21 - Frenkie de Jong

[YodaMaster]

Watched the second half only. From what I saw FDJ wasn't breath taking or even impressive but here's my thing:

1. He was the lowest positioned midfield in his team and it happens often and I don't particularly like it given that he even played as a CB last year
2. His body feints are great and help him to beat pressure, Modric and Vasquez got caught by it
3. He seems to be relaxed in tight spaces, doesn't panic and manages to give good short and forward passes
4. He likes to play on the left side of the pitch just like Arthur, one of them will have to adapt to the RCM spot

I'd like to see him play higher on the pitch so that we could see how he does there. Busquets-Arthur-FDJ in current state would be a little bit too defensive. Arthur already showed that he's not afraid of going forward and playing great there, but he still would be a CM and we might need a more offensive minded midfield in that trio. Right now I feel that Alena is the perfect fellow CM for Arthur.

Anyway, I saw positive vibes in FDJ game even though he wasn't outstanding. Kid is still only 21 we gotta remember. I'm not worried about him. He'll just need time at Barca.

 

[fergus90]

Anyway, stop all this talk of stamina and creativity. The reality is you better be ready for a Busquets - Rakitic - Vidal midfield masterclass Saturday.

 

[EdmondDantes]

Cause they have a lot of similarities. Gonna be interesting following both players but I think de Jong ceiling is way higher than Arthur

I don't find them similar at all. Arthur's low centre of gravity alone makes De Jong antithetical to him. I don't care for hypothetical, arbitrary 'ceilings', Arthur is levels above, but even then I wouldn't compare them the same way I don't compare Busquets to Arthur.

 

[Riordon]

Yeah so does Modric. Now who is better between Xavi and Modric? Or you're saying that if Xavi could've played for only about 70 minutes only he'd be a worse player than Modric? Sorry but I take 70 minutes of Xavi every day and twice on sunday over any version of Modric.

No, you're not attacking Arthur but you are focusing on one aspect of their abilities and make it seem like it's the most important one when you had a very recent example where "marathoner" Modric was outclassed and shouldn't have been anywhere near the pitch by the 60th minute for constantly fouling the same short of breath Arthur. Now what good did it do to him to that he was constantly running? You tell me.

Dude, cmon. What are you even saying? Very weird way of seeing things.

And we have different views then. I think Arthur had a fine game against RM, he didn’t outclass Modric at all.

 

[Riordon]

I don't find them similar at all. Arthur's low centre of gravity alone makes De Jong antithetical to him. I don't care for hypothetical, arbitrary 'ceilings', Arthur is levels above, but even then I wouldn't compare them the same way I don't compare Busquets to Arthur.

Don’t agree at all. De Jong carrying and long balls(when he uses them) is unmatched. I think he will be claimed clearly better than Arthur within two or three months here

 

[Campos]

I don’t know if we have any Ajax fans on here but I feel De Jong hasn’t yet returned fully fit that kept him out from feb 2018 to August 2018. Prior to that injury his was phenomenal.

Looks like he lost a bit of speed and mobility

Frenkie isn't slow but he definitely ain't fast. Never was. But he is fast with the ball on his feet.
In the first half of the season (and last season as CB) against France, Germany etc etc.He was dribbling past Griezmann,Kroos etc etc. He was taking big risks as a DM. But he never lost the ball. I think that's why Barca fel in love with him. This guy is a DM. But can play like a CAM while he's playing like a DM. Isn't that crazy ?

He was mostly playing every ball forward. That's basically his trademark. No matter what, he ALWAYS wants to play forward. .

But lately he's playing a bit on the safe side. More balls backward. He doesn't dribble like he used to do. Don't really know what is is. Is it the presure (now that's he's a Barca player, all eyes are on him). Is he not fully fit ? Only Ten Hag can tell.

But ya, despite the critism. I think he had a good game tonight after weeks. Because he was really shitty against Heracles, Feyenoord and Heerenveen.

 

[xXKonan]

Dude, cmon. What are you even saying? Very weird way of seeing things.

