8 - Pedri

[soul24rage]

Don't need to watch him every game to know what a special player and genius he is. He just is.

@soul24rage says he needs to win more international trophies or boss a CL Final to be unanimously recognised as the best, and I get that. But for me, he's already the best midfielder (with Rodri) in talent, football IQ, technique.

I think the world of him as a footballer and hope he maintains this level he's been at for a long time now. And - most important - steers clear of injuries (as that is the only thing standing in his way of becoming an ATG midfielder).

And, as I always said, please never again use him as an AM. He has all-time great potential in the heart of midfield and I never got why he was played further forward.

For me, he's already the best midfielder in the world. But need that boss performance from him in a CL/WC KO stage, that is missing from his resume.

The good news is that he's just about to turn 23, which is still young for a midfielder and he has a good setup in Barca. If only that terrorist De La Fuente stops putting him as an AM and actually plays him as a CM, then he'll boss it up.

Hopefully after the WC26, De La Fuente will come to the realization that Pedri needs to play as a CM.

 

[Maradona37]

For me, he's already the best midfielder in the world. But need that boss performance from him in a CL/WC KO stage, that is missing from his resume.

The good news is that he's just about to turn 23, which is still young for a midfielder and he has a good setup in Barca. If only that terrorist De La Fuente stops putting him as an AM and actually plays him as a CM, then he'll boss it up.

Hopefully after the WC26, De La Fuente will come to the realization that Pedri needs to play as a CM.

De La Fuente is beyond hope and redemption if he's watching Pedri right now and still think it's best to play him as AM. I know Spain have an embarrassment of riches in CM, but still. He and Rodri are the jewels in the crown.

 

[jamrock]

He's the best Midfielder in the world, but I still want to see rodri at 100% before I give him the full crown.

Once he schools a fit rodri, not directly but by being better than him, when he's fully it.

I'll give him the crown
But he's the best Midfielder right now, with no rodri.

 

[Porque]

Spain has so much midfield quality that it doesn't matter where Pedri plays as long as he plays.

Any combination of Pedri with Rodri, Merino, Zubi, Olmo, Casado, Fabien Ruiz, Fermin is still the best national team midfield in the world.

Infact i would say that in the 2 years since the Euros, that this group has improved immensely. Pedri and Ruiz have gone up a tier for example.

Mainly for Spain, it's about Lamine not getting injured and then DLF not fucking things up like he tried to against Germany in Euro24

 

[soul24rage]

De La Fuente is beyond hope and redemption if he's watching Pedri right now and still think it's best to play him as AM. I know Spain have an embarrassment of riches in CM, but still. He and Rodri are the jewels in the crown.

I like Ruiz, but think the best midfield for Spain is having Merino as the AM with Pedri and Rodri as the double pivot.

There's so much balance and variety that it's going to be scary to face a midfield like that

 

[Maradona37]

I like Ruiz, but think the best midfield for Spain is having Merino as the AM with Pedri and Rodri as the double pivot.

There's so much balance and variety that it's going to be scary to face a midfield like that

I think that too. Ruiz would be most other nations' best midfielder in a double pivot, but for Spain he's third to them two geniuses.

 

[jamrock]

Spain has so much midfield quality that it doesn't matter where Pedri plays as long as he plays.

Any combination of Pedri with Rodri, Merino, Zubi, Olmo, Casado, Fabien Ruiz, Fermin is still the best national team midfield in the world.

Infact i would say that in the 2 years since the Euros, that this group has improved immensely. Pedri and Ruiz have gone up a tier for example.

Mainly for Spain, it's about Lamine not getting injured and then DLF not fucking things up like he tried to against Germany in Euro24

No lies told here

 

[soul24rage]

Spain has so much midfield quality that it doesn't matter where Pedri plays as long as he plays.

Any combination of Pedri with Rodri, Merino, Zubi, Olmo, Casado, Fabien Ruiz, Fermin is still the best national team midfield in the world.

