22 - Marc Bernal

[Horatio]

Great game

 

[JamDav1982]

Couple of zings out wide in 2nf half.

Always had that in locker in lower categories but not showed it much for first team yet.

 

[serghei]

Surprise of the game.

 

[BusiTheKing]

Would give him motm for the goals but still very meagre contribution to general distribution and ball progression. Felt he left Pedri to connect the lines in both ends and sort of just stood in the middle. Fair perhaps if he's meant to play it safe until more comfortable.

Impressed me with a few good defensive actions but other times felt he was too lax with pressure around our box.

 

[JamDav1982]

Would give him motm for the goals but still very meagre contribution to general distribution and ball progression. Felt he left Pedri to connect the lines in both ends and sort of just stood in the middle. Fair perhaps if he's meant to play it safe until more comfortable.

Impressed me with a few good defensive actions but other times felt he was too lax with pressure around our box.

Both were clearly instructed to play that way and Bernal waiting between lines more often and to get forward.

Which made sense as Bernal.. as he showed offered more in box and Atleti were just letting the Barca more defensive midfielder have the ball which would rather have a Pedri doing. For his quality and tempo/vision.

 

[BusiTheKing]

Both were clearly instructed to play that way and Bernal waiting between lines more often and to get forward.

Bernal was instructed not to receive the ball from our defenders or to advance it to our attackers?

 

[JamDav1982]

Bernal was instructed not to receive the ball from our defenders or to advance it to our attackers?

He was instructed to play higher than Pedri clearly.

Wasnt just 'leaving' Pedri to do it and 'just standing in middle'.

 

[serghei]

I think he is rather good at attacking the box but also knowing when to provide options deeper.

 

[BusiTheKing]

He was instructed to play higher than Pedri clearly.

Wasnt just 'leaving' Pedri to do it and 'just standing in middle'.

But Pedri was clearly also most active of the two in getting the ball to attackers. Or would you dispute that?

 

[JamDav1982]

But Pedri was clearly also most active of the two in getting the ball to attackers. Or would you dispute that?

Because he is the better player and also the one quite clearly getting the ball deeper to try and progress it.

 

[BusiTheKing]

Because he is the better player and also the one quite clearly getting the ball deeper to try and progress it.

So what is exactly is your disagreemtn with the statement that Pedri was more active in both picking it up from defense and advancing to the attack (ie. connecting the lines in both ends), while Bernal remained more inactive in the middle?

 

[JamDav1982]

So what is exactly is your disagreemtn with the statement that Pedri was more active in both picking it up from defense and advancing to the attack (ie. connecting the lines in both ends), while Bernal remained more inactive in the middle?

You made out Bernal was just standing around not doing much and left Pedri to it.

 

[BusiTheKing]

You made out Bernal was just standing around not doing much and left Pedri to it.

A euphemism for not committing to making himself available to receive the ball in uncomfortable positions on the one hand, and on the other lacking courage to make more direct forward plays. I didn't mean that he was literally standing still for the whole game.

But as I said, it is fair enough to let him play it on the safer side until more comfortable also given his recent long term absence. But against a side that competes hard for the midfield, I think it will be an issue. Let's see how he does against Newcastle.