Bukayo Saka: 2019/20 Performances

[Trilly]

23 is a joke. players peak at 26/7 ... 23 isn't 'young' in football terms anymore. There is still room to improve obviously, but it isn't young.

Think 21 at the start of the season is a good cut off. That’s when you’re meant to have stopped growing and all that crap.

Also, players peak a lot later than that. 27-30 actually.

 

[Eaststander74]

Think 21 at the start of the season is a good cut off. That’s when you’re meant to have stopped growing and all that crap.

Also, players peak a lot later than that. 27-30 actually.

I'm talking physically. Wenger reckons that's the age players peak at, and if they're as good as they can be technically, then they're probably going to be at the peak of their powers. As a wide player relying on pace and strength, I'd say Saka will be at his most potent when he's around 26/27. You can be just as handy at 30 as you are at 26 despite a slight physical decline because you're more experienced and you evolve. Henry probably peaked at 26/27.

 

[OnlyOne]

I kind of preferred Ismaila Sarr in the summer based on how well he played against is in the EL.

He was younger, cheaper and so far has outperformed Pepe for a sh*te team. Could’ve had money saved to go after a Sancho or whoever this summer then.

I think we’ll get back there as a destination, in terms of European cities it’s probably the most attractive to play in.

Other clubs like Real and Barca have the prestige but location wise it’s hard to beat London if you’re a young millionaire who works 5 hours a day tops.

Every time I have watched Sarr he's been f*cking terrible.

 

[Bloodbather]

Sancho would like us I feel, good mates with Nelson and he’s always back in London every chance he gets.

I remember when he was rumoured to join Arsenal after leaving City, with his friendship with Reiss being mentioned. Big miss, that.

 

[Rex Stone]

Every time I have watched Sarr he's been f*cking terrible.

Turned it round under Pearson. More goals and assists than Pepe in the league and he’s not on set pieces...

 

[SingmeasongSong]

Think 21 at the start of the season is a good cut off. That’s when you’re meant to have stopped growing and all that crap.

Also, players peak a lot later than that. 27-30 actually.

Think this is a very complex topic.

In general, people like to narrow down the success of a player to a few simple ingredients as humanity likes to have a blueprint for everything to "understand".

Imo, when looking at the required bits for a player to succeed/reach his prime, so many indivual aspects come into play that we are still far off giving a proper call on what might be an age where this all comes together.

You look at the obvious traits - physical power, muscles, speed etc and you might wanna say this, on average, should be peak in between 23-27, so if a player is hitting the early twenties he should at least give a clear picture of what he can do with that.

But when you consider the other aspects, not even starting with confidence and the "current stiuation in life" of a player which is infinetely complex, you will start to have a tough time making a call of when a player is reaching his best.

You might need to consider his social background, his character, his (social) intelligence and much much more. Is the player currently fully focused on football or does he deal with too many side factors which is quite typical for any man in his twenties ?
Did he "find himself" just yet or is still very much in main phase of self-discovery ?

There's so much more and it's just not trivial to make a call for that "prime age" imo.

That's one of the key points I often hate when discussing player potential, current quality etc on here, as so many guys just don't like to consider their own difficulties with growing age at that time and also don't think about how incredibly important experience and cleverness on the field really is nowadays.
Your head is much more than half of the game, physical traits are not the prime ingredient.

Look at players like Tadic and you know how late a player can explode and reach new hights. You can be average for the most of your twenties and still be worldclass/topclass shortly after.

Some things just need to start "klicking".

 

[OnlyOne]

Turned it round under Pearson. More goals and assists than Pepe in the league and he’s not on set pieces...

Remember when Ryan Fraser has 2nd most assists?

 

[Sniper Mik]

Every time I have watched Sarr he's been f*cking terrible.

Saw him against Sp**s. He was basically toying with them all game. Tore them apart on the wings. But then blew out his hammy

 

[Rex Stone]

Remember when Ryan Fraser has 2nd most assists?

Just don’t know which Watford games you’ve been watching, he’s clearly super talented.

 

[OnlyOne]

Just don’t know which Watford games you’ve been watching, he’s clearly super talented.

Can’t remember off the top of my head but just remember him not being special. Looked rash in front of goal.

 

[Trilly]

Think this is a very complex topic.

In general, people like to narrow down the success of a player to a few simple ingredients as humanity likes to have a blueprint for everything to "understand".

Imo, when looking at the required bits for a player to succeed/reach his prime, so many indivual aspects come into play that we are still far off giving a proper call on what might be an age where this all comes together.

You look at the obvious traits - physical power, muscles, speed etc and you might wanna say this, on average, should be peak in between 23-27, so if a player is hitting the early twenties he should at least give a clear picture of what he can do with that.

