Early days.
I like what I’m seeing from him. I would love to see him step it up a bit though. There’s an extra level or gear to the AM position he has to be able to unlock to meet our needs, but for now he’ll do.
My favorite things about him:
1) pedidextrous: love his ability to take and play a pass on either foot comfortably.
2) simple stupid, but smart: easily links up with all players around him playing the pass that should be played, at the right moment when it should be played. That one two with Laca on the edge of the box against West Brom epitomizes this. It’s a simple move but the quick return keeps defender’s heads swiveling and while they are still trying to react, Laca can get his shot in.
3) positioning: perhaps most important is the position he takes up. He actually engages his defender and makes runs that cause them to be drawn to him, thus creating those pockets of space that the CF can exploit.
Laca’s hold up play should be less critical if he keeps doing this and we can perhaps try to move Auba back central and take advantage of these attributes if ESR continues in this vein. I need my top striker top striking ASAP.
