Oleksandr Zinchenko: The most underrated player in the PL?

simplyared · May 6, 2021

Still only 24 yrs young. Plays as if he was born a City fan. Born in the Ukraine but impressive to see such comittment for his club.
For me he represents a typical modern day attacking full back.
Certainly a class act who has improved his defensive qualities as well. Doesn't get much of a mention hence the reason for me wanting to start this thread.
Get the imptression he's not so popular on the Caf but if we can forget he plays for City and yet another player who has developed under Guardiola, then we can give credit where it's due.
Plenty of top class LB's in the PL right now with Shaw probably the best of em all. However I'd put him on a level just behind Robertson. Definalely on a par with Chillwell.
Whatever grossly underrated imo!

ShoePolish · May 6, 2021

I love seeing him on team sheet whenever we meet city. Seems as an obvious weak spot to exploit. Only plays because City's big money LB turned out a massive dud. Still decent back-up mind, but with someone like City, who has cash to burn, don't think he's somebody on par with some of the other talent they have.

Pagh Wraith · May 6, 2021

Decent rapper too.

Sandikan · May 6, 2021

Certainly seems to have improved from a player your initial thought was is "shj!te". He's been looking fairly solid and a credible contender for that left back role now, instead of emergency cover.

Can't stand him though, such an aggressive hateful demeanour.

Demyanenko_square_jaw · May 7, 2021

He's really a midfielder rather than a natural LB. His most impressive performances imo have been there for the national team over the past 2 years, the Euro qualifiers especially.

I respect his mental strength to keep working hard for a place in the City team, more than i rate him as a player, it would have been very easy to get completely lost moving to City from the level he was at beforehand. He's good, solid on the ball but i don't think has any really big qualities other than his determination and capacity for hard work.

adexkola · May 7, 2021

ShoePolish said:
I love seeing him on team sheet whenever we meet city. Seems as an obvious weak spot to exploit. Only plays because City's big money LB turned out a massive dud. Still decent back-up mind, but with someone like City, who has cash to burn, don't think he's somebody on par with some of the other talent they have.

This rarely happens.

He's been excellent down the late stretch. He's improved his defending. Can stretch the field or tuck into midfield. Played key roles in both goals against PSG. Isn't named Zinadinho so he isn't rated. Further proof of Guardiola's adaptability which conveniently gets ignored. Definitely a top 3-5 LB this season in the league (Shaw's the only clear superior)

OnlyTwoDaSilvas · May 7, 2021

He's been good whenever I've seen City this season. Very solid, without really being outstanding.

He's an unconvincing hardman though, akin to Jack Wilshere. He does seem to like the puff his chest out and square up to everyone, but he's got the face of an 11 year old.

AR87 · May 7, 2021

adexkola said:
This rarely happens.

He's been excellent down the late stretch. He's improved his defending. Can stretch the field or tuck into midfield. Played key roles in both goals against PSG. Isn't named Zinadinho so he isn't rated. Further proof of Guardiola's adaptability which conveniently gets ignored. Definitely a top 3-5 LB this season in the league (Shaw's the only clear superior)

It rarely happens because of the quality of players surrounding him and his general conservative nature going forward. Shaw, Robertson, Chillwell, Reguilon, and Tierney are all definitely superior. He's not top 3-5 at his position at all and it has nothing to do with his name.

roonster09 · May 7, 2021

AR87 said:
It rarely happens because of the quality of players surrounding him and his general conservative nature going forward. Shaw, Robertson, Chillwell, Reguilon, and Tierney are all definitely superior. He's not top 3-5 at his position at all and it has nothing to do with his name.

You can add Creswell too, he was so good this season playing both as LCB and LB. James Justin was fantastic before his injury and he even played more than Zinchenko.

giorno · May 7, 2021

adexkola said:
This rarely happens.

He's been excellent down the late stretch. He's improved his defending. Can stretch the field or tuck into midfield. Played key roles in both goals against PSG. Isn't named Zinadinho so he isn't rated. Further proof of Guardiola's adaptability which conveniently gets ignored. Definitely a top 3-5 LB this season in the league (Shaw's the only clear superior)

He's a backup at City. So at the very least his own manager rates Cancelo above him...