Infact i would say that in the 2 years since the Euros, that this group has improved immensely. Pedri and Ruiz have gone up a tier for example.

Mainly for Spain, it's about Lamine not getting injured and then DLF not fucking things up like he tried to against Germany in Euro24

Only DLF and Nicki Nicole can stop this Spain team from winning the WC.

 

[Maradona37]

Spain has so much midfield quality that it doesn't matter where Pedri plays as long as he plays.

Any combination of Pedri with Rodri, Merino, Zubi, Olmo, Casado, Fabien Ruiz, Fermin is still the best national team midfield in the world.

Infact i would say that in the 2 years since the Euros, that this group has improved immensely. Pedri and Ruiz have gone up a tier for example.

Mainly for Spain, it's about Lamine not getting injured and then DLF not fucking things up like he tried to against Germany in Euro24

I get your point, and they'll be the best midfield combo either way. But why not try to be the absolute maximum you can be, even when you're excellent?

They'll be a brilliant midfield, but I feel they'd be less brilliant if Pedri plays AM and not CM (I know positions are fluid anyway).

They all range from good to excellent. But Rodri and Pedri are clearly the two best, so why not use them in their proper postions to start most games? Why fuck about and tinker? Keep it simple.

Just my take.

 

[Maradona37]

Only DLF and Nicki Nicole can stop this Spain team from winning the WC.

Big praise coming from this site's number one Argentina fan.

 

[Porque]

I get your point, and they'll be the best midfield combo either way. But why not try to be the absolute maximum you can be, even when you're excellent?

They'll be a brilliant midfield, but I feel they'd be less brilliant if Pedri plays AM and not CM (I know positions are fluid anyway).

They all range from good to excellent. But Rodri and Pedri are clearly the two best, so why not use them in their proper postions to start most games? Why fuck about and tinker? Keep it simple.

Just my take.

I think DLF best option is to play Pedri in AMC or Pivot depending on opponent or match situation.

Olmo AMC against low block or chasing a goal.

Pedri moves there when you want more control and possession, or to close out a match.

We saw in Euros how Olmo can create out of nothing if he is fit and in form for the tournament.

 

[Maradona37]

I think DLF best option is to play Pedri in AMC or Pivot depending on opponent or match situation.

Olmo AMC against low block or chasing a goal.

Pedri moves there when you want more control and possession.

We saw in Euros how Olmo can create out of nothing if he is fit and in form for the tournament.

Fair enough. And yeah, it's a rare disagreement from me with soul above. I think Olmo has a higher ceiling than Merino - and bursts of form are what matter in 5 week long tournaments - and might build chemistry with Pedri at club, so I would start

Pedri-Rodri
Olmo

depending on Olmo's precarious fitness and how his season goes.


Of course much changes depending on game state, five subs, and resting players for the third game if through already, etc. I get your point that playing Rodri-Ruiz with Pedri in front gives even more control as Pedri can control games better than merino or Olmo. However, my thinking is it takes away from Pedri's wonderful game in CM a little.

 

[soul24rage]

Big praise coming from this site's number one Argentina fan.

I honestly don't rate DLF that much. I'm sure he'll mess up somewhere during the tournament.

Also, Scaloni is smart in deploying Argentine spy Nicole and injuring Lamine in the process.

 

[Maradona37]

I honestly don't rate DLF that much. I'm sure he'll mess up somewhere during the tournament.

Also, Scaloni is smart in deploying Argentine spy Nicole and injuring Lamine in the process.

Imagine if it's a Spain-Argentina final; if the form and draw allows that.

We have never had a Spain-Argentina big game at a World Cup since Pep changed football, much less a final, and I have been wanting to watch it.

In fact, in history, Spain rarely plays Argentina at the tournament. It's a bit weird - must be one of the least played meetings between huge nations. Though admittedly Spain mostly became elite post 2008.

 

[jamrock]

He has his Midfield and once everyone is fit and in form don't see it changing


Ruiz rodri
Pedri