Mirth That is a good point, in this country there is no real precedent of release clauses being binding.

    Bellingham is overused even worse. But the stats for Saka don't look good.

    Other than Robben, most of the names above him tailed off earlier than expected in their careers

    They also missed out Fabregas and Tielemans who both played around 13k minutes

      Those stats look a bit odd to me for Saka. He is going to be 22 in Sept right? so if its games before he turned 20 almost all of the last 2 season dont count.

      We saying he has played 140 games before that..? doubt it.

      I don't think there's a such thing as being overplayed in football.

      You can definitely overplay someone but doesn't make sense comparing Bellingham and Saka with the likes of Scholes and Beckham who broke through 30 years ago because of changes in training methods and monitoring over that time.

      Clrnc Bellingham is overused even worse. But the stats for Saka don't look good.

      Not having a crack, but don't you think it's a bit daft to say all this about … senior minutes? Every other bright young player is playing a match or two a week as well, they're just playing U21s or whatever. Footballers on a professional track at that age play a lot of football.

      I do accept senior minutes are tougher, harder, greater pressure and risk, but still. In terms of aggregate wear and tear I think these figures are too partial to be relevant. All they measure is Saka's outstanding maturity as a player of his age (and that of others).

        I don't think youth footballers are half as likely to be pushed through periods where they are in the red as senior players. Comparing someone playing U23s to someone playing Premier League and Champions League seems a bit silly to me.

          Qwiss I don't think youth footballers are half as likely to be pushed through periods where they are in the red as senior players. Comparing someone playing U23s to someone playing Premier League and Champions League seems a bit silly to me.

          Yeah, I mean I am unfit as fuck, don't think most of the guys I play with are much better either, but we still manage about 2 and a half hours of football every weekend. Got sweat drenching our tops, and we only stop because it's the amount of time we have the pitch available to us. No way we'd be able to last even 30mins against grown professionals without passing out.

            5 days later

            I was watching clips of former footballers, and I think I've realized who I would like Saka to emulate. It's Arjen Robben. He has to become as lethal with his left foot if he's going to be a "stats monster". He has to have a go to move similar to the goal against Wolves. Get the ball,
            run at a defender or defenders, keep them off balance, check back to the inside when they least expect it, (or even worse when they do but have no option but to cover your outside run as well), get your body shape right and then blast one into the top corner. That was basically all Robben did but he was almost unstoppable. That's who Saka should model his game on to get to the next level. Now Robben was quicker than most with the ball at his feet, but Saka isn't a slouch himself. Just needs to be more conscious of the fact that he is in control of the dance and must actively look for his shot from anywhere within 25 yards from goal on that right flank. The ability to get ones body shape right is super critical here. Needs to be at close to a 90degree approach/shot angle when he strikes it. The defender will always always be at your mercy in this situation, especially if you're executing at full speed.

            I think that's a tall order due to the pace you mentioned. Robben was quite possibly the fastest player in the game at one point, and that along with his technical abilities brought advantages Saka will never have. Saka has tons of the latter though, and is more unpredictable.

            Martinelli is more a Robben type I reckon, i.e. highly efficient, ruthless finisher, very direct. I think Salah is a decent bench mark for Saka.

              Robben is unique. That curling shot is so consistent and hard to save

              Saka's strength is that he's not a one-trick pony. Robben was the best ever pony in the one-trick business.

              Saka will have Mane level stats soon enough, though I expect Gabinelli to consistently outscore him eventually.

              goon I think Saka is similar to Robben in dribbling style, both keep it simple and close. Its quite deceptive and really hard to defend. As others have said Saka doesn't quite have that insane pace. Better brain though. Martinelli is closer in speed but I think his dribbling style is very different, not as close, more exciting looking but not quite as good technically, knocks it past players more.

                10 days later

                Three great and different goals from Saka for England. The second is the pick obviously, but I liked all of them. I love his power and precision on his "weaker" foot, and it was good seeing him up front take that chance clinically on the break for his third.

                Question for later - at what age does a Starboy become a Starman?

                Please just let him rest like a baby over the summer.

                Not much summer left with these absurd internationals. We’re back in training in less than a month probably?