Jude Bellingham
- Thread starter snowy
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Maradona37
Well-known member
I actually think Fernandes is more talented than him. I am not even a big Fernandes fan, but he's definitely a better passer than Jude (when he isn't giving it away, but then Jude gives it away too).
Jude is a good player, but all this nauseating PR hype around him is mind-boggling. Nobody can tell me he'd be receiving that if he wasn't English, good looking, and primed since childhood to be a 'star'.
It was so obvious to me that his box crashing thing is much less important against teams like Arsenal where he has to control the game more than get on the end of chances. He was woeful against Atletico too, where they got away with it.
Maradona37
Well-known member
So, to sum it up, not denying he has strengths, such as his ability to rack up the stats, it would be foolish to deny he can score goals in the box.
But his lesser passing ability and complete inability to control a game, and lack of defensive ability - yes he is average defensively, some think being big and strong automatically makes people good defensively, but his positioning is all over the place and poor and he's awful when pressed because he's so big and bulky and lacks the technique and finesse to wriggle out of tight spaces- are factors which mindlessly parroting '27 goals and assists' don't cover, and really have to be taken into account, especially now that Mbappe has taken much more of the scoring burden.
it's all very well racking up stats in smaller games, but as I said before, against midfielders who have parity with him or superiority in terms of technique, controlling a game, vision, passing, positioning, he cannot compete to an acceptable, successful level. It's been evident numerous times at both club and international level.
But his lesser passing ability and complete inability to control a game, and lack of defensive ability - yes he is average defensively, some think being big and strong automatically makes people good defensively, but his positioning is all over the place and poor and he's awful when pressed because he's so big and bulky and lacks the technique and finesse to wriggle out of tight spaces- are factors which mindlessly parroting '27 goals and assists' don't cover, and really have to be taken into account, especially now that Mbappe has taken much more of the scoring burden.
it's all very well racking up stats in smaller games, but as I said before, against midfielders who have parity with him or superiority in terms of technique, controlling a game, vision, passing, positioning, he cannot compete to an acceptable, successful level. It's been evident numerous times at both club and international level.
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I'll always stick with the opinion that his initial scoring run as false 9 under Ancelotti done more harm then good and made him a more stat orientated and lazy player.
Then there is the arrogance that Real Madrid seems to bring out of everyone.
I think it will be like this until Ancelotti goes and then a more new age work ethic manager comes in.
Only question is if he can get them to work hard, or if he will fail to establish authority over a group of divas like guys like Pellegrini before.
Maradona37
Well-known member
I agree with all the points you made in earlier paragraphs.
I know it sounds like I hate him and have a negative agenda. It's a fact that he's not really my type of player. But I have acknowledged he has strengths in terms of being a stats merchant. It's the rest of his game that needs work.
You have made a good point there mate - his initial scoring run and winning trophies in his first season has likely done more harm than good, as it has contributed to his arrogance and ego and - as you said - made him zone in on stats and work less hard. When I watched him at Dortmund he still has the arrogance but he did seem to do more hard work.
The balance is all wrong. He's being asked to play deeper now and he clearly cannot do it. I am not giving up fully on the player's ability to do that - He is only 21 and I believe with experience (and a kick up the arse and a severe humbling, as you imply) he can become more of a controlling, diligent player in midfield. But will that happen? Like you also insinuate, I don't think Real Madrid is the environment to enable that to the best level.
I mean it is Real Madrid, so maybe they will sign another midfield wizard soon freeing him up to do his damage in the final third. But then that begs the question everyone is asking - is it too many cooks with all the other forwards they have? Perez has gone done the galactico route of the early 2000s again.
Like you say, the new manager needs to get these guys working harder for the team, rather than as the individuals they appear to be.
Elephant in the room is that while he won the CL with Real Madrid last year, Dortmund only made the final because they sold him.
Maradona37
Well-known member
Lol that's a loaded comment but something to think about tooElephant in the room is that while he won the CL with Real Madrid last year, Dortmund only made the final because they sold him.
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