Noni Madueke profiles similarly to Bukayo Saka of Arsenal, the current best right winger in world football.
He's physical, technical, a 'mentality monster', and his profile suits the modern game to a tee.
Give him time and he *WILL* flourish. Chelsea have signed a gem.
THREAD!
He's physical, technical, a 'mentality monster', and his profile suits the modern game to a tee.
Give him time and he *WILL* flourish. Chelsea have signed a gem.
THREAD!
Madueke reminds me of Bukayo Saka except he's more raw despite being older.
This may sound like criticism, but Saka is arguably the best winger in the world at the moment as he excels from a ball retention AND output-based perspective. That's abnormal.
The comparison is praise.
This may sound like criticism, but Saka is arguably the best winger in the world at the moment as he excels from a ball retention AND output-based perspective. That's abnormal.
The comparison is praise.
At PSV Madueke averaged a goal or an assist every 106 minutes, which is mighty impressive when considering he spent his time over there between the ages of 18 and 21.
Stylistically, his profile is one that fits the way the elite positional play teams play in the modern day.
Stylistically, his profile is one that fits the way the elite positional play teams play in the modern day.
Wingers are often required to stay high and wide in the modern game, and that suits Madueke perfectly.
His whole game is based on holding the width on the right wing and here he has the qualities to excel.
As Madueke is predominantly left-footed, he can cut inside and create.
His whole game is based on holding the width on the right wing and here he has the qualities to excel.
As Madueke is predominantly left-footed, he can cut inside and create.
He has phenomenal ball-striking on his weak foot and possesses an element of la pausa in his game where he can lull defenders to sleep before blitzing to create a yard of space for himself or laying the ball off to a runner from deep, for example.
The real difference maker with Madueke, though, comes from the fact that he can also beat his man on the outside and strike through the ball with his weaker right foot.
He's very similar to Saka in the sense that both excel at getting a yard of space through dribbling and speed.
He's very similar to Saka in the sense that both excel at getting a yard of space through dribbling and speed.
Madueke has that same quality in his game Saka possesses where he lulls the defender into a false sense of security by slowing down before he shifts the ball to either side and utilises his ball-striking, but he can do it on both sides.. a truly rare skill.
Not only does he has the physical and technical qualities to beat his man or create separation in 1v1's, but the biggest difference maker is the subsequent ball-striking after creating such separation. Goals from range, finishing, crossing.. he does it all.
He also has excellent associative qualities where he can create for others by being direct (half space crosses, byline crosses, through balls, etc) or via playmaking and combining.
He has a wonderful balance of being direct and combining patiently to work an angle to create.
He has a wonderful balance of being direct and combining patiently to work an angle to create.
The rawness, though, comes into his game in the sense that sometimes his dribbling can be 'clunky' and his touches can be heavy.
Now, this isn't to say his dribbling is like that all the time, because it's absolutely not - Madueke is actually a fantastic dribbler.
Now, this isn't to say his dribbling is like that all the time, because it's absolutely not - Madueke is actually a fantastic dribbler.
In fact, he's such a good dribbler and technician that he's one of the few players in world football who I'd argue is comfortable receiving on both wings and in both half spaces (left and right).
He came off the bench for England u21's & contributed to 3 goals in 20 odd minutes.
He came off the bench for England u21's & contributed to 3 goals in 20 odd minutes.
He did that from the left wing, too, all thanks to his ability to operate from that side of the pitch where he could receive centrally with his back to goal and dribble from out-to-in towards the goal ala Gareth Bale against Maicon.. another trait Bukayo Saka and Madueke possess.
He's a winger who strikes through the ball on both feet, has la pausa, can dribble in tight spaces, can beat his man via an explosive shift or technical dribbling to create a yard of space, & has a technical base that lends itself to suggest he can iron his raw edges out.
Wow.
Wow.
The major separator between Madueke & Saka is their technical security. Madueke profiles as a technically secure winger, but, as I said, his dribbling can be 'on and off'.
Now, again, as I said, it's primarily good, & he certainly has the potential to iron those rough edges out.
Now, again, as I said, it's primarily good, & he certainly has the potential to iron those rough edges out.
In fact, it could be argued that the reason his game is slightly raw is down to the fact that he's struggled to maintain fitness thus far throughout his career. That's a major concern, but it's clear that Chelsea were still absolutely right to sign Madueke.
His skillset is 🔝🔝
His skillset is 🔝🔝
£28.5m for Madueke's potential is well worth it, even if he never realises it due to injuries. What's clear, though, is that if he does stay fit then Chelsea have an incredible player on their hands.
The thought of Mudryk on one wing with Madueke on the other is mind-blowing.
The thought of Mudryk on one wing with Madueke on the other is mind-blowing.
The profiles and quality resemble that of the elites. Both have the potential to provide reliable output, kill their man in 1v1's, be technically secure, combine playmaking and direct play optimally, etc, etc.
The dynamic is similar to that of Saka and Martinelli at Arsenal.
The dynamic is similar to that of Saka and Martinelli at Arsenal.
Saka is lightening quick, but he's no Martinelli. The same can be applied to Madueke and Mudryk.
So, in an ideal world, Madueke irons out the rough edges in his game (which I expect him to as he absolutely has the quality to) to become the creative hub whereas Mudryk penetrates.
So, in an ideal world, Madueke irons out the rough edges in his game (which I expect him to as he absolutely has the quality to) to become the creative hub whereas Mudryk penetrates.
Now, of course Mudryk is much more than just a penetrator, but the simple dynamic makes sense and provides Chelsea with enough speed and dynamism in attack to kill teams in transitional situations.
Either way, though, it's clear Madueke is a sensational talent.
Either way, though, it's clear Madueke is a sensational talent.
Here's hoping he stays fit & realises that potential because the sky is the limit for him, particularly with the way football has evolved lately.
As I said at the start of the thread, Madueke's profile is one that optimally suits positional play teams. He needs that environment.
As I said at the start of the thread, Madueke's profile is one that optimally suits positional play teams. He needs that environment.
That's the thing about football - a player can have all of the quality in the world but they're not a sure thing to become a top player reliably due to injuries, the environment that they're in, the inability to deal with pressure, the struggle to commit work-ethic wise..
These are all variables that must be acknowledged and accounted for with any player, but what's clear is that Madueke excels mentally too.
Isaksson-Hurst, a former youth coach at Chelsea, said that Madueke is a 'mentality monster'.
If he stays fit, the sky is the limit.
Isaksson-Hurst, a former youth coach at Chelsea, said that Madueke is a 'mentality monster'.
If he stays fit, the sky is the limit.
However, much like Mudryk and all of these young talents at Chelsea, Madueke requires time, and not necessarily because he isn't ready yet, but because Chelsea themselves are in a transitional period where Potter is arguably failing to get the most out of the collective.
That in itself is a hurdle in the short-term for Madueke, but hopefully either A) Potter beings to find feasible solutions in the short-run or B) Chelsea hire a new coach who plays a style suited to Madueke's game and then we will see him flourish.
Give him time. He's special 🛑
Give him time. He's special 🛑
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