Rojiblanco y Azul: João Lucas de Souza Cardoso (Johnny) at Club Atlético de Madrid

Johnny vs Levante

Played as a single true #6. Honestly first time I've watch a whole game of his. Levante sat super deep. Not an enjoyable watch but I got a better feeling of what he can/can't do. And this isn't a MNT thread but was obviously watching where he would fit and how he compares to Adams.

With the ball. Mostly all basic stuff you'd expect with the majority of possession. He worked hard laterally to make himself available to the entire back line and the wingers. Lots of just wall pass and safe square stuff. His first real possession was a long diagonal to no one, then a few minutes later he turned with the ball but got poked away easily. Later in the 2nd half he tried to turn again in the midfield and lost possession. A few other wayward passes but mostly was tidy with the ball. Tried a few balls over the top but they never came off. Pretty safe and simple over all. He did make a few runs from a deep lying position but wasn't found. Good to see that mix up a little.

Defensively. Seems really disciplined in his defensive spacing and marking. Never got out of position. Noticed that he doesn't do a ton of ball watching, he's finding his man and staying on him. In the higher press (or transition defense?) he would work hard to press high to specifically press an open player to deny the pass. Never balls out (like Tyler) but worked hard in that role. He had a couple really nice tracking back interceptions. Didn't shy away from tackles but besides a beauty slide late in the game he didn't seem to win a ton. Not a scrappy dude. I did like how he put immediate pressure on anyone with the ball at the top of the box, closed down space really well.

Overall, played well.

 

Thanks for the write-up!

 

this sounds like how he plays for usmnt, too.....just boring and not really increasing winning chances much. not offering much in attack and not really a high work rate on defense, either. just very basic and able to make simple plays but never going to wow anyone.

why is description "played well"...? just sounds totally anonymous and invisible to me

 

Thanks for playing!

 

He played as a dedicated 6 and was part of shutting down Levante, who provided almost no scoring threat. He has proven at Betis that he can contribute to the attack if that’s what’s asked of him. That obviously wasn’t the case against Levante (he played the full 90 minutes and certainly wouldn’t have if Simeone didn’t think he was performing well in what was asked of him). Atletico’s problem was that Sorloth left early with a concussion and (as another person noted) Alvarez has been in a deep rut.

Cardoso is a very, very good player who can help control the midfield should be on our World Cup squad.

 

Assuming Obed Vargas is DM as well, right? Hopefully Johnny can win this battle.

 

pffft second to last levante vs champins league team.....usually offer no scoring threat

i liie cardoso and his potential. he had some great all around performances for real betis...thats why he got the move to atletico...but havent seen that version of him there yet. and havent seen it internationally either

imo.....a "dedicated 6" is useless for a team that wants to play 3 centerbacks and 2 wingbacks....the centermids need to be able to play both way in that system...and thats partially why johnny doesnt really shine much internationally.

if youre gonna play 3 centerbacks you shouldnt a midfielder in front of them who just shuffles the ball back and side to side and never does anything dangerous imo

 

Johnny is injured and misses today's match! Atletico visiting Real Betis in the Copa del Rey Quarterfinals.

"United States men's national team midfielder Johnny Cardoso has a low-grade muscle injury sustained in Wednesday's training session and will be out for at least a week, Atlético Madrid said on Thursday."

 

LOL. Johnny really had momentum coming out of Betis.... alas, an injury plagued YA season has left him in danger of being replaced by a defector from Alaska. Health matter so much.

 

Still unavailable ...

"Meanwhile, Johnny Cardoso has also been ruled out {of today's Copa del Rey match v Barcelona} after failing to recover from the physical discomfort that kept him out of the team’s two matches ... last week."

 

Looks like they didn't miss him too much.

 

Sad to see what a string of nagging injuries can do. He was climbing the YA ranks at CM/DM but now he looks like a long-shot to make the WC squad.. and losing the same role at AM to a traitor as well. Painful.

 

Johnny returns to the squad … and starts! Atlético visiting Rayo Vallecano in La Liga action, with Atlético fielding something of a B lineup, the A team having played/beaten Barcelona in the Copa del Rey semifinals on Thursday.

Big opportunity …

 

Yeah. It can’t be overstated. He is fighting for his place for club and country.

 

well, they’re losing 2-0 at HT.

Not good

 

Johnny not culpable in either goal, if it's a bit of consolation? Still, not good to be associated with this mess.

 

he came off in the 63rd.

I’m not watching this live, his stats were kinda blah

 

More of the same in the second half. Atletico made 3 subs in the 58', but Johnny not among them. He came off in the 63' with the score 2-0. Rayo scored their third after he came off and it is now 3-0 almost to full time.

 

Eye test matches that. He had some good moments, but he is playing much deeper and more conservatively with Atletico than he was with Betis. Not in a role where he will rack up much stats, but at the same time didn't really leave a mark on the game.

 

CL play today on CBS Sports Network today

 

starts today on ESPN+ in about 10 minutes vs. Espanyol

 

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is that Kasey Keller as the ESPN+ color commentator???

 

Yes, it is.