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Suarez was serving a ban for months so had played no football. Not quite the sameIt even took World class player like Suarez 6 months to settle in at Barcelona. Don't think this is an issue..
Played really well tonight.
Suarez was serving a ban for months so had played no football. Not quite the sameIt even took World class player like Suarez 6 months to settle in at Barcelona. Don't think this is an issue..
Played really well tonight.
Suarez started his first game on Oct 25th but scored his first La Liga goal on Dec 20th. Till Feb 21st he had scored just 4 league goals in 15 games. Whatever the excuse was, that's a very slow start. Same with Modric, he didn't start well and took time before producing world class performances.Suarez was serving a ban for months so had played no football. Not quite the same
No they just press at a slower pace and aren't instructed to press and close down the opposition as fast as they can as soon as they lose possession where as many of the premier league teams will be instructed to do that. Use your common sense. Some teams stand off and play in lines, other teams press and close down the ball in numbers whenever they lose possession.Slower and softer pressure? How does that work? Do they only pretend to press or something?
Edit: it does sound as if just because the Europa is a lesser league, then everything that happens in it must be of a lesser quality.
Thing is I remember Pogba being pressed and escaping a few times in that game; and the pressing did not look any less intense than your average, run of the mill premiership team would accomplish. So, using my common sense, as you so wisely advise, I have to the conclusion that it is nonsensical to claim the pressing was slow and soft.No they just press at a slower pace and aren't instructed to press and close down the opposition as fast as they can as soon as they lose possession where as many of the premier league teams will be instructed to do that. Use your common sense. Some teams stand off and play in lines, other teams press and close down the ball in numbers whenever they lose possession.
To be fair, isn't that largely because of a history of PL teams not really taking the competition seriously and resting key players in it, etc?Thing is I remember Pogba being pressed and escaping a few times in that game; and the pressing did not look any less intense than your average, run of the mill premiership team would accomplish. So, using my common sense, as you so wisely advise, I have to the conclusion that it is nonsensical to claim the pressing was slow and soft.
It just seems like that sort of generalisation that comes from thinking the Europa is shittier than the EPL, never mind the fact most premiership teams that have played in it haven't impressed.
Perhaps, partially; but how many premiership teams have even come close to winning it? Eventually, most of them get knocked out fair and square.To be fair, isn't that largely because of a history of PL teams not really taking the competition seriously and resting key players in it, etc?
Same with Bale, Neymar, Ozil etc.Suarez started his first game on Oct 25th but scored his first La Liga goal on Dec 20th. Till Feb 21st he had scored just 4 league goals in 15 games. Whatever the excuse was, that's a very slow start. Same with Modric, he didn't start well and took time before producing world class performances.
Not when they reach finals and keep getting beat by Sevilla.To be fair, isn't that largely because of a history of PL teams not really taking the competition seriously and resting key players in it, etc?
Lets wait and see what happens tomorrow, against CFC.So to the people who think there's a baby elephant in the room. Is it shrinking?
No doubt about it.Another knee jerk thread that will be laughed at ad infinitum.
Hate to say it but he's been completely anonymous or worse in nearly every game for us so far. I really, really hope it's just down to his age and the transition from Serie A to the Premier League but have a nagging voice at the back of my head reminding me of how the Di Maria experiment went.
What I don't understand is why he isn't playing the game he was playing so effectively at Juventus. For them he was running through the centre of the pitch with the ball like Yaya Toure was when he first came to the country, but with more skill. For us he just seems to play the simple pass and try to get into a position to hit a shot from 35 yards all the time.
We need midfielders who can beat a man, not a poor imitation of Frank Lampard.
You don't even know what you're talking about. Pogba's main strength is his ability to play short quick passes in tight spaces. I bet you never regularly watched Pogba play at Juventus.Who were those having a go at me for saying that Pogba can't play at premier league pace and that he was only good against Fenerbache because he is given more time and space on the ball.
It's plain to see he cannot perform when pressured on the ball or when the pace of the game increases. He needs time on the ball to think and most premier league teams will have nabbed it off you or closed you down within that time. I really hope he can adjust but maybe Fergie was right about him and maybe this is why he wasn't deemed ready when he was on the fringes of our first team years ago.
What Pogba was able to do at Juventus is irrelevant and not indicative of what he'll be able to achieve on the EPL. The footballing style and speed are so different.You don't even know what you're talking about. Pogba's main strength is his ability to play short quick passes in tight spaces. I bet you never regularly watched Pogba play at Juventus.
Many players learn their foundational skills and habits between the ages of 18-22. Pogba habituated his foundational skills in the slower and less physically demanding Italian Serie A at a very influenceable period in his career.
The obvious problem is Serie A is a very different footballing philosophy to the English Premier League; every single overseas player comments on how fast and physical they find it.
Mourinho's recently said he expected a transition so hopefully Pogba is simply adjusting and all will eventually be well, or his habits and skills are set for life and he wont ever make the impact.
I hope beyond hope its not the latter. But I do think I was right to point raise this issue: it is concerning.
can you name some from Italy? who adjusted at the very highest levels?There are many players who came from other leagues (developed in other leagues) and had fantastic careers in PL.
Zolacan you name some from Italy? who adjusted at the very highest levels?
Alexis Sanchez. You're right that its not an abundance of them in the PL though.can you name some from Italy? who adjusted at the very highest levels?
Is that simply that not many top players moved from Italy to the PL?Alexis Sanchez. You're right that its not an abundance of them in the PL though.
Is that simply that not many top players moved from Italy to the PL?
I mean to do this properly, you would need to compare the proportion of like for like transfers from other leagues, then observe that the proportion from Italy was significantly lower than others to come to the conclusion those that move from Italy fail to adjust.
I think it is as much a pile of bollocks as I have seen on the Caf.
What point has he?He's got a good point, though....
Yeah could be, idk. A sneaky little bias against Italians based on our history perhaps, e.g. Veron, Taibi, Rossi - all disappointments for us.Is that simply that not many top players moved from Italy to the PL?
You should get out more then!Is that simply that not many top players moved from Italy to the PL?
I mean to do this properly, you would need to compare the proportion of like for like transfers from other leagues, then observe that the proportion from Italy was significantly lower than others to come to the conclusion those that move from Italy fail to adjust.
I think it is as much a pile of bollocks as I have seen on the Caf.
If I'm wrong, then we've been completely hoodwinked by Juventus as Pogba has been utterly average so far because he is that: a very average playerIs that simply that not many top players moved from Italy to the PL?
I mean to do this properly, you would need to compare the proportion of like for like transfers from other leagues, then observe that the proportion from Italy was significantly lower than others to come to the conclusion those that move from Italy fail to adjust.
I think it is as much a pile of bollocks as I have seen on the Caf.
For sure I often wonder what I could do with the time I spend on here. Could be worse, though: there are those, based on post count per day, who clearly need a life; never mind getting out more.You should get out more then!
What Donkeyfish said - not an abundance of Italian players have made it in the EPL....What point has he?
Desailly, Vieira, Henry, Zola, Di Canio, Di Matteo, Alexis Sanchez, Ravanell, Coutinho, Bergkamp, Petrescu and ancient versions of Davids, Gullit and Cambiasso. All played in Italy before coming to England and all were good to brilliant over here.can you name some from Italy? who adjusted at the very highest levels?