Yeah brilliant footballers to watch, the ones that dictate the game and make others play at their speed always mesmerising to watch.
Verratti
- Thread starter Idxomer
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik @Rood and Imran @Annihilate Now! start with the good news by celebrating Manchester United Women's emphatic FA Cup win over Spurs at Wembley and the future of manager Marc Skinner.
Then it's the bad news and the ever worsening form of our Men with losses to Arsenal and Palace.
Finally the main debate - ETH Out now or keep him until the end of the season - if not longer. Are you Team Nik or Team Imran?
What a feckin beast. Long overdue perhaps, but along with De Bruyne and Kante firmly among top 3 midfielders in the world atm. The fact that he can both tackle and dictate the tempo, makes him somewhat unique though.
Continues to dribble in on or the edge of his own penalty box as he has done for years. One if PSGs biggest weaknesses, they are so casual on the ball in dangerous areas and see them robbed many times.
Yeah, you don't watch Verratti often enough obviously. He really rarely looses the ball when he does that. I don't remember a single goal Verratti caused in this area since he arrived 9 years ago. There isn't a single midfielder in the world that can do what he does close to the box with a ball.
The most press resistant midfielder in the world?
I would say so, yeah.
The best playmaking midfielder in the world currently, since Modric is past his best. Only needs a CL win with PSG. For that, he needs to stay fit. He is a genius.
I want to see someone trying to get the ball from a midfield trio of Verrati-Kovacic-Modric
Pep seems to like him. Good thing is, PSG's owner would rather die than sell Verratti to City.
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Very good.
Did think Gueye was the better midfielder tonight though, he was everywhere.
Did think Gueye was the better midfielder tonight though, he was everywhere.
Pep getting Verratti be bad for the league the guy is all round one of the best no real weaknesses bar injuries
Contract till 2024. Nothing to see here considering PSG had turned down RM offer for MBappe risking him leaving for free. Verratti is always in PSG plan whoever, their DOF and managers are.
Oh I know it wouldn’t just saying if it did. Nevermind the contract based on PSG turning down that money for Mbappe with 1 year left shows they don’t care about offers if they want to keep a player
He’s a great player.
Aesthetics are subjective of course, but for me, him evading the press deep in his own half and spreading the ball around the park is one of the finest sights in world football. Stunning player.
One of the best midfielders of his generation maybe a shame he never played in England or Spain as some still don’t get how good he is.
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I remember some kneejerk clowns calling him overrated and wasted talent after PSG went out in the CL last season. He's always been one of the top midfielders in world football and was happy to see him dominate in the Euros this summer.
He's as press resistant as it gets.
He's as press resistant as it gets.
I watch him plenty, and I did not say he frequently loses the ball. He is ridiculously casual, and I’ve seen a number of times where PSG pass themselves into trouble unnecessarily, and he is a big part of that. I struggle to believe that in 9 years you have rarely seen an occasion where this play has not led to anything other than PSG progressing up the field.
The first half I am with you on. I LOVE seeing Verratti dribble and turn in his box. The composure is incredible to see.
I disagree with you saying there isn't another midfielder who can do that close to his box, though. Arthur and De Jong are the only other two who can do what he does. Those three are on another level at the minute in that regard.
I'd say him, Arthur and De Jong are the top three.
Then you have Amrabat, Lobotka, Leo Sena, Matheus Henrique a ways below them, but still excellent at resisting pressing opposition.
I don't think it will be long until Arsenals Charlie Patino joins the discussion.
Kovacic.
ever i'd say
His star is re-shining.
That's what a world class CM looks like really, the kind of pressing Pep's teams are capable of, he didn't look bothered. Easily one of the best midfielders in the world at this point.
Credit to PSG, they bought him when he was 20. That's great scouting.
Credit to PSG, they bought him when he was 20. That's great scouting.
I'm with you here, him and DeJong are two players I really enjoy watching. So composed under pressure.
Compare that to how teams close down our CMs, opposition pays so much respect to Verratti that they're on the back foot even when pressing and don't do it really aggressively.
I'm with you two, too. It's crazy to think that he was half fit last night. He struggles with injuries every season but whenever he comes back, he rarely misses a beat
All well and good, but does he put in a shift like Fred?
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When have we every had a midfielder like that? I can't recall a midfielder United have had that is similar to Verratti. Perhaps Herrera is the closest?
Those type of midfielder aren't in the United DNA it seems. We need to alter our DNA so technically gifted players like Verratti are welcomed at United.
This is my feeling about Man Utd’s midfield in a tweet. Other than Pogba, no player in our midfield including Bruno looks secure in possession. Matic in his prime could retain the ball- DVB might be able to. But McFred are the opposite of Calm and assured on the ball.
Scholes circa 06-08 the closest we’ve had, but obviously different in some ways.
I will have to watch Scholes during that period again. I don't think he was as elegant in possession as Verratti.
Pep to PSG before this season is up.
Not enough Pedri mentions in this “press resistant midfielders” conversation. Not at the level of Verratti and De Jong in that aspect yet, but is fantastic at that too and will be up there soon enough.
Has to be one of Juve’s biggest regrets. No reason they should have allowed PSG to sign him from Pescara.
Keane hardly ever wasted the ball - Ferguson loved that about him.
They haggled too much and too long - Locatelli style - and PSG swooped in. 9 years ago, Juve didn't think they would lose out to PSG
Busquets, Modric, Pedri - funnily de Jong doesn't strike me as press resistant, though I might be wrong.
Alcohol, cigarettes and nightclubs are his weaknesses. Pep would lose his mind with Verratti.
He's press resistant but yesterday he was dispossessed 4 times which was more than anyone else on the pitch except Neymar.