Martin Ødegaard: El Capitanø Campeone

[field442]

How long do they leave it before offering him a new deal? Do they even offer him one? When he is playing like this it is hard not to but you still have the last 2 years fresh in the memory. At the same time if they don't offer him a new one soon he will have 12 months left next summer. The same goes for Havertz.

 

[Tnegs]

Not really that big a deal is it? He was poor for a good while and people were questioning him nothing wrong with that. When a player drops off like he did it is a legit question on whether you keep backing him or cut loose and improve.

 

[Geofranco]

This is pretty much it, we’ve been one of the best teams in the world for years and some of our fans always need someone to sh*t on. They’re still doing it with Madueke.

It’s all based on agendas and bias, the same guys who hate Ødegaard won’t have the same energy for Eze.

I agree there are some agendas, but a lot of fans didn't want Madueke lol. And his play can be pretty frustrating. He is not an intelligent or very technically gifted footballer, so his decision making and end product are always going to be a problem. People wanted Eze cause he was a former hale end prospect and his game is more aesthetically pleasing, plus he actually has good end product that can change the tides of a game. I think finishing 2nd 3 seasons in a row started making people frustrated. It's worse to be so close than to know you don't even stand a chance. If the team won the league in 23/24, I'm sure some of the injured and out of form players would have been given more grace.

 

[Mitch]

Where are the Xavi numbers if he did it 5x? Skewed stats like these don't do much for me. They could've arbitrarily decided on 80 and he wouldn't be on here. Would Xavi? Nobody's taking the time to verify that so we will forget about this in 24 hours. Happy for you though.

 

[Chargingthruthemidfield]

Get him a wand. And a big hat. And a cloak.

 

[ash_rasul]

Someone needs to tell Xavi to chill tf out

 

[hydrofluoric acid]

I can't lie my feelings are bit hurt, thought after you came back from rehab we were friends now.

I once told my wife I rather quit substance abuse than go to rehab.

 

[jones]

I once told my wife I rather quit substance abuse than go to rehab.

That's that elite crackhead mentality. Not like @Bogart who left AM for years to go rehab came back and changed his name in hopes I wouldn't recognise him

 

[bergholt]

Most top players have a 15 year career - 2 seasons is nothing when there is a significant track record to fall back on. How would you have fared with Dennis Bergkamp between 1999-2001 when he scored less than 10 goals across two PL seasons and was relatively underwhelming. You would have lost faith in one of our greatest ever players.

How about Giggs and Scholes between 2003 and 2006 when they were apparently done. How about Zidane between 1999-2001? Players have some average seasons - that's not a reason to sell if they're quite clearly a top class footballer. Form is temporary, class is permanent is like the first thing any football fan should learn.

haha I remember how I did feel about Bergkamp in 2001, he was done and dusted. over 30 and Henry and Wiltord were ahead of him.

anyway Ødegaard didn't have anywhere near as many runs on the board. he had basically two top level seasons and then dropped off. could easily have been a Dele Alli or Pato or Balotelli or whoever - great when young, then didn't make it.

 

[Trilly]

Unlike the Arteta thread where I tried and failed to get people to end the ‘I told you so’ cycle I really think what’s going on in this thread is very childish.

99% of us agree that Ode is good, 99% of us agreed that two years of poor form plus a contract running down meant there were some difficult questions to ask, 99% of us agree that he’s looked back to his best and it’s about maintaining it now.

There’s really no reason to be arguing in this thread when the opinions on Ode are really two sides of the same coin bar a few extreme opinions on either side of the argument.

And even if you do decide to continue the cycle and give back as much as you received, wouldn’t it make sense to wait till we’ve played more than five games?

 

[Trilly]

Someone needs to tell Xavi to chill tf out

I wish I was able to appreciate him and Iniesta more when they played tbh. Didn’t really understand the finer intricacies of the game back then especially as Messi was distracting me with ridiculous performances lol

 

[ash_rasul]

I wish I was able to appreciate him and Iniesta more when they played tbh. Didn’t really understand the finer intricacies of the game back then especially as Messi was distracting me with ridiculous performances lol

To be fair, Messi at his peak made it difficult to pay attention to anything else that was going on around him!



On Xavi, this was the first time I really sat up and took notice. I recall watching the game and being in absolute awe. It was only a friendly, but I sat there wondering who this little dude was and just how the f**k he was so bloody good. The way he took apart and dominated a very good England midfield at the time was outrageous.

In the end he became one of the best ever to do it.

 

[DanDare]

So it's actually confirmed. He's back on the steak looool

 

[DanDare]

So it's actually confirmed. He's back on the steak looool

View attachment 51414

 

[Buhry]

How long do they leave it before offering him a new deal? Do they even offer him one? When he is playing like this it is hard not to but you still have the last 2 years fresh in the memory. At the same time if they don't offer him a new one soon he will have 12 months left next summer. The same goes for Havertz.

Let the season play out and give him a new contract towards the end if he keeps his level high and earns it imo. But he does need to earn it by being better than he was the last 2 seasons. Off to a great start in that regard. But realistically there is no reason why he couldn't be a great player into his 30s like a modric type if he can get past his injury woes, his game is just about technique and awareness and stamina.

 

[Dennis10]

haha I remember how I did feel about Bergkamp in 2001, he was done and dusted. over 30 and Henry and Wiltord were ahead of him.

anyway Ødegaard didn't have anywhere near as many runs on the board. he had basically two top level seasons and then dropped off. could easily have been a Dele Alli or Pato or Balotelli or whoever - great when young, then didn't make it.

Wenger was silly when players turned 30 at that time. Bergkamp was given short contract extentions each year after turning 31 or so. I think he shocked Wenger with how good he still was when he was allowed to play enough to gain confidence. I never disliked Wiltord, but I hated that Wenger always chose to rotate Bergkamp after a good game. Felt like he didn't believe that players above 30 could play well in two full matches in a row. Wiltord was pretty good, but Bergkamp was just so magical to watch, and we always looked our best when he was in the mood.

 

[MartiSaka]

So it's actually confirmed. He's back on the steak looool

View attachment 51414

And no baby in sight

 

[DanDare]

And no baby in sight

I'm pretty sure he didn't get rid of his baby

 

[Batman]

Quietly excellent again today. He should have had 2 assists. The question marks about Ode even at his very best have always been whether he can influence a game in the kind of away environment we played in today. I thought he did that. He's playing with the right intent, not dropping too deep and finding players in positions where they could and should be doing more. I thought he passed another test and I'm ecstatic that we seem to have our guy back.

 

[Buhry]

Quietly excellent again today. He should have had 2 assists. The question marks about Ode even at his very best have always been whether he can influence a game in the kind of away environment we played in today. I thought he did that. He's playing with the right intent, not dropping too deep and finding players in positions where they could and should be doing more. I thought he passed another test and I'm ecstatic that we seem to have our guy back.

Yeah he was good again today and that was a proper scrap of a game but he wasn't phased by it or hiding which he might have been during his bad form seasons. And he was still moving the ball forward with purpose. Promising signs again.