Player Watch Player Watch: Lucas Bergvall

[Bluto Blutarsky]

I think when Bergvall joins he will immediately have the highest football IQ in the squad.

When I watch him play, I can see how he is prepared every time he receives the ball - he knows exactly what he is going to do before he gets it - whether that is a one-touch pass or a dribble.

I think that ability to play more by instinct than by slowing down and thinking is already world class. He will have to adjust to the pace and physicality of the league but I think he has “it” and will only take a short bedding in period before he is ready to be a major contributor.

 

[Bluto Blutarsky]

I saw the loose comparison to Skipp above and I think the most glaring difference we will see - Skipp’s priority seems to be mistake-avoidance, which isn’t terrible, but limits his upside. Bergvall is much more about taking risks to progress the ball.

That is also why I don’t think Bergvall will start out playing deep - those mistakes would be costly. But taking risks further up the pitch will create more chances, while limiting the damage from any mistakes.

 

[BorjeSpurs]

I saw the loose comparison to Skipp above and I think the most glaring difference we will see - Skipp’s priority seems to be mistake-avoidance, which isn’t terrible, but limits his upside. Bergvall is much more about taking risks to progress the ball.

That is also why I don’t think Bergvall will start out playing deep - those mistakes would be costly. But taking risks further up the pitch will create more chances, while limiting the damage from any mistakes.

Teammates at Djurgarden has said that when he joined them at 17 from the Swedish 2nd tier, he did his thing immediately in training.

Taking people on to the extent where some of the senior guys asked themselves, 'who does this kid think he is'. Clearly, they picked up really quick on how good he was.

I suspect he will be a big talking point during pre-season. There will be debates about how much he will play and in which position, but the raw talent I think will shine through almost instantly.

 

[Johnny J]

I think when Bergvall joins he will immediately have the highest football IQ in the squad.

When I watch him play, I can see how he is prepared every time he receives the ball - he knows exactly what he is going to do before he gets it - whether that is a one-touch pass or a dribble.

I think that ability to play more by instinct than by slowing down and thinking is already world class. He will have to adjust to the pace and physicality of the league but I think he has “it” and will only take a short bedding in period before he is ready to be a major contributor.

Absolutely this. We badly, desperately need better football brains in our side. So often we have players static on the ball or off it, no movement, no idea what to do next, waiting for something to happen, passing the ball straight backwards because there's less risk doing that. Like robots who haven't been programmed to take anything other than the safest option.

Bergvall looks like a natural talent, like Foden is, and I very much suspect he'll be a starter for us before Christmas.

 

[McFlash]

The only problem I see with Lucas right now is that he does not really have any outstanding quality that offsets him as a future star player. Yes he is very talanted and is "good" at almost everything, but I said the same thing about Skipp when he was at norwich, Yes "good" at many things but does not stand out when it comes to passing, physical or reading the game IMO. Being a well rounded "good" player will stand out at the lower leagues, but vs teams week in week out it will not work out.

For me right now Adam Wharton is the most talented young midfielder in the premier leauge. He is next level when it comes to read the game (carrick style) and has a sweeping pass similar to what (Huddlestone) could do. That is top traits and a dont really see Lucas ones right now.

Wow. Now I've not watched game after game of his but from what I've seen, he looks to have everything needed to become a very good player, levels above Skipp (who I really rate).
To be honest, the only weakness I've noticed is that he's somewhat inaccurate with his long balls at present, maybe sometimes too ambitious with them.
But when it comes to everything else, like passing, moving, dribbling, reading the ball and all the rest, I'm really not sure what your seeing to think he doesn't stand out?

Granted, it's going to be a big step up for the kid but I honestly think he's got all of the tools needed to become a top player.

 

[mil1lion]

People still banging on about 6 and 8 when Ange said it's nonsense

 

[Bluto Blutarsky]

People still banging on about 6 and 8 when Ange said it's nonsense

Apparently only you.

Nothing in the last week in this thread about it...

 

[mil1lion]

Apparently only you.

Nothing in the last week in this thread about it...

The last page more like, literally some from today

 

[spurs9]

People still banging on about 6 and 8 when Ange said it's nonsense

Did he? He didn't seem to think it was nonsense when talking about Bentancur being able to play as a 6 or 8.

 

[mil1lion]

Did he? He didn't seem to think it was nonsense when talking about Bentancur being able to play as a 6 or 8.

The key takeaway there is he talks about having different combinations. The reference to the 6 is just an answer to the media always using that expression. I think it's clear he will play different combinations of Bissouma, Sarr, Bentancur and Bergvall. We've also largely been linked with what people would refer to as 8s this window. He said he wants to do away with talk of 6s and 8s and he always talks about players bringing something different.

 

[SpursSince1980]

He will see a ton of games against Europa opponents. And will be slowly introduced to PL football, via sub appearances here and there. But I don’t expect he will be a regular in every PL squad… Unless we don’t buy another midfielder and/or he is simply too good to ignore.

