Christian Eriksen

[CafeCordoba]

Conte's current system doesn't require 200 iq footballers in the midfield. They are like almost wasted there. At least in the mezzala role. It doesn't even add too much added benefit if you are a 200 iq footballer. This is the thing with Eriksen and the current system. It doesn't take enough out of Eriksen.

Maybe next season we can be better if we can get a proper preseason and train more different penetration models which uses Eriksen's ability more effectively (what .h. suggested few posts above).

[Ethor]

Looked tired to me, got subbed which was good. Hopefully he be back in better form for the upcoming matches.

[bubba zanetti]

Poor guy,playing DM in ultradefensive,boring, one dimensional football.If he's clever he will leave,if Cunte stays.

[wera]

He was playing instead of Brozović and we all know it's not easy to play in that role. I believe he did good enough, it's was only half of Sassuolo's first team.

[rockball]

He did well. I don't get why he was subbed. Looked like Conte's natural first sub always, irrespective of who's playing how and the state of the game.

[rfU]

Poor guy,playing DM in ultradefensive,boring, one dimensional football.If he's clever he will leave,if Cunte stays.

Interesting, if Brozo put in a performance like this he would be bashed relentlessly but when it's Eriksen it's someone else's fault or he needs time to adjust/adapt, new role, etc.

I actually thought Eriksen would fair well today, that laser-like pass to Kaku early on in the first half a sign of things to come, and I expected more quarterback-like passes to follow with Sassuolo playing a very high line and Young, Kaku, Toro, Hakimi and Barella willing runners. But he quickly reverted back to his customary, passenger-like form once Sassuolo's high press kicked in and instead Eriksen drifted deeper and deeper into his own half and peripheral shell. For all his 200 IQ Eriksen just doesn't have the guile or athleticism to beat the high press and move the ball forward nor does he have "fight" and spirit to stamp his authority in midfield and have others play/orbit around him. It has nothing to do with needing time to adapt or adjust (as I said before, Eriksen has played in deeper positions before at Spurs under Poch) or learn Italian. Eriksen will only be useful to us against ultra defensive teams where he has space and time to breach opposition defenses and influence the game. Outside of that, I don't see how Conte can make use of him.

Looked tired to me

Why would Eriksen be tired? Eriksen has never had stamina issues. It was his listless performance and timidity that got him hooked.

[Alex de Large]

Possibly man of the match.

[varmin]

Possibly man of the match.

[Irequis]

Eriksen must be one of the most unfortunate player ever. He left his old club to seek new experience and the new experience waiting him was Covid nightmare. Alone in the foreign country, living at the training ground, and out of favor by the new coach. By the time he earns starting spot, he is fitted like Anderson in MU when the supposedly creative player is forced to dump their spark of magic in order to play defensively.

Neither in set offence nor in counter attack we can utilise his passing skill. Lautaro is too slow to capitalise space, Lukaku doesn't understand space, Barella/Brozo/Vidal are not somebody to exchange skillful passes with, and both wingbacks cannot be fed by smart throughball due to the 3-5-2 scheme. No wonder he ages quickly ever since he arrived in Italy, just compare his face upon arrival and now.

[CafeCordoba]

Eriksen must be one of the most unfortunate player ever. He left his old club to seek new experience and the new experience waiting him was Covid nightmare. Alone in the foreign country, living at the training ground, and out of favor by the new coach. By the time he earns starting spot, he is fitted like Anderson in MU when the supposedly creative player is forced to dump their spark of magic in order to play defensively.

Neither in set offence nor in counter attack we can utilise his passing skill. Lautaro is too slow to capitalise space, Lukaku doesn't understand space, Barella/Brozo/Vidal are not somebody to exchange skillful passes with, and both wingbacks cannot be fed by smart throughball due to the 3-5-2 scheme. No wonder he ages quickly ever since he arrived in Italy, just compare his face upon arrival and now.

Couldn't said it any better than this.

Though I have to say Eriksen-Hakimi tandem is something we should explore more. He gave some nice overfield pass to Hakimi yesterday in the first half. We should use Eriksen's ability to place long pinpoint passes to our wing players more often.

