Frenkie de Jong

Status
Not open for further replies.

soul24rage

Senior Member
The best games that I've seen him play was as a libero in 3 at the back. ex. vs PSG away and Sociedad away.

That's his best position imo.
 

Bobo32

Senior Member
The best games that I've seen him play was as a libero in 3 at the back. ex. vs PSG away and Sociedad away.

That's his best position imo.

I like him even more in the LCB probably, but that's something to work out, depends on the other players too and so on.

But as I said, most of his impressive actions in that spring with Ajax were from a CB position, even if he played as a CM then.
 

malvolio

Senior Member
He could be a great CB
I thought he played very well in some group stage game, didn't watch today's loss.

He was out of his depth every time he played there for us. Ducks when crosses fly into the box, enough said.

The Dutch were just made to look good by having a shite group.
 

Bobo32

Senior Member
He was out of his depth every time he played there for us. Ducks when crosses fly into the box, enough said.

The Dutch were just made to look good by having a shite group.

He was GREAT some games and moments - but defensively he would need half a year or more of regular playing in the position to do it really well.
I don't see him becoming a good enough Barcelona midfielder for me though. He could play half the games a season as a b2b as Keita did maybe...
 

malvolio

Senior Member
He was GREAT some games and moments - but defensively he would need half a year or more of regular playing in the position to do it really well.
I don't see him becoming a good enough Barcelona midfielder for me though. He could play half the games a season as a b2b as Keita did maybe...

He clearly demonstrated that he lacks some basic skills for a defender. You saw GREAT performances. Make of that what you will
 

Bobo32

Senior Member
He clearly demonstrated that he lacks some basic skills for a defender. You saw GREAT performances. Make of that what you will

"basic skills" being not ducking on crosses, what else?

He lacked a bit of concentration sometimes, and was a bit lost in the moment at other times, not knowing what side to defend on and so on. As I said he would need some time there.
He demonstrates with every midfield performance that he doesn't really understand space and time well enough, when faced against a defending team he can't do much between the lines. He is great at dribbling through pressure from the defence, and he is very good when he gets some space and some obvious options, but he can't manipulate a well defending opponent, can't create out of nothing. He has some powerful runs into the box sometimes, that he could also offer playing as a defender.
 

malvolio

Senior Member
"basic skills" being not ducking on crosses, what else?

He lacked a bit of concentration sometimes, and was a bit lost in the moment at other times, not knowing what side to defend on and so on. As I said he would need some time there.
He demonstrates with every midfield performance that he doesn't really understand space and time well enough, when faced against a defending team he can't do much between the lines. He is great at dribbling through pressure from the defence, and he is very good when he gets some space and some obvious options, but he can't manipulate a well defending opponent, can't create out of nothing. He has some powerful runs into the box sometimes, that he could also offer playing as a defender.

There you go, describing his defensive weaknesses. There were moments his positioning was suspect and when he didn't know when to commit into a tackle or stand off opponent.
I too feel he isn't the worldclass player we wanted him to be. Salary is also way off considering the output.
 

Bobo32

Senior Member
There you go, describing his defensive weaknesses. There were moments his positioning was suspect and when he didn't know when to commit into a tackle or stand off opponent.
I too feel he isn't the worldclass player we wanted him to be. Salary is also way off considering the output.

And I say that they are pretty easily fixable, do you disagree?
He has the speed, the height, the mental attributes (he seems eager to learn, fine to play 'for the team', on top of having decent enough vision and so on). It's just changing some habits for him, I think.
 

te amo barca

Blaugrana al vent
And I say that they are pretty easily fixable, do you disagree?
He has the speed, the height, the mental attributes (he seems eager to learn, fine to play 'for the team', on top of having decent enough vision and so on). It's just changing some habits for him, I think.

He doesn't have the defensive grit to play CB. Simple as that. Can work as a libero in a back three, but in a two-man defense, absolutely not.
 

Bobo32

Senior Member
He doesn't have the defensive grit to play CB. Simple as that. Can work as a libero in a back three, but in a two-man defense, absolutely not.

I am not as sure as you in him not working in a back four, but yeah he should be more suited for a back three.

Remember what Cruyff said about Pep and Koeman - I think Frenkie and Busquets are better defenders than them...
 

BBZ8800

Senior Member
He is like Griezmann of midfielders, but a less bad fit.
But people will not accept it for some time because of a huge hype and since other players of ours are even worse.
So, if Frenkie is a miss, there is no hope for us and people don't want to hear that.

In short:
1. not good defender to be a CB
2. not good defending wise to be a CDM
3. not good enough in passing/creativity to be a world class CM or CAM

He can play in all of these positions, but he isn't an 80m player on any of those positions.

I have no idea with whom we should pair him in order for our midfield to work.
1. if you pair him with another defensive guy, then we will have 2 guys without creativity in midfield
2. if you pair him with 2 creative guys, we will again have one guy (him) who is not creative and yet defensive wise, we will be horrible if our midfield defense will rely on him.

As time goes by, more and more he looks like a system player, like guys from Atletico or Liverpool, who play good only when the whole team clicks perfectly.
Yet, when you take him out of that system, he looks as 50% of a player from Atletico/Liverpool, like Arda at Barca.
The only team for him seems to be that Ajax team.

For now, Frenkie looks like attacking wise clueless guy who only has world class machine (who is running and covering like crazy).

Stamina merchant - midfield headless chicken.

I am dead serious now, guys who adore Frenkie: try to name a midfield trio at Barca with Frenkie in it, in which that midfield trio would make sense attacking, passing and defensive wise.

If we'll stick with him for 10 years, imo it will be like trying to fit Griezmann/Fabregas into our formation for 10 years.
 
Last edited:

BBZ8800

Senior Member
If an EPL team would offer 70m for him, I would take the money and run, invest in Haaland and play random La Masia guys who are more creative and cost 5m.

With him, we will always be unbalanced in midfield compared to Barcas from 10-15 years ago.

And it is not as if he is bringing any advantage or trophies.

Big games wise, has he played well in any KO match in the last two seasons?

What exactly are we getting from him except stamina in midfield?
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.

Home of Barca Fans

Top