Angelito wrote:Power n Glory wrote:Saka is one of our most promising players but he's not our best yet. I'd agree with you if we were moving a player that has shown he can score 20-30 goals a season or 15 to 20 assists but that isn't the case yet. He's been just as good wherever he has played but he hasn't yet shown an eye for goal or the type of player that kills opponents with relentless killer passes.
This is a good point.
Saka has huge potential but we have been overlooking some aspects of his game since he is too young, which is only fair.
His main strength is his versatility. He carries the ball forward and can take on defenders. He also tracks back and helps defensively. However, his best performances have come as a LB or a wing-back. As a winger, he doesn't have elite dribbling skills yet. He doesn't have a final ball, nor is he a decent finisher.
Let's not forget that Saka can be anonymous in games. He didn't have a good end to the season, and during that atrocious run, he was inconsistent (before ESR popped up). In his defense, it's not out of the norm for young players to go missing in games.
I wouldn't mind if we deployed Saka as a LB, with a front three of Martinelli - Laca/Auba - Pepe. Martinelli on the left would also help Auba if he starts as a CF. With Pepe on the left and Saka on the right, Auba won't be able to produce meaningful numbers. That front-three wouldn't be balanced enough.
Usually, lack of consistency is a hallmark of young players, especially those below 21/22. I'm not too worried. What does concern me is how he's close to being burdened as our star player at such a young age. Make no mistake, Saka isn't like Cesc or Rooney, who were world-beaters by the time they were 18. Likewise, another young prodigy like Pogba got to play alongside Pirlo, Vidal, Marchisio, Chiellini, Bonucci, Buffon, etc., from a young age. Saka doesn't have any such player to look up to.
Our midfield and attack, both, are lopsided. It was last season and this summer, so far, we haven't addressed it. We've signed Tavares, a LB, and Lokonga—another youngster who appears to be more of a DM. We're about to sign another CB as well in Ben White. It really bothers me that we've signed 5 defenders since Arteta arrived (counting White), 1 goalkeeper, 2 defensive midfielders, and a solitary winger (Willian). That's 8 dsfsnsive signings out of 9 when we're crying out loud for creativity, and fluidity in attack.
But I digress.
It would be unfair on Saka and ESR if, once again, we have to rely on the two after spending big money in the summer.