The Odegaard and Rodri injuries this year and the VVD injury 3 seasons ago have really highlighted to me the difference elite players make on good teams. City have looked terrible but have still managed to keep themselves in the top 3 this whole time. These teams have all dropped to more or less 70- 80 point range without their key stars available. Additional absences around this absence cause a cascading effect.
At the very top end, you need difference makers. They're the ones who keep you at a 90 point pace. But lose them and you drop back to the top 4 chasing pack quite quickly.

Claudius

It's a zero sum game. If Ode is always making runs into the box instead of 'playing for the pre-assist' there would be no one there for the buildup, or the buildup would fall on others less suited to it.

One of the problems when Kai was deputising for Ode was that he's constantly making runs in behind and into the box, meaning he's not there for the buildup to support Saka while also going into his space.

Another great example is Haaland. City scored 99 goals without him with KDB their top scorer on 15. Folks imagine adding a 36 goal machine will propel them to new heights, but they scored less.

Ode scores more when the build-up from the left is better. At the moment service from that side is lacking.

    Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert he does that yes. He needs to improve 3 things to be one of the best players in the world, the one you mentioned, the weight on his through ball, he still gets plenty of them wrong.
    Second is the hesitance to go for the killer ball, I fell like sometimes he could risk it, be a little more creative and just let it go, but this might be the way Arteta wants us to play, not a lot of risks...recycle a lot etc. But sometimes, you see the pass is there, and he has the skill to do it no doubt about that, but he won't go for it..and will go for a more let's say "sure/safe" pass.
    And the last one is the shooting, he has it in him, I have seen him score long range goals, I have seen him just place the ball in the corner of the goal....he has it all in him. Just let it loose man. More often then not he will look for the pass or he has this annoying habit of not being able to sort his feet out in time for the shot(this is usually in the box)

      Lol, criticizing Odegaard. That is so 2021. This version has very few flaws. Only "big" one I see right now is he's a bit lightweight in the tackle, but that's okay - his job is to lead the press, not actually tackle, and he does that job better than any player in the world in my opinion...

      He's already proven he can get in and amongst the goals when needed. He picks his moments, and doesn't spam shots ala Gerard/Lampard and that's absolutely fine.

      Speaking of shots, didn't realize Merino has the power shot play style in his locker. Good one taken for the Trossard rebound. I'm sure we'll see a fair few bangers flying in once he's able to find his spots and space around the box to launch with regularity.

        flobaba Lol, criticizing Odegaard. That is so 2021. This version has very few flaws.

        Very, very few. Definitely already one of the best players in the world. Pretty much any team out there would love to have him. Can't think of more than 1 or 2 who wouldn't.

          Clrnc yep. the innately sterile nature of tetball means ode has to play as a spare man in every midfield zone in order to get the team moving creatively. he might pop up in the box a bit less as a result, which is a shame because he's a top finisher as well

          to think he could've been buendia. sliding doors moment right there

              Gazza M that Buendia comparison to Odegaard was inexcusable.
              We need one more player of this Saliba, Saka, Odegaard level. In attack. And then it's curtains.

                  Claudius We need one more player of this Saliba, Saka, Odegaard level. In attack.

                    flobaba It's not about "criticizing" him per se, of course he's a top player. But he's scored 4 goals in the last 12 months, in 29 PL appearances and 7 CL appearances (dating back to Dec 2nd, 2023). That's 1 goal in every 9 games.

                    If you're gonna win the PL/CL, sometimes you need to play a total team game and blow opponents away, but other times you need your elite attacking players to step up and win matches for you. Saka does that all the time, as we know. But Havertz for all his great qualities is a more functional player. Martinelli and Trossard aren't at that level. Ødegaard has great technique and was scoring more to begin the PL last season (4 goals in his first 14). We'll need him to bring us home in a few games this season.

                        CPM It's not about "criticizing" him per se, of course he's a top player. But he's scored 4 goals in the last 12 months, in 29 PL appearances and 7 CL appearances (dating back to Dec 2nd, 2023). That's 1 goal in every 9 games.

                        Are you suggesting we might need a guy like this in midfield to complement Odegaard and Rice?

                          Claudius We need one more player of this Saliba, Saka, Odegaard level. In attack. And then it's curtains.

                          Yes. But in attack on the left. Then it's curtains. 🙂

                            IMO if we want a second Ode we need to go for Jude Bellingham and get him to play the way he did at Dortmund.

                            Bonkers how important he is to the team. Also bonkers to focus on the few things he can do better, and not how ridiculously better everything flows when he is on the pitch.

                            Definitely. I think he's actually somewhat underrated on here which is another thing to add to the bonkers list.

                            Best player in the league.

                            6 days later

                            Where would we rank him against Fabregas in the scheme of things? (leaving aside personal feelings about Fab, and there are plenty of bad ones)

                              USArsenal they’re both superb.
                              I think it’s hard to judge Fabregas accurately because Wenger never gave him a platform. If we had the Kroenkes owning the club and investing as they are now, I suspect Fabregas would’ve reached another level