But when you consider the other aspects, not even starting with confidence and the "current stiuation in life" of a player which is infinetely complex, you will start to have a tough time making a call of when a player is reaching his best.

You might need to consider his social background, his character, his (social) intelligence and much much more. Is the player currently fully focused on football or does he deal with too many side factors which is quite typical for any man in his twenties ?
Did he "find himself" just yet or is still very much in main phase of self-discovery ?

There's so much more and it's just not trivial to make a call for that "prime age" imo.

That's one of the key points I often hate when discussing player potential, current quality etc on here, as so many guys just don't like to consider their own difficulties with growing age at that time and also don't think about how incredibly important experience and cleverness on the field really is nowadays.
Your head is much more than half of the game, physical traits are not the prime ingredient.

Look at players like Tadic and you know how late a player can explode and reach new hights. You can be average for the most of your twenties and still be worldclass/topclass shortly after.

Some things just need to start "klicking".

Agree. I think we tend to confuse physical peak with your peak as a footballer.

If humans didn’t physically decline then a footballer would get better and better as his experience increased. So I tend to view a players peak as that sweet spot where they have as much experience as possible while still maintaining physical prowess.

Due to advancements in taking care of thselbes we’re starting to see a lot of players hit 30 while still losing nothing (or barely anything) physically. 30 seems to be the new 27 in football now.


But even that is simplistic. You make very fair points about a players lifestyle. Imagine a troubled footballer finally making an emotional breakthrough at 32. He could go up a whole level now that he’s finally ‘at peace’. Food for thought for sure.

 

[Trilly]

Just don’t know which Watford games you’ve been watching, he’s clearly super talented.

He might be the most athletic player in the league. Looks super unrefined though.

 

[hydrofluoric acid]

He might be the most athletic player in the league. Looks super unrefined though.

This might be true. Specially because Traore doesn't do weights!

 

[Rex Stone]

He might be the most athletic player in the league. Looks super unrefined though.

Still young though, was really impressed with him in the Europa League games he played against us last year.

 

[Trilly]

This might be true. Specially because Traore doesn't do weights!

Forgot about this guy tbh but Sarr is a weird one.

Traore is a better runner with the ball but a straight up foot race would be interesting. Sarr seems like he can run fast all game, while you commonly see Traore having a breather on the pitch.

 

[Gooner416]

This might be true. Specially because Traore doesn't do weights!

His physique looks like every instagram/youtube bodybuilder that says they're all "natty". Impressive!

 

[Jae]

Remember when Ryan Fraser has 2nd most assists?

Remember Miguel Michu? Top scorer in the Prem playing for Swansea of all people?

No, neither does anyone else

 

[Eaststander74]

Think this is a very complex topic.

In general, people like to narrow down the success of a player to a few simple ingredients as humanity likes to have a blueprint for everything to "understand".

Imo, when looking at the required bits for a player to succeed/reach his prime, so many indivual aspects come into play that we are still far off giving a proper call on what might be an age where this all comes together.

You look at the obvious traits - physical power, muscles, speed etc and you might wanna say this, on average, should be peak in between 23-27, so if a player is hitting the early twenties he should at least give a clear picture of what he can do with that.

But when you consider the other aspects, not even starting with confidence and the "current stiuation in life" of a player which is infinetely complex, you will start to have a tough time making a call of when a player is reaching his best.

You might need to consider his social background, his character, his (social) intelligence and much much more. Is the player currently fully focused on football or does he deal with too many side factors which is quite typical for any man in his twenties ?
Did he "find himself" just yet or is still very much in main phase of self-discovery ?

There's so much more and it's just not trivial to make a call for that "prime age" imo.

That's one of the key points I often hate when discussing player potential, current quality etc on here, as so many guys just don't like to consider their own difficulties with growing age at that time and also don't think about how incredibly important experience and cleverness on the field really is nowadays.
Your head is much more than half of the game, physical traits are not the prime ingredient.

Look at players like Tadic and you know how late a player can explode and reach new hights. You can be average for the most of your twenties and still be worldclass/topclass shortly after.

Some things just need to start "klicking".

Yeah to say it’s complex is an understatement. When I say in my opinion players peek at 2627, that is taking absolutely everything that you’ve mentioned into account. The shame of it sometimes is that players peak physically before they peaked mentally, and so by the time they ‘get it’ all, they’re already past their physical peak. Players go on learning even after they have retired, so imagine how good these players would have been had they known everything at their physical peak that they knew after they had finished playing! I know that if I knew everything that I know now when I was playing for my school team I’ll be far and away the best player in the side. Bugger!

 

[Marjorie]

Uh oh


Need to get a new contract sorted asap

 

[hydrofluoric acid]

Worrying.