flobaba wrote:
Shades of Vieira then RtC? 😉
So, here’s the thing, he’s decent enough, but he’s not a standout performer yet. I only halfway blame him though. I think Controlball is muting any attacking instincts he might have, and while he does have a decent passing range when given time on the ball, not enough of his passes are incisive or in the progressive category (impatient flobaba eye test, no stats, so I’m open to be proven wrong on this). Unfortunately he isn’t very switched on defensively or physically imposing yet, so that’s a huge minus. I presume we signed him to have a Vieira like impact/presence in the middle eventually, and not as a squad filler. We’ll see how that pans out, but he has a very important role to play, and quick growing up to do if he’s to even be adequate replacement for Partey, who seems more and more likely to be a total crock of a signing.
Hahahaha.
No.
Obviously, Vieira was a freak. I don't know that we've signed many 19 year olds, - or anyone really, not Thierry, not even Dennis Bergkamp - stuck them in the first team and they've had the instantly transformational effect on the team and the way it played that Patrick did. There's a reason people lucky enough to be at that first game of Patrick's still talk about it, I only got to see it in the pub.
And the time that's passed since Patrick left in 2005 tells how much of a one off Vieira was, because nobody - not just us - has been able to find another one, anyone who could dominate a midfield in the same way Patrick could, though a few players have come close. I mean, he could literally do anything. I don't know if there are any posters here who didn't see Vieira play for Arsenal, but he defined the word colossus.
He may get there in terms of his attacking play, but Vieira was waaaaay more dynamic - Sambi has more of an elegance to him (to me, at least), but I completely agree he has a way to go with his defensive play. I was looking at Gilberto Silva's career history earlier and, having signed for us at 26, he'd spent most of his career at centre back before being moved forward the year prior to signing for us. And I wonder if that experience at centre back is what led him to be so switched on defensively.
I think, if you're not used to being the lock on the door, it takes a lot of adjustment (and experience) to curb your enthusiasm - and those attackings instincts. It isn't just going to happen after two or three games. He's going to need some time, but I don't know much of it he's going to get.
