Julian Alvarez

SAFMUTD

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Shame he's with City, he should be starting for a top team. Would definitely take him here.
 

Red Star One

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This is ridiculous. How the feck they keep him happy playing second fiddle. He'd be a certain starter in almost every team on the planet, yet he choses the bench of a nothing club. Bizarre, I love his talent and would be over the moon if we had him here, but perhaps it's time to question the attitude
 

Noot

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This is ridiculous. How the feck they keep him happy playing second fiddle. He'd be a certain starter in almost every team on the planet, yet he choses the bench of a nothing club. Bizarre, I love his talent and would be over the moon if we had him here, but perhaps it's time to question the attitude
He's not THAT good. He has good games and bad games. At his best you think he could be starting for a top club, true, but he has games where he looks like a competition winner. Same as Ferran Torres.
 

Red Star One

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He's not THAT good. He has good games and bad games. At his best you think he could be starting for a top club, true, but he has games where he looks like a competition winner. Same as Ferran Torres.
He’s way ahead of Ferran and also a World Cup winner, playing an important role in the team and scoring in the process. No doubt he can improve his game and be more consistent, but all is say is that he’s the best reserve striker in the world and no other team have a sub this quality in the times of general drought of strikers. In this market Darwin is worth 80m and Osimhen will go for north of 100m, Alvarez would be worth a fortune too and would easily improve teams like United, Chelsea, Liverpool or Bayern. Too good to be the bench guy and in the shadow of Haaland.
 

Fobal

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He's not THAT good. He has good games and bad games. At his best you think he could be starting for a top club, true, but he has games where he looks like a competition winner. Same as Ferran Torres.
Leaving the "he will start on every club thing aside", that we don't know, because this implies lots of aspects: from coach, to managers etc. that has a lot of influence if a player is a starter or not.

Yet I still think you are selling Alvarez short, City is a team that does not exactly uses him in the best way, he is better suit for a team that constantly puts him in play and take advantage of his runs to space, City it's not that type of team, yet it's a great team that will provide possession, so at a certain moment he would participate anyway.

Julian it's NOT a natural born CRACK or a phenom like Kun was since a boy, but he is extremely technical in every aspect and belongs for me to the sort of "CRACKs in formation", players that increase their game and add stuff to their bag year after year in a very noticeable way.
He is really intelligent, his attitude is always in the right place, runs like if he has three lungs, while being very tactical and generous.

A player that regarding role and characteristics can be associated with Alvarez is Thomas Muller, the kind of jack for all trades intelligent players.

He has some Tevez in him too, regarding the all around game, his role and tenacity, but Tevez was kind of a force of nature personality wise, with all the good and bad this implies.
Alvarez is a very focused and humble fella, but he doesn't have that extra leader stuff Carlos always had.
He also has less dribble than Kun or Carlos and this last aspect also enforces the connection with the German fella, yet don't get me wrong, he can dribble more than fine

Basicly, trust me, you have a lot better player than you think in your hands.
 
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Noot

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Yet I still think you are selling Alvarez short, City is a team that does not exactly uses him in the best way, he is better suit for a team that constantly puts him in play
No, the opposite is true. Passing is easily the weakest part of his game. He gives the ball away with loose passes and heavy touches way too often. He's an excellent finisher and has great movement but he's at his best in a team where he gets involved as little as possible except to score goals.
 

Fobal

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No, the opposite is true. Passing is easily the weakest part of his game. He gives the ball away with loose passes and heavy touches way too often. He's an excellent finisher and has great movement but he's at his best in a team where he gets involved as little as possible except to score goals.
Not really, but anyway what mostly I was referring it's that he needs to receive the ball more when he launches himself into open spaces, or with the back to the rival net to play as pivot in order to get him more involved.

That it's what I was trying to say, most of his goals (till recently that he is receiving more game), he scored them by hustling, going to rebounds, or individual efforts but constant running and pressing without receiving the ball more frequently, drains the stamina of anyone, even Julian, this will also make him risk even more than usual because he feels that it's that one or never, with the ocasional heavy touch due to fatigue.

If City uses him to pivot more, to get him more involve and to receive more balls when he launches, you'll get the better of him, like in some recent games, no matter the role or position, he would always be more like a second forward than a an actual finisher, or strike, unless he converts into one due to City's style.

I know that City trying for instance more through balls, etc it's not a very City thing, that he ain't obviously the focal point of the attack, but for real trust me he is very good in playing any role in the attack and his passing is actually great.
He indeed would always risk the ball more, like the recent assist to Hallaand in the last match, or try fast one touch combinations, because he would always would want to maximize the space and create it.

