he had De Bruyne, Kroos, Gundogan, Silva, and Nolito feeding him.

Now for the good bit:
Passes completed: Kroos 2277, Gundogan 1776, Fernandinho 1636, Yaya 1589, Pogba 1417.
Pass Completion %: Kroos 94, Gundogan 88, Fernandinho 87, Yaya 86, Pogba 83.
Dispossessed: Kroos 28, Gundogan 51, Fernandinho 59, Yaya 73 & Pogba 178.
Dribbles Completed %: Yaya 78, Kroos 76, Gundogan 69, Fernandinho 67 & Pogba 61.
Shots on Target %: Pogba 31, Yaya 30, Gundogan 28, Kroos 20, Fernandinho 17.
Aerial Duel Win %: Pogba 65, Gundogan 50, Fernandinho 49, Yaya 49 & Kroos 42.

So if Pogba could use the ball like Kroos & wasn't a greedy bastard, then yeah he'd definitely be here. As that's not the case, I think Kroos is more than adept. Kroos is the facilitator that feeds the rest of the team endlessly, incredible stats really. Pogba's a more flamboyant and ambitious box to box kind of player, but much more erratic and inconsistent and at neither end of the pitch is he the huge chasms ahead of Kroos some say he is. Yes he dribbles 100 more times but he also loses the ball 150 more times and completes over 800 fewer passes.

That could be our midfield next year. Unbelievable.

And JoeMercer'sWay said all you need to know on the comparisons on Pogba and Kroos. Pogba to the rags might appease them, but he would be far too dysfunctional in Pep's system whereas Kroos is literally the perfect midfielder for it. If we had Kroos, Gundogan, and Fernandinho our midfield would boss the fucking league. End of.

 

[yayas trusty right foot]

i think we could see a new Yaya this season if he wants it..

last season he was unfit and bored, if he loses weight and regains interest , he will be like a new signing..

the training videos over the next couple of weeks will reveal all.

 

[Phil1]

I really hope we don't buy Kroos.

I really hope you can tell us why.

 

[supercity88]

552 out of 557 is over 99%

522 sorry!

 

[johnmc]

522 sorry!

Carry on.

 

[Marvin]

Pogba didn't have a very good game IMO, and those numbers back it up. As you've shown, even regardless of the comparison Pogba had 2 shots, zero blocks, 2 clearances, 1 interception, zero aerial duels won, zero tackles, two chances created, and only 29 passes at 82% accuracy. World record bid type of player eh?



Exactly. Yaya COULD have fulfilled this role in Pep's team, but not at this point of his career. FWIW I think Kroos is a MUCH better passer of the ball. Even if you look at Yaya's passing statistics from last season let's remember how many short passes and backwards passes he made every game.



See previous point. There is the big difference between Kroos and Yaya, and I think Sergio could score a fuckload of goals if he had De Bruyne, Kroos, Gundogan, Silva, and Nolito feeding him.



That could be our midfield next year. Unbelievable.

And JoeMercer'sWay said all you need to know on the comparisons on Pogba and Kroos. Pogba to the rags might appease them, but he would be far too dysfunctional in Pep's system whereas Kroos is literally the perfect midfielder for it. If we had Kroos, Gundogan, and Fernandinho our midfield would boss the fucking league. End of.

I like your midfield of Kroos, Gundogan and Fernandinho, but where's Silva and KDB? I look at City's squad and I try and put it into a 11, and I have trouble with KDB and Silva.

 

[richards30]

Really hope we can get kroos! World class player and him and gundogan in our midfield with dinho would be up there with the best in the world!