8 - Pedri

[JamDav1982]

Frenkie is levels ahead of likes of Gavi with mobility and getting about pitch.

PSG midfield has had their moments.. Chelsea bullied them at CWC and Aston Villa bullied them last season in CL. Arsenal there was nothing in it after first half hour or so of first leg.

Bayern midfield just over ran them also a couple weeks back.

Folk thinking they know what midfield needs when rated Casado as a top player.

Sme folk who didnt understand where Pedri should play.

Same folk who pined for Gundo to stay and smugly claimed would not leave.

Top stuff.

 

[serghei]

The difficult player to judge in our midfield is De Jong. Neither De Jong nor Pedri is defensively good enough off the ball. It's unfortunate, but that's how I see it. Midfield functions well on the ball, but not so well off it.

But I do not exclude that, if you add 3-4 more physical players around them, in the form of a new backline, a stronger box to box midfielder instead of Olmo (who's actually too similar in profile to Pedri for my liking), De Jong and Pedri could function great together even against elite opponents.

It's hard to judge this pair when we play with several players around them who are not Barca material.

 

[Temptation]

Rodri is the best Midfielder in the world when fit (pre injury) and it wasn't close.

 

[JamDav1982]

The difficult player to judge in our midfield is De Jong. Neither De Jong nor Pedri is defensively good enough off the ball. It's unfortunate, but that's how I see it. Midfield functions well on the ball, but not so well off it.

But I do not exclude that, if you add 3-4 more physical players around them, in the form of a new backline, a stronger box to box midfielder instead of Olmo (who's actually too similar in profile to Pedri for my liking), De Jong and Pedri could function great together even against elite opponents.

It's hard to judge this pair when we play with several players around them who are not Barca material.

De jong and Pedri have dominated Real and Atleticos midfield numerous time and they did same to Inter in CL semis..but defence had other ideas.

 

[Temptation]

Frenkie is levels ahead of likes of Gavi with mobility and getting about pitch.

PSG midfield has had their moments.. Chelsea bullied them at CWC and Aston Villa bullied them last season in CL. Arsenal there was nothing in it after first half hour or so of first leg.

Bayern midfield just over ran them also a couple weeks back.

Folk thinking they know what midfield needs when rated Casado as a top player.

Sme folk who didnt understand where Pedri should play.

Same folk who pined for Gundo to stay and smugly claimed would not leave.

Top stuff.

Who is a better ball winner and tackler? FDJ or Gavi?

 

[serghei]

I desperately want a new CB and a new midfielder. We have surplus to requirement in midfield, but neither option ensures a physical player like almost every team top has.

This reminds me of previous Barca when even players like old Vidal and Paulinho surprised some people just because they provided something that was lacking in midfield. Even Kessie had his moments. And these were all problematic players. If we actually sign someone of that profile who is young and good... could improve us a lot.

 

[jamrock]

Rodri is the best Midfielder in the world when fit (pre injury) and it wasn't close.

I think everyone in the world knows this

 

[JamDav1982]

Who is a better ball winner and tackler? FDJ or Gavi?

FDJ is the better defensive player by far at DM.

Gavi runs a lot and makes tackles and gets skinned a lot and leaves space.

 

[serghei]

I like Pedri, De Jong. But them paired with Olmo and Lamine. Too lightweight. No wonder we missed Raphinha so much. We need more players who are athletes and can stand toe to toe physically with the best from teams like Arsenal, Chelsea etc.

These 4 just don't cut defensively together. So the odd man out is Olmo in some games.

 

[Temptation]

FDJ is the better defensive player by far at DM.

Gavi runs a lot and makes tackles and gets skinned a lot and leaves space.

Think you overrate FDJ's defensive ability but he's definitely a better DM than Gavi because of his IQ and positional awareness. Gavi doesn't have tactical and positional discipline yet.

FDJ's ball winning and tackling ability is pretty underwhelming though imo.

 

[serghei]

Think you overrate FDJ's defensive ability but he's definitely a better DM than Gavi because of his IQ and positional awareness. Gavi doesn't have tactical and positional discipline yet.

FDJ's ball winning and tackling ability is pretty underwhelming though imo.

De Jong's and Pedri is one of the softest double pivots I've seen personally. Especially when also looking at who plays around them in terms of support. Olmo, Lamine, Cubarsi. Neither of them intimidates anyone physically from the strongest sides. On the softer technical side for sure, all of them.

 

[Temptation]

In terms of defensive attributes:

Tackling: Gavi
Defensive awareness: FDJ
Positional and tactical discipline: FDJ
Pressing: Gavi
Strength/Bravery: Gavi
Pace: Dunno

Keep in mind that Gavi is still an inexperienced kid and can improve his positional sense with age, maturity and experience.

 

[serghei]

Gavi is a non factor. His progress from 2-3 years ago is basically zero.

 

[JamDav1982]

In terms of defensive attributes:

Tackling: Gavi
Defensive awareness: FDJ
Positional and tactical discipline: FDJ
Pressing: Gavi
Strength/Bravery: Gavi
Pace: Dunno

Keep in mind that Gavi is still an inexperienced kid and can improve his positional sense with age, maturity and experience.

Gavi is not a better tackler. Gets skinned far too often for that claim.

Strength it is Frenkie by far.

Pace it is Frenkie by even further.

 

[jamrock]

People talk about gavi as if he's a seasoned professional, when he's only played 2 full seasons.

Mind you those two seasons were great for his age, but he has so much upside.

But de jong is a better DM than gavi, because Gavi isn't a DM, neither is De jong to be fair.

He's just a double pivot specialist, he needs a DM beside him.

But he definitely can't definitely eye test tells us that, if a striker is running at goal, I feel much more secure with a full fit Gavi to handle that situation that de jong.


In the box defending is not even close really.