He doesn't have a heavy touch Noot, far from it, when City understands him fully and risk a bit more or even him and Erling share the pitch more (they have a similar approach regarding being more vertical) , you'll see it, yet it might not happen, since City is pretty fecking successful with pep constant rotation and more mid game.

He didn't start his carreer know, he is a very versatile player, it's just that City tend to over do with midfielders, even Aguero who was all over the picth when young, in City changed his style to mostly striker and Pep asked him to press a lot more, sthg that with Julian he doesn't need to, but Julian doesn't feel that comfortable with being up there waiting, he is not that suitable for that like el Kun who actually embrace it because he is a lazy fecker hahaha.
 

cpresc

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Not a bad season..

- World Cup
- Champions League
- Premier League
- FA Cup

ffs
 

Irrational.

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This is ridiculous. How the feck they keep him happy playing second fiddle. He'd be a certain starter in almost every team on the planet, yet he choses the bench of a nothing club. Bizarre, I love his talent and would be over the moon if we had him here, but perhaps it's time to question the attitude
Money under the table.

Same reason by Aguero, Silva, Kompany never angled for moves away.
 

Bubz27

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Especially as Haaland has been so poor and Alvarez has been in form. Poor Juli.
 

tarc

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He was unbelievable in the last two games, outshined Foden as AM. Never thought he is this good. How he only costed 14 million.
 

Manchester Dan

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Extremely impressed with him so far this season. He has really stepped up in KDBs absence and his output numbers are great. He has a directness and selfishness that I like. If we can somehow find a way to sustain both him & Haaland in the side then you’ll probably need to stick him in your FPL!
 

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He seems to be another player who works extremely well in City's system, playing for the overall direction of the team, not for himself.

I don't want to go all pepcafe because there's lots of teams who've had success like that - Simeone's Atletico, Klopp's Liverpool, Fergie's United.
 

RuudTom83

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When you are winning trophies its easier to keep squad players happy.

It's a lot harder to keep them happy sitting on the bench when the first team is utter shite haha.
 

Varun1

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When you are winning trophies its easier to keep squad players happy.

It's a lot harder to keep them happy sitting on the bench when the first team is utter shite haha.
Certainly success has a part to play but it's also easier when players know they'll be dropped if they don't deliver.

Arsenal is a good example of that - Arteta and Edu were given the freedom to dump their shite and start afresh without spending millions. They were astute, brought in good players, and those players are delivering, partly because there's a clear system in place and partly because they've been quick to move on players who haven't been good enough.
 

RuudTom83

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Certainly success has a part to play but it's also easier when players know they'll be dropped if they don't deliver.

Arsenal is a good example of that - Arteta and Edu were given the freedom to dump their shite and start afresh without spending millions. They were astute, brought in good players, and those players are delivering, partly because there's a clear system in place and partly because they've been quick to move on players who haven't been good enough.
Hmm Arsenal have had a decent 12 months...won nowt...so lets wait and see before applauding them to much.
 

Varun1

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Hmm Arsenal have had a decent 12 months...won nowt...so lets wait and see before applauding them to much.
They've had a good 12 months, not just decent. I think they've overspent on Rice and Havertz, and the latter was not required, but unfortunately, I have to admit that they've gone about things correctly (mostly). I wish we would have done that with our underperforming players instead of rewarding/accepting mediocrity.

My Arsenal mate would tell me that Viera, Lokonga etc were promising players, and that Cedric was cheap while I disagreed, but really those were cheap punts.
 
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Nicoteiro

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I still think that among the young prospects Argentina has, he’s been by far the most overrated by the media and people in general. I think he lacks quality in important things such as ball control and some decision making.
People praises his pressing which is really good. His finishing is also good.

This season he’s been showing great stuff, good combinations along with his pressing. He’s been both creating chances and finishing, very Interesting thing to see. He’s even taking set pieces, almost scored a great free kick last weekend.
He made a good choice by staying at city despite not having enough minutes. He’s young, won it all already and can only improve under Guardiola. Seems like a guy who will listen and improve in many aspects.
Right now, without KDB and Gundogan, he’s been creating for them, he’s done really well. He can take part in almost every offensive phase of the game. For only 14M it’s a bargain really.
 

ThierryHenry14

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Certainly success has a part to play but it's also easier when players know they'll be dropped if they don't deliver.

Arsenal is a good example of that - Arteta and Edu were given the freedom to dump their shite and start afresh without spending millions. They were astute, brought in good players, and those players are delivering, partly because there's a clear system in place and partly because they've been quick to move on players who haven't been good enough.
That is absolutely not true. Arsenal wrote off the value of Ozil, Aubameyang, Pepe, and let go Lacazette, Chambers, Mustafi, Papastathopoulos, Kolasinac, Mkhitaryan for free. That alone is a huge sum for Arsenal, let alone the cost to replace them.
 

