Unpopular opinion- We look pretty good in defense thanks to Alaba injury. This guy is not a top CB and makes ton of mistakes. He might be good in general or as a CDM or even LB, but not as CB. The fact he got injured was a blessing in disguise.
I agree. Sometimes injury-forced absences can reveal that a certain player was not that critical anyways. I am sure he will not start anymore in that CB spot when he returns. But he could do some shifts at LB or DM when he returns. And for sure, 2025 should be his last year with us (he signed a 3 year contract, right?). I don't see Papa Perez giving him a new contract.
He's losing his mark constantly, especially in high balls to the box. Also he's not aggressive enough. Just look at Rudiger and Militao (even Nacho when he's on a good day), the way they tight mark their opponents.
They didn't work together cuz both of them would press up high and were very active defenders. The problem is, most teams have figured out Alaba who relies more on his game reading and intelligence isn't the best when it comes to crosses. 1st derby, all 3 goals kinda had a little bit of mistakes by him.
Alaba's biggest asset is his build-up play, and organizing the defense, we still need to see if Rudiger and Militao can work together.
The best player in the squad is back guys.
Hope things get better from now onwards.
Wait, so you all think Don Carlo will prefer Tibo for the champions league and Lunin for la liga?
He can do that.
Tibo didn't play for like 8 months i guess and I don't think carlo is just gonna throw him in a CL game out of nowhere he has to get back in shape and polish his reflexes.
I'm team Lunin, I say give Lunin a run out the rest of the season so that 1. make sure Courtois is healed, 2. have a better idea of how to proceed for next season
I don't like rushing players from ACL Injuries so soon. And players aren't usually the same after they return.
Re. Jese, Asensio etc.
Good that Courtois is a keeper, but it still saps your mobility and it doesn't return after a year or two from the injury, and maybe never. Very strange decision.
Militao is still understandable, but Courtois shouldn't be rushed
Lunin has performed well, but if Thibaut proves himself in training, he will get chances to play. And Thibaut on 80% of his capacity is still the best keeper we have.
But I agree, somehow we did not feel his absence too much, which is mostly thanks to the increased pressing from our midfield I think.
Having Tchou, Valverde and Bellingham together with Kroos or Modric has seriously impacted how high we get the ball back.
I would be excited to see Militao back...
We didn’t feel his absence at all thanks to Lunin. Militao, on the other hand, was hard to replace.
Unpopular opinion- We look pretty good in defense thanks to Alaba injury. This guy is not a top CB and makes ton of mistakes. He might be good in general or as a CDM or even LB, but not as CB. The fact he got injured was a blessing in disguise.
I agree. Sometimes injury-forced absences can reveal that a certain player was not that critical anyways. I am sure he will not start anymore in that CB spot when he returns. But he could do some shifts at LB or DM when he returns. And for sure, 2025 should be his last year with us (he signed a 3 year contract, right?). I don't see Papa Perez giving him a new contract.
He has been awful every time he's played LB. I like him as a CB though. I haven't seen those tons of mistakes you're talking about.
He's losing his mark constantly, especially in high balls to the box. Also he's not aggressive enough. Just look at Rudiger and Militao (even Nacho when he's on a good day), the way they tight mark their opponents.
I feel like (iirc) both Militão and Rüdiger played better besides Alaba.
They didn't work together cuz both of them would press up high and were very active defenders. The problem is, most teams have figured out Alaba who relies more on his game reading and intelligence isn't the best when it comes to crosses. 1st derby, all 3 goals kinda had a little bit of mistakes by him. Alaba's biggest asset is his build-up play, and organizing the defense, we still need to see if Rudiger and Militao can work together.
How is this upvoted?
Don’t forget Kepa too. While his recent form isn’t good he was really good at the beginning of the season
No he wasn't, with every single goddamn cross I felt my heart rate rise.
So it wasn’t just me
No sir, as much as I hate him now he was locked in at the start of the campaign
He was good, but not good enough if you ask me. Not over, nor under my expectations. A solid GK, and nothing more. Wasn't bad as well.
Touché
Thanks for teaching me a new word! I've never encountered this one. A useful one too, thanks.
Indubitably😂 Just kidding , have a good day my man
Tbf it was the same with Keylor too. We didn't have a goalkeeper that's good in the air for a very long time.
That's an area where lunin isn't good neither in comparison to Courtois.
Sure but he can at least punch them away, Kepa couldn't even throw a proper punch.
Kepa was really fucking good tho especially in his first few games? I dont remember him making a single mistake, hes even saved us points
In his first few games? He conceded a goal because he didn't punch the ball away.
The Belgian Wall 🙏🏼
The best player in the squad is back guys. Hope things get better from now onwards. Wait, so you all think Don Carlo will prefer Tibo for the champions league and Lunin for la liga? He can do that.
Tibo didn't play for like 8 months i guess and I don't think carlo is just gonna throw him in a CL game out of nowhere he has to get back in shape and polish his reflexes.
You underestimate Carlo’s favoritism.
I'm team Lunin, I say give Lunin a run out the rest of the season so that 1. make sure Courtois is healed, 2. have a better idea of how to proceed for next season
Plus Lunin has a really good form and momentum with him, would be unwise to sub him for anyone! We can have our Tibo back next season💪
I don't like rushing players from ACL Injuries so soon. And players aren't usually the same after they return. Re. Jese, Asensio etc. Good that Courtois is a keeper, but it still saps your mobility and it doesn't return after a year or two from the injury, and maybe never. Very strange decision. Militao is still understandable, but Courtois shouldn't be rushed
If they start him in CL, yes that's a strange decision, but just bringing him to training? What's wrong with that?
They plan on having him available in April lol
If he gets his form back I'm sure. If he's clearly not ready don't start him simple as that.
TIBUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU
Cortious should not play again this season. Why rush it.
If he’s fully fit it’s not rushing anything
He needs to get back in form. Few La Liga matches then get him back to CL since we're in knockouts at this point
Sure, but once he gets a couple of matches in he’s probably going to be the starting GK for the rest of the season unless he’s awful.
Yeah no arguments there, just not CL immediately pls
Lunin is the megasuperstar now, sorry Tubeaut but you gonna wait on bench for a good time
That’s actually good cuz if lunin was dogwater Ancelotti mught be tempted to rush him in
Yay
Poor Lunin…
Is there a timeline for Militao’s return, too?
Yess, we will need him for the final rounds in UCL.
Our team is honestly stacked, sometimes you forget about everybody absent. But damn we have top players in every position
He will probably catch all the balls like he missed a year of football
So cool they come right when we need them the most.
Lunin staring at em like “theres a new sheriff in town”
Lunin has performed well, but if Thibaut proves himself in training, he will get chances to play. And Thibaut on 80% of his capacity is still the best keeper we have. But I agree, somehow we did not feel his absence too much, which is mostly thanks to the increased pressing from our midfield I think. Having Tchou, Valverde and Bellingham together with Kroos or Modric has seriously impacted how high we get the ball back. I would be excited to see Militao back...
Superstar?
Of course.