Alexander Isak: has a chance to play against Everton (Howe)

[madras]

28 minutes ago, The Prophet said:

Going back to Isak does he need a trademark celebration?

Honestly couldn't give a fuck 

[Vinny Green Balls]

Just now, madras said:

Is scoring harder than reading a forward to stop him,  harder than spotting a pass that cuts out 3 players, harder than positioning yourself to help your team advance whilst also being in a position to cover should your team lose the ball, harder than making a great save.

 

Harder ? How do you quantify harder ?

 

 

Don't make eye contact with him.

[The College Dropout]

1 minute ago, madras said:

Is scoring harder than reading a forward to stop him,  harder than spotting a pass that cuts out 3 players, harder than positioning yourself to help your team advance whilst also being in a position to cover should your team lose the ball, harder than making a great save.

 

Harder ? How do you quantify harder ?

 

 

Yes.

 

In warfare, defending a position is significantly easier than making ground and seizing a target. The hardest thing is seizing the target.

 

Generally attacking is harder than defending in football. Breaking down the different aspects of attacking in difficulty is.. difficult. Because aspects of attacking are difficult in different ways. I don't think Lewandowski is a more talented footballer than Benzema for example. But Lewa is a better goalscorer. A lot of that is down to mentality. Benzema is more talented and a better overall player imo.

 

But to play along. Hard / diffiicult = diminished chances of success and the greater skill required to succeed. Scoring 20 PL goals a season, is more difficult than spotting a pass that cuts out 3 players 20 times a season.

 

The great thing about football is that it's a team sport with a wide variety of active roles that require different talents, skills and expertise. And therefore requires different types of people. Pep's football requires not only a lot of footballing ability but also requires a certain personality profile and aptitude to change. Talented but pliable unless so talented Pep will work around you (Haaland & Ribery for example). I think the best Rafa team would require less talent but arguably equally as pliable a personality type. Carlo could deal with more talent and less pliable than them both.

[The College Dropout]

16 minutes ago, Kid Icarus said:

I bet you'll struggle to name an all-time defender who wasn't also class on the ball.

Good enough on the ball to become an all-time midfielder?

 

Sweeper / Libero days - aye. And even those, were converted central midfielders - they became Sweepers as that became the most important role in the team. Today that player is Rodri and would primarily play in midfield.

[BonesJones]

Theres more chance of one of us pulling off a tackle on Messi, than there is of one of us dribbling past Dani Alves.

 

Defending is easier.

[madras]

15 minutes ago, The College Dropout said:

Yes.

 

In warfare, defending a position is significantly easier than making ground and seizing a target. The hardest thing is seizing the target.

 

Generally attacking is harder than defending in football. Breaking down the different aspects of attacking in difficulty is.. difficult. Because aspects of attacking are difficult in different ways. I don't think Lewandowski is a more talented footballer than Benzema for example. But Lewa is a better goalscorer. A lot of that is down to mentality. Benzema is more talented and a better overall player imo.

 

But to play along. Hard / diffiicult = diminished chances of success and the greater skill required to succeed. Scoring 20 PL goals a season, is more difficult than spotting a pass that cuts out 3 players 20 times a season.

 

The great thing about football is that it's a team sport with a wide variety of active roles that require different talents, skills and expertise. And therefore requires different types of people. Pep's football requires not only a lot of footballing ability but also requires a certain personality profile and aptitude to change. Talented but pliable unless so talented Pep will work around you (Haaland & Ribery for example). I think the best Rafa team would require less talent but arguably equally as pliable a personality type. Carlo could deal with more talent and less pliable than them both.

I've always seen attacking and defending as part of the same thing and the idea of scoring being "harder" than other aspects of the game is a bit silly as it's all the same thing, getting the ball to go where you want. Some goals are "easier" than others to score, some that easy they're miss hit and fluked.

 

 

Edited March 21, 2023 by madras

[HaydnNUFC]

32 minutes ago, madras said:

Honestly couldn't give a fuck 

 

This tickled me.

