He has arguably best first touch in current Europe. And great passing skill. It's a bit waste if he can't use these in the final third.I always thought he was better deeper too, but plenty think he's better closer to the goal.
He's a good passer but doesn't have the best final ball or killer instinct. His natural instinct is to play safer passes and preserve and recycle possession instead of attempting(and pulling off) inventive, killer low percentage final balls like a KDB or Ozil.He has arguably best first touch in current Europe. And great passing skill. It's a bit waste if he can't use these in the final third.
But for now he is better when he plays deeper and doesn't have to worry too much about creating chances.
The only way he can permanently plays as a 10 is if somehow he can learn to play that role like Xavi did before. Still a 10 but always drop deep and move all over the pitch to dominate the play.
I can see yours and vegitot's points, but I tend to lean more to your side, yes. I think he's an Iniesta-style player and can start and play deeper or play in the final third, but his best abilities lie a bit deeper. However, it's definitely a good debate.He's a good passer but doesn't have the best final ball or killer instinct. His natural instinct is to play safer passes and preserve and recycle possession instead of attempting(and pulling off) inventive, killer low percentage final balls like a KDB or Ozil.
He's much better deeper where he gets a bit more time and space to bring out his actual qualities. He's not a bonafide goal threat like Olmo or KDB either so I don't see him as a proper 10 at all.
Ideally, Pedri is an 8 in a 433. Similar profile to Iniesta - although Iniesta's natural swiftness and acceleration allowed him to be more versatile and even fill in as a false LW in a 433 when needed. Pedri doesn't have that swiftness. In Flick's system Pedri can play in the pivot or slightly ahead based on the players available. But he's not a proper 10 like Olmo is. Proper 10s need that naturally inventive, risk taking instinct and have a certain X Factor about them.
The higher you're up the pitch(closer to the opponent's goal), the less amount of time and touches you are allowed on the ball. Pedri is at his best when he has that little extra time on the ball to do his thing. For instance, Pirlo used to be a 10 but Ancelotti moved him deeper and that unlocked a whole new Pirlo where he had more time on the ball to dictate play. Not saying that Pirlo and Pedri have a similar player profile. They don't. Just an example to illustrate my point.
@Birdy @Fati_Future_BallonDor @Maradona37 do you agree? 🧐
Agree with most of that, though Iniesta was very press-resistant too. But I get the point that Xavi was more of a controller than Iniesta.I think Pedri's best position is as controller of the game. Be it in a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 he needs to be partnered with a more defensive player and a more offensive player, like Casado and Olmo. Frenkie is not ideal for Pedri if we want to get the best out of him.
His technique is used more like Xavi rather than Iniesta which is to get out of tricky situations rather than dribble to create chances like Iniesta could do. I don't think he resembles either Xavi or Iniesta to 100% but imo he'd be more effective playing in Xavi's role rather than Iniesta's.
At the same time Pedri's creative strength lies in the short passes and combinations rather than hitting killer passes. For that he needs to be further up the pitch. He's usually very dangerous when combining with Yamal just outside the box for example. But having a defensive player next to/behind him enables him to do that.
I do feel though sometimes he needs time to impose himself on a game. It can take 20-30 minutes before he can make his mark which is a long time as team's main controller. Doesn't happen all the time but it's something he can improve.
I didn't know Casado has 5 assists. That is pretty impressive and as you say highlights the supreme movement in final third, as well as Barca squeezing the play and being more direct and playing quicker or earlier balls from deeper positions into the front men.Pedri still lacks the natural instinct to play the killer pass.
Casado has 5 assists while Pedri has 2, though Pedri has 3 goals.
With the amount of movement the offensive is giving, his assist count should in theory sky rocket from deeper positions.
Prime Iniesta would be the most press resistant player in this team. But I'm not sure about Iniesta's ability to play at Xavi's position. He never actually did regularly.Agree with most of that, though Iniesta was very press-resistant too. But I get the point that Xavi was more of a controller than Iniesta.
In numerical terms (which can be cringe in football) you are describing Pedri as more as an 8 to be paired with a 6 and a 10, where Casado would be the 6 (defensive midfielder) and Olmo the 10 (offensive midfielder). Of course, in practice they interact and interchange and positions aren't always so fixed. But in a general sense that is how it works. I too see Pedri as an 8 but I can understand why people would see him as more of a 10 too.
Iniesta was very versatile and could play as an 8, 10, or even LW. He roamed around and did all sorts of jobs, within games or in different positions from game to game. I think Pep and other coaches enjoyed how many strings he had to his bow. Whereas Xavi was a pure midfield metronome (though ironically probably better in G/A than Iniesta a lot of the time).
Fair enough, agree with you there. Also agree that Iniesta never really played as the metronome, as I implied. But I think he could have done it to a decent level. Not Xavi level though, of course.Prime Iniesta would be the most press resistant player in this team. But I'm not sure about Iniesta's ability to play at Xavi's position. He never actually did regularly.
After Xavi left the natural move would be to play Iniesta there and get a new offensively oriented midfielder because those are arguably more common than the Xavi clones unless you get total ass versions like Seri and Arthur.
Btw, I think Pedri has received more instructions to play killer passes even from Xavi. I can’t remember a single situation this season where he has avoided the killer pass for the safer option. Those moments were far more common a year ago.
What kind of player is he? Admittedly I have mostly watched him with Spain, and here and there with Barca.After he’s been with us for years, people still don’t understand what kind of a player he is.
Sometimes I’m surprised.
Sometimes not.