Ethan Nwaneri: Nwan Of Nwan

[Jasard]

Nwaneri isn't ready to play a consistently high level x3 per week. Lad is still 17 yo ffs, it's actually quite important Martinelli is back so they can timeshare the RW.

People in the match thread said stuff like "people are criticizing Trossard but saying nothing about Nwaneri playing worse". The lack of perspective is ridiculous. Trossard being 30 and very PL experience and Nwaneri is a child.

 

[Gooner Zig]

Poor game aside it’s those pesky tactics again.

We make no real effort to zip the ball into our wingers and get them 1v1s, we only take the 1v1s when they’re given.

In the cases of Ethan (and Saka) they are never given. As a 17 year old he’s already dealing with double/triple teams.

I expect there to be some bumpy performances till Saka is back in these current conditions but he’ll learn from it.

The amount of times we just gave it to Ethan in a position where was facing Dalot + 1/2 players is really disappointing. Saka has become so good he can deal with it but man it's very frustrating seeing a 17 yo kid have to deal with it - basically our tactics were give it to Ethan and:

Yeah, unless he thinks Timber is a goal threat (he isn’t) and wants him in the box.

I’m sure they have some license anyway. The directed stuff will be things like “someone always has to hold the width” and the players need to work out themselves who it will be in each play. I think Timber doesn’t fancy crossing so he doesn’t like going down the outside. I’m struggling to remember him ever crossing the ball.

Outside of that lovely assist for Martinelli (I think) vs Sporting in the CL I can't recall too many others.

 

[db10_therza]

Anyway all this has just made my appreciation for Saka go up so so much.

He is undoubtedly world class in my opinion now. I was on the fence a bit before but having now had the opportunity to really understand the tactical deficit he plays under it’s clear as day to me.

 

[Geofranco]

Anyway all this has just made my appreciation for Saka go up so so much.

He is undoubtedly world class in my opinion now. I was on the fence a bit before but having now had the opportunity to really understand the tactical deficit he plays under it’s clear as day to me.

I have been saying for years that if Saka was playing for Liverpool, City or Madrid the last 3 years his numbers would be ridiculous. He is actually being stifled in this current system cause of how versatile and adaptable he is. Kinda how Ferguson limited Rooney for years to boost up other forwards, whether it was Ronaldo, Van Nistelroy or RVP.

 

[Batman]

I have been saying for years that if Saka was playing for Liverpool, City or Madrid the last 3 years his numbers would be ridiculous. He is actually being stifled in this current system cause of how versatile and adaptable he is. Kinda how Ferguson limited Rooney for years to boost up other forwards, whether it was Ronaldo, Van Nistelroy or RVP.

Arteta has to figure out a way to shed Saka of some of the defensive responsibility. He does it without complaining but this is how the fatigue and eventual injury hit.

If Rice is going to play as an 8, I would almost be tempted to move him to the right where he can fire in crosses and cover the area that Saka is usually tasked with tracking back into while Ødegaard leads the press.

Actually when Lee Carsley was interim England manager and used Rice there to compensate for Trent, I liked the freedom it gave Saka as he was able to constantly receive the ball in transition before a double could materialize.

 

[Geofranco]

Arteta has to figure out a way to shed Saka of some of the defensive responsibility. He does it without complaining but this is how the fatigue and eventual injury hit.

If Rice is going to play as an 8, I would almost be tempted to move him to the right where he can fire in crosses and cover the area that Saka is usually tasked with tracking back into while Ødegaard leads the press.

Actually when Lee Carsley was interim England manager and used Rice there to compensate for Trent, I liked the freedom it gave Saka as he was able to constantly receive the ball in transition before a double could materialize.

We have seen over the last couple of months that he has been out that he carries the attack. Ødegaard has not been in great form since his injury, but I would say he has also been affected by Saka and White not being there, two players he has the best chemistry with. Saka at some point was putting up defensive numbers as good as the best fullbacks in the league. No other top tier forward is expected to contribute on that level on defense.

