You laugh but it's already been 3 years since his breakout season with Monaco in 16-17. Not sure we have seen another player of that level of talent till Joao Felix.
Joao Felix
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik and Imran hold a long overdue conversation about United's awful league form with 1 win in 7. They discuss a disappointing draw at Bournemouth, a not so disappointing draw against Liverpool and a crushing defeat at Chelsea - Is time nearly over for Erik Ten Hag?
Then in a special second half of the pod, Nik welcomes Natalie ( https://twitter.com/natalie_17) to discuss the fortunes of Manchester United Women as they booked a place in the FA Cup Final after a historic first ever win vs. Chelsea.
Well we've seen De Ligt and Sancho who are both very highly regarded. But it's funny because you make it seem like a long time.
Seriously, people here already proclaiming him as the future Ballon'dor winner after half a season in a second-tier league? Especially now taking that one run as an example in a game he was very poor in. And also I'm not sure if it was the best move for him to come to Simeone's team if he persists to play his traditional style instead of a more expansive style he was trying in the pre-season. In the 60 min I watched of the game yesterday, they had what, 2 shots? We have all seen these talented but highly hyped-up youngsters who did it for a season or two even in first-tier leagues like Pato, Robinho, Oscar (?) etc and disappear into mediocrity. Good on him if he can fulfill his potential unlike the others, but there is more chance of Felix to be playing for some mid-table Spanish team than being a Ballon'dor winner in 5-6 years time.
Felix is going to be a Ballon d'Or contender, he is a generational talent. A player like Felix, Havertz or even Dybala behind our striker would have added another dimension to our attack. I'm not against Lingard, Pereira or Mata, but we should aim higher.
He was awful today. Doubt he plays ahead of Guedes again any time soon. Things may not come off and a player can have a bad day but if you come in at half time 2-0 down at least show some effort, press the ball and try to do something... didn't even bother to be a passing option, just kept hiding.
Had some nice moments for Atletico during preseason and some already hailed them spending 120m+ on him as some sort of success.
Was always a big risk & hopefully he still matures and develops, but he has a long way to go.
Was always a big risk & hopefully he still matures and develops, but he has a long way to go.
Blows very hot and cold in the games for Atletico so far. You won't even know he is on the pitch then he has one moment of brilliance, rinse and repeat. Will need to build on his consistency.
That's how I've always seen him personally, he's a poacher who's sometimes capable of great football too. Not a million miles off Griezmann in style I suppose which is maybe why they bought him.
For all the defects Guedes has, at least he tries hard and shows attitude. If only Guedes decision making was good, he would be a hell of a player.
Was hailed as a Ballon d'Or winner during the preseason. He's got his feet back on Earth now.
Yeah hopefully Felix can improve and give this team another big threat in time for the Euros because even though Guedes has been pretty good he’s a limited player in some aspects.
and I got slaughtered for laughing at his ridiculous price.
Not surprised. A proper league campaign and that too in a tough league like La Liga is always the true test. At the same time he's still so young there's always a chance he develops well and the fee looks alright again in further inflated market.
He's a young kid in a new country, so his form should be expected really. Erratic play is the most common fault in a youngster and isn't really ironed out until their early to mid 20s. I still believe he will be a world class player, but no one should expect him to be one already regardless of the price.
120m or not does nothing to change the consistency rate for a youngster, he will be on it and off it for a couple of years to come. He has potential to become one of the best but still early days.
Yeah that’s fair. Just hopefully he doesn’t get dragged down by the price tag. Lots of time on his side.
I still think he has it. The problem I see is Simeone's Atletico is probably not the best place to develop for him with their focus on defending and their current lack of great strikers.
120m was a mental price for someone who had only played in the Portuguese League. That's not to say he isn't a huge talent or whatever but I was shocked Benfica got that much for him, usually you don't need sums anywhere near that high for players only showing it in a league outside the big five. I guess the Europa League performances had a bit impact on that, but flashes in a tournament like that don't generally lead to such huge prices.
He flourishes when deployed from the back so he can face the opposition forward. On his defense, on the NT Santos places him too far ahead on the pitch and playing with the back to the goal was always a weakness from his game. He's not suited to be a regular forward who lures defenders int his zone to mark him.
