Serious and open question: is there anything that anyone actually sees in Asllani that they feel really strongly about?
Or is this upset about Asllani just due to some implied potential as a young player who we assume has talent and will develop linearly until he reaches some kind of arbitrary skill level?
I acknowledge I'm being extremely harsh, but in the small sample size, I've seen little to suggest he's particularly talented or possesses some undeniable potential to be unlocked. He's meant to be a regista right? Yet he reliably overhits his long passes and frequently makes the wrong choice in transition - keeping the ball when he should release quickly or going for a long pass when the run isn't quite right. He randomly dribbles for no reason, indicating he's not as sensitive to his surroundings as he needs to be.
Granted, these things can be trained and developed, but on top of this, he's average or below average in terms of physicality, speed, height etc.
So you have a guy who may or may not have technical or mental attributes, but definitely does not have physical attributes. Compare this with Maxime Lopez - despite being a midget he's deceptively speedy, he's tenacious and unafraid - most importantly his passing and vision is excellent.
Getting Klaassen and shipping Asllani is a legitimate argument to be had because then we'd only have one regista in the squad. But I just don't see what people see in Asllani.
Yes, I really saw a lot of things in him. Apologies in advance for the long post and just my 2 cents, at the end of the day I am just a football fan and I don't think I know it all.
I understand why he is not as outstanding to some people cause imho he is playing out of his natural position, hence more learning and adapting is required.
To me Asllani is more of a natural advanced playmaker that operates between the midfield and strikers, which is very different from a modern deep lying midfielder or a regista. To elaborate, he is good at operating in tight spaces (shown by his "random dribbles"), very nibble, great first touch. He can receive and keep the ball in tight marked positions; also being the catalyst for attacks, which he has shown in his limited play time having an eye for killer passes (I disagree on this "he reliably overhits his long passes", but I agree with this "makes the wrong choice in transition", mostly on certain types of scenario), and also very good at finding his teammates in space. -
these characters are hard to develop overtime and he has them. Like it is extremely hard to train Busquets to Thiago's level. Not saying he is at an elite level, but he is a natural and off to a good start, just need practices and he will get even better; there are no concerns that he won't be able to pick up these abilities.
Things Broz is good at:
Now what he is not good at, as a regista, he won't constantly try to show up to offer his teammates a passing option (Things people like about Broz, and this is more contributed by his immense work rate and stamina; just constantly moving, I won't say Broz is extremely good at knowing where to show up, basically off-ball movement), nor is he "as sensitive to his surroundings as he needs to be" like you mentioned, knowing where to run to in order to make "space", key point, cause his natural playstyle doesn't care about space, but it is essential when you are fucking around in the back.
Another thing "makes the wrong choice in transition" - In short, I feel like if there is an opportunity presented to him to feed the attack he will execute it, regardless if the risk worth it, which might not be a bad thing if he is not playing a regista, in short not in possession-orientated plays, but regista is a possession-orientated role, and unlike final third players, which you should lean towards goal, you want to make sure you don't make your team run every small chances and gas them out, and overly exposing the team for a not worth it try. Tempo dictation in short, which Hakan improved a lot from last year. (Hakan also used to play as a final third player, kinda make sense)
He is not good at creating space; regardless he is on the ball or not; while Broz is patient enough to run around and loop the ball around till the opportunity presents itself.
Yes, like you said "these things can be trained and developed", just like Brozovic, so that is why I see he can develop into a first class midfielder, but not "due to some implied potential as a young player". The things he is naturally good at is the difference why Brozovic cannot be Modric imho.
One last thing, all the flaws mentioned, could also be exaggerated by his "eager" to impress in limited play time, which is a vicious cycle. (Random dribble, attack every opportunity etc.)
Maxime Lopez is definitely way ahead in the game, no doubt, and he is also a lot better in defending, his tackle timing is quite good, but he is also 4 years older.
I honestly don't know what to do with Asllani, the next 4 years would be quite crucial for his development. On one hand, we need to do everything we can to make sure the second star, on the other hand, we really shouldn't let him rot on the bench or the "things that can be trained and developed" will never be developed. (even part of them can be taught in training and classroom settings.)
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