You sound pretty sure about the move. Calabria and Hernandez are first team fixtures (and co-captains) at the wing backs so Dest is not going to start at those positions. I have read that Milan want to use him as a straight offensive winger. At wing Milan have Leao, who is a much higher level performer than Dest, and Messias, who is 31, but played surprisingly pretty well last year and seems to be first choice this year.
They paid a lot for Dest, so they clearly want to utilize him, but the match I see is that their super sub Florenzi got hurt, and Dest is his replacement.
I’d like to see Dest work on tracking back and positional defending. His offense is pretty strong, so maybe a switch to winger will help, but I thought he was seen as a wingback for USMNT.
I wouldn't worry too much if Dest if playing more as a pure wing in his league. Italian clubs make sure everyone defends.
I'm not a system player. I am a system.
Betterread (09-02-2022)
Last edited by Betterread; 09-02-2022 at 01:08 PM.
M2 (09-02-2022)
These names are the benchmark (along with Maicon) but I can list seven who have played for Roma in the last 15 yrs and of them only Cafu could defend as well as attack - Bruno Peres, Maicon, Dodo, Emerson, Taddei (most of his career he was a midfielder, but the last two years he played wingback) and last but not least Cicinho.
I’m not an expert on RM’s roster but I bet they have at least that many Brazilians trying their luck, and failing at holding down a starting wingback spot.
Honestly, it's a pretty short list for Madrid on wingbacks in this century. On the left it's Roberto Carlos->Gabriel Heinze->Marcelo->Ferland Mendy with Fabio Coentrao and Raul Bravo getting some run in there. On the right it's Michel Salgado->Sergio Ramos->Alvaro Arbeloa->Dani Carvajal with Cicinho, Miguel Torres, Danilo and Lucas Vazquez getting some run. Nacho deputized on both flanks at various points. The notorious Cicinho (one pack of smokes before the game, one after, booze to wash it all down) was really the only Brazilian they tried without much luck. Danilo did all right, but Carvajal was much better. They've had some Brazi kids cycle through their B team, but generally speaking those have been champagne positions for Madrid. They might start playing David Alaba on the left more often just because they can.
I'm not a system player. I am a system.
If you get a chance to watch Napoli in Serie A play, take it. They have a remarkable new talent - khvicha kvaratskhelia - he is a 21 yr old Georgian player in his first year there and he is the story of Serie A so far with 4 goals in 5 games. Reminds me of Ibra as he is a big guy but with sublime dribbling skills and a very powerful shot.
M2 (09-04-2022)
Freiburg right now is sitting at the top of the Bundesliga. I don't expect that to last all season, but that club is an easy one to root for.
In Premier League news, ManU has spoiled Arsenal's perfect start. One ManU note, they seemed to turn things around the minute Tyrell Malacia replaced Luke Shaw.
I'm not a system player. I am a system.
In the first round of group matches in the champions league, Dinamo Zagreb beat Chelsea 1:0. The Croatians rode a wave of rabid fans, excellent dribbling and maniacal defending to win. A lot of firepower on Chelsea - Havertz, Aubameyang, Ziyech, Sterling, Pulisic - really never showed any special skill or game deciding plays. Their dribbling did not work very often. Dinamo kept their shape and made the spaces small for Chelsea. British teams are usually so focused on this tournament, so I am surprised at the result. Reece James and Jorginho had the best chances for Chelsea but were denied by the GK.
Last edited by Betterread; 09-06-2022 at 03:02 PM.
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