I also don’t want Zinchenko playing. He’s good, but the weakest defensively in our team and he’s very suspect to a misplaced pass. I hope he can recover last season’s form.
Without Zinchenko we lose a lot of creativity, especially because we’re not getting it from Havertz (not that it’s his bag anyway), Rice doesn’t play that game so it would really all get funneled back to Odegaard, right?
I hear you about his defense, but it’s not why he’s in the team. Maybe we’ll get to see a true Granit Xhaka performance from Havertz, dropping into LB to cover.
Same. Would rather Tomi. So much better as a defender and offers loads aerially.
Zinchenko offers us ball retention and creativity, yes he is flawed defensively but if we don’t start him we’re basically saying “ come at us city we will try soak up pressure all afternoon with limited outlet “ are we good enough to play that game defensively ? I’m not so sure.
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No matter how old I get I will always laugh at that. It sounds like some medication side effect.
But you’re right I think. Idk that I want us to go total sponge mode to try to soak up 80 minutes of pressure.
Zinchenko has no balls (little pussy crying after Trent megged him) ,so ball retention could onlu be football related.
We are a much better footballing twam when he plays though.
Can’t unsee this 
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That is the conundrum. For all his ability on the ball, his lack of physical strength, lack of pace, lack of defensive awareness make him a liability, especially against teams that are better than us. And City know all about him so they know how to exploit him.
I think Mikel will start him for the exact reasons you mentioned. Let’s hope he has an excellent outing.
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Immediately tought ot this lol
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That must be what the spurs fans feel when watching their team go without trophies for decades.
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The shift in quality of play when he came on was like night and day.
Made the ball to Tomiyasu for the goal.
What a fucking player.
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Immense! Great to have him back, what a player.
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He is immense. Please stay fit.
The pickout and pass was excellent.
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Yep. Immediately took some control back in the game. Please stay fit (no more RB!) as he’s so damn good in the middle of pitch.
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Having him, Rice and Jorginho as options infront of the defence is insane.
Still think he’s our best player. Brilliant cameo. Rice is just as good as an 8 as he is a 6, so Partey should be starting.
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His passing range is very slept upon.
There was a moment shortly after he came on where all his passing lanes were covered from deep right, and that was a common pattern in the game today for our players at the back, which resulted in us passing the ball around at the back, sometimes inviting too much pressure from City.
Instead of doing that he just casually scooped a perfect ball right over a City player who was in close proximity to him, over to Ben White which then started an attack out of nowhere.
I think that changed the dynamics of the game a lot because what seemed to work for City before when defending high up the pitch, didn’t anymore.
Suddenly, they had to deal with a player who was willing to take risks with his passing from deep, moreso than Jorginho, Zinchenko and Rice.
And that also resulted in our goal.
He’s honestly a one of a kind player for me. Special footballer.
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He is fantastic. Hos legs have gone a bit so he’s adapted his game from the all action midfield dynamo under Simeone.
Fully agree with your observations on his passing.
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I wouldn’t say that technically he has a special passing range. Doesn’t often do big long range passes or stuff like that…
But he’s an insanely creative passer and sees stuff around him. Brilliant vision and awareness. Maybe too creative at times when he does risky stuff around our box, but he’s a lovely talent and probably one our most enjoyable players to watch (when his in good form) in the last 10 years or so.
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It was one of his obvious stregths at Atletico. Just that it’s easier to see when you play against a style that allows for it. Just very well-rounded guy otherwise. so glad he is here.
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