"The Norwegian Wonderkid"- The Official Welcome Martin Ødegaard Thread

He reminded me a bit of De Bruyne. Big, direct, vertical, can dribble and run into spaces.

 

He must have improved leaps and bounds then because when I was watching him was just this spring.

 

Arguing for the sake of arguing.

"I wanna be against... just to be against"

 

"...and he doesn't have defensive positioning instinct..." -> "...He has good pass interception instincts..."

This is how cookie crumbles.

p.s: In 18/19, Odegaard was averaging 1.7 tackles, 1.1 interceptions and 0.8 fouls. The "engine" Isco 1.1 tackles, 0.2 interceptions and 0.7 fouls. Modrić 1.4 tackles, 0.9 interceptions and 0.8 fouls.

 

Did you seriously provide Isco's defensive stats from last year?

As I said, pressing in the final third is not really relevant when it comes to a central midfielder's defensive contribution. If he were to be played in a more advanced position, then it is another argument to line up like that. Imagine having Rodrygo, Mbappe and Odegaard in front of Casemiro, Valverde and Tielemans. Unbeatable!

 

Youre right, I haven't seen him the last few weeks, so hes probably a completely different player than what I remember.

 

"I watched highlights tho"

 

Which year would you prefer?

Multiple issues with that. Firstly, player`s position in thirds of the pitch can be highly relative. You can play against a team which mostly sits back, and your positioning will move drastically higher up to the point your CB`s will be spending most time in upper side of second third, while midfield will be mostly active in upper second and early final third. Secondly, a player who has the capacity to tackle and intercept will do it effectively regardless of third of the pitch. Thirdly, per Odegaaard`s heatmaps he is highly active in second third also.

He does not remind of James, with exception of being a lefty. If anything he is highly similar to Modrić, who early in his career played in advanced position. He has all the capacity to be top tier CM.

 

This argument should have been over when Hendrix said he hasn’t actually watched Odegaard play.

 

You don`t need to see players play. You can create your own reality instead.

 

And the sad part is that people continue to respond. Saying that Odegaard is another James is the same as saying Odegaard is another Messi.
Both left footed, dribble well and have good assists. Can also shoot from distance. I only watched the Messi guy on highlights tho.

 

Modric is a dynamo, Odegaard as of now is still a fairy.

But yeah, apologies for stating an opinion based on games that I saw half a year ago. Shame on me that I don't watch Sociedad games every weekend like all of you, so I could see the dramatic improvements Odegaard made in the defensive department since last season.

I guess you have to toe the line here even when it comes to expressing an opinion about a player's best position, regardless if you actually are a fan of the player and liken him to another player that you are a fan of. I dont know why Im even surprised at such groupthink when there are so many idiots and plain malicious people around here.

I mean I just said I think Odegaard is more suited for an attacking midfielder role and half the forum took out the pitchforks. Just wow.

Says the Bale stan. You love perpetuating this nonsense, even though on 90 percent of the issues I think the same as most people and theres about a million examples of that.

 

Is it just me, or Hendrix22 just invented "Hendrix22 shamming"? Am I denying your existance by trying to have a factual debate with you, which is entire point of forums like these?

 

If you call this

a factual debate, I hate to be around when youre actively trying to denigrate. And it wasn't directed just to you anyway.

 

At this point you are just pulling out red herrings.

 

Love a good debate, but this guy doesn't watch Odegaard and there's nothing he can ever say to try to prove it. Odegaard is a workhorse. Literally - a workhorse. Runs like crazy all game and still a very talented midfielder. He has the ability to play in an advanced role since he is young, extremely agile and has the stamina to track back. In the future when he slows down a little he will move back.

I love the Iniesta comparison from @janos audron. Almost perfect, but Odegaard tracks more than Iniesta ever did !

 

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Odegaard weaving through lines to deliver a great assist

 

Damn what a free kick goal from Ødegaard!

 

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Messi-esque free kick golazo!!! Unreal

 

0:09 is what it is all about. Makes a pass and continues with dynamic diagonal movement in depth between the lines, and completely opening opponent in the process, finished by exceptional pass to forward which shows also his inherent cognitive capacity and technical skill.

Cannot wait! Cannot fckin wait!

 

I'm sorry Odegaard but fck your 2nd year at Sociedad. Also save us from not scoring from a free kick in over a year. Imagine the energy and the movement from Valverde & Odegaard with Casemiro being the iron wall he is and Kroos dictating the game. The creativity and IQ by Odegaard. Best middlefield in the world by a mile.

Odegaard
Kroos-Casemiro-Valverde​

 

What a game he is playing. This reminds me of Ozils best years but Ødegaard is way faster. We have a great future midfield with him and Fede.