Martin Ødegaard: El Capitanø Incognito

[Thrice]

What do you think would have happened with him on the pitch lol. Ødegaard gets dispossessed off the ball the most in this team. Especially if you find him between the lines and there is a defender on his back. 100% a lost ball and a counterattack.

That's why I'm reluctant to see him in a deeper role. At first I thought his future could be as DM because he just doesn't cut it anymore as the 10. But he's too weak to be an alternative to Zubimendi. A player who can't win a duel to save his life can't be your defensive midfielder.

 

[Aubamabludclat94]

You are just proving my point.

Doesn't help the Stop Ødegaard Bullying Brigade to have @Rasmi align with us

 

[Aubamabludclat94]

That's why I'm reluctant to see him in a deeper role. At first I thought his future could be as DM because he just doesn't cut it anymore as the 10. But he's too weak to be an alternative to Zubimendi. A player who can't win a duel to save his life can't be your defensive midfielder.

I suppose anything is possible but his duel and 50/50 stats are definitely some of the weakest parts of his game. Especially nowadays. He just wouldn't win anywhere near the amount of aerial and ground duels Zubi wins.

 

[DJ_Markstar]

I suppose anything is possible but his duel and 50/50 stats are definitely some of the weakest parts of his game. Especially nowadays. He just wouldn't win anywhere near the amount of aerial and ground duels Zubi wins.

He's better creatively than Zubi though, I think Ødegaard's future is as an 8 with an Eze/Nwaneri in the 10 ahead of him.

 

[grange]

He's better creatively than Zubi though, I think Ødegaard's future is as an 8 with an Eze/Nwaneri in the 10 ahead of him.

I wouldn't have an issue with him if we played like this. It's when he's on with Zubi and Rice all at the same time that my joy for the sport completely deflates.

 

[DJ_Markstar]

Thankfully not a single sane person has been missing him.

Miss him so much

A-M in a nutshell

 

[DJ_Markstar]

I wouldn't have an issue with him if we played like this. It's when he's on with Zubi and Rice all at the same time that my joy for the sport completely deflates.

Yeah I agree but then I've been saying for a while he's not a pure 10, always felt he was doing a job there. Think he could be a very good controller/DLP hybrid for us going forward, but also he can't be captain if he's going to miss months of the season injured. Give it to Rice, Gabriel, Saka or even Raya who play basically every game.

 

[Aubamabludclat94]

He's better creatively than Zubi though, I think Ødegaard's future is as an 8 with an Eze/Nwaneri in the 10 ahead of him.

I maintain that Ødegaard and Eze can coexist and if anything actually improve our team's ability to dominate opposition. I said it in other threads, but imo it'd be like a great value version of Silva and KDB (no disrespect to ANY of the parties involved in that comparison, just trying to put it as simply as I can). But it might not necessarily be in the same "positions" as us fans are used to talking about. Is there a world where we can fit all of Rice, Zubi, Ødegaard, and Eze in a team? Maybe, I don't necessarily see why not, the most overlap in those roles is Zubi and Ødegaard and I still think they're different enough imo.

But it would take some tinkering with the other roles and positions. We also have to keep in mind we're at the same time "grooming" the next generation of midfielders in MLS, Nwaneri, and Max, who might end up becoming an 8/10 eventually for all we know.

All I know is that this is a fantastic problem to have imo. Having all these different profiles across different age groups, and they can all perform at an extremely high level? When you think about it, all these players have performed to a standard to AT THE VERY LEAST be starting games routinely for a title challenging team (aside from Max but we all know thats coming very soon).

 

[Aubamabludclat94]

A-M in a nutshell

Kinda funny watching the thread consensus go from "we dont need him" to "we need him so bad" and then back to "don't miss him" depending on the results and performance of the last game lol

 

[DJ_Markstar]

I maintain that Ødegaard and Eze can coexist and if anything actually improve our team's ability to dominate opposition. I said it in other threads, but imo it'd be like a great value version of Silva and KDB (no disrespect to ANY of the parties involved in that comparison, just trying to put it as simply as I can). But it might not necessarily be in the same "positions" as us fans are used to talking about. Is there a world where we can fit all of Rice, Zubi, Ødegaard, and Eze in a team? Maybe, I don't necessarily see why not, the most overlap in those roles is Zubi and Ødegaard and I still think they're different enough imo.

But it would take some tinkering with the other roles and positions. We also have to keep in mind we're at the same time "grooming" the next generation of midfielders in MLS, Nwaneri, and Max, who might end up becoming an 8/10 eventually for all we know.

All I know is that this is a fantastic problem to have imo. Having all these different profiles across different age groups, and they can all perform at an extremely high level? When you think about it, all these players have performed to a standard to AT THE VERY LEAST be starting games routinely for a title challenging team (aside from Max but we all know thats coming very soon).

I think the future is essentially having lineups to suit opposition, rather than a "first XI"

I actually think even thinking in terms of a first XI is outdated, perhaps even two generations outdated now but that's another topic for another conversation.

in 26/27 you might play

White - Saliba - Gabriel - Calafiori

new destroyer - Ødegaard - Eze

Saka - Havertz - Trossard

against your typical stinky EPL low block and

Timber - Saliba - Gabriel - Hincapie

Rice - Nwaneri - Zubi

Madueke - Gyokeres - Martinelli

against European teams who are more prepared to play ball, or perhaps lower league opposition who need a good thumping.

 

[TH14shahriar]

Big question is, do we give him a medal?

 

[Trilly]

I do think he's a good player but he's on 250kpw, we need to make sales and we don't need him....

I think there are a couple sellable assets I'd rather sell first but if push comes to shove and he needs to be sold to get a top class attacker in then I think we have to do it. If we can keep him while still doing what we need to do in the window then he's elite depth.

 

[Clrnc]

I do think he's a good player but he's on 250kpw, we need to make sales and we don't need him....

I think there are a couple sellable assets I'd rather sell first but if push comes to shove and he needs to be sold to get a top class attacker in then I think we have to do it. If we can keep him while still doing what we need to do in the window then he's elite depth.

I would never have sold the first 1.5 season version of Ødegaard.

The last 2 years though, we have to consider a big money offer for him if another big playmaker becomes available.

 

[freeglennhelder2]

How long is this paternity leave going to last?

Apart from that first green poo, babies don’t do anything remotely interesting for the first couple of months. Someone back me up on this.

 

[dashsnow17]

Kinda crazy that he could feasibly be the captain lifting a PL trophy yet he’s only had like one good game the whole season.

 

[HollandGooner]

Any news when he will be back? its getting annoying we need him for the remaining.

 

[bastun]

Any news when he will be back? its getting annoying we need him for the remaining.

Still on maternity leave. His Norway coach confirmed Ødegaard is basically a week or so away from being fully fit, but they will leave him out of the squad to build his fitness. He might be on the bench against Citeh.

 

[BigPoppaPump]

Miss him so much

You're always so supportive of our players, this is why you're my favourite poster no agendas from you.

 

[BigPoppaPump]

Any news when he will be back? its getting annoying we need him for the remaining.

Think it would be best if he just took the rest of the season off and came back next year fit and ready. Not sure he's gonna be able to stay injury free in such an intense period where we need everyone to be 100%.

 

[Trilly]

Think it would be best if he just took the rest of the season off and came back next year fit and ready. Not sure he's gonna be able to stay injury free in such an intense period where we need everyone to be 100%.

I’d rather have him available for half the remaining games than not have him available at all??

You also assume he’ll be here next year.