✍️ OFFICIAL Martin Zubimendi

[ArsenesCoatMaker]

If Partey does leave, this guy isn't going to fill that defensive gap, so we'll be left wanting again.

Partey has been defensively turgid for years, Zubi is way quicker with better positioning

 

[KrissKringle]

Partey has been defensively turgid for years, Zubi is way quicker with better positioning

Nah, you're way off. Partey has the occasional howler, but usually he mops up the midfield really well and keeps us in possession.

Zubimendi isn't the same profile as Partey since he's coming in for Jorginho, who was never the best when it came to defensive duties.

 

[ArsenesCoatMaker]

Nah, you're way off. Partey has the occasional howler, but usually he mops up the midfield really well and keeps us in possession.

Zubimendi isn't the same profile as Partey since he's coming in for Jorginho, who was never the best when it came to defensive duties.

When Partey comes tight he's okay otherwise it's Denilson in slow mo jogging back

Zubi's positioning is unreal from what I've seen of him and he closes down fast. Nothing like Jorginho at all who hasn't got near the same pace in his prime.

Zubi can also carry the ball past 3 players but that's another matter

 

[KrissKringle]

When Partey comes tight he's okay otherwise it's Denilson in slow mo jogging back

Zubi's positioning is unreal from what I've seen of him and he closes down fast. Nothing like Jorginho at all who hasn't got near the same pace in his prime.

Zubi can also carry the ball past 3 players but that's another matter

You're exaggerating. Zubimendi isn't as good as Partey defensively, which is what I was talking about in the first place.
He's not going to be a 1:1 replacement for him either because he'll serve a different role.

 

[Diesel]

You're exaggerating. Zubimendi isn't as good as Partey defensively, which is what I was talking about in the first place.
He's not going to be a 1:1 replacement for him either because he'll serve a different role.

He's about as press resistant as any top deep mid in Europe. That combined with being able to make the simple and correct pass is why he's in demand.

 

[Clrnc]

You're exaggerating. Zubimendi isn't as good as Partey defensively, which is what I was talking about in the first place.
He's not going to be a 1:1 replacement for him either because he'll serve a different role.

I used to think like you, but I am heartened to see his defensive display for Spain in the Nations League recently. Very tenancious and a good interceptor in general.

 

[KrissKringle]

I used to think like you, but I am heartened to see his defensive display for Spain in the Nations League recently. Very tenancious and a good interceptor in general.

Eh, I don't put too much stock in his display with Spain, because they've been ball hogs since 2008.

For Sociedad he hasn't really sold me as this magical 6 that will stop whoever comes his way. Against Atletico in the last rounds of the season Sociedad got a nasty spanking and he wasn't anywhere to see.

He might be able to start attacks from deep, but his defense isn't anything impressive and certainly not as good as Partey.

 

[kraphtous]

Will be interesting to see the reaction of some users here when we start missing Partey in midfield

 

[Diesel]

Will be interesting to see the reaction of some users here when we start missing Partey in midfield

But but 12 yr old MLS will handle epl

 

[King87]

He's done the medicals?

 

[celestis]

Partey has been defensively turgid for years, Zubi is way quicker with better positioning

Quicker than Partey ?? Guy is super quick

 

[grange]

He's done the medicals?

Hospitals are closed

 

[Uptown_Gooner]

Will be interesting to see the reaction of some users here when we start missing Partey in midfield

Yes, I was happy with a year extension for him, his profile is nice to have, even if he isn't playing every game. I'm sure the intent was Partey not to start a ton of games, but would be nice to have in rotation and the option, don't really have a similar profile to him for how good he was last season.

All we can do is wait and see I guess.

 

[Red London]

Awaiting medical FC

 

[Batman]

He's done the medicals?

Don't think he's a doctor mate. He's been too busy with football for medical school.

 

[Hleb's Sirush]

Looking forward to Zubi arriving. Hopefully he slots in and raises our level. Partey on his day was very good just his brainfarts could be painful, he is also getting on and was struggling to get back defensively.

Was surprised though to see his stats came up better than Zubi's. Which I think shows more how underrated Partey is rather than Zubi not being great.

 

[KrissKringle]

Looking forward to Zubi arriving. Hopefully he slots in and raises our level. Partey on his day was very good just his brainfarts could be painful, he is also getting on and was struggling to get back defensively.

Was surprised though to see his stats came up better than Zubi's. Which I think shows more how underrated Partey is rather than Zubi not being great.

@ArsenesCoatMaker and @Diesel in shambles right now.

 

[Diesel]

@ArsenesCoatMaker and @Diesel in shambles right now.

I love Zubi signing. Don't like that we couldn't lock up Partey to 1 yr deal. Might have some adaptation issues for Zubi without a cover there.

 

[db10_therza]

When Partey comes tight he's okay otherwise it's Denilson in slow mo jogging back

Zubi's positioning is unreal from what I've seen of him and he closes down fast. Nothing like Jorginho at all who hasn't got near the same pace in his prime.

Zubi can also carry the ball past 3 players but that's another matter

The best 6s do their defensive work in a way you almost don’t notice. They do it with their positioning. I haven’t seen enough of Zubi out of possession (you need to see a lot of full matches…) to know if he has this trait or not but I can tell you right now, for all of his wonder when in possession; out of possession Partey is “good” but definitely not great.

His positional discipline is average, his tracking of runners is inconsistent (at best), his closing down of passing lanes is excellent. Yes he can cover a lot of ground but the reason he often needs to in the first place is because he wasn’t in the right place to begin with. Rice has to do an enormous amount of work to plug holes he’s left. He’s also not a great 1v1 defender (he is a defender of spaces, not of individuals) and this I am sure that Zubimendi is already better.

My gut feeling is that Zubimendi will be a defensive improvement on Partey. In possession is another matter. I’ve not seen many 6s turn and release the way Partey does. Zubi is very progressive but in a different way. Partey progresses the ball and Zubimendi progresses “the play” if that makes any sense. He’ll orchestrate from deep often with short passes and lots of movement to get up the pitch. Think Vitinha. He can obviously play the occasional ball straight through the opposition as well but I don’t think he’ll do it as frequently as Partey.

 

[ArsenesCoatMaker]

Looking forward to Zubi arriving. Hopefully he slots in and raises our level. Partey on his day was very good just his brainfarts could be painful, he is also getting on and was struggling to get back defensively.

Was surprised though to see his stats came up better than Zubi's. Which I think shows more how underrated Partey is rather than Zubi not being great.

I think this mainly shows Partey plays for a more attacking more possession team than anything else