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Cancelo concern?
Defensive posers for the trip to Dortmund
*warning, this may have drifted into the ramblings of a mad man
1/
Defensive posers for the trip to Dortmund
*warning, this may have drifted into the ramblings of a mad man
1/
Joao Cancelo has been one of the main success stories of City’s. He was one of the most influential figures in City’s winning run up until the derby 2/
His form was a product of the role he’d been asked to play. He’s incredible in the hybrid fb/mid role not only helping with build up next to the dm but also joining attacks. He’s a risk taker, he dribbles, he see passes and he’s been a chief creator 3/
At the start of last month we saw Cancelo start as a wide full back against Wolves, joining attacks down the wing as opposed to midfield. It worked well enough that night 4/
Since then Cancelo has started 5 matches for City. Against United he played his usual role but had a bit of a nightmare making several errors, one of which led to the winner. He was stationed at right wing back against Fulham, playing wide on the opposite flank to Mendy 5/
He started two Champions League matches in his usual role but was shifted to a conventional full back role at half time vs Dortmund. Against Leeds he started as a conventional full back, again on the opposite flank to Mendy 6/
Cancelo’s form has dipped in the last month but this has coincided with his role changing. Dortmund concentrated their press on City’s central midfield last week and City struggled in the build up in the 1st half 7/ https://twitter.com/city_tactics/status/1379749571107110912
Pep picked out Cancelo and Rodri for criticism when explaining the change.
In the 2nd half Cancelo was on the periphery of the match but City’s control of the game improved with the full backs helping to stretch the play in the build up. Pep seemed happy with the change 8/
In the 2nd half Cancelo was on the periphery of the match but City’s control of the game improved with the full backs helping to stretch the play in the build up. Pep seemed happy with the change 8/
On Saturday, Cancelo had quite a tough afternoon. Again playing a conventional full back role he was at fault twice for the first Leeds goal and struggled to influence the game offensively 9/ https://twitter.com/city_tactics/status/1380857716114083841
So, where does this leave us for tomorrow? @SamLee and @DavidMooney discussed this (and centre back) selection on Why Always Us yesterday. I’d recommend giving that a listen and reading Sam’s article on the Athletic this morning on the potential line up 10/
All the evidence in recent weeks seems to point to Cancelo being more comfortable in his fb/mid hybrid role. With Walker looking a shoo in for the right back berth tomorrow Cancelo seems most likely to start on the left. But what are City’s options? 11/
If City play the hybrid fb/mid system tomorrow with Walker forming the back 3 in possession then no one else can play the role like Cancelo. Zinchenko has been tried there, against Sheffield United and West Ham at home, but he isn’t as creative 12/
He’s excellent at playing the simple role next to the dm but he hasn’t shown the ball carrying skills or passing range further up field that Cancelo displays.
He’d be a more cautious option for Pep but City would definitely lose something 13/
He’d be a more cautious option for Pep but City would definitely lose something 13/
Pep could decide to start conventional fbs mimicking the 2nd half against Dortmund and allowing City to play wider in the build up. This might not suit Cancelo as we’ve seen recently. But Zinchenko, despite being left footed, probably isn’t best suited to this role either 14/
He’s more comfortable inverting or playing the back 3 role opposite Cancelo.
The only natural option in that role is Mendy, who looks out of the reckoning for big matches due to form and fitness 15/
The only natural option in that role is Mendy, who looks out of the reckoning for big matches due to form and fitness 15/
City have the same issues if we play with one fb high and the other sitting in a 3. Mendy seems like the natural for that role too and when Zinchenko and Cancelo have been tried there in recent weeks it’s been with mixed success 16/
By putting Ake or Laporte in at left back you’d either be playing them as a conventional full back out of position or pushing Walker into midfield or down the wing to allow them to form a back 3 in possession. That seems unlikely, Walker hasn’t been used like that all season 17/
There’s probably a lot of over thinking here - and I’ve not even touched on cb. No doubt Pep has made his decision and is likely to be thinking of things I never would/could.
But it’s definitely an area to keep an eye on tomorrow both in terms of personnel and shape 18/
But it’s definitely an area to keep an eye on tomorrow both in terms of personnel and shape 18/
It might just be the first time since Autumn that Pep goes into a big match ruing the fact that we don’t have a natural left back option. Having that option to allow us to build with conventional full backs could have been useful tomorrow. 19//
