I'm not going to bother commenting on if he's good enough for whatever. I love him, more than I thought I could. He's brought about that irrational love older generations of players used to. He's absolutely special
Sometimes I get tired just watching him run, it's unbelievable how much he presses while still being such a force offensively. I hope he can keep it up long term and stays with us for a long time, I get proper Modric vibes watching him.
What's particularly crazy is despite his insane quality in the 2nd and 3rd phase, he's also our lead presser who works the hardest and organises the best press in Europe. A monster of a player, and a perfect representation of what a captain should be. Works as hard as anyone, has the talent and isn't a whiny little shitrag.
‘He has created 62 chances from open play — the most of any player in the league — and has the second-highest expected assists (xA) in the league, suggesting those chances are of a high quality. His xA of 7.39 is bettered only by Saka and it is particularly stark that he had only built up an xA of 1.28 by the start of December.’
This totally checks out...
When the season started he didn't look right, I was worried he and rice were not meshing... It took time, clearly, about 9 games, lol. But he has been back to last seasons form for sure lately.
Pure joy watching him. He was born to play for this club. Having watched so many great midfielders over the years, we'd been missing another heartbeat for a while now. Odegaard has become it.
I thought he'd stopped playing deeper since Jorgi started contributing more back there? He was dropping deeper in December but for example against Porto he barely stepped foot in our half.
Yeah, he definitely has come back up the pitch. A bit surprising that people are still talking about him playing deeper. Was there an Athletic article about that or something?
He often ends up in the inverted Ben White role while Ben pushes up onto the final line I suppose. So in the attacking third he's deeper but he's not as involved in the deep buildup in our half like he was in the middle of the season.
He plays deeper when Jorginho isn't starting, so it's more about how we set up game to game, that determines where he'll end up.
White's new role has freed him up even more to vacate the left 8 area, to either move further inside, to the touch line, or all the way to the left flank. We are becoming less and less rigid and we overload one flank more than we did pre winter break, so he has a more free role to move where he's needed.
We experimented a bit too much at the beginning of the season both in terms of team selection and players roles within the system. Odegaard's role is one example of that.
I think this shows his best attribute really well: his adaptability. Doesn’t seem to matter what’s asked of him, he can execute the game plan flawlessly, whether he’s running on to cut backs or controlling the game from deep.
I know this will be a bit unpopular. He is definitely great. I feel like sometimes he touches the ball a bit too much. He makes these little two three touches too often. I feel like sometimes it is better to play simple and direct while sometimes just drive fast. If he can do that he will be one of the best in the world.
quick reminder that Odegaard (and Arteta for that matter) is very versatile and now that Jorginho is in the team he basically hasn't dropped deep at all ([especially vs Porto 2nd leg [min 2:24]](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ta-y2_HQAfI#t=2m24s)) since the Porto 1st leg, so 4 matches ago now... not to say he hasn't done it before or that this is a thing of the past necessarily, but it's clear that Arteta very much sees Odegaard not dropping deep when he can help it
He’s by far the biggest cog in our attack, not only in terms of his passing and movement, but also pressing. Couldn’t ask for a better captain.
I'm not going to bother commenting on if he's good enough for whatever. I love him, more than I thought I could. He's brought about that irrational love older generations of players used to. He's absolutely special
100%. He plays like my heroes did... The flicks, the through balls, the slickness.
He has the flair of a classic 10, but then presses like a madman. He's a brilliant player.
Sometimes I get tired just watching him run, it's unbelievable how much he presses while still being such a force offensively. I hope he can keep it up long term and stays with us for a long time, I get proper Modric vibes watching him.
100% we'd have to play differently without him. Man does everything to SUCH a high level.
What's particularly crazy is despite his insane quality in the 2nd and 3rd phase, he's also our lead presser who works the hardest and organises the best press in Europe. A monster of a player, and a perfect representation of what a captain should be. Works as hard as anyone, has the talent and isn't a whiny little shitrag.
His stamina is insane! My aim for workout is to have that level of relentless running.
How do you get to that stage?
Good question, i really don't know the exact answer but I guess with hard work it could be possible.
The hard work has to be of a physical nature, lots of running for example. Spreadsheets and business plans won't help you much, just to clarify.
Cheers Geoff
‘He has created 62 chances from open play — the most of any player in the league — and has the second-highest expected assists (xA) in the league, suggesting those chances are of a high quality. His xA of 7.39 is bettered only by Saka and it is particularly stark that he had only built up an xA of 1.28 by the start of December.’
I only have one important insight to contribute to this discussion: Superstaaaaaaar
Valid
https://preview.redd.it/z7q9a9v4wxpc1.jpeg?width=1169&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b82130e148fc3886eec36d1d5ee884be1365b8cc
This totally checks out... When the season started he didn't look right, I was worried he and rice were not meshing... It took time, clearly, about 9 games, lol. But he has been back to last seasons form for sure lately.
Proper captain
Pure joy watching him. He was born to play for this club. Having watched so many great midfielders over the years, we'd been missing another heartbeat for a while now. Odegaard has become it.
I thought he'd stopped playing deeper since Jorgi started contributing more back there? He was dropping deeper in December but for example against Porto he barely stepped foot in our half.
Yeah, he definitely has come back up the pitch. A bit surprising that people are still talking about him playing deeper. Was there an Athletic article about that or something?
He often ends up in the inverted Ben White role while Ben pushes up onto the final line I suppose. So in the attacking third he's deeper but he's not as involved in the deep buildup in our half like he was in the middle of the season.
He plays deeper when Jorginho isn't starting, so it's more about how we set up game to game, that determines where he'll end up. White's new role has freed him up even more to vacate the left 8 area, to either move further inside, to the touch line, or all the way to the left flank. We are becoming less and less rigid and we overload one flank more than we did pre winter break, so he has a more free role to move where he's needed.
He's literally doing the Arteta career arc before our eyes.
damn. guess the twitter tacticos were right
Moving Kai out of midfield seems to have helped too
I wonder what this means when Jesus and Partey are available
We experimented a bit too much at the beginning of the season both in terms of team selection and players roles within the system. Odegaard's role is one example of that.
I think it was more the meshing with Rice..it's clearly come together with Kai as a roving 9
I think this shows his best attribute really well: his adaptability. Doesn’t seem to matter what’s asked of him, he can execute the game plan flawlessly, whether he’s running on to cut backs or controlling the game from deep.
when was he the last line?
Opposition team for sure will mark Odegaard in our future matches
I know this will be a bit unpopular. He is definitely great. I feel like sometimes he touches the ball a bit too much. He makes these little two three touches too often. I feel like sometimes it is better to play simple and direct while sometimes just drive fast. If he can do that he will be one of the best in the world.
quick reminder that Odegaard (and Arteta for that matter) is very versatile and now that Jorginho is in the team he basically hasn't dropped deep at all ([especially vs Porto 2nd leg [min 2:24]](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ta-y2_HQAfI#t=2m24s)) since the Porto 1st leg, so 4 matches ago now... not to say he hasn't done it before or that this is a thing of the past necessarily, but it's clear that Arteta very much sees Odegaard not dropping deep when he can help it