- Dec 27, 2013
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A luxury?
Richarlison is far from being a luxury player. There is a reason Ange keeps putting him into the team and I can assure you its not as a favour. Despite having Son and Veliz, and now Johnson, Ange has and will continue to play Richarlison, the reason? Because sometimes you need a blunt instrument to create an opening. Richarlison works hard, he's physical, he gets in the opposition CBs faces, you know when he's on the and up against him you're not going to have a moments rest.
Without him we don't create the same openings. Maddison is able to ghost in behind Bournemouth unmarked likely because the CB is tracking Richarlison's run in the opposite direction, Pape Sarr doesnt get that back post loose ball unless Richarlison takes both Man Utd CBs away to the front post.
Can he up his game? Of course he can, but lets not get ahead of ourselves and start calling him a luxury.
Hard work and a greater physical presence are all when and good, but when attacking plays continue to break down because his control's gone, he treads on the ball or under-hits / over-hits passes, he hinders rather than helps. His biggest failing is that his confidence is extremely fragile, and his head drops at the first sign of trouble. He plays like he knows he's the weakest link upfront. And while I get that forwards in Ange's teams have always sacrificed themselves for the team, this is the PL and a lot of huff and puff, while admirable, just isn't going to cut it. Son's movement, guile and finishing off either foot is surely the way forward, and he's no slouch either.