Lautaro should use trickery to be able to utilize Eriksen's passing as Lautaro indeed isn't too fast. As for Lukaku, it's a bit tougher task like you pointed out but maybe they can just train it with Lukaku to run forward in open space when Eriksen has the ball. Timing is everything.

[qb4ever_2k]

Eriksen must be one of the most unfortunate player ever. He left his old club to seek new experience and the new experience waiting him was Covid nightmare. Alone in the foreign country, living at the training ground, and out of favor by the new coach. By the time he earns starting spot, he is fitted like Anderson in MU when the supposedly creative player is forced to dump their spark of magic in order to play defensively.

Neither in set offence nor in counter attack we can utilise his passing skill. Lautaro is too slow to capitalise space, Lukaku doesn't understand space, Barella/Brozo/Vidal are not somebody to exchange skillful passes with, and both wingbacks cannot be fed by smart throughball due to the 3-5-2 scheme. No wonder he ages quickly ever since he arrived in Italy, just compare his face upon arrival and now.

The 2nd paragraph sounds like a shit load of excuses, Eriksen himself would be embarrassed if this was said to him.
Like it's always others' faults and not Eriksen's own limitations. I'm sure Eriksen is man enough to take some responsibilities here and not blame everything on others.

[brehme1989]

The 2nd paragraph sounds like a shit load of excuses, Eriksen himself would be embarrassed if this was said to him.
Like it's always others' faults and not Eriksen's own limitations. I'm sure Eriksen is man enough to take some responsibilities here and not blame everything on others.

Eriksen's main limitation is that he cannot play in the fucked up role he's expected to play in.

[varmin]

Eriksen's main limitation is that he cannot play in the fucked up role he's expected to play in.

Where he can play actually? He cannot play mezzala, cannot play registra nor behind the forwards as we've already seen.

[brehme1989]

Where he can play actually? He cannot play mezzala, cannot play registra nor behind the forwards as we've already seen.

In the available roles, nowhere. It's not suitable for him and the fact that we're playing much better with him at roughly 50% capacity of whatever role shows something, so better to focus on that part.

[Fitzy]

He did well. I don't get why he was subbed. Looked like Conte's natural first sub always, irrespective of who's playing how and the state of the game.

I ask myself the same thing pretty much every game, since he's subbed at around the same time in every game he plays.

[rfU]

Neither in set offence nor in counter attack we can utilise his passing skill. Lautaro is too slow to capitalize space, Lukaku doesn't understand space

Barella managed just fine and counter attacks are essentially Kaku's bread and butter.

Toro doesn't look slow to me. It's not Hakimi, but he's certainly quick enough to beat most serie A CBs for pace. It's matter of timing, accuracy and weighting on the pass. If Eriksen could find super slow Kane on countless occassions, why should Toro be any difficult?

Barella/Brozo/Vidal are not somebody to exchange skillful passes with

Maybe Vidal but what's wrong with Barella and Brozovic? Sensi managed fine with both. Would agree if you listed G5 and Vecino.

both wingbacks cannot be fed by smart throughball due to the 3-5-2 scheme.

That's ludicrous. Eriksen should have had zero problem finding Hakimi vs Sassuolo, there was acres of space behind Rogerio throughout the game since we scored early on. Hakimi has the pace and attacking nous to get forward, literally no one would've stopped him in that situation if Eriksen would just get on the ball and make a quick pass like Barella did with Kaku.

[Alex de Large]

Eriksen provides the team some intangibles.
If Gagliardini has a 70/100 in hustle and a 30/100 on talent. Eriksen has a 90/100 on talent and a 6/100 on hustle.

[Glass box]

His set pieces need improving, 95% of them ending up on first opponent man. He also avoids physical duels which is unfair towards other players who aren't afraid to fight for a ball.

He compensates these shortcomings with intelligent passing, but it won't hurt if he ups his game more.

[rockball]

50% of our set pieces today were good. That's better than our usual standards. There were a couple of threatening ones, and De Vrij even hit the crossbar on one of them.

He was good today, also in the last match when he had to play in the central role.

[Pajo]

Motm for me, even if debatable. We dominated the midfield with him being focal point of it. All three people in the midfield were good tho.

Such a shame he didnt score or assist. Then MotM wouldnt be even debatable.