Glorio · May 7, 2021

Unfortunately for him, when watching from a distance he looks like De Bruyne because of his hair and similar looking shirt number.
That just means whenever he's on the ball, you expect a bit of magic, do a double take and then go "oh that's just the ordinary one".

Can't be good for his street cred, that.

DWelbz19 · May 7, 2021

Eh, an okay player in a good patch of form playing for a fantastic side. He was dreadful earlier in the year. This is the same City side who were winning domestic trebles with Fabian Delph playing in the position he's currently in.

harms · May 7, 2021

This is a really lovely story of a guy who refused to leave the club on multiple occasions (to move to a weaker club where he could’ve assumed a central role) only to become an important member of the squad (despite playing in an unnatural position with tons of expensive alternatives). It’s hard to dislike him.

SqualorVictoria · May 7, 2021

giorno said:
He's a backup at City. So at the very least his own manager rates Cancelo above him...

He doesn't really at the moment, although a lot depends on the opponent and the back four. If Laporte provides the left-footedness and Walker tucks in as almost the third CB on the right, then it makes sense to allow either Cancelo or Zinchenko the freedom. But Zinchenko has proven he is very reliable and solid even as the more conservative lefty 'third CB', allowing Walker or Cancelo to make more runs.

arthurka · May 7, 2021

harms said:
This is a really lovely story of a guy who refused to leave the club on multiple occasions (to move to a weaker club where he could’ve assumed a central role) only to become an important member of the squad (despite playing in an unnatural position with tons of expensive alternatives). It’s hard to dislike him.

Agree.
It was hard not to feel happy for him after the PSG game he looked absolutely ecstatic.

Verminator · May 7, 2021

Glorio said:
Unfortunately for him, when watching from a distance he looks like De Bruyne because of his hair and similar looking shirt number.
That just means whenever he's on the ball, you expect a bit of magic, do a double take and then go "oh that's just the ordinary one".

Can't be good for his street cred, that.

I completely relate to this.

Sergioooo · May 7, 2021

roonster09 said:
You can add Creswell too, he was so good this season playing both as LCB and LB. James Justin was fantastic before his injury and he even played more than Zinchenko.

Honestly you're talking utter nonsense

Zinchenko is miles better than Creswell and Justin.

He's brilliant for us against the bid sides and completely changed the game against PSG in the first leg

roonster09 · May 7, 2021

Sergioooo said:
Honestly you're talking utter nonsense

Zinchenko is miles better than Creswell and Justin.

He's brilliant for us against the bid sides and completely changed the game against PSG in the first leg

Honestly you have your head so far higher up your arse, you can't see anything else.

Oranges038 · May 7, 2021

He's ok. But could he cut it at West Ham?

adexkola · May 7, 2021

AR87 said:
It rarely happens because of the quality of players surrounding him and his general conservative nature going forward. Shaw, Robertson, Chillwell, Reguilon, and Tierney are all definitely superior. He's not top 3-5 at his position at all and it has nothing to do with his name.

Not this season. He's been very good.

And if the quality of players surrounding him is the reason why he's rarely exposed, why doesn't Mendy get the same protection? It's a lazy line, that one.

giorno said:
He's a backup at City. So at the very least his own manager rates Cancelo above him...

He's more likely to start at LB in the final than Cancelo.

Cancelo's best performances have been at RB, but as of recent, Walker's pace and form has made him undroppable. Zinchenko is left footed, so aids City in ball retention and progressing play on the left (Cancelo usually has to cut in first when he gets the ball on the left).

adexkola · May 7, 2021

DWelbz19 said:
Eh, an okay player in a good patch of form playing for a fantastic side. He was dreadful earlier in the year. This is the same City side who were winning domestic trebles with Fabian Delph playing in the position he's currently in.

Nah, Zinchenko took over that season where they won 4 trophies. Delph was great at that position for one season only (17-18).

TheMagicFoolBus · May 7, 2021

adexkola said:
He's more likely to start at LB in the final than Cancelo.

Cancelo's best performances have been at RB, but as of recent, Walker's pace and form has made him undroppable. Zinchenko is left footed, so aids City in ball retention and progressing play on the left (Cancelo usually has to cut in first when he gets the ball on the left).

