goon wrote:

I think he's fairly consistent actually. He's not good enough but I do think he's a bit of a victim of being tasked with having to be the main man in the midfield since joining. He's simply not up to that task and in a team that's not playing well it quickly exposes him and his weakneses. For the brief period Torreira looked good and now with Partey, he's more than serviceable, particularly for a top 4 challenge. It's also why (imo), he's looked better in a midfield three, because the expectation and demands from him are significantly reduced.

I actually think he's worse in the midfield 3 with Partey. His mistakes are limited but you don't get the good games either. The midfield 3 just sort of neutralises him. He doesn't offer a whole lot of anything in it.

Coombs wrote:

This is how you break out of a high press and move through the lines at pace. This is how you avoid the horseshoe of death. Being against playing out from the back is being against playing good attacking football.

There is a difference between "playing out from the back" and doing nutmegs right in front of your own goal.

It's not really a worthwhile distinction to make, though. However you play out, you play out. Passing, dribbling, carries, nutmegs, whatever. The idea that Xhaka doing something good could be a good way to criticize both him and the manager is totally off the rails.

Qwiss! wrote:
Coombs wrote:

This is how you break out of a high press and move through the lines at pace. This is how you avoid the horseshoe of death. Being against playing out from the back is being against playing good attacking football.

There is a difference between "playing out from the back" and doing nutmegs right in front of your own goal.

that was a ludicrous passage of play by xhaka that backfires on another day. partey takes risks to break the press, but doesnt attempt total hailmary nutmegs on the edge of his own box

Coombs wrote:

It's not really a worthwhile distinction to make, though. However you play out, you play out. Passing, dribbling, carries, nutmegs, whatever. The idea that Xhaka doing something good could be a good way to criticize both him and the manager is totally off the rails.

this is just wrong.

the success rate on a straight line dribble, or a 3 yard short pass, is different than the success rate of a nutmeg in a similar area

So what, you want our players to not even try? To actively not do things that help us win games? What the hell are you people complaining about?

Guess it’s a risk vs reward vs player skill set estimation.

Xhaka isn’t an unknown quantity. Dribbling past players isn’t a strength of his even in “safe” open areas of the pitch.

It was an extremely risky move which could have backfired badly. Kudos to him for pulling it off successfully on this occasion, but I’d definitely not be encouraging or expecting him to try playing out that way in upcoming games. My heart just can’t take it.

IMO it's the same as the old adage that you never pass the ball square across the front of your penalty box, and I can remember Xhaka doing so and either turning over possession to an intercept and/or conceding a goal.

Perhaps the irony is I have no real complaint when I see AMN nutmegging someone, because he usually does so in the middle 3rd and towards the flanks where the immediate damage is more limited if it doesn't come off. That said it usually does work because he is simply better with his close control with ball at feet, whereas Xhaka's technical strength is in his passing.

7 days later

Man like Granit.

Jed wrote:

Guendouzi was more intelligent than this clown. He did it when the game was over and there was nothing riding on it anymore. “Non-negotiable” when it concerns Guendouzi but not Mr Professional who once told the fans to fuck off though.

When did your feelings on this clown begin to change?

Jed wrote:

Man like Granit.

Fuck me, looks like that Xhakastat guy finally succeeded.

Mirth wrote:
Clrnc wrote:

That’s quite a stat - even Elneny was voted player of the month once.

😆

Congrats to him on his POTM award.

Surprised it took so long for this rockstar to be posted on here. All it took was Xhaka winning potm. Some of you guys are down pretty bad, huh?

Congrats to the big dog on getting some recognition. Been a consistent performer for us for us a little while now. Long may it continue.

flobaba wrote:
Jed wrote:

Guendouzi was more intelligent than this clown. He did it when the game was over and there was nothing riding on it anymore. “Non-negotiable” when it concerns Guendouzi but not Mr Professional who once told the fans to fuck off though.

When did your feelings on this clown begin to change?

This season thanks to his performances and commitment.

Bosscielny wrote:

Surprised it took so long for this rockstar to be posted on here. All it took was Xhaka winning potm. Some of you guys are down pretty bad, huh?

Congrats to the big dog on getting some recognition. Been a consistent performer for us for us a little while now. Long may it continue.

Really curious now champ, how old are you? You argue like a teenager half the time but your usage of certain idioms gives off major "how do you do fellow kids" energy

Dunno who he's even trying to argue with seeing as he's the only one who posted that tweet. As usual, probably himself.

Good game from him today. With White, Tierney and Partey out, he's about the only player in the back six who can pass a ball forward.