Yeah but couldn't we just stick Gonzalo Garcia out on the wing, if we want a big body out there throwing their weight around. Wasn't that the role of Brahim and Fed, being an overall nuisance with lots of running and dribbling playing just underneath or wide of the forwards. I don't think it's untrainable, for example, if Franco didn't show up to training and stay fit there's not way he's running 10km's during a match. I do agree some player cannot channel the energy or motivation or discipline to be "hard workers" but there's no need to pay a premium for a teenager who's doing something the club has always relied on youth team players like Luca Vasquez to do. When we got DiMaria his workrate was a bonus, it wasn't what made the club break the bank.
That's a real shame. He's the type of player that you would want, at some point, on the pitch at Anfield.
I was responding to him being labeled with the special skill of "working hard" and pointing out if that's the case then the club jumped the gun and overpaid for a player that's supposed to be a generational talent that can't be missed out on because the opportunity may never come again. You pay a certain price for hard workers like Lucas Vasquez, Sami Khedira, etc., and you pay a higher price for technically skilled type of players like James, Hazard, etc., which player's Real Madrid career do you think his will most be like - Vasquez hard working backup player w/ titles galore Khedira hard working starter with a couple of titles and no individual accolades James star player with inconsistent playing time on multi - title winning teams stacked with stars Hazard complete and total transfer bust
How are you coping with the pubalgia? It was a pain I'd been dealing with for a while. It was time to slow down and recover properly so I could be at 100%. This club demands it. I'll be back playing soon. Had he had this injury before? It started in the second game of the Club World Cup with River and it bothered me more and more until I had to stop because of the pain. https://as.com/futbol/primera/desde...-la-pubalgia-fue-a-mas-hasta-parar-f202511-n/
Tbh I've never understood the hype around Franco. He doesn't have the pace to play on the wing and his output (G/A) is pretty bad for the minutes he played. I guess he would be better utilized centrally at CAM position but unfortunately we don't play with a classical number 10. What he offers is tracking back and agression on the ball holder which is the reason Xabi likes to use him. But he will need to improve offensively if he wants to be a starter.
He's a dream for the "next level stats" kind of coaching. Just constantly generations actions and movement. A coach told me a lot of players are like a buoy, they move a little to the right, a little to the left, but you can turn around and they are still pretty much there. You ideally want a guy who has a larger range of influence than that.
Right The guy has been giving more chances then anyone youngster I can remember who wasn't forced into the situation due to desperation or injury. He does absolutely nothing offensive and acts as a forward playing defensive RB.
I think I never shat on the dude. I never praised him either. Bit early to make conclusions, no? Am I missing out on the "I told you so" stock? Should I invest now?
He clearly has quality and grit. He lacks the physical aspect of the game. I'm optimistic. He at least seems to be more into it and connected to the team than when Rodrygo plays on the right.
I like what I've seen so far from him. Personally I don't really care about g/a. I prefer it how before the Cristiano vs Messi debate made everything about how many goals each scored and we were commenting on players on how they play and not their numbers. By looking at numbers you can assume Zidane was a mediocre player and Mbappe probably our second best player ever behind Cristiano. Both assumptions are totally untrue.
This is simply untrue. He has more supporters on this forum and has the coaching staff with Xabi and the media which has backed him If anyone has been critical it's because he has been given basically the easiest ride with the least demand. He produces literally at a negative rate offensively and the same media and fans would never tolerate that from any Brazilian. Endrick is a more productive player and the manager literally left him out to rot... something which he will pay for in future. Believe me
There is definitely a good player in there. It's just very weird to see him get sooooo much playing time right off the bat, that kinda stuff is reserved for prospects like Lamine and others who are just clearly above and beyond. While countless other young players have had to wait their turn and live off scraps and even play in Castilla. I don't see anything special that he is providing out there currently to justify all this trust. It's weird. If he was lighting it up then age doesn't matter, experience doesn't matter, when he just goes aorund in circles and passes back or tries whack ass dribbles to lose the ball is being an auto starter really doing him any favors.