Mikel Merino: Merchine

[viktor]

put merino in final third area, so he can make instant impact & dont let him drop deeper

 

[Rain Dance]

He is so prolific when given a chance in goal. But average in everything else

I am always confused when it comes to him. Best I can describe him is a space finder.

that's an amazing talent as a CF
Pippo Inzhagi, Giroud, Bierhoff and that German Voltemade has it. And you can't teach that

 

[TH14shahriar]

@OnlyOne and tesco aka baby chamakh come outside

This got me dead man, Isak as khat junkie

 

[Mudi]

He is so prolific when given a chance in goal. But average in everything else

I am always confused when it comes to him. Best I can describe him is a space finder.

He is quick good technically. The only problem is that he is too slow. If he had the pace of Havertz, he would be top 5 striker in the league.

 

[viktor]

even osimhen never scored using back head and without look, merino aerial threat absolutely elite

 

[Jason Jace]

despite the brace I thought he was somehow poor.

He couldn't hold up play, ball played into was bouncing off him, hopefully it’s rustiness from not playing upfront in a while

 

[Trilly]

Can’t see Gyok finishing these chances.

You can’t be serious?

 

[Blood on the Tracks]

I credit Merino, to step in as a makeshift striker he's done very well.

The problem is he just doesn't fit into the set up as striker, however many he scores.

Both Havertz and Gyokeres can hold the line in their respective ways, with Merino it's always coming deep ( which is understandable given he's a midfielder by trade) and he lacks the engine and mobility to really fit in up top. He can't get in behind so that really limits us too.

I've no issue with him being our emergency striker, but that's as far as it would go for me with him.

I said it with Havertz and I feel the same with Gyok. It's not all about how many goals the striker gets it's more important how he fits into the attacking unit as a whole.

He's still a really useful squad player.

 

[freeglennhelder2]

Merino with the ball:

Merino without the ball:

 

[shoot for the top]

You can’t be serious?

Half serious. At the moment, this is how I see Gyok.

 

[viktor]

havertz fanboy in this forum what is your response

 

[Heavy Duty Rom]

havertz fanboy in this forum what is your response

My response is why does it always come back to his wage?

 

[Heavy Duty Rom]

You can’t be serious?

He wouldn't have scored the header, thats for sure. Merinos timing is spectacular.

 

[viktor]

My response is why does it always come back to his wage?

because wages per week equal with kpi (key performance indicator)

 

[Trilly]

He wouldn't have scored the header, thats for sure. Merinos timing is spectacular.

Nobody should have scored that header, keeper was moving drunk.

But I’ll give Merino his props when it comes to heading the ball.

 

[Diesel]

Man Merino will be telling his kids that he had the reverse Rooney career. Merino started a DM and in his 30s he started banging them in up top.

 

[Rain Dance]

My response is why does it always come back to his wage?

cause he is a top earner hence he is expected to give the best results

 

[fute]

He scores when he plays striker.

 

[Sulosky]

Injuries have in a way been a blessing within the curse. As the injury list clears we begin to have a huge number of different options and variations in how to play. It also bodes well with future injuries in mind. Merino is a wonderful option for Victor and Kai.

 

[Barry]

He's done really well but I think Merino is oddly underrated for his work in midfield whilst being slightly overrated as a striker here.

You put Lampard as a number 9 and he would get goals but it's still not his best position... Playing in midfield you can see that Merino has a lot of strengths - he's very technical, good vision on short and intricate passing, pretty good at winning the ball. And then obviously his super powers are his heading, instincts in the box and finishing. "Hold up play" can mean different things but he's a solid link player (in some games exceptional at this).

I just like him best in midfield which seems to suit his natural positioning. He's slow and can't dribble but we know that and the box crashing goals and general versatility make him a super useful squad player to have.