Martin Ødegaard: El Capitanø Incognito

[outlawz]

Zinedine Zidane is another example of a top class player who had a massive dodgy spell lasting two years before he returned back to his best. His first two seasons at Juventus resulted in him recording 17 and 26 g/a contributions but then Del Piero got injured and Zidane's form fell of a cliff. His next two seasons led to a lot of fan criticism with 8 and 9 g/a contributions respectively before he stepped up again ahead of his move to Real Madrid.

 

[outlawz]

There’s like a cultural, societal reluctance to give Salah his flowers man I swear.

The guy is a generational freak. Anyone, even Saka, being put on his level in terms of output will actually have to match his output for at least one season before I’m hearing that comparison I’m sorry. That’s obviously ignoring the fact that Salah has been doing it for however long now, I’m just talking about a season comparison.

It’s on Saka to show us that he can do it.

Giving flowers to a man named Mohammed? Not going to happen,

 

[MikelHadADream]

Zinedine Zidane is another example of a top class player who had a massive dodgy spell lasting two years before he returned back to his best. His first two seasons at Juventus resulted in him recording 17 and 26 g/a contributions but then Del Piero got injured and Zidane's form fell of a cliff. His next two seasons led to a lot of fan criticism with 8 and 9 g/a contributions respectively before he stepped up again ahead of his move to Real Madrid.

I think looking at a guy like Zidane through the eyes of g/a is the way to go. The guy was an artist in a time where footballers weren’t judged solely on statistics.

 

[DJ_Markstar]

This is the thing, he is a secondary creator who we need to be our primary creator.

Thats where the actual disconnect is. And it will be more prominent next season if as predicted we get Zubimendi who can control tempo from deep and then Ødegaard really will just have one role on the ball - to manifest end product.

I’m really hoping once the season is over we get news that he’s been carrying something over from his ankle injury and needs surgery because otherwise… idk man I don’t know how you can rationalise this season.

Don’t get it twisted I like him, I like that he’s more measured than someone like Bruno Fernandes because it means we can assert dominance in a way a Bruno team couldn’t dream of doing. But sometimes just pass the ****ing ball first time man. And the basics, please deliver the basics again you got this my captain

Think about it this way. How many players can you think of who are both elite controllers AND elite creatively? Last guy I can think of was Fabregas, but even he was a level below guys like Xavi on the controller side of things.

Not sure you're going to get both in a single player in today's game, but Ødegaard does create somewhat. Its not an issue you can't solve anyway, Saka creates plenty and with a new DLP we have enough to be getting on with.

A new striker to bury all the chances is way more important than trying to get a bit more creativity out of midfield.

 

[DJ_Markstar]

Zinedine Zidane is another example of a top class player who had a massive dodgy spell lasting two years before he returned back to his best. His first two seasons at Juventus resulted in him recording 17 and 26 g/a contributions but then Del Piero got injured and Zidane's form fell of a cliff. His next two seasons led to a lot of fan criticism with 8 and 9 g/a contributions respectively before he stepped up again ahead of his move to Real Madrid.

Mohamed Zidan>>>Zinedine Zidane

 

[MikelHadADream]

There’s like a cultural, societal reluctance to give Salah his flowers man I swear.

The guy is a generational freak. Anyone, even Saka, being put on his level in terms of output will actually have to match his output for at least one season before I’m hearing that comparison I’m sorry. That’s obviously ignoring the fact that Salah has been doing it for however long now, I’m just talking about a season comparison.

It’s on Saka to show us that he can do it.

I think it’s because he’s easy on the eye.

Statistically, he’s comparable to Thierry (even though I think Thierry would put more G/a in the modern game) but I wouldn’t have him at that level because he’s just not as “talented” a footballer.

I don’t think Saka has it in him to put up those sorts of numbers. He doesn’t have the mentality of an out and out forward.

What he is is an elite winger in the Ribery mould for me.

 

[db10_therza]

Think about it this way. How many players can you think of who are both elite controllers AND elite creatively? Last guy I can think of was Fabregas, but even he was a level below guys like Xavi on the controller side of things.

Not sure you're going to get both in a single player in today's game, but Ødegaard does create somewhat. Its not an issue you can't solve anyway, Saka creates plenty and with a new DLP we have enough to be getting on with.

A new striker to bury all the chances is way more important than trying to get a bit more creativity out of midfield.

I don’t think you’ve understood my point.

Ødegaard is a controller creator, you are absolutely correct. But if we have Zubimendi then we don’t *need* him to be a controller, we *just* need him to create. And that’s when there will be way way more scrutiny on his end product because (in possession) it will be his sole contribution to the team really (yes he does a lot out of possession that’s a separate thing).

