Where all the muppets who said that he's worse than Saul before he even had a game under his belt?

Edited November 3, 20223 yr by alvarezCFC

https://www.matchwornshirt.com/product/denis-lemi-zakaria-lako-lado-1HxKzOKcE0O0_CNgs_iksQ

2 hours ago, Sconnie Blue said:

City have Rodri. 

Liverpool have Fabinho

United have Casemiro

Arsenal have Partey

Madrid have Tchouameni

Bayern have Kimmich

 

Where are you getting no side in the EPL has a natural defensive midfielder in the team, let alone world football? The closest player that does what Jorginho does is Busquets but even they still have the responsibility of protecting the gaps in midfield and backline. That is my point.

The mistake you are making is not only suggesting Kovacic, Kante, and Zakaria merely need to only 'be instructed tactically' to stay back and protect the midfield, but to think they have the qualities to do so, ala Rodri, Fabinho, Partey, etc. Qualities you develop playing early in your career vs the latter stages. You can't ask them to play a completely new role and think it will be successful. 

You think Rodri, Partey, Kimmich (see below) and  Casemiro just sit and play in a 20 yard circumference of their own box!!!! Ah well it's not worth going any further then.

"In 2015, Guardiola described Kimmich as a promising player, and noted that he "...has everything a player needs. He is very intelligent, always aggressive toward the ball, strong in the air, has an eye for free space, has superb vision and knows when to charge forward and when to sit back."^[75]

Doesn't sound like Pep thought he was a "sit and stay" DM does it?

Incidentally Sconnie, if you had to rate all the players you have listed in terms of their individual physical and athletic ability, (which are pretty important natural assets for a top quality DM), where would you rank Jorginho?

8 hours ago, alvarezCFC said:

Where all the muppets who said that he's worse than Saul before he even had a game under his belt?

 

8 hours ago, CaitlinCFC said:

That was the gif response of the year!

Quote

Best Use of Gifs:

@Gol15 @Valerie @CaitlinCFC @coco because they don't overuse them and only bring them out when needed!

 

As for Zakaria, that was some debut! I just hope it isn't a flash in the pan and he can carry that going forward! He needs some consistent starts if he plays like that!

He seemed to get quite a reception from the fans when he had to come off and walk around the pitch. Looked like the beginning of a new favorite at the bridge.

Be interesting to see how he handles the PL.  Deserves a chance at some point over RLC. 

10 hours ago, axman2526 said:

He seemed to get quite a reception from the fans when he had to come off and walk around the pitch. Looked like the beginning of a new favorite at the bridge.

A bit too late if he’s going back to Juve in January.

16 minutes ago, RMH said:

A bit too late if he’s going back to Juve in January.

Some posters developed the working theory Zakaria wouldn't get any minutes, so he could play in Europe for Juventus when we ended his loan. This is not a consideration any more, so we may keep him if he proves an asset in the PL.

If he features more it may as well been a case of the bloke simply being way out of shape and unfit. Tuchel commented on this as well as Potter (along with the match going fans who saw him warm up against Wolves). 

Juve fans also said he was overweight last season, and that with his knee it takes him longer to come back to full fitness. 

On 03/11/2022 at 14:26, coco said:

https://www.matchwornshirt.com/product/denis-lemi-zakaria-lako-lado-1HxKzOKcE0O0_CNgs_iksQ

I definitely can’t afford that one, I’m having to crowdfund £90 to get a ‘cheap’ one! 

On 03/11/2022 at 13:31, Sconnie Blue said:

Well just because its been done before doesn't make it effective. Managers rarely put out a team that doesn't have at least one defensive midfielder. 

Mourinho rarely played Essien as a sole DM ahead of Makelele or Mikel. He used him at CM or at RB for emergencies. 

Ancelotti favored Mikel over Essien at DM. 

This is true. Essien was very rarely used as the DM, he was box to box.

I think every side we have had that won major titles have had a pure DM.

Makelele/Mikel for Mourinhos titles, Mikel for Ancelottis, Matic for Conte and Jorginho for Tuchel's. All four extremely good players as well but especially Mikel and Jorginho have mostly been extremely underrated

 

Best player on the pitch. Legend. 

Not sure how he got hooked over Kovacic who seems to completely lost his ability to dribble out of tight situations. 

Not sure this guy is good enough on the ball for a possession based team.

Are any of them?

4 minutes ago, Zeta said:

Are any of them?

Kovacic

Jorginho, Jorginho just lacks the physical side.

7 minutes ago, jack_super_class said:

Jorginho, Jorginho just lacks the physical side.

That wins today's prize for stating the bleeding obvious.

The last winner was Jamie Carragher just lacks a brain.

No Jorginho, no control.

Let's also remember Zak played in a pivot with a back 4 in the ucl and then a pivot in a back 3 today. I'd like to see him player more in the former. Paired with Jorginho I envision good things.

2 hours ago, Munkworth said:

Best player on the pitch. Legend. 

Lewis Hall says hello

5 hours ago, axman2526 said:

Lewis Hall says hello

Lewis is so lucky to have Denis to learn from. 

On 02/11/2022 at 19:53, Munkworth said:

If he scores a wonder goal I’ll get the third kit with his name on the back. 

 

3 minutes ago, Munkworth said:

 

Let's see it with the socks on!

9 minutes ago, Amputechture said:

Let's see it with the socks on!

Please do not sully this legends thread with talk of this years awful sock selection. 

45 minutes ago, Munkworth said:

 

Names spelt wrong...