Bukayo Saka: From Starboy to Champion

[RunTheTrap]

Just one criteria buddy. Saka has him beat in numerous departments. Many players are easier on the eye than Saka tbf like Olise for example who is not currently in the WC discussion.

Saka is a struggle baller tumbling around the place and smashing in deflections, but he gets it done.

Aesthetics is purely subjective though. I find athleticism (when done right) to be extremely satisfying to watch. I like the way Saka bulldozes his way past defenders or when the fullbacks roll off him when he turns and runs.

I used to be a big aesthetics merchant, a “technique supremacist” if you wish to call it. However, after talking to people who know their football, I've unlearned my prejudices and realised that elite football is more than how good your first touch is. Saka is not a poor technician, but he lacks flair so the football purists undermine his quality. Saka is very textbook in his execution. I've seen people say on Twitter that Anthony and Raphiba are better footballers than Saka.

 

[Gooner Zig]

Feel like Uncle Macho is being duplicitous to please the masses again.

I’d be over the moon if Saka can get to prime Mahrez level, but Robben? Arjen Robben??

Disclaimer: happy to be proven wrong, don’t hate him, don’t hate Arsenal etc.

Look at Saka's numbers at 22 years old, they're incredible. I don't place limits on what the guy can achieve.

 

[Gooner Zig]

Think only him and Zidane have entire YouTube comps related to their first touch.

Pep is a bit of a legacy killer tbh, will get you trophies but not the respect of the streets and we all know what’s more important.

Look at what the bald freak did to Graelish ffs

 

[RunTheTrap]

???? Clear? Or better? Let’s not start infighting

I really don’t want this Foden debate in this thread because they’ll start saying I hate Saka again. Let’s talk about non penalty goals and hattricks though or how they finally appear to be on par now they’re both getting equally consistent game time. *runs away*

Jokes aside I’ll die on the Foden hill though. I’ll always pick the player with the higher technical ceiling because they’re the one who can give you that special moment that other players simply can’t pull off. Foden’s first touch and close control is generational tbh, up there with anyone in football right now. When Saka was clearing him for production (and minutes) it had to be Saka but now I’d go with Foden. Especially as the latter doesn’t have the same kind of monopoly on set pieces.

All depends on what your team needs though really but I find it funny that playing for City is always used against him. Pep has pretty much stalled Foden’s career up until this season and going from first academy prospect to an established first team player at a club like city should be something used to praise a player, not the other way around.

This isn’t a Iheanacho situation lol.

Interesting because you could say the same for athletic players who are capable of things that technical players can't do.

 

[Trilly]

It hurt that you’d say sth like this as a fan of the club that had Dennis Bergkamp but then I remembered you’re 15 so it’s calm

Oh I watched those too!

Can’t recall everything off the top of my head ffs.

 

[ArsenesCoatMaker]

I think what prime Mahrez had was the ability to create his own shot and maintain good accuracy as well. He also found a way to be dangerous enough going on the outside that defenders couldn’t just wait for him inside like they do with Saka sometimes. One of the most talented wingers I’ve seen another one whose prime was ruined by Pep rotation imo.

Saka has him beat in pretty much everything else but the stuff above is how you win trophies and the top individual honours.

Mahrez had the 2 way dribbling, where he could go one way or the other and defenders couldn't figure it out. Saka's more like Robben where you know he wants to cut inside and shoot but he's hard to stop.

 

[Trilly]

Interesting because you could say the same for athletic players who are capable of things that technical players can't do.

Which is why most of the GOAT forwards have usually been elite at both. Messi and CR7 would never have been the monsters they were if they weren’t athletic freaks.

I’ve always rained on Saka’s parade a bit as he’s not an elite athlete or elite technician but he still finds a way. Seeing his development has defo taught me a thing or two about wide players, technique definitely isn’t everything and same for pace. Still really helps though

 

[Makingtrax]

My brother, don't kill my vibe. Who else in this forum can eloquently provide commentary on the pseudo-feudal British class system and combine that with world-class football knowledge?

Didn’t mean to quash your vibes bro, just didn’t realise it was an allegory based on the socioeconomic status and cultural values of our country. My bad.

