Desperation aside this team isn't nearly direct enough at times. We practically count to 20 so the defense can organize their lines and then we begin a very gentleman attack on the left corner flag. Kroos doesn't take enough risk so Fede trying something is welcome as far as I am concerned.
Most players in our attacking lineup need five turns and six touches to put something together. This is why I like Vinicius, being a raw talent aside, because 90% of what he has in mind is to bring the ball forward as fast as possible. Ironically I don't think it's Fede's passing that makes him direct, rather than his running lane with/without the ball.
The runs help for sure but additionally he releases the ball in way that advances the attack before the defense can adjust which is sorely lacking
I actually think they are very similar players. Similar strengths (passing, shooting, creating) similar weaknesses (slow, lazy, defenders). The difference is in attitude, personality and style of play. Kroos is a much more conservative player who is content to sit back and let others do the attacking, while Jame likes to get forward and try stuff. Players that are very different from James/Kroos are Bale, Vinicius, Casemiro, Nacho, etc.
Long passes per game Kroos: 6.9 James: 2.4 Also Kroos has 3.3 key passes per game which are passes that result in a shot on goal, while James has 2 of those. Just to dispel the notion that he only passes back and sideways. Which is by the way the best number in the team. Boring old Kroos with his backwards and sideways passes creates more chances than any other player at Real at the moment like the boring old clockwork he is. 65% more chances per game than the messi like offensive genious of James! Some people just mistake running forward and then losing the ball in a spectacular but pointless dribble with actually creating something of value to the team.
Kroos is top level at what he does, but if you have two players in central midfield sitting behind the ball spraying it around, a winger and central striker who would prefer to create chances rather than score themselves, and a host of other players who can’t finish, then you are going to struggle as a squad. In the current setup we need someone in midfield who is gonna break lines, get ahead of the ball, get into the box and score. If by some miracle we get a top forward like Mbappe in the near future, we no longer need that type of player. The club is in a difficult situation because if it splurges big money on that type of player and then suddenly Mbappe is on the market and the problem is no longer finishing but creating, we will have to remould the squad again.
If you think Kroos is more like Vinicius than James and think James is more like Nacho than Kroos, then you are right that there's no conversation to be had but probably wrong about just about everything else in the world.
Toni Kroos numbers vs Belarus 88% Pass accuracy 4 Key Passes 1 Big chances created 4 dribbles completed 2 Tackles completed 1 Interceptions 1 Shots blocked 1 Clearances 2 was fouled 1 assist 2 goalsBest Midfielder in the world pic.twitter.com/V3CMya93SE— ُ (@BlancoAbhi) November 16, 2019
Yup, he's made huge progress from his shitty form last season. I wonder if it has anything to do with the renewal of his contract.
I think certain players with an elite mentality are the first to be aware they are underperforming, and take the sport seriously enough to not accept that. Others *cough* Bale *cough* just dont have that.
He was quietly excellent for most of the PSG game, crazy how much difference motivation can do. Toni Kroos vs PSG:90 minutes124 touches100/102 Accurate passes98% Pass completion7 Key passes3 tackles6/6 long balls2 shots on targetAbsolute Masterclass from German Sniper pic.twitter.com/KZMdrrIDfb— TK (@TK8Pic) November 26, 2019
This dude has been a machine since he was 23 or so. He's never been on a bad team, so maybe he had trouble adjusting or flipping the switch, but for all the shit I get for Bale, the only man I fully commit to be a stan of is Toni.
He’s been in shit form for a good 1.5 years prior to now though. He was my favourite player in a really strong Bayern team and we practically got one of the best centre mids of his generation for free. It’s been an insanely good transfer for us overall. But that doesn’t wipe away the fact that his current form is night and day from what we’ve seen of him in the past season and half.
As has the entire rest of the team, which is why I said he hasn't been on a bad team yet until that point. Certain players don't make bad teams better, but make good teams excellent.
Since he arrived at Real Madrid, Toni Kroos has averaged a passing accuracy success rate of over 90% in every game. That's insane. 😳👏 pic.twitter.com/jj6B9s9eK0— SPORTbible (@sportbible) December 1, 2019