I came here to say this. I've not seen him much tbf and I'm sure he's a wonderful player but every time I have watched him, he's been fine but a bit of a moments player.
Sickens me to defend a Madrid player, but he's not in great form at the moment and hasn't been for a while (after a very hot start and middle of the season). But he is 20, tough to be totally consistent at that age.
Yeah pretty much a “typical” football phenomena. Guy goes on a hot streak, he’s the second coming. He blows cold and all of a sudden he’s not that great to begin with. Truth is somewhere in the middle there.
Exactly! I am familiar mainly with the English media so not sure how it is in other big European nations but the speed at which some players are declared greats is just ridiculous. Saka, Rice and Bellingham are great players and have a very high potential, but the fact is, they have never done it at the highest level of the game which is these decisive CL ties. They showed great form in league campaigns which is not nothing, but to be spoken about the way these guys are, you have to stand out in April and May when the biggest games are played and be the difference maker. There is no reason why Bellingham can't do that, but until he does and does it consistently, he can't be considered among the elite.
This is what I find most laughable. He may be better than 20 year old Zidane but that is a very different statement to what is being said.
I really think his best position will end up being that Wijnaldum/Macallister type advanced 8 role where he's getting forward/running beyond but still more of a midfielder in a 3 as opposed to essentially playing as a deep lying forward like he is now.
England has a weird conundrum with all of those positions apart from Rice. I've personally never thought Kane was close to the player he is at the club level for England and wouldn't hesitate to experiment without him, but we all know he's nailed on the start. But with Kane you ideally need runners beyond him because he's going to drop deep, except Rashford is the only one that fits the bill and he might not even deserve to be on the plane at this point. Saka and Foden generally prefer the ball to feet, and Bellingham is at his best high up the pitch as well. Gordon would work but I'd be shocked if Southgate picks him. And With Southgate preferring defensive fullbacks as well you could easily see some sluggish performances with how it all fits together.
Was he good as a DM then - if he indeed played as that? As Bayern scored a few. Also what were Kroos and Tchouameni’s roles if Bellingham was a DM?
Can he handle being at a giant club and big city? It is one thing to get a start like he did. Everything just went his way for couple of months. It is another to perform every week. Or atleast every other week. Signs are not good and Real Madrid will not watch someone playing like this for to long. He might find himself warming bench soon.
I'm not sure if that first question is serious?
He looks like he is born to play for Madrid.
Reminds me of Jadon Sancho before coming to United.
The narrative is he’s “got the lot” so should be doable for him, clearly he’s more Dele than Gerrard, he’s brilliant though and yeah he works his bollocks off. Think he might flop at the Euros though
There was a poster saying he was better than him already
Why? Lots of talented players have left clubs or cities to find themself in environment where things a lot bigger and you are in more light. You can't hide like you can in lesser big clubs. Some players can't handle it mentally after a while. We will see about Bellingham. He started well. For some months now I'm seeing different player than the one in first months. Real Madrid is a whole different beast compared to Dortmund. This is not disrespecting Dortmund.
I'm not that sure. We will see.
Truly. Some wild takes in here.
Because that question might have made sense when he was still at dortmund (though they're still a huge club) but much less so when he's already moved to the biggest club in the world and 6th largest city in Europe, and played a vital role in an almost guaranteed league title and current advantage in a CL SF.
Were you at the game then?
I said this regarding the City games. Don’t know if it was as apparent yesterday. Will watch again. Can admit I was expecting an offensive midfield performance and observed through that lens; to observe again through an #8 or even further back #, perhaps the assessment changes.
Wish there was an actual skilled coach there to try and optimise it.
He was outstanding in two Clasicos against Barca for example, Sid Lowe who has been watching Bellingham all year said he had a "season that could hardly have gone better".
Some of the comments I have been reading here are absolutely nuts.
I don't think Musiala is any more like Zidane than Bellingham is. Bellingham and Zidane are both far more physically imposing, Musiala's nickname has been "Bambi" for the way he slithers through defences in his slight frame. Nobody would have ever called Zidane "Bambi", he was tall for a no 10 and excellent at shielding the ball and using his physical presence to go with his skill. Bellingham too has other qualities than Zidane has but quite natural for an attacking midfielder who is a similar build with the skill to go with it at the same club would be compared.
Zidane was an elegant and skilful player. This is where Musiala is similar.
No arguments here. I've said throughout that I'm sure he's a massive talent but just that I've never seen him really shine to the level some have him at.
Yeah, I’d agree with this. It is what it is. I also think whoever shines at the euros will be a front runner as there’s not so much been any one particular standout this season, outside of maybe the 4 I mentioned above.
