He reminds me of Lothar Matthaus in this. Such a progressor centrally

    Watching the game last night, I know he was officially playing LCB. I thought I would see him at LB inverting into midfield rather than one of the 3 CBs but that's their set up. However even playing as a LCB, at times looked like he was very central, almost like in the old school DM role where the DM drops back between the CBs to make a 3. Then when the ball was recovered pushes back into midfield.

    Clrnc looks like Maldini, plays like Beckenbauer

      12 days later

      I thought Timber did pretty well at the weekend, but this guy just oozes class. So effortless on the ball. It's like having a Zinchenko who can actually defend. I think he will end up being huge for us, in whatever position he ends up.

      yeah, he looked great when he came on. The only one in our team that passed the ball forward with intent, and who carried the ball forward yesterday. Hell, he looked better then all of our midfielders combined. Would like to see more of him, but in won't be vs City

      This guy already looks like he will EASILY be our best progressive defender.

      That run he had at one point had shades of the goal in the WC (against Croatia I think).

        Really good footballer. Timber is good, but Calafiori is on a completely different level. Gives us so many more options going forward, while being defensively solid.

        I think Timber will get better. You can tell he's always been a bit loose on the ball and is learning to rein it in a bit in Arteta's system.

        Calafiori looks a natural. Has me with my heart in mouth for a brief second when I'm thinking he's going too far, but he's surprisingly quite secure.

        Timber has been very good defensively but seems comfortable on the ball rather than expansive. He's a lot closer to Tomi than Zinchenko.

        I think Timber is more a natural alternative to White or even Saliba.

        I thought Timber was one of our best players be Atalanta. Cali had a nice cameo but Timber played well for 60+ mins.

        Actually think White (with all respect to his exceptional reliability and excellence for the past seasons) is the one who looked a fraction blunt without the benefit of Ødegaard's pausa.

        Looks to me like our centre halves are locked in but the full backs will have to compete for the two positions.

        I am a huge Benny Blanco fan but he is going to need to raise his performances back to last year's level soon or he is going to be sitting in big games because Timber and Calafiori both look to be the business. Calafiori looks like he can be a real wild card for us to counter the defensive rigidity that we have solidified this year and I think that will be a breath of fresh air, especially against stubborn mid-to-low table teams.

        9 days later

        He got sucked in for the 2nd goal but tbf it was an amazing strike.

        Otherwise was uber solid again. Brought the best out of Martinelli and was literally everywhere. He is the most natural of inverted fullbacks I have seen and his vision, passing is genuinely top notch.

        He is so far ahead of the next best LB option for us which is Tomi/Timber