Today he had a very bad game against Juventus (he wasn't the only one though), but I think he has much potential to become a really good player.
Watched the game today. Very interesting indeed. Here are my thoughts. Very good passer at times - bizarrely at times, terrible passer. Seems the more he plays the more comfortable he becomes with the team around him and Zeman knows this. There is a theory the more you play someone, the more used to the team they become and the more confident they become as they reward the coach for his trust. He is quite slow, however his positional play is quite clever for a 21 year old in a very competitive and physical position. He is a pure defensive mid. Plays it just like all Greeks do, back to his defenders and deep.. However I saw once or twice he looked up for a good forward pass - something most Greek dms dont even bother to do. Its obvious Zeman likes this player. I actually believe it has to do with his size - he is 21 but massive 1.91 meters most coaches like a big presence in the middle to protect the back four and win headers. Also I noticed he has an extremely high pass completion rate, I dont remember him putting a foot wrong second half. He is still a project, but I believe every game he plays, he becomes a better player. What I want from him is for him not to slouch so much and show more passion - he needs to trust his ability more.
Yeah, I like the Big Man. Started the game horribly but grew as it went on. He gets frustrated with himself very easily when his passes do not connect. As you say, physically he is a very strong persence to have in front of the back four and I like that a lot.
If De Rossi can play like he did in the second half for the rest of the season, I think that will make Tachtsidis more comfortable in general. De Rossi should be able to cover most of Tacht's mistakes and allow him to play with less pressure. This is also why I think Florenzi is playing so well because he has Totti right in front of him to soak up all the pressure. De Rossi can be like that for Tachtsidis.
I didn't like the way Tachtsidis played today, seemed quite lethargic to me. Lost the ball stupidly a lot of times and just didn't seem in it at all, I was actually expecting him to get subbed at the start of the second half. Tacht's overflowing with skill, but I'm not entirely sure he's ready for the pressure of big games... yet. He needs to control his temper, but above all he needs to rise up to what's required of a regista in Serie A. I would like to see Pjanic tried in this position, but I don't think Zeman is willing to do it. I love Zeman, but sometimes I wish the Big Z wasn't that stubborn.
I dont know, he seemed to play quite well to me, especially in the 2nd half. i didnt really notice the loose passes.
I wouldn't say lethargic, he did give away a lot of passes early on but lethargic suggests it was down to being lazy or not up for it. His reaction to giving the ball away (on a few occasions he threw his body in annoyance at himself) showed me he was trying but it just wasn't happening for him. As DA ITALIAN says, he was stronger in the second half. I can barely recall him making a poor pass after the break. If he wants to be a regular in this team though he can't afford another first half like the one today. He will be displaced if that happens.
Tachtsidis has had some awesome games (i.e. Inter), and his passing skill and ability to read the game and see that impossible pass is unsurpassed. Yesterday was just not it. I like him and want to see him mature into a World Class regista. The only thing that scares me is that he is the only player who doesn't have a replacement in our squad. Even Totti and DDR have one (Destro and Bradley respectively; even if Totti will never miss being in the 1st 11), this makes it easy for players to be lazy — Although I know it's not going to happen I would like to see him battle the regista position out with Pjanic (or if not him, someone else) I did love the way he seemed annoyed at himself, and that he was trying, he had the same body language as Lamela (which I love), but other times he just looked slow (OK maybe not lethargic, but very slow) and I remember there was one ball that got stolen from him as he was just walking with the ball with no urgency. I want to see him score a long ranged effort like he did during pre-season — With confidence and a little competition he will shine.
Zeman was abundantly clear in his press conference that he's not going to play Pjanic in that position. I think we just need to make our peace with Tachtsidis because he's going to play. Zeman requested him by name and seems to believe in him. It was obvious from the very get go that the midfield would look like this. Zeman said in his very first press conference that he preferred De Rossi playing intermedio. So it's best to make your peace and enjoy the ride. For good or worse. Plus after 5 years of posters going on about wanting to see De Rossi play a more advanced role, you finally get it and now everyone is posting in the match threads that De Rossi needs to play in the middle.
Yes at times in the second half him and de rossi swapped positions nicley to mix it up. When De Rossi went deep, he pushed up. This is good and showing improving understanding. He really grew into the game yesterday, a young player with so much to give and Zeman wants him to grow with this team, so when this team really hits form he will be a beast. De Rossi playing in his best position which I said all along and he will only get better. Bradley as a good back up option who can cover either but would be De Rossi's back up firstly I guess. Taxi has it all in front of him, how good he becomes is up to him as he has incredible potential
I noticed De Rossi coming into the middle in the second half, but I do not think that's something Zeman instructed him to do. I think it occurred more out of instinct drawing De Rossi into an area he's more accustomed to. I suspect Zeman will continue to try and chip away at that. Tachtsidis definitely grew yesterday. The difference between the start and end of the game was night and day. I think he's a player that right now really needs the team to be strong around him. Can't wait to revisit this discussion in January, last night's match has left me very optimistic about the future. Zeman's hand is finally showing in this team.
Yes, while strictly not how Zeman would want it, the same can be said for how he is letting Totti play. Tbh, if they can get the balance right then I would be happy enough to let it develop but whether Zeman allows that it another thing.
Hes not to bad, hes young though soo he will need time to develop, he makes mistakes , but every play does and one point, learn form your mistakes.
he has a great insight into the game, he seems to understand the lesson of zeman more than others, pushes forward the game, although isn't as fast as other players, panagiotis can quietly play between de rossi and florenzi. however rome is the most difficult place for a young player which want to emerge. if a young player takes two low marks consecutive, is already considered an incompetent. it needs to give time to this player to settle in this team.
I love the man, but this loss against Udinese is on Zeman. Tachtsidis is our weak link, he will be an incredible player some day, but not yet, and should not be playing 90 minutes every game. Some may think I hate the kid, but no, I really like him, I just don't think he's starter material yet. He does have the vision, and I've seen some passes from him that few other players can hope to achieve, yet fact is that 70% of his passes are compromised, forcing our attacking players to fight for the ball or scramble to control it, effectively slowing our attack and many times resulting in loss of possession. He should not be the only attack player on our team without a direct substitute, full stop. ... Yet Zeman refuses to play Pjanic as a regista. Today he did not start one of our best players — Florenzi, as Pjanic needed to play (or he's leaving). This cost us the game. Now Zeman IS the proper coach for our team, but in this one - one - thing he needs to be a little more flexible and give Pjanic a proper shot as a regista. The one positive thing about Tacth's red is that this will force Zeman to play someone else (pJanic, please) as a regista, hopefully this will open his eyes.