Savio

[metalgear]

Risk-management. Wise.
RDZ also saying Savio did not train much prior at City for 2 weeks or so (which is madness). And I am glad we did not push this today.

i tracked savinho in Emirates Marketing Project pre season matches and he was in at least 3 of them and got minutes... but maybe we have better fitness internal standards now

 

[thfcsteff]

i tracked savinho in Emirates Marketing Project pre season matches and he was in at least 3 of them and got minutes... but maybe we have better fitness internal standards now

It is confusing for sure...I feel (and this is an assumption) that we are currently in the middle of a massive transition in how we manage fitness and conditioning levels overall i.e. less overload in the close season for more consistency? It has certainly left a few of our players looking a little leggy. Tonali looks like he is operating at Sunday league levels of fitness albeit I am sure that has to be my eyes deceiving me because it is simply not possible to play his position anywhere close to that shape, but something is off with him?

 

[Raziel]

It is confusing for sure...I feel (and this is an assumption) that we are currently in the middle of a massive transition in how we manage fitness and conditioning levels overall i.e. less overload in the close season for more consistency? It has certainly left a few of our players looking a little leggy. Tonali looks like he is operating at Sunday league levels of fitness albeit I am sure that has to be my eyes deceiving me because it is simply not possible to play his position anywhere close to that shape, but something is off with him?

Simplest answer is we are being way over cautious. And honestly after the last two seasons, we should be.

And I think the lack of fitness (or just competitive game time) plus the brutal transition of side (>6 players who have never really been played together, all together in highly competitive league for first time), plus RDZ tactics has us looking a bit off.

Game Saturday had moments of good and bad, Tonali (as you called him out), was poor for long stretches, then had an amazing rub/carry through the middle.

Personally Savio, Marmoush, Tonali, Fernandes, do not worry me in terms of come good, the defense does a little bit.

 

[thfcsteff]

Simplest answer is we are being way over cautious. And honestly after the last two seasons, we should be.

And I think the lack of fitness (or just competitive game time) plus the brutal transition of side (>6 players who have never really been played together, all together in highly competitive league for first time), plus RDZ tactics has us looking a bit off.

Game Saturday had moments of good and bad, Tonali (as you called him out), was poor for long stretches, then had an amazing rub/carry through the middle.

Personally Savio, Marmoush, Tonali, Fernandes, do not worry me in terms of come good, the defense does a little bit.

More his overall health/fitness levels. I think when it all clicks -when we can play him and Fernandes together deeper, we will have a hell of a midfield. But we need to them find themselves as a unit.
I am largely unconcerned by the defence beyond the fact we do not have the same level of pace/physicality backing up each FB, and I think that will be important. CBs will form a fine partnership IMO. I do worry about our lack of height, and that is something we will have to accept it appears, albeit if Danso goes and Tosin comes in, at 6ft 6 he helps!