João Cancelo’s last good performances for Barça should prove to Deco and Flick what a ball-playing right-back can add to this team. Someone who can cut outside AND inside, operate in tight spaces in the final third, and link up with Yamal to unlock defenses. With Baldé and Koundé injured, Cancelo has a real chance to show his worth.
His creativity and dribbling make the right flank a threat beside Yamal – and therefore creates even more space for our starboy to exploit.
If his loan doesn’t become a long-term option, Deco and Flick should still prioritise signing a similar-profile full-back in the summer. Someone technical, comfortable on the ball, and capable of quick combination play in the final third.
For me Barça should always play with a right-back who fits this description. Not since Alves have we had a permanent right-back who isn't some ''proxy'' solution.
by MegaRoadHouse
6 Comments
We can just loan him until he retires, no? worked well so far. Let see how long we can keep the loan game going
Striker or CB
Let’s not forget that he hasn’t played against an actually good winger yet. Newcastle will be his first real test.
I actually think he is better for left than on the right. He is the perfect fullback for raphinha who does not play as a left winger at all. He can play as an actual winger on the touchline while raphinha gets the freedom to go to wherever he wants.
Last game, we saw that as soon as he went to the right, our left became dead just like last season as both balde and martin do not provide anything in the final third. But before kounde went out, him and yamal are still a threat while cancelo by himself was a threat on the left so atletico could not just focus on one obvious side. Yamal is good enough that he just needs kounde to overlap and take away one or two defenders. It is more efficient to have cancelo on the left.
Also, he and yamal kind of wants to do the same things and this can look wasteful at times to have them on the same side. And yamal is starting to look like his last season self where he is going past 2 3 defenders by himself. Not to mention he is fasting too. I think he will hit a higher peak this season than his inter performances.
Hector Fort is what you’re describing.
Striker should be priority, after that a CB, then we figure out the rest of the team