[The College Dropout]

2 minutes ago, madras said:

I've always seen attacking and defending as part of the same thing and the idea of scoring being "harder" than other aspects of the game is a bit silly as it's all the same thing, getting the ball to go where you want. Some goals are "easier" than others to score, some that easy they're miss hit and fluked.

 

 

 

You think Paul Dummett could fashion a career as a winger if he had the right mentality? ASM could fashion a career as a fullback if he had the right mentality,

[madras]

Just now, The College Dropout said:

You think Paul Dummett could fashion a career as a winger if he had the right mentality? ASM could fashion a career as a fullback if he had the right mentality,

Your point ?

[Hanshithispantz]

1 hour ago, Heron said:

Genuine question: what's his goals and assists like?

He has the best assists per minutes played in the side (3 in 800+ mins) although I wouldn’t argue that was amazing or out, it’s not bad.

 

He passes the eye test though, if he doesn’t do anything in a game he gets hounded in a way no other player does, but I’ve seen him play defence splitting passes and great crosses more frequently than any other attacker. I think it’s only really (and I cannot believe I’m saying this) recent Jacob Murphy who I would trust more than him to put a good ball in. I think he’s better than Trippier in the final 3rd.

[Heron]

17 minutes ago, Hanshithispantz said:

He has the best assists per minutes played in the side (3 in 800+ mins) although I wouldn’t argue that was amazing or out, it’s not bad.

 

He passes the eye test though, if he doesn’t do anything in a game he gets hounded in a way no other player does, but I’ve seen him play defence splitting passes and great crosses more frequently than any other attacker. I think it’s only really (and I cannot believe I’m saying this) recent Jacob Murphy who I would trust more than him to put a good ball in. I think he’s better than Trippier in the final 3rd.

I won't go into it too much in here but the reason he gets hounded more is cause he literally does nowt else if not creating, that's the difference. Probably more for the ASM thread though.

[Thumbheed]

Why do teams double up on him if he's not a threat?

 

Edit: Aye one for the ASM thread

 

 

Edited March 21, 2023 by Thumbheed

[80]

4 hours ago, The Prophet said:

Going back to Isak does he need a trademark celebration?

Yes, along with some little stars tattooed behind his right ear. Will really bring his game along.

[TRon]

9 hours ago, Cronky said:

One thing that hasn’t been mentioned much is how good his assist was for the Anderson goal that was wrongly chalked off. The ball came to him when he was on the floor in a crowded area. Somehow he created the space under pressure to put in a great cross.

 

Only a very small handful of players could have done that.

 

FWIW I thought Willock's cross for Isak's goal was a bit tasty as well, but yeah, Isak's play was unreal.

[Nobody]

4 hours ago, The Prophet said:

Going back to Isak does he need a trademark celebration?

Should be the Knee Slide, same as the rest of the team. Love how that's become a thing of this season tbh. 

[Solitude20]

21 minutes ago, Nobody said:

Should be the Knee Slide, same as the rest of the team. Love how that's become a thing of this season tbh. 

I vote they all go for bulging eye celebration Almiron did against Wolves. 

[huss9]

nowts gonna beat a nut-destroying corner flag kick.

[nemtizz]

7 hours ago, Mike said:

 

That's the lockscreen sorted.

 

What about:

 

 

[Nobody]

1 hour ago, nemtizz said:

 

What about:

 

 

Cracking picture that

[Kid Icarus]

This one takes some beating.

 

[Kid Icarus]

One of those ones where if you were shown it 18 months ago you'd have hyperventilated.

 

 

Edited March 22, 2023 by Kid Icarus

[Nobody]

Man City at home? 

[Kid Icarus]

21 minutes ago, Nobody said:

Man City at home? 

Yeah, after Trippier's free kick.

[HaydnNUFC]

That one's been my lock screen since that game.

[Guest]

Just my opinion but far harder to be a top forward than a top defender and that's from someone who played as a defender. To run past someone, score goals, create goals, is much more difficult than positioning yourself well, heading the ball away and tackling for instance.