Manuel Locatelli (27 Viewers)

[Juve FC]

yeah I don't get the Italian coach obsession with regista. Most top clubs play with pure DM at center of midfield, and their job just to break up the play.
But here they have to defend, link up play, creating chances, etc.

It requires a complete midfielder to perfectly play this role. Marchisio was the only one who did all those tasks without needing protection from other midfielders.
Pirlo was great but he would struggle without protection from Marchisio and Vidal. Pjanic also kind of wasted playing there.

With DM they can be technically limited but as long as they are physically imposing they will do the job just fine.

That is a very good observation. I remember watching Pjanic play at Roma and he was a dynamic player who would dribble around pressure and was not afraid to attack. I hope we don't see the same fate with Locatelli. I loved his play at the Euros and even against Roma when Landucci introduced Arthur in the 64th minute and moved Locatelli to more of an attacking role. It was 3-1 when Landucci made that change. Rest is history.

 

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[Clamarc]

That is a very good observation. I remember watching Pjanic play at Roma and he was a dynamic player who would dribble around pressure and was not afraid to attack. I hope we don't see the same fate with Locatelli. I loved his play at the Euros and even against Roma when Landucci introduced Arthur in the 64th minute and moved Locatelli to more of an attacking role. It was 3-1 when Landucci made that change. Rest is history.

The problem with Pjanic was he didn't really have quick feet to get away from his marker. Playing in deeper role means losing the ball will create dangerous situation in defense. Playing higher up will less likely to create the same situation.
That's why he became less dynamic as regista and most of the time Pjanic chose safest option by doing backpass or sideways



Just watch this video of Marchisio. We need someone like this to properly play this role

 

[Quetzalcoatl]

The problem with Pjanic was he didn't really have quick feet to get away from his marker. Playing in deeper role means losing the ball will create dangerous situation in defense. Playing higher up will less likely to create the same situation.
That's why he became less dynamic as regista and most of the time Pjanic chose safest option by doing backpass or sideways



Just watch this video of Marchisio. We need someone like this to properly play this role

Lovely video. Pure class

 

[Van Helsing]

I'd prefer him there too, but wouldn't trust Arthur as long-term starter there. He is too limited imo. Next season I'd like to have a regista or someone like Kante in the DM position (who can cover more area and break down more counters) and move up Loca to the "LCM" role. Depending on which direction we take I'd put Zakaria if we have a Veratti or Pirlo-type or someone like Isco if we go for a destroyer. Not that I want Isco, but since media always thinks we want him...
I really like Loca's late runs into the box and he has decent passes to lock up defenses in the final third. Also, I don't want him in sitting position of 4231, I always wanted Dybala in a Messi-role so when we finally do it I hope we stick with it.

 

[Elvin]

yeah I don't get the Italian coach obsession with regista. Most top clubs play with pure DM at center of midfield, and their job just to break up the play.
But here they have to defend, link up play, creating chances, etc.

It requires a complete midfielder to perfectly play this role. Marchisio was the only one who did all those tasks without needing protection from other midfielders.
Pirlo was great but he would struggle without protection from Marchisio and Vidal. Pjanic also kind of wasted playing there.

With DM they can be technically limited but as long as they are physically imposing they will do the job just fine.

Yeah, Pirlo has fucked with their heads, now everyone is looking for the new Pirlo.

 

[Orphée]

He covered more than 13 kilometers against Atalanta! ; that's ~2.5 kilometers more than any other Juventus player and still 300m more than any of Atalanta's...

 

[Bianconero81]

Fagiot runs?

 

[ilmetronome]

CMIIW Allegri once said Zakaria can play in front of defense as he is good in passing too. Hopefully Allegri play him there and locatelli as b2b. With top midfielder summer signing and rovella back i think it's good enough for UCL contender

 

[U Picciriddu]

He covered more than 13 kilometers against Atalanta! ; that's ~2.5 kilometers more than any other Juventus player and still 300m more than any of Atalanta's...

What happened to Dybala’s stamina, during half time many said that he was dead

 

[Darkhorse]

I wrote this more than once. This man is by far the best player this season. Just needs one or two midfielders to play with.

Sent from my ...

 

[Lion]

can we admit this guy isn't all that after all. he has no commanding presence and no real stand out qualities in midfield.

@Cronios was right

 

[Darkhorse]

Lion, you should switch to hockey. Oh wait, that's too masculine for you. Maybe synchronized swimming?

Sent from my ...

 

[Brny44]

He was great in euro, like all the rest of our team. Problem is in the club and it starts with A.

 

[Xperd]

can we admit this guy isn't all that after all. he has no commanding presence and no real stand out qualities in midfield.

@Cronios was right

I agree with you. He's the best of a bad bunch. He's nothing special nor world class but he can elevate his game to another level if he played alongside WC CM's. A great complimentary player so to speak.
Atm he's like an inferior version of Marchisio. Let's hope he gets better with age like Marchisio did and most importantly, let's pair him alongside some real midfielders.

 

[DanielSz]

He was great in euro, like all the rest of our team. Problem is in the club and it starts with A.

he was playing further up under Mancini. He’s stuck having to play more of a holding role here because we literally don’t have anyone better to handle regista duties.

one day you will all see the light, and by you all I’m mainly talking about management.

 

[AFL_ITALIA]

can we admit this guy isn't all that after all. he has no commanding presence and no real stand out qualities in midfield.

@Cronios was right

No. He's an excellent player but as was said many times before he came, he alone will not solve our problems. Especially when he has to spend the entire match playing next to Rabiot who provides nothing because, as someone once said around here...

Spoiler

ALLEGRI

 

[Akshen]

Really bad lately. Fucks up dangerous passes

 

[Turk_Bianconero]

what a surprise. he sucks like everyone else. it is not his fault though if allegri wants team to play like his face.

 

[Pirlo's Beard]

The difference is the national team actually tried to outplay their opponents whereas we line our midfield up 24 yards from our own goal against any club and hoof it to no man's land like we're Stoke.

I don't think Xavi in his prime would do anything next to Raboit and playing hoof ball

 

[PedroFlu]

He has a lot of credit. Gotta give him the chance of playing with real midfielders besides him.