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Reece James

To say he was the weakest contributor on the pitch is insane.
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Why? Everyone had a good game (at the very least). Someone still has to be the weakest contributor regardless.

 
Why? Everyone had a good game (at the very least). Someone still has to be the weakest contributor regardless.
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The weakest link was Enzo Fernandez ... as is often the case against quality opposition 🙂

Both the stats sites that give player ratings had him bottom of the list anyway, or joint bottom (with Neto) if you like, (who at least had the excuse that he was playing left wing back and defending deep for a lot of the game).

Either way ... it certainly wasn't Reece James !

Whoscored :

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Sofascore :

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Sorry, I completely disagree. Without him doing what he did, something new to him by the way, our midfield and fullbacks Gusto especially would have been exposed greatly.

Cucu overlapped often, it's why Neto had to work so hard to track back. Not as much as Gusto did mind you though.
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It's fine to disagree. But my point isn't made without some consideration. And no its not new to him, he played in midfield and few times at academy level, a lot at Wigan, and here. Palmer, Gusto, Cucurella, Caicedo, Sanchez, Colwill, were great. Pedro and Enzo made so many brilliant off-the-ball runs and were pivotal to all the good stuff going forward. That doesn't leave many players to be considered as the weakest contributor.

We defended with a low mid block for large periods - the midfield had good protection. Hence, even with 33% possession, James only made one tackle and one interception. He turned down most opportunities to progress play significantly, pass through the lines and there were a few long ball opportunities not taken as well. Good performance but, in my opinion, not on par with the some of the others - and certainly not better than what Lavia would've offered (and I that mean purely from a tactical perspective).

Yes, Cucurella did overlap on occasion, but he never played as an overlapping fullback.

 
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The weakest link was Enzo Fernandez ... as is often the case against quality opposition 🙂

Both the stats sites that give player ratings had him bottom of the list anyway, or joint bottom (with Neto) if you like, (who at least had the excuse that he was playing left wing back and defending deep for a lot of the game).

Either way ... it certainly wasn't Reece James !

Whoscored :

View attachment 34174

Sofascore :

View attachment 34175
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If you need sofascore to tell you how well someone played then you've already lost half the battle...

A player can make a great contribution without hitting the key attributes that influence their algorithm.

 
If you need sofascore to tell you how well someone played then you've already lost half the battle...

A player can make a great contribution without hitting the key attributes that influence their algorithm.
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Yes I think Ukraine Bolt highlighted all Enzo's great contributions elsewhere on the Palmer thread LOL.

Did the algorithms get the key contributors at the top end wrong ? I don't think so ... they usually come out as a pretty close fit to the "eye test" ... which shouldn't be a surprise seeing as they come from data inputs from people who are actually watching the game ...

 
If you need sofascore to tell you how well someone played then you've already lost half the battle...

A player can make a great contribution without hitting the key attributes that influence their algorithm.
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Think there is a conversation to be had sometime in the season about Enzo’s role in the team. He just can’t & isn’t a “10”. I am also convinced Maresca is cautious about playing him in a deep role.

 
Think there is a conversation to be had sometime in the season about Enzo’s role in the team. He just can’t & isn’t a “10”. I am also convinced Maresca is cautious about playing him in a deep role.
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He's come to the same conclusion as Pochettino did ... that the only position he can really play him is at #10, which is a shame as he keeps other players who'd be far better #10s out of the team.

Quite telling that Maresca, in a huge game for the club, opts to rely on his senior right back to play in the pivot ahead of the "star" midfielder.

What did Fernandez actually do against PSG ? He ran about a lot, trying to press from the front, but was typically a step short of actually making any interceptions or tackles as he doesn't have the pace. Granted he followed through on a couple of players after the ball had gone, and some people do like that sort of thing, but it doesn't really contribute anything meaningful like we saw from Palmer or Joao Pedro.

 
I mean I agree to an extent.

James’ on the ball influence is reduced when in midfield given he’s not in those wide areas but he did a FANTASTIC job disrupting Ruiz. Bloke was a no show.

