Rood-Witten (& Blau) Malik Tillman at PSV America (olf Bayern Munich)

Lol... ok. But while you're reserving judgement, Bayern, Gers, PSV and a number of other supposed suitors, have been employing Tillman while he racks up over 10k professional minutes including 2k in the ered, 2k in SPL, 1k in the CL, a ~25mill valuation, all at 22.

I mean, what are you "reserving judgement" on? The guy is clearly, to anyone who has watched him play - certainly anyone who has watched him play who has a vested interest in professional footie - a top-notch professional with a lot of upside. How high that upside is, I don't pretend to know, but there's no mystery here that he's going to get his shot (barring some really unfortunate event.) at a top league. I mean, I'll happily go dollars for donuts with anyone who wants that action.

 

Also @HScoach13 PSV have had - until today and excluding the Feynie cup game - an easy domestic schedule, but Tillman went 90 in the Cup game - and was one of the best PSV players on the field, and has gone 90 v. Juventus and Sporting - and also looked decent, esp v Sporting. All of PSV looked pretty out of sorts v. Juventus. Bosz was too agressive there and with 2 fill in FBs, they just were never in the game.

But Tillman has almost 1k minutes in the CL - and another 300 in Qualies, plus 4x games v. Feynie, a couple of games v. AZ, Ajax and Twente. He has 13 goals, 12 assists in 37 Ered games, 3 assists in his CL games. Basically against as good competition as any of the USMNT players get who aren't regulars in a big 5 league. As I said somewhere recently about Tillman, he's clearly a solid pro at 22. I think Bayern even kept a buyback in the sale to PSV, like they had a Gers. I don't think Tillman has convinced anyone he's for sure going to follow the Odergaard path, but if you ask Dutch footie followers about promising younger players in the Ered, Tillman is often on the list.

 

I also haven't seen anything worth getting excited about with Tillman.

Playing at Bayern, PSV and and Rangers is basically having your career on easy mode.

I think he would be benched pretty quickly at a mid table bundesliga club.

Hopefully he continues to develop but if I were him I'd stay at PSV for a while.

 

Well, some opinions from former top players:
https://sportnieuws.nl/voetbal/nieu...22240240032/?referrer=https://duckduckgo.com/
Malik Tillman beste speler van de Eredivisie? 'Ik kan niemand anders noemen'
https://www.fcupdate.nl/voetbalnieu...-in-en-rond-de-zestien-de-beste-van-nederland
Marciano Vink lovend: 'In en rond de zestien is hij de beste van Nederland'
Frank Hoekman
19 oktober 2024, 18:34 Bijgewerkt: 19 oktober 2024, 18:41

 

We will likely all be able to see how this plays out in real time (our alien overlords willing, of course.) I'm pretty confident if he goes to a midtable Bund, he's seeing a good bit of minutes., but I expect he spends at least one more season at PSV before the price gets so high they decide to sell. They are playing a lot of games every year and need a decent sized squad and 25 mill is ok, but not "got to cash in" money - until a few academy kids push up his back.

 

We'll see how it plays out, I always hope I'm wrong when I don't rate a US player highly.

To be more specific I see a good first touch, passing and finishing when he is given time and space. Which is probably why he has played at a lot of good clubs.

I think he lacks quickness with the ball and his decision making is slow. So against better competition he will get closed down quickly and not have much impact.

His defensive work rate doesn't seem great either.

 

Sure, but how many times have the USA played well over the last 2.5 years?

 

Bayern told him in no uncertain terms that they didnt want him, he needed to find a new club (This is from Tillman himself). So please get your facts straight. Gers and PSV are at a much lower level.

 

His speed of play can be better for sure. He reminds me a little of Loftus-Cheek in that he is really strong and able to hold the ball against most players, so maybe that has made him a little too comfortable when he's in possession. He has the ability and, I think, the intelligence to play quicker. Hopefully that picks up as he gets more experience against good teams.

The defensive work rate criticism I don't think is legitimate. He showed in the 1-1 vs. Arsenal last year that he can be a complete menace with his athleticism and strength.

I think he also gives off a lazy vibe to some who watch him due to a perceived nonchalant or casual nature to his play, but I think that criticism is misunderstood.

 

Bayern kept a buy back at Gers and, I believe, have one with PSV.* But again, time will tell whether your snarkiness is warranted or not. And, like Boy George, we got nothing but time. This tangent to be revisited in 2 years. Mark your day planner.

