2025/26 Charly Alcaraz

What's this? Not even calling you a liar cus I don't remember I was 7, from my memory he came straight in and was played behind Bent

Cahill was a CM for us to begin with.

Think as I said yesterday, despite my reservations about him as a player, the difference he made yesterday was huge.

That being said, he's a number 10 and not anything else. At Man City it's a straight choice between him and Dewsbury-Hall and I think you can make a decent argument that Alcaraz should get the nod as he's effective in transitions and in games like the one at Man City where we will see hardly any of the ball, you could argue that his ability to drive us up the pitch would be of greater benefit than Dewsbury-Hall's clearly superior quality on the ball.

Despite a very quiet game yesterday, I'd be inclined to start Dibling in Grealish's absence on the right, with Ndiaye on the left and then take a decision about KDH or Alcaraz. I think you do Alcaraz a disservice by playing him wide, none of his good performances for us have come in a wide position.

EDIT - Although if Keane and Branthwaite are still injured, we might end up with KDH having to play in the two man midfield combo in a 4231 which wouldn't be ideal and Alcaraz would play as the 10 by default


"I think you can make a decent argument that Alcaraz should get the nod as he's effective in transitions and in games like the one at Man City where we will see hardly any of the ball, you could argue that his ability to drive us up the pitch would be of greater benefit than Dewsbury-Hall's clearly superior quality on the ball"


Sorry? Superior quality on the ball?

Not sure about that, if KDH plays slower and takes less chances does this equate to superior quality?

Not for me.
 

I think he’s a better 10 than KDH, I think he’s the only player we have who actually knows how to play that position properly. I’d be looking at seeing if KDH can play deeper and get both in the team.
Been saying for weeks KDH should be playing deeper, but Garner is in good form and doesn't deserve to be dropped. Alcaraz should be given a good run starting behind the striker imo.
 
I think he’s a better 10 than KDH, I think he’s the only player we have who actually knows how to play that position properly. I’d be looking at seeing if KDH can play deeper and get both in the team.

Need to see if we can shoehorn the both of them into the team together, both will have played centre mid before I'm sure because lately Gana gueyes passing has been awful, yesterday he misplaced quite a few.
 

Cahill was a CM for us to begin with.




"I think you can make a decent argument that Alcaraz should get the nod as he's effective in transitions and in games like the one at Man City where we will see hardly any of the ball, you could argue that his ability to drive us up the pitch would be of greater benefit than Dewsbury-Hall's clearly superior quality on the ball"


Sorry? Superior quality on the ball?

Not sure about that, if KDH plays slower and takes less chances does this equate to superior quality?

Not for me.
Massively superior quality on the ball.

Looks after the ball far, far better than Alcaraz does, generally speaking. Or at least on the basis of the evidence of what they've both done since they arrived here.

Alcaraz deserves huge credit for what he did yesterday. Might not have been directly responsible for any of the goals, but I'd argue his impact on the game overall yesterday was the greatest he's had since he arrived, regardless of other games where he's scored or assisted.

But again, if you're asking me who is going to look after the ball better and who is going to make the more clever passes etc in the final third, it's KDH all day every day.
 
Need to see if we can shoehorn the both of them into the team together, both will have played centre mid before I'm sure because lately Gana gueyes passing has been awful, yesterday he misplaced quite a few.

I’d drop Gana completely if it was upto me but you can’t say that on here and I doubt Moyes will ever do it. He plays at least one suicide ball every game. It just becomes a question of whether we concede from it or not. He almost got Tarkwoski sent off and injured v West Ham and he basically gifted Liverpool the Derby. Even last season he set the tone by playing a blind pass across the middle of the pitch that Brighton ran onto and scored when we had actually started the better team. Isn’t that like football rule 101 that all youth players learn not to play it blind across your own goal?
 
Massively superior quality on the ball.

Looks after the ball far, far better than Alcaraz does, generally speaking. Or at least on the basis of the evidence of what they've both done since they arrived here.

Alcaraz deserves huge credit for what he did yesterday. Might not have been directly responsible for any of the goals, but I'd argue his impact on the game overall yesterday was the greatest he's had since he arrived, regardless of other games where he's scored or assisted.

But again, if you're asking me who is going to look after the ball better and who is going to make the more clever passes etc in the final third, it's KDH all day every day.
Agree, though they're slightly different profiles. I think Alcaraz is more willing to try riskier, more direct passes, forcing the issue. KDH is much much better at neatly and smartly linking the play and retaining possession. It's why I'd be keen to try him deeper. KDH for some reason being really underrated by our fans currently.
 

Massively superior quality on the ball.

Looks after the ball far, far better than Alcaraz does, generally speaking. Or at least on the basis of the evidence of what they've both done since they arrived here.

Alcaraz deserves huge credit for what he did yesterday. Might not have been directly responsible for any of the goals, but I'd argue his impact on the game overall yesterday was the greatest he's had since he arrived, regardless of other games where he's scored or assisted.

But again, if you're asking me who is going to look after the ball better and who is going to make the more clever passes etc in the final third, it's KDH all day every day.
This is not the job! And KDH has not shown the ability to consistently be creative at this level.

Admittedly this is a simple way to look at it but career assists in the PL:

Alcaraz: 5 in about 2000 minutes
KDH: 6 in about 5000 minutes
 
Massively superior quality on the ball.

Looks after the ball far, far better than Alcaraz does, generally speaking. Or at least on the basis of the evidence of what they've both done since they arrived here.

Alcaraz deserves huge credit for what he did yesterday. Might not have been directly responsible for any of the goals, but I'd argue his impact on the game overall yesterday was the greatest he's had since he arrived, regardless of other games where he's scored or assisted.

But again, if you're asking me who is going to look after the ball better and who is going to make the more clever passes etc in the final third, it's KDH all day every day.

Impact wise he changed the game from the bench yep. He played most of the game at Newcastle and had 5 shots on target. Thats a very high stat for any player in a game let alone away from home. Thats impact from the starting line up. Me personaly that was his best game. Running from deep through the middle he had those newcastle defenders panacking. Their defence or midfield never knew who's job is was to pick him up. Bit like when he scored the winner and got the assist away at palace. All playing through the middle. He's a technically sound south american intelligent footballing brain player. Im astonished he hasnt been used more.
Im not convinced dewsbury hall is any better or worse than alcaraz passing tbh either.
 
I know he can blow a bit hot and cold, but i still think he should start most games for us. I like KDH a lot, and its unfair to drop him on form, but i just think we have way more penetration with Alcaraz. If we could get Alcaraz at 10 and KDH at 8 with Garner taking over for Gana, that would be ideal in my eyes, but i also think it would leave us too open.

Nice little luxury problem really, cant say we’ve had many issues with not enough spots for the quality players we have recently.
 

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