 
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It's fine to disagree. But my point isn't made without some consideration. And no its not new to him, he played in midfield and few times at academy level, a lot at Wigan, and here. Palmer, Gusto, Cucurella, Caicedo, Sanchez, Colwill, were great. Pedro and Enzo made so many brilliant off-the-ball runs and were pivotal to all the good stuff going forward. That doesn't leave many players to be considered as the weakest contributor.

We defended with a low mid block for large periods - the midfield had good protection. Hence, even with 33% possession, James only made one tackle and one interception. He turned down most opportunities to progress play significantly, pass through the lines and there were a few long ball opportunities not taken as well. Good performance but, in my opinion, not on par with the some of the others - and certainly not better than what Lavia would've offered (and I that mean purely from a tactical perspective).

Yes, Cucurella did overlap on occasion, but he never played as an overlapping fullback.
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I'm voting Dewsbury Hall

 
It's fine to disagree. But my point isn't made without some consideration. And no its not new to him, he played in midfield and few times at academy level, a lot at Wigan, and here. Palmer, Gusto, Cucurella, Caicedo, Sanchez, Colwill, were great. Pedro and Enzo made so many brilliant off-the-ball runs and were pivotal to all the good stuff going forward. That doesn't leave many players to be considered as the weakest contributor.

We defended with a low mid block for large periods - the midfield had good protection. Hence, even with 33% possession, James only made one tackle and one interception. He turned down most opportunities to progress play significantly, pass through the lines and there were a few long ball opportunities not taken as well. Good performance but, in my opinion, not on par with the some of the others - and certainly not better than what Lavia would've offered (and I that mean purely from a tactical perspective).

Yes, Cucurella did overlap on occasion, but he never played as an overlapping fullback.
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The role he played is new to him. He has never to my relocation played as a lone DM tasked with dropping into CB. When he’s played in midfield it’s always been more as a pivot with an actual DM next to him.

Believe me I’m not a fan of James in midfield, you only have to look back this thread to see for yourself, but for that particular set up James is far better suited than Lavia as he’s simply better defensively in reading of the game and organising a defence. Not to mention experience of playing as a CB which Lavia does not have.

I’m not sure what your point is on Cucu, he didn’t invert and we both agree he overlapped so I’m a bit confused.

 
He's come to the same conclusion as Pochettino did ... that the only position he can really play him is at #10, which is a shame as he keeps other players who'd be far better #10s out of the team.

Quite telling that Maresca, in a huge game for the club, opts to rely on his senior right back to play in the pivot ahead of the "star" midfielder.

What did Fernandez actually do against PSG ? He ran about a lot, trying to press from the front, but was typically a step short of actually making any interceptions or tackles as he doesn't have the pace. Granted he followed through on a couple of players after the ball had gone, and some people do like that sort of thing, but it doesn't really contribute anything meaningful like we saw from Palmer or Joao Pedro.
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This is clearly not true. He was benched partway through the season, even Maresca said he preferred Lavia and Caicedo at that point. Fernandez won his spot back through sheer commitment and results.

A player who has the second most chances created in the team, behind only Palmer doesn't deserve to be in the team? You're having a laugh

https://www.fotmob.com/leagues/47/stats/season/23685/players/total_att_assist/premier-league

 
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This is clearly not true. He was benched partway through the season, even Maresca said he preferred Lavia and Caicedo at that point. Fernandez won his spot back through sheer commitment and results.

A player who has the second most chances created in the team, behind only Palmer doesn't deserve to be in the team? You're having a laugh

https://www.fotmob.com/leagues/47/stats/season/23685/players/total_att_assist/premier-league
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Players that take corners create more chances, imagine my shock.

Wait until you find out that players who take penalties, often score more.

 
Players that take corners create more chances, imagine my shock.

Wait until you find out that players who take penalties, often score more.
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Plus we did this to death on the Fernandez thread. The conclusion was that most of these "chances" were pretty low quality, which is why the expected assists was only 7 from these 79 "chances"

We really should be aspiring for something better than he is offering in the #10 role. If Madrid genuinely want him, then I'd bite their arm off and move on.

 
Really? Interesting.

Have not been paying much attention to most threads this summer.i guess UB must have really stepped up his game if you think he matches Jim's levels now.
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Maybe a bit harsh tbf, but I'd say his dislike of Enzo is like how you think I feel about Chalobah 😄

 
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