The way I saw it they did press them, once they received the ball. But did the obvious thing of not wasting a man or energy stopping the passing option to them. Because they knew that if they received it they could then just run at them and most likely it ends up with a shanked clearance or inaccurate long ball.
I think it's moreso some will emphasize being good at the basics first. If you're good with those things then your secondary abilities don't have to necessarily match. Look at someone like Dan Burn, he's not particularly technical, nothing great about his touch or composure, but first and foremost he's an imposing defender who how to do the primary tasks very well.
) than ourselves.For me being good enough on the ball is part of the basics. That's kind of what I said, it's not to me a secondary ability.I think it's moreso some will emphasize being good at the basics first. If you're good with those things then your secondary abilities don't have to necessarily match. Look at someone like Dan Burn, he's not particularly technical, nothing great about his touch or composure, but first and foremost he's an imposing defender who how to do the primary tasks very well.
With Dragusin you don't really have either. He's not commanding and dominant nor is he silky and composed. He looks like a defender for a team with shorter ambitions (
I think Dragusin was signed in part because we were desperate for a CB that was "ready made" and physically strong in the difficult January market.
) but either way we’re effectively playing with only 9 men when we have possession as these 2 are throwbacks to those days when defenders were expected to be cloggers and goalies nothing more than shot stoppers.
VDV is an interesting one because he has the look of having solid technique and the way he plays the ball "looks" refined, but his passing is utterly basic in its use. As a squad in general we are rather basic, not many with crisp passing. Its crazy how poor we are in that regard.Yeah, suppose that’s a more accurate assessment (shall try to sit through the match I recorded on TiVo at some point
Don’t help that neither MvdV nor Palhinha are particularly good on the ball either, whilst Gray must be wondering whether he should’ve stayed at Leeds!
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I could cope with Draguasin being poor on the ball if the basics were covered. I can take a defender who can't really pass well if they learn how to use their limitations effectively, but that has to be paired with actual defensive basics being to a high standard. For example, I'm no fan of a John Stones type because fundamentally hes not a particularly good defender, but his other attributes compensate for this playing for City. Dragusin however fails in both regards.