And we have different views then. I think Arthur had a fine game against RM, he didn’t outclass Modric at all.

Have you watched how poor Modric was for most of the Classico?

He spent most of the match huffing and puffing trying to take the ball off Arthur and had to resort to shitty fouls that should have sent him off. If that's not outclassing then I don't know what your definition of outclassing is.

 

[DonAndres]

Riordan notices Arthur or FDJ not making lung busting sprints at the 80+ min mark moreso than he notices Modric/Rakitic/Kroos literally asleep on the pitch for entire first halves lmaoo

FDJ and Arthur do not have stamina issues and their output is as high as any midfielder in the world not named Kante/Allan/Vidal

 

[Sorin]

Dude, cmon. What are you even saying? Very weird way of seeing things.

And we have different views then. I think Arthur had a fine game against RM, he didn’t outclass Modric at all.

I'm saying that having stamina is great but I'd rather my player have superior technical attributes even if his stamina is worse.

Fine enough but if you didn't see that Modric deserved at least 2 yellows(red) for his constant fouling of Arthur then I'm sorry but we've watched different games.

 

[EdmondDantes]

Can be but he gets tired around the 70min and runs after that. Modric is sprinting all game up and down the pitch

That's a rather unfortunate statement since that Real Madrid game was precisely the match Arthur ran literally all game (that he's had stamina issues in previous games I will not deny)

Exhibit here:


[tw]1093470648377241602[/tw]

Arthur vs Real Madrid (H) Copa del Rey Semi-final 6/2/19

Credit: Jnicee17 (twitter)


As you can see in the video, along with all his pressing, tackling and intercepting, what do you call that at the 93rd minute when Arthur puts Messi through with that pass and once we lose possession, he's the one chasing down Asensio with a tackle?

 

[Riordon]

Have you watched how poor Modric was for most of the Classico?

He spent most of the match huffing and puffing trying to take the ball off Arthur and had to resort to shitty fouls that should have sent him off. If that's not outclassing then I don't know what your definition of outclassing is.

I don’t consider it outclassing because Modric was fouling him a few times. It makes a good GIF but no masterclass.

How many scoring opportunities was he involved in?

How many though balls did he play? Keypasses?

How many long balls behind the defense? How many long balls to switch play?

His carrying to break through lines?

 

[Riordon]

Frenkie isn't slow but he definitely ain't fast. Never was. But he is fast with the ball on his feet.
In the first half of the season (and last season as CB) against France, Germany etc etc.He was dribbling past Griezmann,Kroos etc etc. He was taking big risks as a DM. But he never lost the ball. I think that's why Barca fel in love with him. This guy is a DM. But can play like a CAM while he's playing like a DM. Isn't that crazy ?

He was mostly playing every ball forward. That's basically his trademark. No matter what, he ALWAYS wants to play forward. .

But lately he's playing a bit on the safe side. More balls backward. He doesn't dribble like he used to do. Don't really know what is is. Is it the presure (now that's he's a Barca player, all eyes are on him). Is he not fully fit ? Only Ten Hag can tell.

But ya, despite the critism. I think he had a good game tonight after weeks. Because he was really shitty against Heracles, Feyenoord and Heerenveen.

Spot on. I think he lost a little mobility after a severe ankle injury(kept him out for 5 months) and coach’s tactics. He was insanely good before that injury. Check the radar post two this thread. I hope he can regain that form

 

[EdmondDantes]

Don’t agree at all. De Jong carrying and long balls(when he uses them) is unmatched. I think he will be claimed clearly better than Arthur within two or three months here

lol

 

[Riordon]

lol

Let’s see. The best I have seen from Frenkie; I don’t think Arthur can come close.

But let’s see when they both are here

 

[Sorin]

Didn't see any issues with his mobility in both matches against France. He was actually great in both games, 2 of the best performances I've seen for him. Weren't those matches after his injury? Man, if he was even better than that last year, before the injury, then he was a top 5-10 mf in the world.