So, I’m not from UK so I really don’t know what your thoughts are about this little guy.
I saw many tweets criticizing him (and Pep for making him play out of position) which is completely normal and fine in any fanbase of any sport (thou, some fans are just malicious with some unfair critics like he is garbage).
So what do you think guys? I don’t think he’s in his best level right now but sometimes it seems people forget he never plays in his position. For example, vs Liverpool he played in the midfield on the left side which is the first time I saw him play there. (Maybe on champions league in Leipzig he played in the same position?)
I would say he’s losing many easy balls – but also he has a different touch. He is a great finisher and gives a lot of good passes. It’s pretty obvious he’s not comfortable but also has a good attitude and always helps with defense.
by ivanuwu1996
17 comments
He was absolutely trash against Liverpool, but solid in all the other games he’s played.
He’s good, but only when played as a striker and (sometimes) as an AM. Not as versatile as Foden or Stones, but still great
I don’t think he’s good enough to start as often as he does. When he’s contributing goals and assists they can hide it, otherwise it’s just handicapping the team.
Not accurate enough at passing. Really has to be toughen up to press during attack.
Victim of his own success.
Fantastic player when played in a position that suits him. St, cf, f9.
However, he’s press resistant, can pick a pass, and is decent at long shooting. This is why he gets shoe horned into weird positions by pep.
Unfortunately for him, he’s here at the same time as the cyborg.
Goals 6/10 skyrockets
Build up play 50/50
Assist 7/10
I enjoy watching him play but not over foden so it’s weird for me.
perfect player too move around and cover any position behind Silva foden
He’s not a winger or a true 10, and yet those are the positions he’s played the most this season. I think Pep and the club are in a tough position since I think they’re worried they would lose him if he’s not playing consistently. Only problem is he’s got Haaland in front of him on the starting 11 and Haaland is literally never going to be behind him unless he’s injured or it’s a cup competition.
On a slightly different note, the squad is just weaker this season. Losing both Mahrez and Gundogan has been a serious blow to the starting 11. Yes, we’ve signed Kovacic, Nunes, and Doku, but players notoriously have a hard time immediately playing Pep’s style of football and it’s resulted in a team that just looks off it.
He’s a class player on his day and probably one of the best 9s in the league but haaland is there and unfortunately for him , he joined at the same time as haaland . When he’s played out of position he becomes inconsistent, he’s sometimes played as a CAM or even as a CM and then he’s pretty average , sometimes even invisible and just straight up irritating to watch
bro is a striker or a #10 at worst he shouldnt be playing anywhere else and everytime he had a stinker its always because he’s playing other roles that he had no business doing and its frustrating because he’s a very good player & actually underrated. his linkup with foden is fantastic but problem lies when you’re not letting them linkup by playing him on the left and hanging foden dry on the right touchline. so reality is, his best position is striker, #10 or off the bench.
good season so far, but simply not good enough to play his current “role”
Great n9 but also proven to be great SS. But since pep doesnt do 2 people up front he keeps putting him in wierd positions. Julian treats the ball like a hot potato, so when it comes to holding the ball and pushing it forward from the middle of the pitch he loses it often. If pep is adamant about playing haaland as the sole forward he might lose julian next year. There is no reason to keep him in the midfield with all the midfield talent we have and more to come.
He’s better than Haaland, just not getting the game time
Not the finished product. Misses more than he hits the target. Bad first touch at times and often makes the wrong pass. This would not matter so much if he was playing for a mid table side, but he’s playing alongside world-class players in a side aspiring to win a treble. Give him a couple of seasons of experience and training with the worlds best and there’s a good chance he’ll belong.
He’s had ups and downs I think it’s hard for pep to accommodate for him and haaland
He’s scored multiple free kicks this season, assisted from a corner, 27 G/A assist so far, 3rd most goal contributions for us this season and stepped up with Foden while KDB and Haaland were out all while being played out of position many times. I’m giving him a 7.5/10 at the very least
Edit: and scored a brace in the cwc final
in his natural position, he’d be an indisputable starter in pretty much any other elite team, but Haaland.
As everyone say, I agree he is not playing in his real position, at least so far in the season. For me is an excellent player but is tough his current status of playing here and there, haaland is the real 9. But he did a great job replacing him when he was injured.
I think he loses too many balls and is relate to this, but he needs to improve his first touch. I could say the same about doku, knows how to have the ball, but not when to pass
His first touch is really lackluster.