Achraf Hakimi

[CafeCordoba]

Hakimi's disappointing performances have a lot more to do with how we've set up our players than his individual talent. Hakimi is instructed to just stand on the flank, almost always covered by an opponent defender/midfielder. We don't play balls to him which would use his speed. We usually play balls to him in our cycle game. So ball to his feet, he has nowhere to go, ball back to defender. Or maybe he flicks it to Lukaku, who then usually loses the ball if the ball doesn't come right to his correct foot. Or then he manages to trap it and dishes it back to Hakimi's FEET. Not to an empty space but to the feet so there goes any momentum in terms of quick play. This is Lukaku's problem generally but he doesn't know when to pass the ball in front of the team mate and when to pass the ball to the feet. He overhits the passes or then like explained passes to the feet, killing all the movement.

A bit of surprise Lukaku bashing, but generally the whole team seems to be unable to utilize Hakimi's best tools which are speed, ball control at speed and general ball skills. He's fast, even with the ball but he ain't gonna do any 1v1 from a standing position on a regular basis at Italy. Defending is too good to fall for that (unless there's space behind the defender which there rarely is).

We had few of those diagonal crosses to the box where Hakimi would make his run which resulted in goals at the start of the season but those plays have disappeared completely. We don't even try them anymore. I don't know if it's about Hakimi and his reluctance to go forward (if Conte demands balance) or other team just can't see the possible plays (of course not many players can accomplish such passes effectively).

 

[brehme1989]

Broken Lukaku cassette syndrome got to you, huh?

 

[Materazzi_23]

We don't even try them anymore. I don't know if it's about Hakimi and his reluctance to go forward (if Conte demands balance) or other team just can't see the possible plays (of course not many players can accomplish such passes effectively).

Complety agreeing with your view on Hakimi Cafe. But the last part is something they should train on, even if it's within the current formation you should utilize the strength of Hakimi. This is not something that's hard to train. It just walking and passing lines training and that is something they propably don't do? Normally players will look for the pass to Hakimi if they know how to use Hakimi (and they know that Hakimi is one of the best if he gets the chance to go forward). It seems to me we are to much focussing on plan A and that is getting the ball to Lukaku and make a lot of runs around him with a lot of players but not necessary into space.

It's sad to see that one of the best RWB is transformed within a few months to an average wingback who doesn't add really much to our gameplay. While we all thought Hakimi would be the perfect player. We all know the run from D'Ambrosio in the EL final, if Hakimi would be there we would be scoring so easily. Thats the pattern we all want to see.

 

[brehme1989]

The problem is that Conte is far too tactical and wants to micromanage everything and everyone. He expects full commitment to what he preaches. He may allow attacking players like Lautaro or Alexis to make a fancy move here and there, but he wants everyone else to be tamed and follow his orders. There are guys like Hakimi and Eriksen that rely a lot on their instincts. The tactical rigidness of Conte forbids that to a large extent.
Lazaro also had this issue, but he was never good to begin with, at least for this RWB role that Conte felt he was perfect due to some of his physical characteristics.

If Hakimi proves to be tactically inept, at least for Conte's appetite, he'll eventually lose his spot to Darmian and D'Ambrosio. I trust that he will try to improve on that, but at the cost of losing much of his potency.

 

[Pajo]

Don't forget the help he had at Dortmund. they played 3-4-3, not 3-5-2. Which means he had another player that helped him on the wing, didnt rely on himself and the RCB to overlap. He overlapped with an actual winger, pacey and skilled. He was almost never covered by the opposition as their fullbacks usually paid more attention on the winger, rather than the wing back. Conte is kinda right, what's asked from him here and there is totally different, but it's not just the league, but the team setup as well, and that's on Conte.

 

[Lui]

Any player with the breakout speed of hakimi would find a dead end if we cycle possession in a rectangle. There's just simply no space for him to exploit if Lukaku is the primary target atop the area.

Sent from my SM-A520W using Tapatalk

 

[bubba zanetti]

Hakim was great when we played Alexis(Fiorentina),even Kolarov(Benevento) who can deliver great crosses and balls to Hakimi which use his speed.Eriksen can also do that. But Cunte plays Barella,Broz,Vidal who are not capable for that,and thats not the problem if we have Alexis or Eriksen playing alongside them.But Cunte prefers Gags.So Hakimi is fucked and now he is basicaly playing Candreva stuff..Hope he stays till Cunte is done here.

 

[Palacio]

He needs to work on his defesive sills or he should be benched. I agree with Conte.

 

[Bergpavian]

Wrong thread ...

 

[bubba zanetti]

Like I wrote here today,Alexis knows to deliver great pass to Hakimi,that happened again today.Keep it up.

 

[CafeCordoba]

Like I wrote here today,Alexis knows to deliver great pass to Hakimi,that happened again today.Keep it up.

Yeah

Same fucking guy always giving Hakimi those great diagonal passes to run to.

 

[Fitzy]

The assist he provided is a perfect example of how he should be used. It is astounding to me the amount of times during a game we have the chance to play a quick diagonal ball to him in behind the opponent yet choose not to.

 

[armendsh]

Hes playing better cause of 3 5 2
He played good also in the beginning of the season but when we switched to 3 4 1 2 we fucked him and overall our performace
With sassuolo we played 3 5 2 also today and u can clearly see the result

 

[Goldenboyv88]

Good assist for Hakimi!

 

[dax21]

I still think this guy will turn to be very important for us down the line. Glad that he got that assist, it's right on time for a confidence boost considering his past few matches. Darmian scoring will also keep him on the edge, I like that he isn't a guaranteed starter. Just needs some time.

 

[RickyMaravilla'sRightFoot]

I've noticed that his low crosses are nearly flawless, but he needs to spend a lot more time working on his medium and deep crosses. He tends to over-hit them from what I've seen (granted it's a small sample size). Even someone like Candreva was much better at this type of pass.

Brozovic and Barella are probably the best on the team at these currently. Not surprising since they're midfielders.

 

[brehme1989]

Low crossing is momentum based usually whereas higher technical ability is required for a "loaded" cross.

 

[BasedGodPunk]

I would bet a very large amount of money Conte doesn't capitalize on this and starts Darmian on Wednesday.

 

[uny_arturo]

I would bet a very large amount of money Conte doesn't capitalize on this and starts Darmian on Wednesday.

Hakimi did have a poor run of form and Darmian was expected to start in CL. Then Hakimi played a great match today and likely exhausted himself. All depends on how well he recovers.

Having Darmian start this Tuesday won't be a bad idea. Rather have Hakimi coming on in the 60th to make a difference; than to have Darmian on to defend a lead.

 

[Earth]

that scottish kid had no chance