- Jun 19, 2008
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On reflection I am struggling with this one.
He is an electrifying player on his day but can he lead the line? Aguero comes to mind. Similar build, stocky, low center of gravity but not blessed with electrifying pace. Like Aguero he picks his runs and times them perfectly and that is his outstanding goal poaching skill. Dybala is also a strong dribbler but plays a lot deeper then Augero often picking up the ball and driving the attack from AMF. I've seen him turn out some electrifying cameos playing off a CF but Poch doesn't play that formation.
He is also really strong at crossing but he hasn't been used that much by Juve as an out and out winger, more a wing forward, until last season. I'd fancy him on the wing but again he lacks pace even though his crossing is high quality.
But really it does not surprise me why Sarri isn't that interested when he has others - Ronaldo, Mandzukic, Higuaín, Kean and then Caudrado, Costa and Bernardeschi who are WF's. Sari ball is effectively two speedy wingers and a lethal finisher at the apex of the 4-3-3. How does Dybala fit in there? I can see why they are open to selling Kean, who for all his promise looks very undisciplined at times and Dybala is the next one in the queue because he is good at nearly everything but hasn't got the physical presence and height or perhaps Augero's aggression in the last third to stand out as something special in that crowd. Plus Sarri will struggle to accommodate him in MF. Even in the twilight of their careers Ronaldo, Higuaín and Mandzukic are still formidable forwards.
Where would he slot in with us? He is not a real CF. He can play off a CF, as a WF or a false 9. He is really a No. 10. But is that what Poch wants him for? And how would you fit him into the diamond? A number 10 is the second striker and the false 9 is a mixture of both the 10 and 9 and, if we ever played one, really an advanced AM but there is a crowded field with CE, Son, Dele and Lamela all capable of playing there plus GLC and even Kane if it came to it. It all seems too hard.
He played 40 games last season with 12 subs appearances and had 8 GS and 5 Assists in that lot. He has 0.5 tackles and 89% passing rate with 1.5 key passes per game. Yes he was stuck on the wing but those numbers still show quality from one of his poorest seasons in Italy. A class act for sure but how do you fit him in plus he is 26 in November? Hardly a young up and comer and sell on value is an issue.
You’d really have to say someone like GLC offers us more flexibility and may possibly have a higher ceiling.
Maybe it will come down to dollars and pounds. If we can grab him for a bargain price. Why not? Otherwise he seems more like a luxury player requiring a formation built around him to play to his strengths rather then the other way around.
I would have thought Man City would be very interested with Augero reaching his peak years and Dybala the closest to him in style.
It’s a good post this. My main concern for the season ahead is that we’ll try and fit a load of really good square pegs in round holes.
I don’t like the diamond. I don’t think our players really work well with it. We seem to be keen to play a CB at RB, an incoming AM at LB, an ideal lone striker as part of a pair, an ideal three man CM with an extra wheel...I could go on.
Not sure exactly what sort of player this guys is