Eastyorksyeltz
Just doesn't shut up
- Joined
- Dec 2, 2021
- Messages
- 2,063
- Reaction score
- 3,846
It’s been difficult to assess Podence properly because he has been in and out of the team for various reasons and played in a variety of positions. I have seen him have very good games and very poor games.
Agree totally with this. He is a decent squad player, no better than Hwang or Donk. If everyone is fit he's on the bench. Surprised so many see him as a first choice.It’s been difficult to assess Podence properly because he has been in and out of the team for various reasons and played in a variety of positions. I have seen him have very good games and very poor games.
What I would say at this moment in time is that he appears to be a bit of a luxury player. That’s fine if you do your fair share of producing and have moments of brilliance in games.
The problem for me, is these moments have become few and far between and we aren’t the sort of team that can afford to start a luxury player.
As for tracking back, I have noticed that there seems to be a delay in thought process and he seems to make a token gesture because he has given the ball away. Given his physicality, this usually results in a foul being committed through frustration and lack of ability to keep up with the breaking player.
One thing I noticed in particular yesterday was the commitment from MGW to get back and help the defence, if the ball had been lost. He made two or three fantastic sprints over distance to gain ground and successfully retrieve the ball or halt the break.
We need more of that from our forward players because in my view, there’s a distinct lack of it. All too often, it’s halfhearted token gestures, that at best lead to a foul.
In my view there is no starting place for Podence if we have everyone available. Not consistent enough and is responsible for too many soft opposition turnovers, in dangerous areas, which leads to us being outnumbered, having committed players forward.