Charlie Savage and Zidane Iqbal ~ A Thread 🧵
This thread will look to analyse Savage and Iqbal’s performances in the 4-0 victory against Liverpool in pre season, including:
- Press resistance
- Work rate
- Defensive awareness
- Demanding the ball
- Their future
- Press resistance
- Work rate
- Defensive awareness
- Demanding the ball
- Their future
Charlie Savage
Savage played alongside Iqbal in a 4-2-3-1. He was very often the deepest of the two pivot players.
Here, Savage shows how comfortable he is in possession when under pressure. Turns away from pressure and plays a pass:
Savage played alongside Iqbal in a 4-2-3-1. He was very often the deepest of the two pivot players.
Here, Savage shows how comfortable he is in possession when under pressure. Turns away from pressure and plays a pass:
Again, in this scenario, Savage turns away from pressure really well. A very important attribute to have. Something which I think our current first team midfield struggles with is press resistance, how to deal with pressure.
Savage impresses here.
Savage impresses here.
In this clip, Savage shows his desire to stop a cross. Shouldn’t really be his job, as he’s playing in the centre of the park, but he makes an important defensive contribution.
Again, Savage shows his awareness of the situation here. Telles plays a loose pass and Charlie is the player who anticipates the scenario and steps in. He showed real maturity for a 19 year old.
Zidane Iqbal
Iqbal showed a lot of promise in this game. At 19, he’s the first ever British South Asian to play for Manchester United. Let’s dive into his performance.
This is something I tweeted shortly after the game:
Iqbal showed a lot of promise in this game. At 19, he’s the first ever British South Asian to play for Manchester United. Let’s dive into his performance.
This is something I tweeted shortly after the game:
Just like Charlie Savage, Zidane Iqbal didn’t look nervous or afraid, he just wanted to be involved in the game.
Quoting Iqbal “It has been part of my game since I was young, always wanting the ball”.
Quoting Iqbal “It has been part of my game since I was young, always wanting the ball”.
Here, Iqbal changes his positioning so that Eric Bailly can find him with a pass at the right angle. Zidane doesn’t shy away from the ball.
He then drives into space and plays a forward pass, Elanga is offside in the end, but Iqbal shows quality.
He then drives into space and plays a forward pass, Elanga is offside in the end, but Iqbal shows quality.
Iqbal was constantly asking for the ball. Here again, I’ve zoomed in on him so you can see his hand pointing and demanding the ball.
This is vital for a midfield player, especially for the principals that Ten Hag demands from his players.
This is vital for a midfield player, especially for the principals that Ten Hag demands from his players.
Erik ten Hag wants his team to play through the lines, midfield players have to be comfortable under pressure. Play with courage, without fear.
Under pressure from Fabinho, but he drops a body feint and beats the press.
Under pressure from Fabinho, but he drops a body feint and beats the press.
This impressed me a lot, for such a young player to do this against one of the best defensive midfield players in the world.
He then carries the ball really well, his pass isn’t quite accurate at the end. But his progressive attributes impress me a lot.
He then carries the ball really well, his pass isn’t quite accurate at the end. But his progressive attributes impress me a lot.
Progression is vital in Erik ten Hag’s system. If you think about the likes of Frenkie de Jong and Ryan Gravenberch, Ten Hag values a progressive dribbler a lot. This is something that Iqbal could bring to the table if he was embedded in the first team.
Savage and Iqbal as a pairing
These promising young players have played in the academy together since they were 5 years old, they’re good friends and you can see the understanding they have together on the pitch.
These promising young players have played in the academy together since they were 5 years old, they’re good friends and you can see the understanding they have together on the pitch.
Both players understand the game very well. Their interplay is really neat and tidy again in this situation. Even when Liverpool brought their more experienced players onto the pitch, Savage and Iqbal didn’t look fazed, midfield area was under control.
To conclude, I was impressed by both players in pre season. So was Erik ten Hag, “Those players have high potential… I am sure they will perform, and we will get the right results”.
I think a loan move would suit Charlie Savage for the 22/23 season.
According to reports, there’s Championship and League One clubs interested in Savage on loan.
Ten Hag has decided to keep Zidane Iqbal at the club this season. Expect him to be involved in cup competitions.
According to reports, there’s Championship and League One clubs interested in Savage on loan.
Ten Hag has decided to keep Zidane Iqbal at the club this season. Expect him to be involved in cup competitions.
Iqbal has fantastic quality and offers a lot of progressive strengths, as well as his press resistance and intelligence, which is why I think Ten Hag wants to keep him for this season and develop him. He’s also versatile and can play as a more advanced pivot player, 8 or 10.
Thank you for reading this analysis. I hope you enjoyed and I hope these 2 young players develop into excellent first team players in the future.
Please LIKE, RETWEET and FOLLOW @ThreadmanChaza for more analysis like this.
Please LIKE, RETWEET and FOLLOW @ThreadmanChaza for more analysis like this.
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