Christian Eriksen

[Alex de Large]

Classic Eriksen goal and another good game by him. Conte should regret not playing him in the CL group stage because that is the reason we were 4th.

 

[Il Drago]

Eriksen is usually taken off for Gagliardini for the same reason Lautaro is usually taken off for Alexis (Lautaro has played the full 90 mins just 6 times out of 24 starts in Serie A this season). In Conte's mind there are some default subs when he wants to protect a result. One is Gagliardini for Eriksen. The other is Alexis for Lautaro.

 

[Harpsabu]

Classic Eriksen goal and another good game by him. Conte should regret not playing him in the CL group stage because that is the reason we were 4th.

The goal was good. He was really poor before that. Even the English commentators who love him because of spurs were saying "you can see why he's not conte's favourite player"
In his defence, barella was also poor along with many others.
Great goal though, this is what I've been saying I expect from him, those types of contributions. Hopefully thag gives him a bit more confidence

 

[DARi0]

:slick:

That goal was about as pure of a strike as can be. The goalkeeper was positioned perfectly.

Eriksen`s "weaker foot" is actually better than most football players` main foot

 

[rfU]

Eriksen is usually taken off for Gagliardini for the same reason Lautaro is usually taken off for Alexis (Lautaro has played the full 90 mins just 6 times out of 24 starts in Serie A this season). In Conte's mind there are some default subs when he wants to protect a result. One is Gagliardini for Eriksen. The other is Alexis for Lautaro.

True, but comparatively speaking Alexis is a competent player, he can play football at a respectable level, making him an adequate substitute. Eriksen is in his prime years and the most experienced player considering he has played in all and at the highest levels. He has no stamina issues and is not injury prone. There is zero reason to replace him with a pub player like Gagliardini unless Conte feels Eriksen is not performing at the requisite level.

 

[Universe]

He has no stamina issues and is not injury prone. There is zero reason to replace him with a pub player like Gagliardini unless Conte feels Eriksen is not performing at the requisite level.

Eh? It's because Gagliardini is inherently more defensive as a player.

I think there's such a fallacy to subbing out a possession player like Sensi or Eriksen for a defensive player like Gagliardini. When you take out a ball playing mid, you lose exactly that - the ability to play the ball in midfield.

When Sensi and/or Eriksen are on the pitch, they play a significant role in helping us keep possession. They are comfortable receiving the ball in tight spaces and recycling possession calmly and efficiently. Sensi in particular is partial to winning fouls and making nice, short dribbles here and there while Eriksen can launch counter attacks with quick, accurate balls to Lukaku. Neither is a slouch defensively either.

On that note, Gagliardini, while more defensive, is not exactly a defensive specialist himself - he's simply more defensive by definition because he's not very capable in offense.

Bringing on Gagliardini for Eriksen does not lock down the midfield like it would bringing on a prime Cambiasso or Kante. Instead, the irony is that we often become defensively weaker because we lose a key outlet to retaining possession. It also puts far greater pressure on Brozovic to do all of this himself and we know he can make mistakes when pressured heavily - both by the opponents, and the tactical responsibilities placed upon him.

I'm not going to resort to old cliche's like "offense is the best form of defense" but there's an element of truth to that. When you withdraw or reduce your attacking capabilities, the opponent knows they can attack you with impunity and without fear of retribution. How many times have we suffered through this late in games?

Who am I to question Conte. All I see with my eyes is that when Eriksen comes off for Gagliardini, we lose a ton of fluidity in midfield and we struggle to play the ball out from deep. We lose an accurate passer who can create that offensive transition. Instead, we repeatedly waste possession by booting shit-tier balls to Lukaku and invite the opponents to attack us over and over again. On top of all that, I don't feel Gagliardini adds a notable difference defensively either, at least not regularly enough.

 

[Pajo]

rfU bro, the facts you brought out were generally valid, but lately you've been just a plain hater No matter how Eriksen plays, even if he is our best player in that particular game, you will ALWAYS find something to whine about and claim "he is not at his best". Just like a plain hater would do

 

[CafeCordoba]

Yeah, it's actually quite a good defensive tactic to keep the ball. How the fuck opponents can score goals if they are chasing the ball rather than keeping it?

It's just Conte's primitive reaction to add more bulk there when the team is tired. I think Conte's motive for Eriksen->Gagliardi subs is that if we put in Sensi, he doesn't help that much because others are tired and to keep the ball you need other players too, not just that one ballplaying midfielder. So he defaults to the "more secure" option to have the muscle and the size in our box.

I don't agree with Conte but that's my hunch what is his thought process. I would have definitely put Sensi in that Gags for example in Napoli match. Fresh Sensi would give more passing options to his tired team mates and his explosive dribbling gives possibilities to relief when we are getting pressed hard.

As for Eriksen, great shot!

 

[Bluenine]

I understand the desire to bring in fresh legs. But why replace Eriksen with Gagliardini when Sensi is on the bench? Sensi would be such a good sub for Eriksen, bring in fresh energy to the game without losing much of the creativity and passing.

For the same reasons, I totally understand the Martinez-Sanchez sub. It makes sense. Fresh legs for the last 15-20 minutes, and also gives Martinez some rest before the next game. And Sanchez is a capable impact sub.