 

[RunTheTrap]

Didn’t mean to quash your vibes bro, just didn’t realise it was an allegory based on the socioeconomic status and cultural values of our country. My bad.

No offence taken brother. I should have dropped a disclaimer before I turned into a tactico with a Pep avi on Twitter. My mistake, I'll go back to making silly jokes that no one will laugh at.

 

[hydrofluoric acid]

Robben ran like there was something wrong with him and looked like some kind of gremlin.

But the medium pace Robben dribble with your hands up like some kind of dinosaur had the streets in a chokehold. And those curlers? Those sweet sweet curlers.

Which one has the weirdest running style?
Robben
The girl in the movie Taken
Foden

 

[Deleted member x1214]

Aesthetics is purely subjective though. I find athleticism (when done right) to be extremely satisfying to watch. I like the way Saka bulldozes his way past defenders or when the fullbacks roll off him when he turns and runs.

I used to be a big aesthetics merchant, a “technique supremacist” if you wish to call it. However, after talking to people who know their football, I've unlearned my prejudices and realised that elite football is more than how good your first touch is. Saka is not a poor technician, but he lacks flair so the football purists undermine his quality. Saka is very textbook in his execution. I've seen people say on Twitter that Anthony and Raphiba are better footballers than Saka.

Agreed it’s definitely subjective. I must add I thought Saka was pretty silky early doors but with him being double marked/kicked now he’s had to adjust.

 

[hydrofluoric acid]

Wont be surprised Saka moves to LCM later and smash it there also. Arteta said he is one the quickest learner he has worked witu and we know Arteta loves to micro manage everything.

 

[Trilly]

Which one has the weirdest running style?
Robben
The girl in the movie Taken
Foden

Sterling I think

 

[Blood on the Tracks]

The thing that's always struck me with Saka is how he's so good at positioning his body to shield the ball or turn a defender. I think it's clearly natural as he's been doing it since his first game for us.

Also, he's not tiny but he's not exactly jacked either yet when he's shielding the ball or even in a duel much bigger players just bounce off him

Sterling is the same but I actually think Saka may be even better at it.

 

[A_G]

Saka will surpass mahrez very soon. His stats for wide forward are elite. His chance creation is elite. I think this season alone saka will surpass mahrez best season which was at Leicester

Need Saka to unlock the right foot finish to go to the next level:

 

[A_G]

Which one has the weirdest running style?
Robben
The girl in the movie Taken
Foden

Aaron Lennon

 

[RunTheTrap]

Which is why most of the GOAT forwards have usually been elite at both. Messi and CR7 would never have been the monsters they were if they weren’t athletic freaks.

I’ve always rained on Saka’s parade a bit as he’s not an elite athlete or elite technician but he still finds a way. Seeing his development has defo taught me a thing or two about wide players, technique definitely isn’t everything and same for pace. Still really helps though

Saka's football IQ puts him in conversations he doesn't have any right to be in. It's like the “Batman with prep time” trope. Batman has no superpowers, but because he has a high IQ (and an abundance of wealth) he can compete with people far above his level.

 

[Rasmi]

Which one has the weirdest running style?
Robben
The girl in the movie Taken
Foden

Hate to be buzz kill. But the girl from Taken had disability.

 

[outlawz]

I don’t enjoy watching Saka play, I don’t know what it is, too mechanical maybe? A system player? I think he lacks some individuality.

He's an end product machine, but I wouldn't pay to watch him play. Martinelli can be more pleasing on the eye, but he's hit and miss. What does one expect for a duo that cost less than a tenner. As the old adage goes, you get what you pay for.

 

[Geofranco]

Eye test on highlights for sure, Foden is capable of technical feats that Saka just doesn’t have in his locker. But eye test on the full 90 Saka is clear for me. Foden can be a bit of a passenger for large stretches of most games.

Idk how much of that is down to their roles in their respective teams but I also know that Foden wouldn’t be able to physically match up to the kind of work Saka has to get through in his role.

What technical feats? Y'all act like Foden is Rivaldo or Ronaldinho. Dude is slicker on the ball with a better touch that's all he has over Saka.