Where there is will, there is a way. We start courting a few decent defenders and we can make it happen in January no question. A solid CB + RB with good discipline will be great. We don't necessarily need world beaters. Good, dependable players who are not show ponies but do their jobs. Arbeloa was signed back during the big 2009 transfer window for measly 4 million, nobody considered him a big signing. But he exceeded the expectations, giving the club a couple of good years and worked out overall as a solid investment. Plenty of players fit the bill. We just have to stop pretending there's no good options out there.
Good fullbacks have become very hard to find. I can’t even think of any in France, other than Hakimi but no chance there, that have the level of a Madrid.
https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Act...nce-de-mbappe-dans-la-liste-des-bleus/1519301 Diallo president of FFF: "Didier kept me informed of his communication with Mbappe and his decision.... He considered that this was the best squad, with the best balance, and he made his selection. Now, that leaves March for Mbappe to find his way back into the squad." There is a problem with Mbappe. I don't know if it's mental, physical or in his personal life. Something is very very wrong.
Confidence is shot. If Mbappe were giving these performances at any other top club we would all be howling. Have to call a spade a spade.
Mbappe is starting if France has an important tournament next week. Reason why DD could afford to leave out Benzema for that long is because of the emergence of Mbappe in 2017. Even then, Benzema got called out as soon as he started scoring way more as the leader of attack at RM. France only has 1 superstar in attack now. Mbappe will be called up when there are games that matter.
Benzema was gone before the Euro in 2016 because of rape allegations (he was actually charged along with Ribery) and France went to the Euro final without him. Giroud, Griezmann, and Payet were straight fantastic at the Euro. After the Euro, France was still flying as the midfield with Pogba and Kante was dominant, Griezmann was great and Giroud was scoring goals. Benzema likely would have never returned if France didn't have bad form and injuries before Nation's League in 2019. Giroud was older and dropping level, Pogba was often injured, Kante was often injured, etc. Played some very poor games prior to the Nation's League semis. So Deschamps brought him back out of necessity in 2019. You forget that Benzema called Deschamps a racist and, because of that, Deschamp's son was mugged. DD hated Benzema. If there was any high-level CF available, Benzema would have haver come back. Nothing to do with Mbappe.
Benzema was dropped because of Valbuena incident. Benz and Ribery were acquitted regarding underage incident and DD kept calling them up during the trial anyways.
Nothing more than Didier and the FFF trying to assert a power move when they can afford it. Mbappe's position will never be threatened. They just tried a dirty move when his stock dipped. There's nothing wrong with him besides form/confidence
what has to happen for this guy to never play as a 9 ever again ......absolute garbage ,is the club blind is Carlo blind WTF is going on ......this is horrific
This scene is the first thing that comes to mind when I read some of the posts in this thread. Major League 2: Rotten Bums + Parking Lot - YouTube
His troubles remind me a bit of Bale's. Should be mentioned that Bale had a far better touch and dribbling compared to this version of Mbappe.
To put things in a bit of perspective… Messi moved to PSG and was taken out of the false 9 position to play a right side AM. He was atrocious in his first 5 months at PSG. Just wasn’t comfortable. He was moved back to a false 9 when Neymar got injured and he looked like himself again. But he had lost come confidence (yes, even Messi) so it took him roughly 6 weeks to get sharp. So in essence, it wasn’t until mid March of his first season that Messi actually looked like Messi in year 1 at PSG. He played great before the World Cup in year 2 and had the World Cup hangover afterwards (not surprising). keep in mind that right side AM wasn’t new to him… but the system wasn’t Barca’s so it was played completely differently. With Argentina, he plays the 10 role with complete freedom and proper 9s in front of him. So in his case, it was less about learning a new role but more about knowing his teammates imo. Whatever the case, there was an adaptation period. He looked lost in space.
If he doesn't figure it out, he will leave. That's for certain. I don't think it will happen this summer unless he's benched. If he's benched, that would trigger it immediately.
Mbappe is a 9 now. He needs to accept it. If he does embrace it, I think he will excel at it. He has to work on his discipline in order to ignore his winger instincts and keep making plays and runs like a striker. This is not easy when you've been a winger all your life and excelled at it. But he has no choice. He has all the tools to be a top striker....physically strong enough...great pace and when in form a great finisher. Yes he's not 2 metres tall and not a threat in the air.... he doesn't have to be. the GOAT striker imo was zero threat in terms of headers lol: Il Fenomeno R9 We need to help Mbappe become even a watered down version of R9 and we'll be fine. Vini on the LW is UNTOUCHABLE. Only other solution is to put Mbappe at RW and have Jude occupy the middle like last year. I'd rather him learn the 9 position and excel there. He can do it.
If we foam at the mouth after a positive game, then the problem isn't him, it's us. Give it a rest at least until there's reason.
Agreed, everyone is panicking and quick to play the blame-game yet don't realize the whole team is in disarray.
I hate all the No. 9 talk, it's frustrating to hear how ignorant so many people are. Yeah, it's not his ideal position but he's played there before and scored plenty of goals. He's sucking because he's off form, lacks confidence and he's no longer the big fish in the small pond.
Not to mention he had like 30 mins on LW yesterday and the only thing did was 2 failed dribbles and shooting into shins, there was no difference.
Your super-duper star striker signing having these kind of numbers is just normal... he just needs more time...