People don't get it. They think of everything by the results: a CF is bad if he doesn't score, ignoring all else he's contributing. And God save you if you say anything against them when they're scoring.
But I'll say it—Gabriel Magalhaes Has Not Been Good Enough.
[big thread].
But I'll say it—Gabriel Magalhaes Has Not Been Good Enough.
[big thread].
First of all, I'd like to mention the first person I saw on this app to point it out, @MiniShubz. If you aren't following him, you are missing out on one of my inspirations.
When he started complaining about Gabriel, I was baffled, but I took note and started to watch closer.
When he started complaining about Gabriel, I was baffled, but I took note and started to watch closer.
Some things are not as clear if you don't take a close look at them—especially defending in football.
Everyone has a hard time defining who's a good defender—is it about always dominating opponents 1v1 and heading the ball away?
If it was that simple, The Rock would have made a
Everyone has a hard time defining who's a good defender—is it about always dominating opponents 1v1 and heading the ball away?
If it was that simple, The Rock would have made a
good defender.
However, it is not that simple.
Football began as a sport of 22 hairy men in animal skins running after an adulterous, treacherous ball and stuffing mud in the face of others.
One day, one of these Palileolithic men thought to himself, “Why don't we just stay
However, it is not that simple.
Football began as a sport of 22 hairy men in animal skins running after an adulterous, treacherous ball and stuffing mud in the face of others.
One day, one of these Palileolithic men thought to himself, “Why don't we just stay
closer to the goal instead of us running about?”
Defending was born—around the same period as the double-decker bus and parking lots.
*
What is defending?
To put it simply, it is the management of space with regards to the ball and your teammates and opponents.
A defender at
Defending was born—around the same period as the double-decker bus and parking lots.
*
What is defending?
To put it simply, it is the management of space with regards to the ball and your teammates and opponents.
A defender at
the elite level must not be easy to beat in individual duels and in the air.
But that's a basic requirement. What separates the average from the good and the great is something different—the management of space.
Space is easier to manage if you are faster than Ousmane Dembele
But that's a basic requirement. What separates the average from the good and the great is something different—the management of space.
Space is easier to manage if you are faster than Ousmane Dembele
and taller than the goalpost. Your very presence will steer defenders away from you, rob them of conviction and just generally make things easier for you. This is part of why most elite clubs have tall and fast defenders. Anything below 6ft is often looked at with great disdain.
In that way, football clubs and women are no different.
The idea is that if you are extremely tall, strong and fast, you'd simply offer more protection during trouble than if you were Kevin Hart.
That belief is true and it births self confidence among those it applies to.
The idea is that if you are extremely tall, strong and fast, you'd simply offer more protection during trouble than if you were Kevin Hart.
That belief is true and it births self confidence among those it applies to.
Imagine you were a kid destined for professional football. All through your life, you have been one of the tallest and strongest persons you know among your age group. If you were indeed destined for elite professional football, you should be naturally difficult to beat in a duel
even without those above average physical advantages.
What that does, game after game, year after year, competition after competition, is to create a natural confidence in you. There's another aspect to this where this effect comes from you just being a very good defender in
What that does, game after game, year after year, competition after competition, is to create a natural confidence in you. There's another aspect to this where this effect comes from you just being a very good defender in
most situations.
In either cases (or in both as may be the case), you know no one is getting past you. The integrity of your team's defence would not be compromised by you. Very soon, a feedback loop is created between you and your coaches and your teammates. Everyone believes
In either cases (or in both as may be the case), you know no one is getting past you. The integrity of your team's defence would not be compromised by you. Very soon, a feedback loop is created between you and your coaches and your teammates. Everyone believes
you are the best and so you believe that, too, and carry it right into your professional career.
A defender with an internal conviction about defending is almost always composed, calm, protruding confidence, a natural product of years of proficiency and casual domination.
A defender with an internal conviction about defending is almost always composed, calm, protruding confidence, a natural product of years of proficiency and casual domination.
It almost always helps if you can win duels (by being physically great).
But let's go right back to what defending is, first and foremost: a matter of marshalling space in relation to the ball and others on the pitch.
Doesn't that sound more complicated than scoring goals?
But let's go right back to what defending is, first and foremost: a matter of marshalling space in relation to the ball and others on the pitch.
Doesn't that sound more complicated than scoring goals?
The complication is exactly why at any time, you can more easily tell who the next great attackers will be from 16 than you can tell the great defenders.
Kids are not usually good at super complicated things.
This is where we diverge into the metaphysics of talent in football.
Kids are not usually good at super complicated things.
This is where we diverge into the metaphysics of talent in football.
What is talent in soccer, from a first hand perspective?
What did a young Messi feel when he first touched a ball? Probably some immediate sense of kinship and comfort? A kind of clarity about things?
Was the world around him suddenly more meaningful when he played with others?
What did a young Messi feel when he first touched a ball? Probably some immediate sense of kinship and comfort? A kind of clarity about things?
Was the world around him suddenly more meaningful when he played with others?
Talent usually means a kind of natural intuition, a sense of knowing where to go and what to do. Little Lionel probably thought he invented body feints.
