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Player Watch: Serge Aurier

jonnyp

Well-Known Member
Jun 11, 2006
7,149
9,628
I wasn't arguing whether or not he is the best in the league (although I would say he is probably the best, just ahead of Valencia , and I imagine this time next year Alexander-Arnold will be in that discussion too), only that the evidence you used doesn't stand up to scrutiny whatsoever.

Dismissing him as nothing more than power and pace is completely unfair - he is good technically, intelligent and, after a long time where this was the last thing you could say about him, he is consistent and reliable. He doesn't really have a mistake in him the way he used to.

There's clearly nothing that can be said to convince you that he's any good, so I'll boil it down to this - City were a country mile better this year than they were last year, and Walker was a big part of that improvement. Not the only part by any means, and not even the biggest part, but he played a major role in turning City from also-rans to dominant force. He is an exceptionally good, modern wing-back who controls the entire flank and he is streets ahead of Trippier and Aurier - although I think that Aurier has the same problems with concentration and consistencyWalker used to have, and with a couple of years under Pochettino he could be as good or better, if he shows the same dedication and effort Walker did. It is not a coincidence that we were slightly worse this year having lost him, and City were much better having signed him.

I disagree with a lot of that. Walker is not very good technically, and certainly lacks in footballing intelligence. Walker still makes plenty of mistakes but usually, not always, manages to correct them because of his pace. I agree with you that I would still rather have him as RB than any of our current ones because of his pace and work ethic.
 

dtxspurs

Welcome to the Good Life
Dec 28, 2017
11,234
46,574
He never messaged me back when I asked him if Zaha was coming. Screw him.

Just kidding, I'd like to see another season of him under Poch. A Trippier/KWP duo at RB still worries me defensively. Not that Serge was overly convincing on defense but it would still be nice to have a speed/strength combo like Serge in the group.
 

Clamour_Kid

Well-Known Member
Aug 12, 2008
2,205
1,378
It would be a great move to sell Aurier to Napoli and promote KWP to be back up to Trippier. Home Grown for non-home grown and some money in. This could kick start our window (WITH 1 WEEK TO GO!)
 

double0

Well-Known Member
Aug 29, 2006
14,423
12,258
Trippier would comand more money so it would make better business sense to sell Trippier promote KWP and Aurier. It’ll be interesting to see wants going to happen with the right back over the next seasons
 

SUIYHA

Well-Known Member
Jan 15, 2017
1,723
8,579
A ridiculously good first time cross today to set up the winner.

However. If he continues to defend the way he did, to get caught out of position and to leave opposition wingers with so much space to attack us down the left, and to make poor late challenges on people....then I'm sorry but he is not good enough for this level.

All the talk was about how much Poch improves full-backs in their second season and how he struggled last year because he didn't have a pre-season. He needs to step up his defensive game massively otherwise Trippier will walk back into this side.
 

Colonel_Klinck

Well-Known Member
May 19, 2004
12,637
23,217
Fantastic first time cross and just shows how first time balls can really hurt the opposition. His defending though is terrible.
 

wrd

Well-Known Member
Aug 22, 2014
13,603
58,005
Fantastic first time cross and just shows how first time balls can really hurt the opposition. His defending though is terrible.

Every monday after a game I'd sit him down and make him watch highlights of everytime he dived in until he learnt to cut it out, his attacking play was very good.
 

SdB

Well-Known Member
Aug 23, 2013
1,367
1,878
A ridiculously good first time cross today to set up the winner.

However. If he continues to defend the way he did, to get caught out of position and to leave opposition wingers with so much space to attack us down the left, and to make poor late challenges on people....then I'm sorry but he is not good enough for this level.

All the talk was about how much Poch improves full-backs in their second season and how he struggled last year because he didn't have a pre-season. He needs to step up his defensive game massively otherwise Trippier will walk back into this side.

It really shouldn't even be in doubt that Trippier should be back in the side when fit.

Aurier is an awful RB.

All I can hope is that there is some truth in the Napoli rumour and that if they dad scouts watching today they left immediately after his amazing cross for the goal and missed the chaotic/AWOL defending that followed.
 
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SdB

Well-Known Member
Aug 23, 2013
1,367
1,878
Every monday after a game I'd sit him down and make him watch highlights of everytime he dived in until he learnt to cut it out, his attacking play was very good.

Just show him this



Never seen so many 'to ground' sliding tackles. We should of known what we were getting. Just looking for trouble in the PL.
 

Kiedis

Well-Known Member
Aug 4, 2013
2,926
8,490
Really concerned for him after this game. Other than the cross, it was absolutely shambolic both defensively and when attacking. Must be tearing it up in training for KWP to still be seen.as third choice.
 

UncleBuck

Well-Known Member
Aug 20, 2003
9,188
11,150
On 51 minutes we got a throw in and HK literally sprinted over to stop him taking it, quite clearly his throw ins haven’t improved pre season....
Apart from his cross I saw nothing in him to suggest he’ll displace KT, hope him starting today was a window to offload and get KWP in.
 

ohtottenham!

Well-Known Member
Aug 15, 2013
7,497
13,030
Really concerned for him after this game. Other than the cross, it was absolutely shambolic both defensively and when attacking. Must be tearing it up in training for KWP to still be seen.as third choice.
Sad to say, but I generally agree. Just some fundamental issues with his game that are tough to fix with even the best coaching. It hurts us defensively more than anything.

He's so reactive because he often loses his awareness of what's happening in the game. There's a lack of awareness of in-game movement, of developing plays and potential threats.

There's a lack of awareness that good defenders have of constantly checking the positioning of their fellow defenders, so that they themselves know where they need to be, and how best to respond defensively when they are in that position.

He sent in a cracking cross for the goal, and also put another one in in the second half I think. But, against better opponents, his defensive weaknesses will be exposed, especially in his second season in the PL where other teams will have had a better look at his game.
 
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Spartan Spurs

MOLLON LAVEH
May 20, 2015
279
905
That's just the issue with players like Aurier & Kyle Walker.
They depend on their physical attributes (mainly speed) to defend.

They are reactionary rather than using any field sense in order to anticipate trouble.

He's still young enough that Poch & his crew may be able to help. I think he has 3-4 years on Walker.
 

ohtottenham!

Well-Known Member
Aug 15, 2013
7,497
13,030
That's just the issue with players like Aurier & Kyle Walker.
They depend on their physical attributes (mainly speed) to defend.

They are reactionary rather than using any field sense in order to anticipate trouble.

He's still young enough that Poch & his crew may be able to help. I think he has 3-4 years on Walker.
They may share some physical attributes, but Walker even 4 years ago was more solid defensively because he had more awareness of his defensive resonsibilities.

He had more positional awareness than Aurier does. Walker's brain farts have always been to do with sloppy distribution in critical areas.
 

NorthernYido

Well-Known Member
Aug 22, 2013
170
422
He's walker 2.0 and not in a good way, and that's probably being unfair to walker. I can't remember a premier league defender going to ground as much as him. A very strange signing, wouldn't miss him if he was sold.
 

Paolo10

Well-Known Member
Apr 6, 2004
6,179
7,621
On 51 minutes we got a throw in and HK literally sprinted over to stop him taking it, quite clearly his throw ins haven’t improved pre season....
Apart from his cross I saw nothing in him to suggest he’ll displace KT, hope him starting today was a window to offload and get KWP in.

Harry's done that before last season too!
 
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