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Marc Roca

GDeep™

League is very weak
An Indian Summer is defined as... "a period of happiness or success occurring late in life."

Yet AM's favourite Indian @GDeep™ is getting dominated by numerous newbie posters these days, these should be his golden retirement years...he's just not up to it anymore, crying shame really...

Go back a few years to prime G, and he would be so disappointed in himself, was once everyone's fav poster.

Didn’t you join only a few months ago? Or you had different username before?

Massively lost interest in the game, I’m only on AM now because we were in lockdown and Arteta is my boy.
 

Riou

In The Winchester, Waiting For This To Blow Over

Country: Northern Ireland

Player:Gabriel
Didn’t you join only a few months ago? Or you had different username before?

Massively lost interest in the game, I’m only on AM now because we were in lockdown and Arteta is my boy.

Loved reading this place back in the day, but was to lazy to join for years really, trusted AM for transfer stories, and always thought it was the funniest football forum.

The only downside was I strongly associated posters with their avatar, so eventually started imagining Robert Pires going to underground animal fights and being in love with an underage Miley Cyrus :lol:
 

UpTheGunnerz

Vrei sa pleci dar una una iei

Player:Elneny
Thats a handsome bastard right there, he could mark my Roca anyday

Heard good things about him, but Espanyol is probably right up there with the teams in the top leagues i have watched the least
 

Rex Stone

Long live the fighters
Trusted ⭐

Country: Wales
Definitely not worth that release clause, for me he’s a slightly more mobile Xhaka. Likes pinging long balls but charges about a lot.
 

Country: Iceland
Definitely not worth that release clause, for me he’s a slightly more mobile Xhaka. Likes pinging long balls but charges about a lot.

Managers seem to love Xhaka for some reason and I think if asked they would in fact love more mobile Xhaka even more.

I wanted Kanté rather than Xhaka that summer but I think the idea behind Xhaka was right. The question is, can this player become better than Xhaka? Has he the potential?
 

Rex Stone

Long live the fighters
Trusted ⭐

Country: Wales
Managers seem to love Xhaka for some reason and I think if asked they would in fact love more mobile Xhaka even more.

I wanted Kanté rather than Xhaka that summer but I think the idea behind Xhaka was right. The question is, can this player become better than Xhaka? Has he the potential?

Not sure, poor man’s Gerrard is another way of describing him. He’s all action, doesn’t play with much discipline.

His close control isn’t anything amazing imo but he can hit a good long ball and he loves a tough challenge.
 

db10fan

Active Member
Marc Roca was starter at CDM for Spain Euro U21 2019 winning team with midfield partners of Dani Ceballos and Fabian Ruiz of Napoli. He also starter at CDM for Espanyol. His build and play like Xhaka but more mobile, a bit better dribbling, has good defensive works. Seems to have another level to grow as he is still 23. At the right price will take him and sell Xhaka so near zero net spend.
 

Dutch D

Well-Known Member & FPL Champion 19/20
Marc Roca was starter at CDM for Spain Euro U21 2019 winning team with midfield partners of Dani Ceballos and Fabian Ruiz of Napoli. He also starter at CDM for Espanyol. His build and play like Xhaka but more mobile, a bit better dribbling, has good defensive works. Seems to have another level to grow as he is still 23. At the right price will take him and sell Xhaka so near zero net spend.
I'd rather put it towards the other midfield partner Fabian Ruiz. Would be a great alternative to Partey also.
 

Shalmaneser V

Active Member
Think he’d be a smart pick up. Makes a lot of sense. Spanish, low fee, perfect age, good size, can still go up a level or two.

Would be perfect to deploy as the DLP in a midfield 3. Better than Xhaka IMO. Technically decent, more composed, more press resistant, more positionally aware, can tackle, better passing range.

A midfield 3 like this would work nicely:

..............Roca
Partey..........Buendia
 

Goonger

Well-Known Member
Yeah, this only makes sense if Xhaka was moving on.

I don't know why people are turning their noses up to him mind you. A player with a similar style on the ball to Xhaka, who is slightly more mobile & athletic, surely we'd all like that if the choice was a straight swap between the 2?
 

The_Playmaker

Established Member
Trusted ⭐
Yeah, this only makes sense if Xhaka was moving on.

I don't know why people are turning their noses up to him mind you. A player with a similar style on the ball to Xhaka, who is slightly more mobile & athletic, surely we'd all like that if the choice was a straight swap between the 2?

He has such a limiting profile. He doesn't have the dribbling ability to play at the base of a 3. It doesn't help that he is so one footed. Also, watching youtube compilations of a holding midfielder, under no pressure pinging a football to the wings, something Sunday league players can do, isn't the first attribute I look for in a midfielder.

We need to move away from specialist deep lying play makers unless they are physical destroyers. If this guy had the off the ball ability of an Ndidi then it would make sense. The fact is he doesn't. He does that Xhaka thing of driving into midfield and playing a 2 yard pass to the closest player as he feels uncomfortable in the opposition half. Long passing should not be the most prominent aspect of a youtube compilation when looking at a central midfielder. I want to see driving runs, dribbling, tackling, shooting, passing, skill and strength. Not long ball after long ball after long ball when we don't even have a target man.

If we go 4231, it needs to be in the Bayern mould. two highly technical players who can both run forward and backwards. I keep saying it, but if we had any sense we would snap up Matheus Henrique.
 

dashsnow17

Doesn’t Rate Any Of Our Attackers
Trusted ⭐
He has such a limiting profile. He doesn't have the dribbling ability to play at the base of a 3. It doesn't help that he is so one footed. Also, watching youtube compilations of a holding midfielder, under no pressure pinging a football to the wings, something Sunday league players can do, isn't the first attribute I look for in a midfielder.

We need to move away from specialist deep lying play makers unless they are physical destroyers. If this guy had the off the ball ability of an Ndidi then it would make sense. The fact is he doesn't. He does that Xhaka thing of driving into midfield and playing a 2 yard pass to the closest player as he feels uncomfortable in the opposition half. Long passing should not be the most prominent aspect of a youtube compilation when looking at a central midfielder. I want to see driving runs, dribbling, tackling, shooting, passing, skill and strength. Not long ball after long ball after long ball when we don't even have a target man.

If we go 4231, it needs to be in the Bayern mould. two highly technical players who can both run forward and backwards. I keep saying it, but if we had any sense we would snap up Matheus Henrique.

Why Matheus Henrique in particular, and who do you pair him with?
 

dashsnow17

Doesn’t Rate Any Of Our Attackers
Trusted ⭐
Fwiw if you're taking Henrique from Gremio you'd do well to take Everton Cebolinha along with him.
 

The_Playmaker

Established Member
Trusted ⭐
Why Matheus Henrique in particular, and who do you pair him with?

I haven't seen a more complete midfielder in our price range than him. He is insanely press resistant. Can turn on a sixpence like Artur. He has acceleration and can time tackles very well. He has a good passing range and is good in both halves. He doesn't get a nose bleed in the opposition half. I wouldn't 'pair' him with anyone as I wouldn't have him in a double pivot. As long as he has a more athletic midfielder near him, he would bring everything else we need.
 

Yousif Arsenal

On Vinai's payroll & misses 4th place trophy 🏆
Trusted ⭐
The good news is that Mikel knows our midfield isn't good so he trying to improve it.
 

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