Depends... what do you mean open play... does that discount all the goals scored?Dallku wrote: ↑Sat Feb 17, 2024 5:29 pm
You know that's not true.
If you were to watch match highlights of him (like the Muci video above) it would be mainly Manaj losing the ball nearly all the time. Sofascore confirms his performances.
His goals and especially game don't translate to higher levels. Even Cikalleshi doesn't lose the ball so easily.
If so, then I would say yes you're right, he is not very good from open play, if we discount all goals scored.
But as a striker the goals count and he is scoring many of them. If he were to stop scoring he would become a problem.
Sofascore doesnt 'confirm' his bad performances, he has the highest avg sofascore rating in his team and one of the highest averages in the league amongst all players. Notably, there is a 8.0 against Besiktas, 9.0 against Trabzonspor and a 7.6 against Fenerbahce, the three top teams in the league (he could not play Gala due to suspension). I know you have said many times that the top teams are the only relevant ones so there you go... sofascore thinks he did very well against them.
His level has decreased in games recently as he is getting more greedy and not passing to his teammates, but it is an issue he can solve if he wills it. The performance against Trabzonspor especially was amazing in all aspects.
I consider that he'll succeed at a good club later. He didnt develop his game properly and made stupid moves like going to Barca B/Barca or going to Italian relegation clubs and he needed to prove and develop himself at a lower step (now in Turkey?) Its easier to succeed at a good club when they trust and bet on you compared to going to an Italian relegation club as a backup and having to earn a spot. I can see him establishing himself in midtable top5 or alternatively in a top Turkish club if he continues to improve and develop his game, again, he must address his greediness which doesn't suit his game as a player and one of his biggest flaws. This will be the barrier to him playing at a top level because a player like him should really be hustling and letting his teammates hog the ball, but it can be fixed.