Martin Ødegaard: El Capitanø Campeone

[Godwin1]

I see Musiala as more of a winger. A dribbler from the flank.
There's a lack of playmakers in the world atm. Literally no point of us selling Ødegård. He is a very useful player to have around.

I'd agree but he seems to be dogged by injuries for over a season now which also clearly effects his form. I think we should look to upgrade if we get the chance.

 

[Red London]

I think keep.

He’s one of those players you sell and then you end up missing something you took for granted.

I think it would be a big gamble to move him on. I look at AMs and I just wonder how many would come here and flop, or drift in and out of games like an inconsistent winger. Look what happened to Wirtz.

Ødegaard when playing to 7/10 of his ability is still better than a lot of AMs out there. He controls the tempo and allows us to control games. He doesn’t need to be a nailed on starter but he is a tactical weapon and we can use him that way at the very least.

Then you potentially have the scenario where he gets over these injuries, builds form/confidence, and returns to his old self.

Only thing which tempts me if someone comes in wanting to pay full value for him considering his form/injuries and 2 years left.

 

[dka1]

I think keep.

He’s one of those players you sell and then you end up missing something you took for granted.

I'll be honest, I didn't even need to read the rest, this is exactly it.

Has his level dropped since 22-24? Sure.

I think he gets too much flak for this season, when other players like Saka and Zubimendi (in the 2nd half of the season) have struggled too at points (to be clear: I'm not using this as a stick to beat Saka or Zubi who are both players I appreciate and rate).

It's been a "weird" season in that the weight of overcoming three consecutive 2nd place finishes, and not winning the league for so long has weighed heavy. Also at times our style of play hasn't been great.

Firstly, I'm hoping next season we can be freer as PL champions. Also, hopefully a fully rejuvenated Ødegaard can regain some of his older form, and he still had quality moments this season anyway (Leeds & West Ham away).

 

[Mraven]

I'll be honest, I didn't even need to read the rest, this is exactly it.

Has his level dropped since 22-24? Sure.

I think he gets too much flak for this season, when other players like Saka and Zubimendi (in the 2nd half of the season) have struggled too at points (to be clear: I'm not using this as a stick to beat Saka or Zubi who are both players I appreciate and rate).

It's been a "weird" season in that the weight of overcoming three consecutive 2nd place finishes, and not winning the league for so long has weighed heavy. Also at times our style of play hasn't been great.

Firstly, I'm hoping next season we can be freer as PL champions. Also, hopefully a fully rejuvenated Ødegaard can regain some of his older form, and he still had quality moments this season anyway (Leeds & West Ham away).

We did just fine this season with him being out for big parts of it. Think his position is one of the easier one to upgrade too

 

[Martinvonkeown]

Nico Paz to me is a gamble not worth selling Ødegaard for.

Yes he might bang but he looks very skinny and Serie A these days is pretty ropey.

I’d be more comfortable with Arda Guler just because of the level he plays at but doubt Real will cut him loose yet.

No reason for Madrid to move on Paz. Pointless talking about something that's not happening.

 

[Bloodbather]

Ødegaard played his part in the end WHU was a clutch moment setting up Trossard another who I'd be happy to move on.

Ødegaard had 7 injuries last season, he has stopped scoring goals and his shooting technique he had has left him. I hope he has an injury free WC Norway have a chance to have a decent run, this summer we either renew or sell. No noises so far as to a renewal.

I don't think his shooting technique left him, he just doesn't get into positions to score like he did back in the day. He wasn't scoring screamers left and right then, it was mostly runs into the box and simple inside of the foot finishes.

What's changed about Ode is that he stopped playing like a #10. We needed him to be more of a controlling deep lying playmaker when we replaced Xhaka with Rice and Zinchenko was pushed out. Then we signed Zubi to be that figure this season but Ode couldn't revert to being a #10 like he was supposed to. He kept dropping deep, trying to be a metronome, usually opting for safe passes rather than incisive ones, and not making runs to the box.

The injuries also prevented him from getting a proper run, but I think what needs to change with Ode is the mindset. He needs to play further up and be more of a connective tissue and final ball player than a controller. Take more chances with his passes and runs, play more intuitively, and risk turnovers more.

Maybe we should've given him the #10 shirt when ESR left.

 

[MikelHadADream]

It’s sell from a wishlist perspective but in reality we’re not going to be able to get the players in one window we’d need to fully make him redundant, so its keep.

 

[Trilly]

Hand on heart I've not seen a fall off like this in my years of watching football. Not at his age anyways.

