Here's my takes on a potential (but likely) Gittens deal www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJ66... In audio form: open.spotify.com/episode/0pxR... - ThreadSky

kierdoyle.bsky.social • 6 days ago

Here's my takes on a potential (but likely) Gittens deal https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJ66UctVHcs

In audio form: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0pxRr53yr9vtVWTvlbYLqG?si=egzjb7HXQBCW9q3qwESFgA

Comments

kierdoyle.bsky.social•6 days ago

Gittens is a very dynamic dribbling winger, who has shown good ability to go past defenders in both transitional and more set situations.

He struggles when asked to occupy half spaces and create (under Niko Kovacs), as opposed to holding max width (under Nuri Sahin)

kierdoyle.bsky.social•6 days ago

While Gittens goes past players and moves the ball into the box on the dribble, he often struggles to pick out an attacker with a cross on either foot.

When dribbling inside, his weight of pass on slips is often poor and his entry passes to strikers for connective play are off.

kierdoyle.bsky.social•6 days ago

Gittens has finished significantly above his xG so far.

While he is capable ball striker and is adept at creating separation on his right foot in wide areas, he struggles to create the same on his left, leading to many blocks.

This level of overperformance is unsustainable.

kierdoyle.bsky.social•6 days ago

Gittens also takes many poor shots from long range and bad angles, and struggles to arrive in the box for the most dangerous of chances.

Improving his shot selection (xG/shot) is key for his next steps as a player.

kierdoyle.bsky.social•6 days ago

Gittens is an engaged and active defender, leveraging his athleticism to backpress and force regains when bypassed.

He shows an eagerness to counterpress and win the ball when he turns the ball over.

His pressing angles need work, resulting in him "rounding the bases" often.

kierdoyle.bsky.social•6 days ago

Overall, I think he is a good stylistic fit for what Chelsea want to do. His ability to generate box entries against set defenses, and his improved defensive ability compared to Sancho/Mudryk will be valuable to Chelsea.

The fee (~40m) is a little high for me. Needs a lot of shot selection work.

chelseayouth.bsky.social•6 days ago

Apart from the whole 'stop signing your mates' thing my main concern is that this is another deal where they get a guy who pops on one metric style a lot and figure they can work with it while bringing the other stuff along, only we haven't seen much evidence across the board of them doing this yet.

mpbx3003.bsky.social•6 days ago

It's the kind of squad fleshing-out deal I wouldn't have hated at the beginning of the project. I feel like it being Deal No.965 of the BlueCo Era puts a certain spin on it that isn't great.

Like, absent the João Félix and Pedro Neto deals, this feels fine and there's obvious room for Ty.

chelseayouth.bsky.social•6 days ago

The previous 964 deals are instructive though, that's kinda the point. They are speculative to the point of annoyance; throw enough money at enough young targets, keep the one that works, sell the rest. I know football engenders it but this is really extreme levels of commoditisation and it sucks.

chelseayouth.bsky.social•6 days ago

My frustrations are less to do with this specific deal and more a death by a thousand cuts sort of thing. Churning through so many players makes it a really transient experience that I increasingly struggle to connect with.

mpbx3003.bsky.social•6 days ago

I totally agree, though I do think this one is more in the Madueke school of reasonable bets than the world of pure commodification. He's a high floor, high ceiling guy on reasonable terms. It's fine.

I think there's a world where the transition to better business looks worse...

chelseayouth.bsky.social•6 days ago

Players with a standout trait but significant weaknesses are still largely the same players they were when they signed them but we're happy to keep dropping big money on them. If you give George a year in the Bundesliga is he where Gittens is now and, if so, why are you dolng this deal right now?

kierdoyle.bsky.social•6 days ago

Both valid points, I think I give them some grace for A) we actually really need that skill off the left and B) we need it right now, not in a year.

It's why I'm very opposed to buying 2 wingers, I think Ty can get a loan and play 2500 mins and come back and maybe be there, and you've got the room

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