João Cancelo

[ajnotkeith]

Will go for a dribble in his own half in a situation where a pass would produce a better result.

 

[Richard.H]

Will go for a dribble in his own half in a situation where a pass would produce a better result.

Ya I don't understand this. Sometimes his brain just turns off. The talent and skill are clearly there, just needs to not snooze.

 

[mc_lovin]

Not a huge fan, but very early days.

 

[JamDav1982]

He would be fine if he was the one attacking FB or team set up to cover for him going into midfield and taking risks.

But that is not the case at all.

Xavi has Balde bombing up line on the left, Cancelo coming into midfield or wide and then no 'proper' DM in place.

There is no shape and team are at sixes and sevens any time opposition break.

Then made worse when midfield has likes of Gavi and Romeu who cant dominate ball and dictate play in a way that is needed to reduce that threat on the break.

At this stage wouldnt sign him and would sell a CB in summer to get in a more defensively sound RB and a DM.

It is crazy that Barca are paying a 4th CB almost 10m a season yet have no DM in the squad... cant count Romeu.

 

[Barcaman]

He doesn't quite seems mentally balanced. We're we really thinking pep and Bayern were stupid to let him go?

Maybe it's too early to call it and our setup doesn't look good so nothing to do but hope for the best.

 

[fergus90]

He’s made a career of being sublime one minute and rubbish the next.

He won’t change, it’s who he is as a footballer and it’s also why teams are ultimately happy to let him go despite his positive attributes.

 

[te amo barca]

He’s made a career of being sublime one minute and rubbish the next.

He won’t change, it’s who he is as a footballer and it’s also why teams are ultimately happy to let him go despite his positive attributes.

Wasn't he much more consistent and somewhat more conservative/possession valuing at City? They had the covering fullback on the right and Cancelo was free to do his offensive shenanigans, but at Barca Balde is often the furthest player up the pitch when Barca lose the ball.

 

[Porque]

I'm bothered by his pass selection when he's in that holding fullback space. His dribble quality and offensive contribution was never in doubt.

But if Xavi wants him to hold and help with the circulation and buildup then he has been lacking.

Might want to think about switching the focus to Balde playing more reserved ala Kounde last season. Or even, make Balde and Cancelo inverted fullbacks. Balde stays defensive at right back, and Cancelo offensively on the left where he excels.

Still early days and he hasn't really had an adaption phase. Arrived late and is playing on instinct like Felix. Let's see if he can fit more into Xavi rigid defensive system as time goes on.

 

[Nazario1985]

I don't know why he doesn't not stay wide, at a certain point he got into the mid and they were like 4 of our players on the ball and nobody stretching wide ...

Maybe Xavi's order

 

[Horatio]

We jinxed him. Simple as that.

 

[Iniesta Ultra]

He knows ferret, chihua, romulan, etc aren't reliable to create opportunities so he's taking a free role.

 

[JohnN]

I don't like his closing in to mid position every time. he should try being the one overlapping for once and let yamal close in.
also he has pure golden and pure trash moments in the span of seconds.
I think he has talent but is not a right back.

 

[JamDav1982]

Xavi doesnt want him over lapping on the right.

Overlapping full backs are not there as much in the top teams these days they are opting for isolated wide players and if they cant take players on the option is to play it back to midfield supporting them.

 

[JohnN]

Xavi doesnt want him over lapping on the right.

Overlapping full backs are not there as much in the top teams these days they are opting for isolated wide players and if they cant take players on the option is to play it back to midfield supporting them.

He doesn't combine well with yamal, who is ordered to stay wide and none of them defend properly on counters.
we must address this or we will be cut open with the same long ball again and again.

 

[te amo barca]

Xavi doesnt want him over lapping on the right.

Overlapping full backs are not there as much in the top teams these days they are opting for isolated wide players and if they cant take players on the option is to play it back to midfield supporting them.

I mean it's not that rigid. Even Ben White starts from the holding position, feeds Saka and sometimes overlaps from that deep position with a diagonal run to let Saka cut inside. You can switch it up sometimes. Cancelo just thinks he's a midfielder it looks like, even though his best skills (crossing, dribbling, athleticism) are better deployed on the wing