So, do young defenders come with a sense of intuition, too? A kind of a sixth sense in the management of space in relation to
So, do young defenders come with a sense of intuition, too? A kind of a sixth sense in the management of space in relation to
the ball?
On the face of it, that's a lot more difficult to be intuitive about than controlling a ball.
That probably explains the relative rarity of super obviously talented young defenders compared to super obviously talented young attackers.
If we divide defending into two
On the face of it, that's a lot more difficult to be intuitive about than controlling a ball.
That probably explains the relative rarity of super obviously talented young defenders compared to super obviously talented young attackers.
If we divide defending into two
components: winning individual duels and managing space in relation to the ball and teammates, it is easy to understand why we can see more young defenders who are gifted in the first department than the second one.
But what can coaches do? If you have a physically powerful
But what can coaches do? If you have a physically powerful
young defender/defender to be under your tutelage, it's much better to put hope in them than to wait around for a special kid with a sixth sense for space in relation to the ball.
Basically, you take someone who can be (or is) good in the first component and try to make them
Basically, you take someone who can be (or is) good in the first component and try to make them
better in the second component of defending.
That second component can be learned, especially as a kid's brain matures and is able to grasp complexity better (and this is why you don't see a lot of young defenders about at the top level in professional football).
That second component can be learned, especially as a kid's brain matures and is able to grasp complexity better (and this is why you don't see a lot of young defenders about at the top level in professional football).
However, sometimes, a truly special kid comes around, with a natural nous for movement, positioning and the management of space in relation to the ball.
Now, imagine two kids who are special in the two different components. Kid A and Kid B.
Kid A is a physical specimen and
Now, imagine two kids who are special in the two different components. Kid A and Kid B.
Kid A is a physical specimen and
Kid B (physical specimen or not) has an intuitive sense of defending.
As both develop over the years in either components and in whatever trajectories, who do you see as more likely to project a stronger feeling of calmness and composure in the professional game?
Probably Kid B
As both develop over the years in either components and in whatever trajectories, who do you see as more likely to project a stronger feeling of calmness and composure in the professional game?
Probably Kid B
To put it in another perspective, kid B is a true defender. He excels exactly in what defending really is: management of space in relation with the ball etc...
To him, it's probably a natural feel for the game, for angles and movement, an abstract way of imposing himself on the
To him, it's probably a natural feel for the game, for angles and movement, an abstract way of imposing himself on the
pitch. At the end of the day, he'd most likely be really good at winning individual duels because he knows how to close down opponents, tackle cleanly and correctly, marshall opponents into wrong alleys etc etc. But the other thing he is really good at exists beyond that.
Spectators probably won't realize the difference between him and the next guy who is also maybe good at individual duels, but time begins to tell. After seeing Kid A and Kid B tackle 100 times each, the natural proficiency of Kid B starts to leak out.
It will show up in the way
It will show up in the way
they handle situations and even go into them. With Kid B, a certain aura of inevitability maybe? You start to just trust him to handle things fine on his own. There's less feeling of security when he's not there.
Talent transmits into an aura, an intuitive sense of doing things.
Talent transmits into an aura, an intuitive sense of doing things.
Now imagine that Kid B with all the physical potential of Kid A.
What happens is that it becomes so seriously obvious how good he is. Kante would have still been good if he was physically poorer at duels as many midfielders are but his physical profile makes it extremely obvious
What happens is that it becomes so seriously obvious how good he is. Kante would have still been good if he was physically poorer at duels as many midfielders are but his physical profile makes it extremely obvious
how good he is. You notice it better. “How in God's name has he won that ball there?!” Then you go back to watching it again and you see how early he's recognized the recipient of the next pass.
That's what allowed him to look inevitable, to be able to make the tackle in the
That's what allowed him to look inevitable, to be able to make the tackle in the
first place but the tackle and the speed of it is what jumps out.
As a result, Kid Bs with the physical potential of Kid As completely dominate everything from a younger age. And this in turn shows up in their presence and aura on the pitch later on professionally.
As a result, Kid Bs with the physical potential of Kid As completely dominate everything from a younger age. And this in turn shows up in their presence and aura on the pitch later on professionally.
Now imagine all the Kid B type defenders you know. Imagine the most prominent ones. The ones who just look like they know what they're doing on the pitch.
Then imagine those that also have Kid A type of physical potential while being Kid Bs, your Chiellinis and Van Dijks...
Then imagine those that also have Kid A type of physical potential while being Kid Bs, your Chiellinis and Van Dijks...
Do you now see why they indeed possess an aura?
They are the perfect mix of both worlds. The truly, truly special ones.
Gabriel Magalhaes is 6'3 and extremely mobile. Just like Van Dijk or Saliba or Konate or any of those modern CBs at elite clubs.
They are the perfect mix of both worlds. The truly, truly special ones.
Gabriel Magalhaes is 6'3 and extremely mobile. Just like Van Dijk or Saliba or Konate or any of those modern CBs at elite clubs.
But Gabriel Maghalaes does not come with any of the aura these other guys possess in general play.
You could be forgiven for thinking he's not so physically powerful when you watch him play.
