19 - Lamine Yamal

[Maradona37]

Wasn't decisive tonight, but still cooked af. Love this dude!

He got an assist and had one or two really excellent crosses that could have been converted.

But what I like about the lad is he's very Messi-like in that he doesn't need to always get goals and assists to influence a game - he can do it with his link-up play, passing, dribbling etc.

 

[ZenI]

He got an assist and had one or two really excellent crosses that could have been converted.

But what I like about the lad is he's very Messi-like in that he doesn't need to always get goals and assists to influence a game - he can do it with his link-up play, passing, dribbling etc.

Agree 110%. But that pass to Raphinha was freaking excellent!

 

[Temptation]

Some interesting takes by me and the other lads in the Redcafe thread "Lamine Yamal - Das Wunderkind".

@Maradona37 check it out.

 

[Maradona37]

Some interesting takes by me and the other lads in the Redcafe thread "Lamine Yamal - Das Wunderkind".

@Maradona37 check it out.

Thanks, I will. Haven't lurked on there in several days. They tend to be better when talking about non-United or non-PL football topics so I will give a look soon. Merci.

 

[Gnidrologist]

Although not as active in final third (still got genius assist from half way line though Raph needs to get credit for genius first touch also), he was absolutely toying with Bayerns high pressing like prime Messi used to do, while starting plays, while dribbling/passing out from deep, to help midfielders. That against one of the faster and physical teams in the world, while still being wee teen. Yeah.

 

[Barcaman]

Ladder has been set insanely high for a kid his age so maybe I expected a bit more tonight.

If I really had to chose one fault, I didn't like how he failed to track back at times and let Davies past him..

 

[Mihai Stefan]

I don't know if you noticed, a little frustration in his eyes due to the simple fact that he has a few active matches in which he didn't score, it's been a long time since Barcelona has had such an ambitious player who puts his soul into everything.

Personally, I would like to see him more active in the final third, to reveal that sense of a goal scorer, but honestly, this style of a decisive passer and a fantastic dribbler is also good for him, as long as he goes down to the middle, defends and presses.

 

[Mihai Stefan]

Ladder has been set insanely high for a kid his age so maybe I expected a bit more tonight.

If I really had to chose one fault, I didn't like how he failed to track back at times and let Davies past him..

To be honest man, not even a standard has been set for his age, he is the first to set this standard. Many times, people start to have demands from a player, who, however, has a respectable age, a 21, 22, 23 year old, but 17 years old? He hasn't even finished puberty, I wouldn't be surprised to hear a story in 10 years, like how Yamal was caught masturbating in the locker room.

 

[Maradona37]

To be honest man, not even a standard has been set for his age, he is the first to set this standard. Many times, people start to have demands from a player, who, however, has a respectable age, a 21, 22, 23 year old, but 17 years old? He hasn't even finished puberty, I wouldn't be surprised to hear a story in 10 years, like how Yamal was caught masturbating in the locker room.

Probably Pele was the last one to be such a young prodigy. He scored in the World Cup Final - two goals - aged 17. R9 maybe too. But even then, R9 was an unused sub at 17 in USA 94 (though doing well at club level) and almost a full year older than when Yamal was starring in and winning the Euros lol.

Even Messi aged 17 didn't have the body of work yet I don't think, though everyone knew how great he was. Mbappe had a great teen level but I think there's even more expected of Yamal.

 

[Mihai Stefan]

Probably Pele was the last one to be such a young prodigy. He scored in the World Cup Final - two goals - aged 17. R9 maybe too. But even then, R9 was an unused sub at 17 in USA 94 (though doing well at club level) and almost a full year older than when Yamal was starring in and winning the Euros lol.

Even Messi aged 17 didn't have the body of work yet I don't think, though everyone knew how great he was. Mbappe had a great teen level but I think there's even more expected of Yamal.

Many times I have to admit that I get angry with some decisions that Yamal makes, but then I remember that he is effectively just a child, he probably hasn't even finished high school yet, but yes, you're right, it's an exaggerated standard of few people in history, who faced something like this, as you said, even Messi didn't play like that at his age, although I didn't catch Messi playing when he was little, why lie, I saw some comparisons and it's not even close to what Yamal is.

I hope with all my heart that it is not just a torch that burns brightly now and later goes out, that would be sad.

But personally, it remains to be seen, a lot was said about Mbappe when he was 18, as if he was the next "Pele" or similar things, and now at 25, he is not even a quarter of what Messi or Ronaldo was at 25, and dare I say, not even Neymar or Suarez.

It remains to be seen what will happen to Yamal.

 

[Maradona37]

Many times I have to admit that I get angry with some decisions that Yamal makes, but then I remember that he is effectively just a child, he probably hasn't even finished high school yet, but yes, you're right, it's an exaggerated standard of few people in history, who faced something like this, as you said, even Messi didn't play like that at his age, although I didn't catch Messi playing when he was little, why lie, I saw some comparisons and it's not even close to what Yamal is.

