5 - Pau Cubarsí
- Thread starter Barcaman
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There's a reason why a CB doesn‘t usually play for a top team at that age. And Cubarsi shows exactly why. In terms of his defensive skills, he's no better than an average central defender his age.
What would have been better? Offering him a saudi level contract? It was his choice not barca.
jamrock
Senior Member
It's funny that his physical limitations that many including myself thought would be what limit him in top flight football, is what is thought to be holding him back today.
But I don't fully buy into that, I've been him hold his own against fast & strong CFs before, that issue is something else entirely
But I don't fully buy into that, I've been him hold his own against fast & strong CFs before, that issue is something else entirely
FinBarcelonafan
Well-known member
The whole team looks physically weak. Something went terribly wrong this summer or last season.
I can't understand how an 18 year old kid is not putting the work to get stronger, faster.
I mean maybe he is (he must be right? guy is intelligent, seems focused on football and not wasting energies with partying) but it is mystifying to me at the moment at least.
It's a bit like in times of past where Pique is playing great, then takes his top off and there is absolutely no physical development there and is upper body is soft putty. Now in retrospect we know he got away with much more than he should have been allowed to thanks to his insane natural ability and reading of the game when on. But yet, imagine how much better he could have been if he put his full focus into his football and not half the eye on the life, late nights at the poker room and later days business.
jamrock
Senior Member
I can understand where you're coming from, especially when we compare him to, say, Yamal, whose physical development has been massive since he got promoted.
It's definitely something Cubarsi needs to focus on to round off his game.
But I think his struggles have more to do with tactics than just how slow or weak he is; he doesn't give Eric Garcia vibes in that respect, far from it.
But with our manager, even defenders in their physical and footballing prime have struggled when he's been a manager over the three jobs he's held, so it can't be a coincidence. Asking an 18-year-old to be at his best consistently in such a system is a very difficult ask, in my opinion.
He needs someone to help him develop his game and focus on being a defender first, not just a great passer. He has that naturally, and everything will come together for him..
MonteCuler
Well-known member
This guy gets a lot of hate because he plays in an incredibly demanding system for defenders and still lacks a lot of things that come with age and maturing
But he is for me without doubt still the best young defender on the planet. And in the future he will probably be best defender in the world. Everything he does at this level looks normal until you realize in normal circumstances he should be making his debut right now
But he is for me without doubt still the best young defender on the planet. And in the future he will probably be best defender in the world. Everything he does at this level looks normal until you realize in normal circumstances he should be making his debut right now
He is very good for his age but I doubt he will develop that much more. Physically he'll stay mostly the same.
Most young players get their big jump in development when they get that regular playing time at a good level. Pau already has done that and it's not linear at all.
At best he can become more consistent and reduce his mistakes, but even that isn't clear cut, just look at Araujo.
Most young players get their big jump in development when they get that regular playing time at a good level. Pau already has done that and it's not linear at all.
At best he can become more consistent and reduce his mistakes, but even that isn't clear cut, just look at Araujo.
te amo barca
Blaugrana al vent
He won't stay the same physically. Stones was a scrawny kid at 22 when he moved to City, 4 years later he was built like an imposing CB. Cubarsi already has a stocky build, so he will be a unit by the time he's 25.
Most CBs peak in their early thirties because experience/anticipation/mental-leadership-organizing skills are the most valuable there. So Cubarsi is really far from having developed, like a galaxy away.
jamrock
Senior Member
De jong messed up for one of the goals and I'm not de jong fan & I didn't get on him, like I won't get on a single player in our defense while the structure is so clearly broken.
I said it last season & some thought I was just being a flick hater lol, I worry about his development as a CB while we have a manager that clearly has 0 regard for defending & developing defenders, he will master the offside trap & that's it.
Loan him to pep with the fundamentals he has built in as a player & he'd come back a CB god after 2 seasons.
I said it last season & some thought I was just being a flick hater lol, I worry about his development as a CB while we have a manager that clearly has 0 regard for defending & developing defenders, he will master the offside trap & that's it.
Loan him to pep with the fundamentals he has built in as a player & he'd come back a CB god after 2 seasons.
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khaled_a_d
Senior Member
Plenty of CB didn't develop that much physically the way Stones did, and while adding strength is probable, it is unlikely he will gain height and athletic ability.
There is also the point that @Andresito made, development isn't linear for everyone. You can point to players who played their best at late 20's (very few are at their best at early 30's, it is usually end of their prime) but there is also early blommers. A guy like De Ligt looked even better than Cubarsi at 18, and at 26 there is 2 big clubs that were glad to find a decent sale for him.
So, it isn't a sure thing that he will be the best CB or even top 5 when he peaks. There might be players who are far worse now that might end up better, or not.
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FinBarcelonafan
Well-known member
I wouldn't be so sure. Garcia used to be weak and slow but he improved later age. Cubarsi can easily still improve physically.
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