Nelson Semedo

Best way to describe Semedo is solid without being anything special. He is a player who would do his main job well, but would not add anything extra on that. Which is fine as the market at RB doesn't have anyone better, except maybe Arnold and possibly Cancelo. Some RBs benefit more from playing under superb managers. But that is a whole different discussion. Nobody knows how much Semedo's game would be elevated if he were to play in teams that have an idea about what they are playing.

serghei said:

Best way to describe Semedo is solid without being anything special. He is a player who would do his main job well, but would not add anything extra on that. Which is fine as the market at RB doesn't have anyone better, except maybe Arnold and possibly Cancelo. Some RBs benefit more from playing under superb managers. But that is a whole different discussion. Nobody knows how much Semedo's game would be elevated if he were to play in teams that have an idea about what they are playing.

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TAA is most certainly not on the market.

TAA wouldn't fit here anyway. Cross cross cross to who? Kimmich is a far better fit

Ernesto GOATverde Tejedor said:

TAA wouldn't fit here anyway. Cross cross cross to who? Kimmich is a far better fit

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Also not on the market.

Ernesto GOATverde Tejedor said:

TAA wouldn't fit here anyway. Cross cross cross to who? Kimmich is a far better fit

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Kimmich is even a greater defensive liability than Roberto is.

I think you will keep seeing more and more attacking fullbacks these days due to how much the game has evolved in the past decade with teams wanting their fullbacks to be like makeshift wingers to an extent.

We have a couple of them such as Firpo and Wague and Emerson at Betis. Guys who are great going forward but are dodgy at the back, It's all about trying to get them to acceptable levels as defenders as well it could be possible.

The popular misconception is Alves wasn't a good defender, that is not true at his peak along with him being a master at his craft at going forward he was still a very good defender and was constantly winning duels against the likes of CR7 and even Marcelo.

I see fullbacks are more tucked in and helping the midfield than as wingers. Winger-fullbacks who can't take on a man and dribble inside are useless against solid defenses. All they can do is either cross the shit out of the ball a la David Moyes, or do back passes, a la Valverde.

Basically, I want to see more of this:



And less of this:



Semedo and Alba should not take on space except when there is a real pay-off and when it can lead to a dangerous action. Our fullbacks positioning is wrong. They take up space when there is more to be won by keeping those channels open for 3rd man runs. Neither Alba and Semedo are attacking masterminds. Only fullbacks who can take on space and make something happen individually are/were Marcelo and Alves.

serghei said:

I see fullbacks are more tucked in and helping the midfield than as wingers. Winger-fullbacks who can't take on a man and dribble inside are useless against solid defenses. All they can do is either cross the shit out of the ball a la David Moyes, or do back passes, a la Valverde.

Basically, I want to see more of this:

And less of this:

Semedo and Alba should not take on space except when there is a real pay-off and when it can lead to a dangerous action. Our fullbacks positioning is wrong. They take up space when there is more to be won by keeping those channels open for 3rd man runs. Neither Alba and Semedo are attacking masterminds. Only fullbacks who can take on space and make something happen individually are/were Marcelo and Alves.

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Too narrow, no width in that formation you proposed

Messigician said:

Too narrow, no width in that formation you proposed

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Width is brought by the wingers who also have moments when they drift wide. Also brought by overlapping fullbacks and 3rd man runs into space. When you put Alba and Semedo high and wide you basically limit the forward movement of your creative midfielders.

When you play narrow, you force teams to play narrow too. Which means there will be space wide to make runs into. This is the key to good use of the wings. You need to appear in the wide spaces in a dynamic position, not occupy them statically because you kill the attack this way, by overcrowding the wings.

That is why fullbacks occupying high wide positions isn't recommended. It's more useful when they tuck in and allow more creative players to advance. Like your AM and box to box midfielder. Because in this case they are better positioned to:

a) participate in build-up
b) make runs wide into space
c) allows for quicker transition in case of a counter, since the fullback doesn't have to run from corner flag to corner flag, basically the whole length of the field.

When you have them occupying space wide they can do neither of these things.

serghei said:

Width is brought by the wingers who also have moments when they drift wide. Also brought by overlapping fullbacks and 3rd man runs into space. When you put Alba and Semedo high and wide you basically limit the forward movement of your creative midfielders.

When you play narrow, you force teams to play narrow too. Which means there will be space wide to make runs into. This is the key to good use of the wings. You need to appear in the wide spaces in a dynamic position, not occupy them statically because you kill the attack this way, by overcrowding the wings.

That is why fullbacks occupying high wide positions isn't recommended. It's more useful when they tuck in and allow more creative players to advance. Like your AM and box to box midfielder. Because in this case they are better positioned to:

a) participate in build-up
b) make runs wide into space
c) allows for quicker transition in case of a counter, since the fullback doesn't have to run from corner flag to corner flag, basically the whole length of the field.

When you have them occupying space wide they can do neither of these things.

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Too had we don't have any wingers besides Dembele

Messigician said:

Too had we don't have any wingers besides Dembele

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Villa wasn't a winger either. Didn't stop him from being a real threat on the left cutting inside with proper tactics. Just because you play in the wing doesn't mean you have to hug the line.

Apparently, he was feeling some discomfort so he trained away from the group today.

Sorry to say it once again but this guy is bang average. He is proving it time and time again. Was sightseeing for the Aduritz goal as well. How in the good world can Athletic manage to score while only attacking with 1 player and 2 players in the box while we defended with 6 players in and around the box? What exactly is Semedo doing leaving Aduritz completely free? Sure the goal was an outrageous goal that happens 1 in 100 times but that does not change his ridiculously bad positioning. His defensive contribution is supposedly his strongest asset. Remember something similar during the Roma meltdown and many other examples where he was completely passive.

This guy cannot add anything to the team attacking wise even if his life depended on it. Painful to watch.

Baffling that a player approaching 26 years (in 2.5 months time) is treated as if he was a "work in the progress".

We should be doing WAY better.

EDIT:

I saw the second half of Betis-Valladolid and honestly speaking Emerson looked like a beast compared to Semedo in that half. Provided 1 assist, could have had another assist and was a constant danger offensively while good defensively as well. Had a move where he dribbled 3 Valladolid players. Never seen Semedo do something like that. Stronger physically as well and taller.

Very good game. Keep it on.

He was great today.