ucandomagic
Well-Known Member
In several other threads mattbianco1 CaptainMorgans and I have commented on McAtee.
After the Huddersfield game I said how invaluable skill players like Iliman and McAtee were against low block teams - by running straight at them and into the centre of the box.
Again, early in the Wigan game they both created really good opportunities for us. Later on against Wigan though, McAtee’s lack of physicality became an issue - as his pressing amounted to running towards people and stopping a couple of metres away - like Hogan and Callum Robinson in the past!
When Doyle came on against Wigan it was so different - running at people and hassling, rather than standing off. It made me think - if only we could combine the two. Then Iliman came hurtling back hassling and getting a foot in at the Wigan guy for about 30 or 40 yards. I suddenly realised that Iliman is that combination - he has all of McAtee’s close ball skills and all of Doyle’s drive and physicality.
How lucky we are to have a unique talent like Iliman. McAtee and Doyle are City’s brightest stars for the future and Iliman has the best aspects of both of them. What couldn’t he achieve with City players all around him and Pep to guide him?
Also, we really are the perfect development team for Doyle and McAtee. Hecky has mentioned how they are working on McAtee’s off the ball work. It showed a bit against Wigan where you could see him think “I must be more physical” and then he rather naively just charged into the bloke’s back and gave away a free kick! By the end of the season I think we might just have given him the edge to return a genuine “Salford Silva” back to Pep.
Doyle would be a perfect fit for us, complementing Norwood’s limitations. If Iliman has to go anywhere, maybe we can work a couple more seasons with Doyle as part of a deal with Pep.
Overall, we are so lucky to be enjoying watching young talent like this - with Anel behind them and more of our own in the likes of Jebbo and Blaster in the wings.
Happy Days
UTB & Slava Ukraini
After the Huddersfield game I said how invaluable skill players like Iliman and McAtee were against low block teams - by running straight at them and into the centre of the box.
Again, early in the Wigan game they both created really good opportunities for us. Later on against Wigan though, McAtee’s lack of physicality became an issue - as his pressing amounted to running towards people and stopping a couple of metres away - like Hogan and Callum Robinson in the past!
When Doyle came on against Wigan it was so different - running at people and hassling, rather than standing off. It made me think - if only we could combine the two. Then Iliman came hurtling back hassling and getting a foot in at the Wigan guy for about 30 or 40 yards. I suddenly realised that Iliman is that combination - he has all of McAtee’s close ball skills and all of Doyle’s drive and physicality.
How lucky we are to have a unique talent like Iliman. McAtee and Doyle are City’s brightest stars for the future and Iliman has the best aspects of both of them. What couldn’t he achieve with City players all around him and Pep to guide him?
Also, we really are the perfect development team for Doyle and McAtee. Hecky has mentioned how they are working on McAtee’s off the ball work. It showed a bit against Wigan where you could see him think “I must be more physical” and then he rather naively just charged into the bloke’s back and gave away a free kick! By the end of the season I think we might just have given him the edge to return a genuine “Salford Silva” back to Pep.
Doyle would be a perfect fit for us, complementing Norwood’s limitations. If Iliman has to go anywhere, maybe we can work a couple more seasons with Doyle as part of a deal with Pep.
Overall, we are so lucky to be enjoying watching young talent like this - with Anel behind them and more of our own in the likes of Jebbo and Blaster in the wings.
Happy Days
UTB & Slava Ukraini