 

[Dokaka]

There’s like a cultural, societal reluctance to give Salah his flowers man I swear.

The guy is a generational freak. Anyone, even Saka, being put on his level in terms of output will actually have to match his output for at least one season before I’m hearing that comparison I’m sorry. That’s obviously ignoring the fact that Salah has been doing it for however long now, I’m just talking about a season comparison.

It’s on Saka to show us that he can do it.

Yeah it's weird tbh. People on here still go on about how incredible Alexis Sanchez was for like two seasons. Salah has been doing that - and arguably to an even higher level - for 8 seasons now

He might be the most disrespected PL star in history at this point, the consistency is ****ing insane.

 

[outlawz]

I think looking at a guy like Zidane through the eyes of g/a is the way to go. The guy was an artist in a time where footballers weren’t judged solely on statistics.

Zidane had elite stats though across numerous seasons, 31 (Real), 27 (Real) and 27 (Juve) g/a seasons were his three most productive seasons. Sandwiched between that was 9 and 8. The more pertinent point is that Juventus fans were turning on him around 1999 for his lack of goals (sound familiar?) and his lack of effort. He wasn't just aesthetics, he had final product but the point was that he had a drop off in the middle of his peak, yet he bounced back.

People are too fast to write players obituaries, which is insane especially if the player is in his mid-twenties.

 

[MikelHadADream]

Zidane had elite stats though across numerous seasons, 31 (Real), 27 (Real) and 27 (Juve) g/a seasons were his three most productive seasons. Sandwiched between that was 9 and 8. The more pertinent point is that Juventus fans were turning on him around 1999 for his lack of goals (sound familiar?) and his lack of effort. He wasn't just aesthetics, he had final product but the point was that he had a drop off in the middle of his peak, yet he bounced back.

People are too fast to write players obituaries, which is insane especially if the player is in his mid-twenties.

Yeah, but the issue with Ødegaard is that his general play has fallen off a cliff as well as his stats.

I think there are reasons for this, mainly Saka being out, but what he’s shown this season is definitely concerning.

 

[Dokaka]

Zidane had elite stats though across numerous seasons, 31 (Real), 27 (Real) and 27 (Juve) g/a seasons were his three most productive seasons. Sandwiched between that was 9 and 8. The more pertinent point is that Juventus fans were turning on him around 1999 for his lack of goals (sound familiar?) and his lack of effort. He wasn't just aesthetics, he had final product but the point was that he had a drop off in the middle of his peak, yet he bounced back.

People are too fast to write players obituaries, which is insane especially if the player is in his mid-twenties.

Can't speak for others of course but the worrying part about Ødegaard for me isn't his numbers, but rather how off he looks in general. His passing is weirdly sloppy, his decision making is at times baffling etc.

I think he's a top player in general but it's hard to deny he's been woeful this season and it's not solely a numbers thing for me.

 

[North5]

Eeking back to form

 

[Gooner Zig]

Nah, he’s doesn’t produce the attacking numbers for that.

I get it for a guy like Salah to a certain degree, a guaranteed 40 g/a player, but we’ve even Liverpool this season struggle when they came up against a proper side (PSG).

I would have agreed with you prior to this season but not anymore. He's averaging a goal contribution per game.

 

[Vinci]

Eeking back to form

 

[El Realista]

This is rubbish. Name one of the PSG midfielders that slacks off the ball. Now tell me if they’re creative or not. It’s not just them either - look at Barella: covers every blade of grass and everything goes through him but he doesn’t skip a beat. But no my man can’t make a 5 yard pass coz he’s doing too much defending lmao.

I’m tired of the excuses. He’s just been **** man. You guys need to wake up. And so does Ødegaard.

Barella is a myth, guy wouldn't make in PL

 

[El Realista]

Yeah, it’s actually a bad thing our attacking players work hard and defend under Arteta, it would be much better if they strolled around the pitch.

I don’t get this AM take that our best players defend too much. We saw against Madrid what happens when you have super talents who stroll around the pitch.

In this day and age, the only players you can carry defensively are Messi and Ronaldo types. Everyone else has to put a shift in.

I love how AM is so only black and white when you argue something. But I can't expect something else from people overweight that doesn't played football in his life thinking a player has infinite stamina and injuries came only from bad luck and not overplaying.

 

[grange]

Sell

 

[bastun]

Another amazing game from our viking captain. He put on the invisibility cloak and wore it with pride.

 

[Preacher]

Haters club is eating good tonight. It is painful to watch him around oppo box.

His right leg is non existant. Cant create separation to shot. 75% of passes are easily read because he holds the ball too long. And the last and the most important thing - he's weakling.

 

[Oxeki]

He's so ****. There has to be an explanation for it. He's undergoing a Dele Alli-like fall from grace.