*According to Sky, FC Bayern has received a transfer fee of 12.5 million euros for Tillman's transfer to PSV Eindhoven. The agreement not only includes a financial gain for Bayern, but also strategic security. Bayern has secured both a buy-back option and a matching right. (BTW Buyback is 2 years out from deal and is for 35 mill. Tillman currently valued at 25 mill.)

 

that's interesting, I did not know that. I wonder then why Tillman sounded so sour about Bayern. I didnt read this, I heard it on a clip from Tillman

 

You're a player, then you want to play and get the chance to show yourself. He didnot get that from Bayern, so a good reason to sound sour.

 

Cause he wants to be a BM starter! Guy for sure has a decent sense of self. I've seen a couple of BM fans on-line (fwiw, ymmv and all that) believe he's likely to return "Serge Gnarby replacement" or whatever. I think that's less likely than a move to a lower-table Bund team - or EPL, but it's a year or more down the road, so things can change for teams and players. But he's a guy with ambition, so I expect he moves as soon as he can get a jump to a higher level.

 

He's a high-quality player, otherwise he wouldn't ever have made it to the Bayern first team or have a buyback/first refusal option in his contract.

It's just that only exceptional is good enough at Bayern and they're not certain that he'll reach that particular level. If they were, he'd be on loan and probably somewhere else.

He's only 22 and starting for a CL regular side. Normal progress and he'll be sold to an EL side in a Top 5 league on the continent, probably even a CL side in France or Germany, but a return to Bayern means he has to max out on his potential.

 

Tillman went the full distance in yesterday's 1-1 CL draw at PSV.

"Tillman's big moment came in the fifth minute of stoppage-time, when he made a crucial goal-line clearance to deny PSG a winning goal late in the match.

Overall the 22-year-old midfielder had a great showing, completing 85 percent of his 40 pass attempts while creating one big scoring chance."

"Malik Tillman: 7.1/10- The midfielder orchestrated the game well with a passing accuracy of 85 percent. He created a chance for his team and was involved in 14 defensive actions for his team."

 

He also played much deeper than he usually does, acting more as a 6 than a 10. I thought he looked good, especially given the level of the competition. This also indicates that the coach trusts both his defensive positioning and his work rate. I will be interested in seeing if this becomes the norm or if it was a one off.

 

He has played the RCM slot in a defensive and attacking V 4-3-3 a number of times this year and last, as well as in the "10" slot. Bosz has been very comfortable moving Tillman around the field, but I think it's interesting, even with Lang seeming back to health, that Malik's played as much LW as he has.

 

Scored today:

Malik Tillman with the header to make it 3-0 PSV!
pic.twitter.com/suOIPwrD1d

— USMNT Otaku 🇺🇸 (@USMNTOtaku) October 26, 2024

 

Tillman again played in the RM slot in the 3 to make room for Lang at LW. Pec down to 10 at the half, and already down 2 goals and the 2nd half was a shooting match until Bosz made a 4 man sub and PSV lost their rhythm a bit. Tillman was good, but PEC at 11 men has been a poor side this season. With 10 they were extra-crap.

 

Made at least 4 TOTW:

Ricardo Pepi and Malik Tillman are in pretty much every Eredivisie Team of the Week. pic.twitter.com/LdrowFeiCg

— Daniel (@DanielSmith1022) October 28, 2024

 

I find it quite funny to see how PSV (against 10 men) and FC Twente are dominating this week by beating, checking notes...the numbers 15 and 16 of the
Eredivisie, while Feyenoord made look the number 2 incompetent with impressive football and isnot even represented.

 

Olympic medals stop at Bronze too...

 

Tillman starting in the Champions League and has an assist and a goal already.

Working hard to prove me wrong against some good competition!

Edit: Just watched the goal and that was some really poor defense from Girona, nice finish though.

 

Should have had another assist to de Jong early in the 2nd.... with a beautiful takedown and touch across the box.... on a plate. Assist numbers can be so misleading. He gets one for a throw-in where his foot is actually over the line but not for that beauty. Girona down to 10 men now.

 

They mentioned that it was a foul throw on the commentary, too, but it wasn't. The player's entire foot can be in the field as long as a sliver of his heel is touching the line.

Tillman was also pressing hard in Girona's corner and praised for his "terrific workrate."