 

[wera]

Because we played for a draw.

 

[varmin]

I understand the desire to bring in fresh legs. But why replace Eriksen with Gagliardini when Sensi is on the bench?

Sensi played more than 30min previous match. He's already injured again, most probably.

 

[rfU]

rfU bro, the facts you brought out were generally valid, but lately you've been just a plain hater

I guess. I just don't appreciate players who aren't ready to "bleed" for the shirt. You can get away with that half ass tackling and useless running around at a mid-table club like Spurs but not at Inter. In fact, the only reason he got away with it at Spurs was because he was so influential in their attacks. If that were the case here you wouldn't hear a peep out of me. But it isn't. Eriksen is turning out to be a bit part player, playing a minimal role while Barella/DeVrij/Skrinair are running headlong into challenges, fighting for the team. I keep reading that he was our best midfielder, even if you believe that, it's because Barella and Brozovic play with more intensity, doing more fighting and more risk taking.

No matter how Eriksen plays, even if he is our best player in that particular game, you will ALWAYS find something to whine about and claim "he is not at his best".

Some posts ago, someone brought up how Eriksen intercepted a pass into our penalty area and nullified a dangerous Napoli attack. However same person forget to mention that it was an earlier Eriksen mistake that led to this development. IMO there's too much cheerleading for Eriksen and not enough criticism, which is where I've come in. Lets just say i'm balancing things out

 

[varmin]

Very poor game, somehow unnoticed because of Lukaku and Handanovic's blunders. I hope somebody to offer 25 mln for him in the summer.

 

[CafeCordoba]

Very poor game, somehow unnoticed because of Lukaku and Handanovic's blunders. I hope somebody to offer 25 mln for him in the summer.

No one is going to offer anything. No one wanted him even on loan in January because they would have had to pay his full salary (that was Inter's condition for the loan).

 

[bubba zanetti]

Very poor game, somehow unnoticed because of Lukaku and Handanovic's blunders. I hope somebody to offer 25 mln for him in the summer.

So back to Gagliardini and Vecino?Great.

 

[Harpsabu]

Thought he was doing OK but in the second half there was genuinely a 20 minute stretch where he didn't touch the ball, I forgot he was on. Saying that, I'd have preferred he was in the hole rather than brozo who was stinking yesterday

 

[Fetajogger]

Thought he was doing OK but in the second half there was genuinely a 20 minute stretch where he didn't touch the ball, I forgot he was on.

I agree, somehow no/very few attacks went down thru the left side, as Spezia had this locked down, I guess one could say Conte was Cont'ed... Anyhow, IMHO no one, on the team, except Martinez, had a good game against Spezia.

And I would never ever have subbed him off, I would want his freekicks/long shots/passing capabilities to be remain on the field when a goal is needed. I would have taken a CB or even Lukaku(as he played sooo bad in this game) out for Sanchez instead.

 

[Fapuccino]

Man it's like some people have never watched football. You see even Messi and Ronaldo having stinkers all the time, let alone Eriksen. There's no player that's good every single game.

 

[varmin]

Man it's like some people have never watched football. You see even Messi and Ronaldo having stinkers all the time, let alone Eriksen. There's no player that's good every single game.

Please don't bring players like Messi or Ronaldo to justify Eriksen. This guy is the second best earning player in the team and imo he doesn't deliver enough for that wage. Since Milan's game, he has had enough playing time but apart from 1-2 great long passes per match, he is on very average level.
And now someone will appear to say that Eriksen doesn't play on his regular position behind the forwards. Which is true but i have doubts that he will suddenly successes even if the system is changed and he gets his favorite spot. The reason is that in Italy nobody will give him time and space to stop the ball and look for a pass. He'll be quickly closed down and will lose the ball because he cannot beat nobody 1 vs 1 (like Lautaro does for example) or to hold the ball properly. When he's on pressure, he immediately pass the ball backwards. Almost every other midfielder with decent passing ability can do the same job as Eriksen does for much less salary.

 

[K.I.]

Please don't bring players like Messi or Ronaldo to justify Eriksen. This guy is the second best earning player in the team and imo he doesn't deliver enough for that wage. Since Milan's game, he has had enough playing time but apart from 1-2 great long passes per match, he is on very average level.
And now someone will appear to say that Eriksen doesn't play on his regular position behind the forwards. Which is true but i have doubts that he will suddenly successes even if the system is changed and he gets his favorite spot. The reason is that in Italy nobody will give him time and space to stop the ball and look for a pass. He'll be quickly closed down and will lose the ball because he cannot beat nobody 1 vs 1 (like Lautaro does for example) or to hold the ball properly. When he's on pressure, he immediately pass the ball backwards. Almost every other midfielder with decent passing ability can do the same job as Eriksen does for much less salary.

Thats actually not true, wether people like it or not him and Perisic are one of the reasons Inter have continued this run in the scudetto race.

You can list all the midfielders Inter have bought over the years that cost a ton and couldnt string one simple back pass.

Also the salary thing is again subjective, had he played every game since he came here and performed well no body would have brought it up, its the fact that he didn't play much in the beginning and now that he is everyone wants him to play like both Pirlo and Roy Keane in every match in every second.