I hope with all my heart that it is not just a torch that burns brightly now and later goes out, that would be sad.

But personally, it remains to be seen, a lot was said about Mbappe when he was 18, as if he was the next "Pele" or similar things, and now at 25, he is not even a quarter of what Messi or Ronaldo was at 25, and dare I say, not even Neymar or Suarez.

It remains to be seen what will happen to Yamal.

That's my fear too, and @Don Juan Laporta Estruch keeps trying to reassure those of us who are more pessimistic individuals in general that Lamine will have an all-time great level career. He really can have that, but it is so difficult to be brilliant from as young as 16 to as old as 33/34/35 or whatever. I really want him to do it as he's a special, special talent. To be fair I am a bit of a doom merchant and hopefully Yamal can continue to assuage my worst-case scenario thinking.

I think in comparison with Mbappe - Kylian was all pace, power, athleticism, in your face dribbling when young. He's a fairly smart player but he never did show the maturity as a player that Lamine is showing even now, I don't feel. I also feel Lamine is significantly better in tight spaces and has stronger technique and better passing and link up than Kylian. I believe Yamal possesses a maturity as a player (even at such a tender age) that lends itself well to improving in a linear fashion - Mbappe is more of a speed merchant type guy, and that player ages more poorly (though he isn't even old and is still world-class).

In a similar manner, I feel Yamal is less susceptible to the arrogance and cuntishness about his career that Mbappe possesses. Not saying Yamal has no ego because most top players have some degree of it, but I don't feel he will ever put himself or his desire to win individual awards above the team. Now, some people would say that single-minded focus makes a player better, but to me there's a limit to it because it can be to your detriment as a player - you become obsessed with records and goalscoring and neglect the more eye test parts of the game as you age (see Ronaldo).

I believe Yamal has his head screwed on, and will always strike the right balance and blend of being a team player and a maverick individual. He's a smart kid it would appear. I could be totally wrong on this, but I hope not.

So then, if he has the right football attributes and the right mental ones, it becomes about avoiding injury and being best player in the world level for 15 years or so. I believe he can do it but it is a massive ask.

 

[Devils]

Gotta say rewatching that pass to Raphinha for the 4th goal is just absolutely sickening.

No 17 year old should be able to pass with that kind of accuracy.

 

[Mihai Stefan]

That's my fear too, and @Don Juan Laporta Estruch keeps trying to reassure those of us who are more pessimistic individuals in general that Lamine will have an all-time great level career. He really can have that, but it is so difficult to be brilliant from as young as 16 to as old as 33/34/35 or whatever. I really want him to do it as he's a special, special talent. To be fair I am a bit of a doom merchant and hopefully Yamal can continue to assuage my worst-case scenario thinking.

I think in comparison with Mbappe - Kylian was all pace, power, athleticism, in your face dribbling when young. He's a fairly smart player but he never did show the maturity as a player that Lamine is showing even now, I don't feel. I also feel Lamine is significantly better in tight spaces and has stronger technique and better passing and link up than Kylian. I believe Yamal possesses a maturity as a player (even at such a tender age) that lends itself well to improving in a linear fashion - Mbappe is more of a speed merchant type guy, and that player ages more poorly (though he isn't even old and is still world-class).

In a similar manner, I feel Yamal is less susceptible to the arrogance and cuntishness about his career that Mbappe possesses. Not saying Yamal has no ego because most top players have some degree of it, but I don't feel he will ever put himself or his desire to win individual awards above the team. Now, some people would say that single-minded focus makes a player better, but to me there's a limit to it because it can be to your detriment as a player - you become obsessed with records and goalscoring and neglect the more eye test parts of the game as you age (see Ronaldo).

I believe Yamal has his head screwed on, and will always strike the right balance and blend of being a team player and a maverick individual. He's a smart kid it would appear. I could be totally wrong on this, but I hope not.

So then, if he has the right football attributes and the right mental ones, it becomes about avoiding injury and being best player in the world level for 15 years or so. I believe he can do it but it is a massive ask.

I absolutely agree with you, he is much more technical on dribbling and passing than any modern youngster that has been so far.

Just as you mentioned, a bit more attacking attitude would be needed on the goals side, with all these dribbling and passing, it will be a football machine.

But you have to play smart with him, you have to rest a little more often, from my point of view, he is played too much in every match for a 17-year-old.

 

[Maradona37]

I absolutely agree with you, he is much more technical on dribbling and passing than any modern youngster that has been so far.

Just as you mentioned, a bit more attacking attitude would be needed on the goals side, with all these dribbling and passing, it will be a football machine.

But you have to play smart with him, you have to rest a little more often, from my point of view, he is played too much in every match for a 17-year-old.

Yes I agree, it's really mostly any injuries curtailing development and potential burn out factor that concern me. But the Barca coaches and staff will hopefully manage him sensibly.

Anyway thanks for the discussion here - I have enjoyed it. But it is 1.30 am and I really should try to sleep. Great posts you made. Goodnight.

 

[bf4k]

best player in the world