Yeah and just to add to this it's because Foden is constantly cutting inside to great effect - Cancelo wants to be in those zones as well when playing on the left and isn't anywhere near as comfortable on the wide overlap as Zinchenko given he's right footed. In the first half of the first leg against PSG their attack was far too narrow down that side and it's not a coincidence they massively improved once Zinchenko came on.

AR87 · May 7, 2021

adexkola said:
Not this season. He's been very good.

And if the quality of players surrounding him is the reason why he's rarely exposed, why doesn't Mendy get the same protection? It's a lazy line, that one.

Because Mendy is a different type of player. He's far more aggressive going forward, and gets caught out of position defensively as a result far more often. He's quite frankly been an injury ridden disaster of a signing who was probably overrated to begin with.

Zinchenko fits in as a cog in the system much better. He's a good player, and his tactical discipline is to be admired, but he's not a top LB imo, he's a player who fits their setup extremely well and benefits from not having to be a decisive difference maker. If you put him in Shaw's spot at United where he'd have far more responsibility to create in attack while simultaneously being a top-level defender his shortcoming would be more clear.

ClaytonBlackmoorLeftPeg · May 7, 2021

Looks too much like KDB, and it’s confusing. For that reason alone I don’t like him.

tentan · Jul 19, 2022

Good signing for Arsenal

arthurka · Jul 19, 2022

So Arsenal are buying all the B-tekkers from City for way too much money.

amolbhatia50k · Jul 19, 2022

Find it hard to guage his level. The last few games of the season summed it up. He was an absolute disaster in City's loss / draw (?) leading up to the final PL game where he came on as a sub and made a big difference.

Varun · Jul 19, 2022

Good player who's solid at most things but lacks that X factor which makes players special at at least couple of things. Not even sure he's an upgrade on Tierney so I'm wondering if he's off or Arteta plans to play him at CM

SaboTaj · Jul 19, 2022

A blonde O’Shea.

nickyboy1981 · Jul 19, 2022

He is absolutely awful. He turned into Roberto Carlos in the last game of the season though for some reason.

Donaldo · Jul 19, 2022

Decent player, adds solidity to our defence which is always welcome.

Get over proclaiming every opposition player as either dogshite or overrated.

Trex · Jul 19, 2022

Donaldo said:
Decent player, adds solidity to our defence which is always welcome.

Get over proclaiming every opposition player as either dogshite or overrated.

Would he play at Left back at arsenal, he is originally a midfielder.

jesperjaap · Jul 19, 2022

It isnt that he is under rated, it is that his abilities have been wasted at City, much like James Milner too. His versatility has got him a lot of games and trophies to be fair, but been a hinderence to him performance wise individually.

He is an excedllent central midfielder who could be in the DeJOng alternatives thread. If he is used in midfield he coul dbe an excellent signing for Arsenal....mind you with the options they already have and signings they have already made....not sure where he will be played

avgp_1 · Jul 19, 2022

Good signing for Arsenal, I think he'll do well for them as a midfielder. Partey and Zinchenko is a solid CM partnership

SilentWitness · Jul 19, 2022

He’s the type of player that you want in a title winning side so he upgrades Arsenal quite significantly. Arteta is making some very good signings and whether he is good enough to take them to another level doesn’t matter much as with the right next manager, Arsenal are in a fantastic position for the future.

mctrials23 · Jul 19, 2022

Seems decent enough but I think far too many players are overrated when they are in world class teams that dominate 95% of their matches. It flatters a lot of players because they have more time and space and mistakes aren't dwelled upon because they rarely have a negative impact on the game.

adexkola · Jul 19, 2022

Donaldo said:
Decent player, adds solidity to our defence which is always welcome.

Get over proclaiming every opposition player as either dogshite or overrated.

Comes from a point of ignorance to be honest

padr81 · Jul 19, 2022

Good player for us and sums him up that despite Sterling and Jesus leaving. Zinchenko is the hardest to see leave.

His time at City has been mostly positive performances with the odd stinker.

So much so I preferred zin and cancelo as fullbacks to walker and cancelo.

Wish him all the best at arsenal.

Robbie Boy · Jul 19, 2022

If utilised in midfield, I think he'll be a good signing for Arsenal.

AltiUn · Jul 19, 2022

I think he's decidedly average, fair play to City for somehow getting £30m for him, robbed them blind there.

Oleksandr Zinchenko: The most underrated player in the PL?

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