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I still think that among the young prospects Argentina has, he’s been by far the most overrated by the media and people in general. I think he lacks quality in important things such as ball control and some decision making.
People praises his pressing which is really good. His finishing is also good.

This season he’s been showing great stuff, good combinations along with his pressing. He’s been both creating chances and finishing, very Interesting thing to see. He’s even taking set pieces, almost scored a great free kick last weekend.
He made a good choice by staying at city despite not having enough minutes. He’s young, won it all already and can only improve under Guardiola. Seems like a guy who will listen and improve in many aspects.
Right now, without KDB and Gundogan, he’s been creating for them, he’s done really well. He can take part in almost every offensive phase of the game. For only 14M it’s a bargain really.
Totally and completely agree.
 

Varun1

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That is absolutely not true. Arsenal wrote off the value of Ozil, Aubameyang, Pepe, and let go Lacazette, Chambers, Mustafi, Papastathopoulos, Kolasinac, Mkhitaryan for free. That alone is a huge sum for Arsenal, let alone the cost to replace them.
You're right but I was thinking more in terms of signings and not the players they let go. While money was spent to terminate some of these players, others left on a free at the end of their contract.
 

Fobal

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I still think that among the young prospects Argentina has, he’s been by far the most overrated by the media and people in general. I think he lacks quality in important things such as ball control and some decision making.
People praises his pressing which is really good. His finishing is also good.

This season he’s been showing great stuff, good combinations along with his pressing. He’s been both creating chances and finishing, very Interesting thing to see. He’s even taking set pieces, almost scored a great free kick last weekend.
He made a good choice by staying at city despite not having enough minutes. He’s young, won it all already and can only improve under Guardiola. Seems like a guy who will listen and improve in many aspects.
Right now, without KDB and Gundogan, he’s been creating for them, he’s done really well. He can take part in almost every offensive phase of the game. For only 14M it’s a bargain really.
He wasn't being overrated in a silly way, it's a praise that even with some extremes, pretty logical.
The lad was a gem in River, that would put you in the spotlight instantly, more when he also played really great in big matches, like against Boca and such.

The whole lack of control/touch at this time is quite silly, like the "Pep" will teach him like if he is a 14 years old player in the academy (of course he will improve becasue he clearly looks like a sponge for anything a coach asks him or give him as a tool and a very pro fella).
But he is from River, not from Sportivo Nowhere, he was under Gallardo already playing lots of different roles and he doesn't lack quality at all, what he has is the urge of a striker in a very polivalente forward, without phenom or genius skills, but clear CRACk ones.
Most of times when he risks too much it's because he has the goal as the "goal", by assiting or scoring and this combine with the excessive (for my taste) pressure he does, sometimes you'll rush some play (more noticeable in a team like City that many times overplays the keep it safe style) and even more when you have to gain a place in clubs like River and City that can send any youngster to oblivion in seconds.

Tevez had that issue many times in his carreer when coaches kind of ask too much of the pressure stuff, or even when him alone played that role excessively to demonstrate some sort of: "I'm here to add and I'll accept a secondary role even if I know a I'm the bizz for the moment till you recognize what you have in your hands".
The thing is that sometimes when both go over the top with it damaging their own image, or perception of them by simply tiring themselves a bit too much during matches, loosing a bit of finesse or even not having better stats playing more for the team.

On a general note and regarding the usal Argie future star tag, there is some true in what you've said, but not because of what you've said of him lacking quality.

The thing with him is that he wasn't born a typical CRACK (even less a phenom or genius type) specially regaridng being from Argentina like if it was in Brazil.

He is the sort of player that evolves in a CRACK, that shows Elite quality from the beggining, but not precisly a 15 years old prodigy, like Aguero, Tevez sort of fella.

In many senses with luck and effort, he could end being the argie Villa, Muller or Raul. And these fellas sometimes have better carreers and are as usefull or even having better carreers than more born Prodigy alike ones.
In that sense, I absolutely agree. But like I posted months ago above, he still is not being appreciated as fully as he deserves, there is to much focus on his touch and we can see it here in Man Utd how more often players regarded more skilled than him loosses the ball a lot more and even risking a lot less and pressuring a lot less either.