The truth is Atletico was not the only team to bid, but was the only one who could pay the release clause by the book.
generational talent, will win ballon dor, 120m steal
Fair enough. Atletico usually do pretty well with signings and their scouting department knows a hell of a lot more than I do, but it just did seem to be an astronomical fee to spend given the context.
A huge amount of money for Benfica to receive as well, did you re-invest it properly in the summer or did it get banked?
Most of it got banked to pay the huge debt we have, and other went into some strange deals with Mendes (something usual in Portugal too). We just spent 15M€ in Carlos Vinicius, a guy who's best season was a couple of years ago at Rio Ave and we've spent 20M€ in an ex-Real Madrid youth talent named Raul de Tomás (he's 24 y.o. now).
Raul de Tomás is actually a player with very high ability on the ball, but lacks composure to score the chances.
The carousel Mendes strikes again
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It's a general problem of Atletico squad. I don't think Simeone is getting into the players. He complains about a different player every week.
Too much, too quick. A big price tag always makes it harder for younger players to shine because they feel they have to be Messi in every game. Not possible.
Bench him for a few games, get him out the spotlight and then slowly bring him back in later.
Bench him for a few games, get him out the spotlight and then slowly bring him back in later.
Confidence looks shot, with hindsight pretty obviously should have stayed at Benfica for at least a couple more seasons. Hopefully he'll turn it around, not nice to see a player's career ruined by stupid money move at barely 20 years old.
Can't really blame them for banking the €120m odd though!
Or it's just Simeone not handling his strikers. Don't any manager has gone through as many strikers. Some immeaditely made impact elsewhere when they left him (Jimenez, Mandzukic).
Simeone strikes me as a manager that you need to have a certain personality in order to do your job well.
It's not like Atlético score a lot of goals anyways. With Griezmann there were about 4-7 teams that scored more than them.
He looked good on the ball in the games i've watched, but playing quite deep and a lot more like an attacking mid in his instincts than a striker. Could be that even if he succeeds at Atletico or elsewhere at a big club he's not going to be a great goalscorer at that level.
More like a Figo type creative player when I’ve seen him. Simeone is not the best manager to get a tune out of him either.
He’s been brilliant in parts of games this season but the fee has given him a lot of unnecessary pressure too early in his career.
I actually think the manager who would get a tune out of him would be Mourinho playing him in the attack midfield / support striker role he used with Lampard at Chelsea.
He’s been brilliant in parts of games this season but the fee has given him a lot of unnecessary pressure too early in his career.
I actually think the manager who would get a tune out of him would be Mourinho playing him in the attack midfield / support striker role he used with Lampard at Chelsea.
He hasnt been good at all. Lets be honest guys.
A talent for sure, but overhyped and overpriced.
I see alot of a.madrid and he has been subpar.
A talent for sure, but overhyped and overpriced.
I see alot of a.madrid and he has been subpar.
I haven't watched him because I refuse to watch Atletico Madrid. It's a torture ever since 2014 more or less.
But almost all attacking players do badly there. Funnily enough, Felipe is being lauded as their best transfer and he's a butcher type center back, while more flamboyant Lodi, Trippier and Felix aren't creating much fireworks
But almost all attacking players do badly there. Funnily enough, Felipe is being lauded as their best transfer and he's a butcher type center back, while more flamboyant Lodi, Trippier and Felix aren't creating much fireworks
Hard for someone with flair to succeed in an anti footballing environment.
How's he been generally this season? Disappointing tonight
Yeh so many chances to play someone through and he just takes a tame shot. Although it’s hard for anyone creative to flourish when you’re set up how Atlético are. At times it’s been him vs the entire Liverpool defence.
I didn't watch him but 6 goals and 2 assists in whole season for 120 mil is pretty awful imo.
I said it since the beginning max I would pay for him is 60M and even that is way too much considering he was not even the best player in Portugal.
Started season ok, confidence got destroyed, been pretty woeful since. Atletico been awful to watch this season mainly so haven't watched as many games as usual.
Should have stayed with Benfica couple more seasons at least.
Went to the worst possible team for a technical player at a stage where he is beginning his development. Watching this game you wouldn't know that correa and koke a very technical players.
