Martin Ødegaard: El Capitanø Incognito

[MikelHadADream]

Calling the creative players of past vanilla midgets whilst saying Ødegaard has achieved the same if not more in the same breath is very wild and confusing to me.

This current crop are the very definition of overrated, there are WC debates every time they have a couple good games in a row. The previous lot were nowhere near those talks despite winning FA Cups, getting CL finishes and finishing runner up in the league at times as well.

Ødegaard was in the team of the year for two years straight, got 15 open play goals in 23 and brilliant in 24. That’s why he’s clear guys like Rosicky and Hleb (these are the guys I'm mainly referring to) in my opinion. The Hleb, Nasri, Cesc era teams (07-11) didn’t win anything either.

 

[MikelHadADream]

I take the vanilla midget thing back btw, just got rattled by the Rosicky Modric comparison.

(I also recognise Ødegaard is also in fact a vanilla midget)

 

[Macho]

Ødegaard was in the team of the year for two years straight, got 15 open play goals in 23 and brilliant in 24. That’s why he’s clear guys like Rosicky and Hleb (these are the guys I'm mainly referring to) in my opinion. The Hleb, Nasri, Cesc era teams (07-11) didn’t win anything either.

He has more potential being at a higher level far earlier, but if Ødegaard's career panned out similarly to Rosicky and Hleb it wouldn't surprise me tbh.

Plus his competition today in the league at least is Fernandes and ???. I actually rate him but he's kinda overrated in Arsenal circles considering what he's done in the game and how much football he has ahead of him. Especially as this season has raised some alarm bells.

 

[Topside]

Give me Cazorla over Ødegaard all day long.

Off two feet and also against low block teams this guy for his shooting and grabbing games knowing when to drop and dictate attacks. Cazorla could and would do it, would never hide.

Ødegaard is a very good player, has had a poor season. RM will be a huge test for us but also one where opposition playmakers like him will be given room. What he does with it will be interesting.

 

[MikelHadADream]

He has more potential being at a higher level far earlier, but if Ødegaard's career panned out similarly to Rosicky and Hleb it wouldn't surprise me tbh.

Plus his competition today in the league at least is Fernandes and ???. I actually rate him but he's kinda overrated in Arsenal circles considering what he's done in the game and how much football he has ahead of him.

I’d also argue Ødegaard has had a better platform than the guys in the other team (better defenders and DMs around him), but facts are facts, he had two great years that rival Cesc’s best seasons (numbers wise at least).

I must admit though his form this season has really put me off him, it’s a worry moving into next season.

 

[Macho]

A player like Nasri would cost at least a 100m and he wasn't even considered world class

 

[RunTheTrap]

Yeah, I agree. I think he’s a decent player that gets seriously overrated by our fans imo. If he was as good as they make him out to be or world class whenever they selectively decide to use that tag then he’d be dragging us through when we most need him as those surrounded by him are rated highly by our fanbase too. For me, Saka has that consistency in him whereas Ødegaard has a tendency to choose when the game suits him.

It's easier for someone like Saka to excel because his playing style is entirely dependent on his skill set. He is a dynamic dribbler, ball-carrier and pinpoint crossing with an elite physique, whereas Ødegaard is primarily a facilitator. If Ødegaard isn't getting the ball in ideal positions, he is marked out of games or ineffective. The right halfspace is where he comes alive. Despite being more technical than Saka, Ødegaard is more impacted by systematic flaws in this current team. Ødegaard is our Foden/Bernando Silva, not the KdB that we need him to be.

 

[RunTheTrap]

This has played a part too but the truth is that there has never been as few world class players in this era as in previous era. A player like Nasri would cost at least a 100m and he wasn't even considered world class and he was several levels above Ødegaard. Rosicky would be modric in this era lol.

Nasri and Ødegaard are quite similar - they're both exceptional technicians, but neither were elite creators despite their unique qualities. I read somewhere that Nasri only had 15 assists at Arsenal, and I always saw him as our best creator after Cesc. I know assists doesn't relate to creativity but it is a good barometer to show how impactful a player is in the final third. Martinelli surpassed Nasri's assists numbers in fewer games and he isn't deemed creative enough.