 

[A_G]

 

[UpTheGunnerz]

Market value at 30 mil I see. If he was called Nwaniñho it be 70 already

 

[ksarp]

Arteta has to figure out a way to shed Saka of some of the defensive responsibility. He does it without complaining but this is how the fatigue and eventual injury hit.

If Rice is going to play as an 8, I would almost be tempted to move him to the right where he can fire in crosses and cover the area that Saka is usually tasked with tracking back into while Ødegaard leads the press.

Actually when Lee Carsley was interim England manager and used Rice there to compensate for Trent, I liked the freedom it gave Saka as he was able to constantly receive the ball in transition before a double could materialize.

I disagree with you on absolving defensive responsibilities.

 

[Batman]

I disagree with you on absolving defensive responsibilities.

You'll notice I didn't say absolving defensive responsibilities, so you actually disagree with an idea you came up with.

 

[ksarp]

You'll notice I didn't say absolving defensive responsibilities, so you actually disagree with an idea you came up with.

Very well, how about "some"?

 

[Batman]

Very well, how about "some"?

You don't think the difference between some and all is significant? What are we doing here?

 

[Gooner Zig]

I'm sorry but whoever thinks Saka's defensive responsibilities are "normal" for a player of his quality, I don't know what else to say. They also likely want Bukayo to be washed by 27-28 yo cuz that's the path we're going down if we keep doing this.

 

[ksarp]

You don't think the difference between some and all is significant? What are we doing here?

Therein lies the problem though. In what situations would he be expected to cover defensively? These days, the way the game has evolved, player with zero defensive output are becoming relics ( Jao Felix, Neto etc) .

 

[ksarp]

I'm sorry but whoever thinks Saka's defensive responsibilities are "normal" for a player of his quality, I don't know what else to say. They also likely want Bukayo to be washed by 27-28 yo cuz that's the path we're going down if we keep doing this.

Is he being asked to do more than than the average winger defensively?

 

[Xln]

It's not like we are attacking in full throttle anyway. We are passing so often there is time to rest. Some people here pretending Saka is sprinting front to back for 90 minutes. He is still young and fit, this is nothing.

 

[avenellroad]

It's not like we are attacking in full throttle anyway. We are passing so often there is time to rest. Some people here pretending Saka is sprinting front to back for 90 minutes. He is still young and fit, this is nothing.

Lol you’re missing the point. He’ll be shot by the time he reaches 27 if he carries on having to track back all the time. Even Liverpool back in Klopp’s early days used to have Henderson or Fabinho drop into the wide spaces to cover both Trent and Salah if they were being countered on.

We can’t continue on this trajectory of making Saka run lengths of the pitch, he’s much more effective for us and dangerous to to the opposition if he just stays upfield as an attacker.

 

[Blood on the Tracks]

I think sometimes people forget a bit that no matter how talented he is, he's got a 17 year olds body.

It's not developed enough to play this amount of football at this stage of his physical development.

Fortunately with Saka on the way back we can pick and choose his gametime for the rest of the season.

 

[Xln]

Lol you’re missing the point. He’ll be shot by the time he reaches 27 if he carries on having to track back all the time. Even Liverpool back in Klopp’s early days used to have Henderson or Fabinho drop into the wide spaces to cover both Trent and Salah if they were being countered on.

We can’t continue on this trajectory of making Saka run lengths of the pitch, he’s much more effective for us and dangerous to to the opposition if he just stays upfield as an attacker.

He's playing at the highest level until 30. Not until 60. That's 6 more seasons. We need to put this in perspective.

Also he's tracking back when the LB is bombing forward, does this mean the enemy LBs are overplayed and being ran to the ground as well?

I don't care for stats time played and injury etc etc, ask Saka if he feels fit and wants to play he will reply yes every time cause he feels fit. Obviously direct injuries excluded.

 

[DJ_Markstar]

People in the match thread said stuff like "people are criticizing Trossard but saying nothing about Nwaneri playing worse". The lack of perspective is ridiculous. Trossard being 30 and very PL experience and Nwaneri is a child.

Should take it as a compliment really, people already see Nwaneri as being able to produce at this level regardless of age. If he wasn't quite ready the conversations would be around him looking good in a year or two or whatever but no one is saying that since he's already good enough and only getting better.