Miralem Pjanic

[El Gato]

It's early for these kind of definitive statements.

He's 23. It's definitely not too early. Man needs a life coach, a lot like Jović who will either live or die by his choices at this level.

 

[Porque]

Apparently he?s the player who runs the most for Juventus. So a more technically skilled, intelligent and attacking player who is great on set pieces who also has an engine is somehow a downgrade from Arthur?

11.6km per game in the CL this season for Juventus.

For comparison, here are his metres per minute ratio compared to all of the Barcelona and Juventus midfielders this season.

Ramsey - 141/min* (*Only 171 mins over 5 games played)
Pjanic - 135m/min
Bentacur - 133/min
Matuidi - 130m/min
Khedira - 129/min
Rakitic - 128/min
de Jong - 128/min
Vidal - 126/min
Busquets - 122/min
Alena - 122/min** (**1 full game of 90 played)
Arthur - 121/min
Rabiot - 120/min (Lol. This guy)

Ignoring the outlier of Ramsey, Pjanic does have a surprisingly impressive engine, especially compared to all our midfielders and especially Arthur. Those stats also over 598 minutes which is the most in the Juventus squad.

The stats also emphasise how lethargic our midfield is (especially as they have to over compensate with the frontline). Yes, I know that our numbers are skewed by our possession to a degree, so I would love to compare the numbers with 09/10, 10/11 and 14/15.

It above also suggests we should of insisted in Bentacur for Arthur.

 

[FinBarcelonafan]

But those numbers mean shit. Vidal is way more intense than Rakitic and your stats tell me Rakitic runs more? Rakitic runs max. 50% intensity when Vidal goes 85%. Much harder to run intense and slow down again than 50% all the time.

Everything I've read say Pjanic is slow too. That's what matters not how many kilometres he is jogging. Jogging itself is pointless.

Not all kilometres are the same.

 

[Porque]

But those numbers mean shit. Vidal is way more intense than Rakitic and your stats tell me Rakitic runs more? Rakitic runs max. 50% intensity when Vidal goes 85%. Much harder to run intense and slow down again than 50% all the time.

Everything I've read they say Pjanic is slow too. That's what matters not how many kilometres he is jogging. Jogging itself is pointless.

Not all kilometres are the same.

Metrics are always a key incite. Of course with football it comes down to how we analyze it more so than a sport like Basketball or NFL, and not take it completely at face value like you suggested. But definitely not sh*t (well unless your Valverde- in that case who gives a crap).

But perhaps Vidal is running more intensely because he is out of position. Perhaps Rakitic game is impacted if he is covering other peoples movements consistently.

We can't look at Pjanic distance covered and not see positive's in it though. Much like looking at Arthur and Rabiot numbers really emphasise that both Arthur and Rabiot have glaring issues in their movements. Is it lazyness, or training, diet and rest or another reason.

I wish Serie A and LaLiga released these figures too so we could really deep dive into this data. I am sure the clubs have this available to them.

 

[Rory]

But those numbers mean shit. Vidal is way more intense than Rakitic and your stats tell me Rakitic runs more? Rakitic runs max. 50% intensity when Vidal goes 85%. Much harder to run intense and slow down again than 50% all the time.

Everything I've read say Pjanic is slow too. That's what matters not how many kilometres he is jogging. Jogging itself is pointless.

Not all kilometres are the same.

True about intensity but for me I'm just comparing Arthur and Pjanic. We know for a fact Arthur's running is mostly jogging and even then he looks pretty gassed out and is subbed off. At the very least if all Pjanic does is jog the same as Arthur he still covers 10% more ground and is rarely subbed off.

 

[Respekt_III]

True about intensity but for me I'm just comparing Arthur and Pjanic. We know for a fact Arthur's running is mostly jogging and even then he looks pretty gassed out and is subbed off. At the very least if all Pjanic does is jog the same as Arthur he still covers 10% more ground and is rarely subbed off.

Also plays in a slower league and is 7 years older, couple that with substantially higher wages and its dumb deal all round.

 

[Rory]

How does the slower league (which may or may not be true) factor into this? Even if he is jogging the full 90 minutes, that's more than Arthur is capable of. Then there's the fact he runs 10% more metres per minute suggesting on average he is running at a quicker pace than Arthur. So the whole slower league thing doesn't really add up when you're comparing the two players.

The age is the only thing that makes it seem like a bad deal, other than that we're getting a fitter, better passer, more intelligent, more attacking, more top flight experience player. It's not as awful as people are making out.

 

[Messi983]

Alena is not good enough. I'll rather sell him and give his minutes to Riqui and Pedri.

He's not good enough to be a starter but could be a good backup.

FDJ-Busi-Pjanić will be starters next season but then with both Raki and Vidal possibly leaving we have two or three open spots in midfield. If we also manage to somehow get Ndombele (he's not my favourite but wouldn't mind him on loan with a buy option) as a stronger midfielder then the last two midfield postions could go to Puig and/or Alena, maybe even Collado. Pedri is obviously a candidate too but I think it's better for him to go on loan and play regularly.

 

[Respekt_III]

How does the slower league (which may or may not be true) factor into this? Even if he is jogging the full 90 minutes, that's more than Arthur is capable of. Then there's the fact he runs 10% more metres per minute suggesting on average he is running at a quicker pace than Arthur. So the whole slower league thing doesn't really add up when you're comparing the two players.

The age is the only thing that makes it seem like a bad deal, other than that we're getting a fitter, better passer, more intelligent, more attacking, more top flight experience player. It's not as awful as people are making out.

Reply was just highlighting additional negatives in the deal. Playing in a slower league means we're potentially going to have another rakitic where plays fine whne not intensely pressed by falls apart when he is.
We also have issues with our wage bill which this deal definitely doesn't help.
Arthur has the potential to increase in value and skill which means swapping him for a 30yo is not a potive move for us.

 

[Devils]

Miiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiirrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrralalalalalalalalalallalalaeeeeeeeeemmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

 

[vuji_31]

Ndombele is Dembele No.2.

Hard pass.

 

[serghei]

He's 23. It's definitely not too early. Man needs a life coach, a lot like Jović who will either live or die by his choices at this level.

Imho, the percent of talented players who fall in this category is very large. Very very few even among the most talented ones have the proper mentality since very young. It's why we see far more talents fade than succeed.

I have to say I'm jealous a bit on Madrid because they very rarely cut ties with talented players completely very early.

 

[DonAK]

Imho, the percent of talented players who fall in this category is very large. Very very few even among the most talented ones have the proper mentality since very young. It's why we see far more talents fade than succeed.

I have to say I'm jealous a bit on Madrid because they very rarely cut ties with talented players completely very early.

They do when they can, or send them out on a loan.

 

[vuji_31]

Most of the young guys like Jovic or Arthur got great money, play for 2 biggest clubs in the world and they don't give a fuck anymore.

 

[serghei]

They do when they can, or send them out on a loan.

Loan is a very good option. Hakimi developed nicely for Dortmund for example. I watched him a few games for Madrid and he was nice, but nowhere near Madrid level. Now he is Madrid level, because Dortmund developed him further.