 

[El Duderino]

Give me Cazorla over Ødegaard all day long.

Off two feet and also against low block teams this guy for his shooting and grabbing games knowing when to drop and dictate attacks. Cazorla could and would do it, would never hide.

Ødegaard is a very good player, has had a poor season. RM will be a huge test for us but also one where opposition playmakers like him will be given room. What he does with it will be interesting.

What good is being able to take free kicks, pens and corners with both feet, while also being extremely press resistant, when you can't win aerial duels, though?

 

[Oxeki]

Nasri and Ødegaard are quite similar - they're both exceptional technicians, but neither were elite creators despite their unique qualities. I read somewhere that Nasri only had 15 assists at Arsenal, and I always saw him as our best creator after Cesc. I know assists doesn't relate to creativity but it is a good barometer to show how impactful a player is in the final third. Martinelli surpassed Nasri's assists numbers in fewer games and he isn't deemed creative enough.

Ronaldo has more assists in the CL than messi. Doesn't make him more creative.

 

[outlawz]

Tier 1: Bergkamp, Fabregas, Özil in that order from best to worst.

Tier 2: Hleb, Cazorla, Ødegaard, Rosicky. It's a tossup between Hleb, Cazorla and Ødegaard for top spot as they all had only one top season.

Tier 3: Nasri

 

[Red London]

Tier 1: Bergkamp, Fabregas, Özil in that order from best to worst.

Tier 2: Hleb, Cazorla, Ødegaard, Rosicky. It's a tossup between Hleb, Cazorla and Ødegaard for top spot as they all had only one top season.

Tier 3: Nasri

Would argue Cazorla has 2-3 top seasons, but in different positions. Would have been more if it wasn’t for that injury. Hes clear for me.

 

[BBF]

Tier 1: Bergkamp, Fabregas, Özil in that order from best to worst.

Tier 2: Hleb, Cazorla, Ødegaard, Rosicky. It's a tossup between Hleb, Cazorla and Ødegaard for top spot as they all had only one top season.

Tier 3: Nasri

I'd do,

Tier 1: Bergkamp, Snake, and Özil.

Tier 2: Cazorla.

Tier 3: Hleb, Ødegaard, Rosnitty, and Nasri.

Tier 6: Mkhitaryan.

 

[Rasmi]

lol I'm a bit annoyed that players of the past have been called vanilla midgets when Ødegaard is literally the biggest pussio I have ever seen in an Arsenal shirt.

I think in a 5 aside in my old estate he'd get barged a couple times and stop playing tbh he's a proper wet blanket. I saw zero resistance when his NT manager got him in a headlock, he's flimsy.

I reckon if he went out with the lads and a brawl broke out in the club he'd be in the toilets crying I think. He has vegan wrists, he would probably lose a 1v1 with a cheese burger and I believe he could be a hand model with those dainty hands.

When has rosicky, hleb or nasri produced anything close to the numbers ode produced 15&7 in the league

The most annoying thing in football is how secondary players become overrated after their retire. Happens in other sports as well. It becomes cool to give these guys their flowers as people see videos of them and say wow they were so good.

Anyone who watched Nasri 80% I pass to Sagna would know he could never compare to Ødegaard

 

[albakos]

I'd do,

Tier 1: Xhaka, Bergkamp, Snake, and Özil.

Tier 2: Cazorla.

Tier 3: Hleb, Ødegaard, Rosnitty, and Nasri.

Tier 6: Mkhitaryan.

Fixed it as per your ratings

 

[BBF]

Fixed it as per your ratings

 

[Trilly]

Bump

 

[razörist]

 

[albakos]

Most of them hit the wall, but I bet that his conversion of 5% in this collection of 20 free-kicks is still better than that or Ronaldo.

 

[A_G]

Till the wheels fall off, El Capitano