 

[spurs9]

The key takeaway there is he talks about having different combinations. The reference to the 6 is just an answer to the media always using that expression. I think it's clear he will play different combinations of Bissouma, Sarr, Bentancur and Bergvall. We've also largely been linked with what people would refer to as 8s this window. He said he wants to do away with talk of 6s and 8s and he always talks about players bringing something different.

Can you link a video of when he said that.

 

[purplemonkey]

Can you link a video of when he said that.

 

[mil1lion]

Exactly, so he's wanting to get away from 6s and 8s would suggest we're not where he wants yet. I'm sure he wants his midfielders to do a bit of everything. Maybe to an extent some of them are a bit too limited now. It's probably why we signed Bergvall but still looking at another midfield option in there.

 

[BorjeSpurs]

Exactly, so he's wanting to get away from 6s and 8s would suggest we're not where he wants yet. I'm sure he wants his midfielders to do a bit of everything. Maybe to an extent some of them are a bit too limited now. It's probably why we signed Bergvall but still looking at another midfield option in there.

Think you are overanalysing somewhat the meaning behind Ange's comment above. I would suspect that Ange, similar to some people on here, dislikes the phrasing of 6s and 8s.

Whatever you want to call it, he clearly sees some players as dedicated 10s (Maddison), 8s(Sarr) and 6s(Bissouma) as that is where they have started every game.

It's definitely needed to have players in your squad that can play in multiple positions, but doesn't neccessarily mean that the players who always get picked for the same position are limited.

 

[Ron Burgundy]

I think when Bergvall joins he will immediately have the highest football IQ in the squad.

When I watch him play, I can see how he is prepared every time he receives the ball - he knows exactly what he is going to do before he gets it - whether that is a one-touch pass or a dribble.

I think that ability to play more by instinct than by slowing down and thinking is already world class. He will have to adjust to the pace and physicality of the league but I think he has “it” and will only take a short bedding in period before he is ready to be a major contributor.

I like where you're going with that, but let's not get too carried away - surely the fact that he doesn't have a supreme athlete, who's also a top football player, playing in the fastest league in the world, breathing down his neck will be somewhat flattering to the way he looks?

He's a great prospect, but let's not pretend we've got a bunch morons playing for us (though some clearly are...)

 

[vegassd]

Whatever you want to call it, he clearly sees some players as dedicated 10s (Maddison), 8s(Sarr) and 6s(Bissouma) as that is where they have started every game.

It's definitely needed to have players in your squad that can play in multiple positions, but doesn't neccessarily mean that the players who always get picked for the same position are limited.

Classifying these players based on their best starting positions is part of the problem though. Games are fluid things, and the season is one long fluid system.

Whilst it's tempting to think that having a second Bissouma is the ideal route (the classic "2 players per position"), I personally think a player similar but slightly different would work better for the squad. I could see Gallagher being that player, Bentancur as well, and potentially Bergvall too. They might not be the classic "midfield destroyer" type, but not every game situation is going to need that.

I suppose the idea of a player being "limited" automatically suggests that they aren't a good player, although that doesn't have to be the case. I can certainly see the argument that whilst Bissouma and Maddison are probably more talented than Sarr or someone like Gallagher... if we need to tweak our system during a match they provide less flexibility.

So I totally agree that Ange likely sees Bissouma as a "dedicated 6" shall we say, and he isn't putting him anywhere else in the starting lineup. But looking forwards, that doesn't mean he is looking for another "dedicated 6" to act as rotation.

 

[ComfortablyNumb]

Now could we have a 4-page essay, signed by Ange, on the relevance of 6s and 8 s in the modern game?

 

[mil1lion]

Think you are overanalysing somewhat the meaning behind Ange's comment above. I would suspect that Ange, similar to some people on here, dislikes the phrasing of 6s and 8s.

Whatever you want to call it, he clearly sees some players as dedicated 10s (Maddison), 8s(Sarr) and 6s(Bissouma) as that is where they have started every game.

It's definitely needed to have players in your squad that can play in multiple positions, but doesn't neccessarily mean that the players who always get picked for the same position are limited.

Yet he's played various combinations of Sarr, Bissouma, Hojbjerg and Bentancur. Sarr actually played more advanced against Burnley and even behind the forward at Wolves or as a false 9 against City. Bentancur has been playing alongside all 3. Maybe if Bissouma and Hojbjerg were not limited he would have a more dynamic midfield duo. He's still building the squad though and I don't think how we've played so far is fully what he wants yet.

I think Ange has a bit of total football in his philosophy. He doesn't seem to be one to restrict a player to a role. Even the centre backs will get forward when the moment comes. That's the biggest difference between him and Conte who was a lot more about everyone having a set role. Ange wants players to play more with freedom and he won't want a midfielder to lack bravery or hesitate to go forward if there's an opportunity too. His midfield combination will just offer different qualities so we can adapt to the opposition.

 

[Bluto Blutarsky]

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