Another thing that has more truth to be tag as overrated are his honors, specially regarding the Libertadores he won or to a less extent his CL and some of his titles in general, but at the same time it's pretty easy to notice he has a knack for being a player for big moments, not meaning only against big rivals, but important situations, the out of the blue goal against Fullham last season is a prime example. Or even sillier golas like the one agaisnt Madrid, he just entered and scored with class and of course what he did in the WC.

I trully hope that he becomes the Argie Villa/Muller, I would love that, even thought like in some relation with you have said, I hope that there is some real phenom or even better genius in the making, specially a great dribbler. The NT will need that in the future, the squeleton, the foundatiosn are already quite great butArgentina needs at least a new dribbler CRACK (if it's a phenom or genius (quite unlikely being as belssed as we always have been with those ones) better.

Sorry for the long rant man, not pun at all intended, just some notes I felt was needed to be add.
 
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Righteous Steps

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He wasn't being overrated in a silly way, it's a praise that even with some extremes, pretty logical.
The lad was a gem in River, that would put you in the spotlight instantly, more when he also played really great in big matches, like against Boca and such.

The whole lack of control/touch at this time is quite silly, like the "Pep" will teach him like if he is a 14 years old player in the academy (of course he will improve becasue he clearly looks like a sponge for anything a coach asks him or give him as a tool and a very pro fella).
But he is from River, not from Sportivo Nowhere, he was under Gallardo already playing lots of different roles and he doesn't lack quality at all, what he has is the urge of a striker in a very polivalente forward, without phenom or genius skills, but clear CRACk ones.
Most of times when he risks too much it's because he has the goal as the "goal", by assiting or scoring and this combine with the excessive (for my taste) pressure he does, sometimes you'll rush some play (more noticeable in a team like City that many times overplays the keep it safe style) and even more when you have to gain a place in clubs like River and City that can send any youngster to oblivion in seconds.

Tevez had that issue many times in his carreer when coaches kind of ask too much of the pressure stuff, or even when him alone played that role excessively to demonstrate some sort of: "I'm here to add and I'll accept a secondary role even if I know a I'm the bizz for the moment till you recognize what you have in your hands".
The thing is that sometimes when both go over the top with it damaging their own image, or perception of them by simply tiring themselves a bit too much during matches, loosing a bit of finesse or even not having better stats playing more for the team.

On a general note and regarding the usal Argie future star tag, there is some true in what you've said, but not because of what you've said of him lacking quality.

The thing with him is that he wasn't born a typical CRACK (even less a phenom or genius type) specially regaridng being from Argentina like if it was in Brazil.

He is the sort of player that evolves in a CRACK, that shows Elite quality from the beggining, but not precisly a 15 years old prodigy, like Aguero, Tevez sort of fella.

In many senses with luck and effort, he could end being the argie Villa, Muller or Raul. And these fellas sometimes have better carreers and are as usefull or even having better carreers than more born Prodigy alike ones.
In that sense, I absolutely agree. But like I posted months ago above, he still is not being appreciated as fully as he deserves, there is to much focus on his touch and we can see it here in Man Utd how more often players regarded more skilled than him loosses the ball a lot more and even risking a lot less and pressuring a lot less either.

Another thing that has more truth to be tag as overrated are his honors, specially regarding the Libertadores he won or to a less extent his CL and some of his titles in general, but at the same time it's pretty easy to notice he has a knack for being a player for big moments, not meaning only against big rivals, but important situations, the out of the blue goal against Fullham last season is a prime example. Or even sillier golas like the one agaisnt Madrid, he just entered and scored with class and of course what he did in the WC.

I trully hope that he becomes the Argie Villa/Muller, I would love that, even thought like in some relation with you have said, I hope that there is some real phenom or even better genius in the making, specially a great dribbler. The NT will need that in the future, the squeleton, the foundatiosn are already quite great butArgentina needs at least a new dribbler CRACK (if it's a phenom or genius (quite unlikely being as belssed as we always have been with those ones) better.

Sorry for the long rant man, not pun at all intended, just some notes I felt was needed to be add.
Raul was a prodigy himself.
 

Fobal

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Raul was a prodigy himself.
Not really for me in the sense of physical and technical atributes, with their differences, Villa, Muller and him are the sort of jack for all trades forwards, with more normal athletism and to the very least a 7 in every aspect and yet the mentality of and winning character a phenom, fantastic player. In any case Prodigy is a very loose term, liek the ones I've used of Phenom or Genius above being a Crack.
Yet indeed I can give you the prodigy in sense of being really young when appearing and instantly clicking in the highest enviroment, but he was the sort of player that doesn't born being a Romario and that he works his arse to become and mantein his CRACK status, all the mentioned and hopefully julian follows that style, because Julian neither was born being a Romario