There's a lack of control/calmness/confidence about him in general gameplay...
You could be forgiven for thinking he's not so physically powerful when you watch him play.
There's a lack of control/calmness/confidence about him in general gameplay...
Innate defensive talent translates into an observable aura, which is not present with Gabriel.
When he engages in general play situations, they are literal coin tosses in a way they are not with special defenders with his same physical gifts.
What does this mean?
When he engages in general play situations, they are literal coin tosses in a way they are not with special defenders with his same physical gifts.
What does this mean?
It means that Gabriel is not a Kid B defender. He is a Kid A type of a defender.
He doesn't have an intuitive feel for the game in his head, doesn't read situations as well, gets lost in the chaos of the game.
As a result, he can't exert the same aura as the other special guys.
He doesn't have an intuitive feel for the game in his head, doesn't read situations as well, gets lost in the chaos of the game.
As a result, he can't exert the same aura as the other special guys.
This does not mean anything much. It simply means that Gabriel is not special at all in the way Ibrahima Konate or Levi Colwill is. And that's OK.
Remember, it's extremely difficult to have that intuitive sense for the game as a young defender.
Remember, it's extremely difficult to have that intuitive sense for the game as a young defender.
Not everyone can be a Kid B and that's OK. At least he's massive and tall and fast, so that means he fits at the elite level.
His reading of the game as a defender should get better as he gets older and more mature. That's how it happens for most defenders and most of them don't
His reading of the game as a defender should get better as he gets older and more mature. That's how it happens for most defenders and most of them don't
even have Gabriel's gifts.
What does this mean for Arsenal, however?
It means we are defensively fragile with him as it is. A defender who doesn't read situations and takes control of them well is always a weakness, no matter how good the tactical setup is.
What does this mean for Arsenal, however?
It means we are defensively fragile with him as it is. A defender who doesn't read situations and takes control of them well is always a weakness, no matter how good the tactical setup is.
Lucky for us, our tactical setup is extremely good.
You won't often see our defenders exposed a lot, so that helps. Thanks, Mikel.
However, for a club with our ambitions, Gabriel's growth is something we cannot wait for.
Personally, I feel he should be very OK in 3 years or so
You won't often see our defenders exposed a lot, so that helps. Thanks, Mikel.
However, for a club with our ambitions, Gabriel's growth is something we cannot wait for.
Personally, I feel he should be very OK in 3 years or so
Are we willing to wait that long? To continue to concede goals from the situations Gabriel does not prevent or dominate?
I'm not so sure.
It is not so obvious to the casual fan that Gabriel's lack of intuitive reading of the game and ability to dominate it will cost us.
I'm not so sure.
It is not so obvious to the casual fan that Gabriel's lack of intuitive reading of the game and ability to dominate it will cost us.
However it will. That is the truth.
To better describe it, Gabriel is like a bigger and faster Mustafi operating in a great tactical setup.
Already, his physical prowess puts him ahead of Mustafi but even the marginal advantage of that is minimal at the elite level.
To better describe it, Gabriel is like a bigger and faster Mustafi operating in a great tactical setup.
Already, his physical prowess puts him ahead of Mustafi but even the marginal advantage of that is minimal at the elite level.
I will end this thread by saying that I am in no way hating on Gabriel. This is my thoughts on how he is. And I understand that it is very divergent to popular opinion. But I have a lot of conviction and confidence in the accuracy my thoughts on football in general, so, hopefully
this will somehow turn out to be my first big L but I doubt it.
In any case, Gabriel plays for the team I support and you will never see any hint of negativity from me if my team is down. I barely even criticize in down periods.
Now that everything is looking good, I can do
In any case, Gabriel plays for the team I support and you will never see any hint of negativity from me if my team is down. I barely even criticize in down periods.
Now that everything is looking good, I can do
what my critics say I do not do: criticize in the same manner as I support.
Hopefully, we'd all read this and respect it in good faith. And not assume some sort of bias if we do not share the same opinion.
If you however think I'm very wrong, watch Gabriel closely next time.
Hopefully, we'd all read this and respect it in good faith. And not assume some sort of bias if we do not share the same opinion.
If you however think I'm very wrong, watch Gabriel closely next time.
That's all.
One last thing: remember that Mustafi looked quite good for the most part when Arteta arrived?
That's all I'd say.
That's all I'd say.
Don't be too quick to conclude I'm wrong.
But it doesn't matter anyways. My job has been done. Now is the time to wait for it to become more obvious over time to the normal guy.
Hopefully, you won't be deleting tweets then.
Sincerely,
NNT.
But it doesn't matter anyways. My job has been done. Now is the time to wait for it to become more obvious over time to the normal guy.
Hopefully, you won't be deleting tweets then.
Sincerely,
NNT.
Gabriel is an improvement on whatever else we had earlier but he doesn't, for now, represent anything close to the best we can get.
It is quite likely that William Saliba (or a new incoming) will show him up once he arrives.
Enjoy your day as I will, mine.
It is quite likely that William Saliba (or a new incoming) will show him up once he arrives.
Enjoy your day as I will, mine.
Those who shall learn, shall...
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