Happens man. Leao’s fall off is similar. Rashford’s had two fall offs I think. There’s always some kid at Barca going through the same thing and Dele Alli was on an Mbappe like trajectory when you look at what he was doing from like 18-20 years old.

 

[MikelHadADream]

I think you keep this year and sell next year when he’s got a year left and European clubs could begin to afford him.

No one is paying what we’d want for him.

 

[Uncle Macho]

Happens man. Leao’s fall off is similar. Rashford’s had two fall offs I think. There’s always some kid at Barca going through the same thing and Dele Alli was on an Mbappe like trajectory when you look at what he was doing from like 18-20 years old.

For a lot of them there is a reason that you can see or they never lived up to the hype.

Ødegaard started living up to his wonderkid promise and whilst we suspect it’s injury it doesn’t explain aspects of his decline. I was being serious I haven’t really seen this.

Leao is a musician, that’s a different can of worms.

 

[gunman90]

I think he and Norway will have a very good World Cup.
There's a player in there somewhere.

 

[ThisFather]

Can't fault his attitude and effort. But 1 premier league goal this season. Hopefully an improved figure next season. Looking at these types of stats, it's hard to believe we won the league.

 

[tap-in]

I don’t see us selling him due to his injury issues and decline. He’s a great player on his day, so I do see a squad role for him, but not as Captain. A Captain has to play regularly, I know Wenger may disagree with that we had a spell when Captains were always out. Arsenal were even fined on one occasion when Wenger played the 2nd half without a Captain A bonus pt for who can tell me who we were playing?

 

[blaze_of_glory]

I don’t see us selling him due to his injury issues and decline. He’s a great player on his day, so I do see a squad role for him, but not as Captain. A Captain has to play regularly, I know Wenger may disagree with that we had a spell when Captains were always out. Arsenal were even fined on one occasion when Wenger played the 2nd half without a Captain A bonus pt for who can tell me who we were playing?

I cant see the captaincy being taken away from him if he's still here.

 

[hydrofluoric acid]

Happens man. Leao’s fall off is similar. Rashford’s had two fall offs I think. There’s always some kid at Barca going through the same thing and Dele Alli was on an Mbappe like trajectory when you look at what he was doing from like 18-20 years old.

Not football related but happened to me too. I used to be able to do benders after benders. Now Im lucky if Im still awake watching movies after 22 on weekends.

 

[Blood on the Tracks]

I cant see the captaincy being taken away from him if he's still here.

If we end up keeping him, fair enough. I won't argue it.

But the captaincy is a hard no from me. It would almost be a pity thing if he kept it. No-one looks to Ødegaard for leadership on the pitch. It's Rice and Gabriel.

He'd stay part of the leadership group anyway.

 

[tap-in]

I cant see the captaincy being taken away from him if he's still here.

I don’t know, Arteta has big decisions to make and this is one of them. If Arteta sees him as a starter next season then yes, he’ll be Captain.

 

[blaze_of_glory]

I don’t know, Arteta has big decisions to make and this is one of them. If Arteta sees him as a starter next season then yes, he’ll be Captain.

If we end up keeping him, fair enough. I won't argue it.

But the captaincy is a hard no from me. It would almost be a pity thing if he kept it. No-one looks to Ødegaard for leadership on the pitch. It's Rice and Gabriel.

He'd stay part of the leadership group anyway.

They had player vote last summer and he was the preferred choice within the group by a landslide. Unless Arteta just came out with that as a lie for no reason, the players see him as the leader. Saying they don't look for him for leadership on the pitch... we aren't on the pitch so we have no idea.

More likely he leaves than stays and is stripped of captaincy imo. He'll be captain as long as he's here. Taking that away is a great way to cause unnecessary drama within the squad at a time when they are completely united.

I also think he likely leaves if he's not going to be a starter. The guy is 27 and captain of his national team as well. He's going to want to be playing all the time.

 

[Martinvonkeown]

El Capitan is going nowhere. Depth is even more crucial for next season.

 

[tap-in]

They had player vote last summer and he was the preferred choice within the group by a landslide. Unless Arteta just came out with that as a lie for no reason, the players see him as the leader. Saying they don't look for him for leadership on the pitch... we aren't on the pitch so we have no idea.

More likely he leaves than stays and is stripped of captaincy imo. He'll be captain as long as he's here. Taking that away is a great way to cause unnecessary drama within the squad at a time when they are completely united.

I also think he likely leaves if he's not going to be a starter. The guy is 27 and captain of his national team as well. He's going to want to be playing all the time.

It will be down to interest from other clubs, anything is possible. I don’t doubt that he’s popular, he seems a nice guy. If an offer of £40m came in, I’d take it.