By Kevin Kemboi
Barcelona probably has the biggest overbooking ever in midfield and it needs no explaining why they financially want to get rid of Frenkie de Jong. However, if he stays and is on that salary, let at least make use of an enormous talented player.
In his career Frenkie de Jong has said multiple times that he wants to play as a midfielder as his preferred position, but that he can play wherever the coach would need him. He has done so at CB, CM, DM, even AM under Koeman. What’s next?
Hear me out. If you ask me his absolute best role in this current Barcelona squad is as that LCB what we currently are looking for. Even with Koundé already signed, there still is not a defender (starting material) who is best as LCB.
However, with Araujo and Koundé both being able to play quite well as RB’s, you can be tactical very flexible and let one of the two play (on paper) as the right back. Frenkie de Jong plays at his best in a two man DM pivot, something that will not ever happen structurally here.
What role is the closest to that liberty that he had at Ajax and still has at the Dutch team. The liberty to be the first player to start the build up phase, to either dribble inside the pitch or delay passes with feigns to find teammates between the lines?
Correct, its that LCB position. At the Dutch team and for Ajax, the zones where Frenkie often starts his magic are the LCB / LCM zone, he likes to receive it there and then either dribble or feign until a good pass option comes near.
Just look at his highlights against one of the best teams in the world. He does not feel pressure at all and RARELY will he give a stupid pass. Add that intelligence from him to read passes defensively and you have an amazing asset next to two monstrous and equally fast players.
With Araujo and Koundé next to him you could possibly create the majority situation Xavi always spoke about. Tactically you get so dominant. It is literally a cheatcode.
Points of critique could be defensively he is not as solid as you would assume and we have multiple cb’s now who are better with ball than without ball. The crucial denomination is the pairing up with Kounde and Araujo. Let them bully and let Frenkie do the build up.
Frenkie also showed that this position is compatible with Busquets. He does not overstay his role and can be disciplined in his passing as well. He picks exactly the right moments to dribble or keep it simple. Whereas in midfield this is not the case.
I want to further elaborate that Frenkie staying is very likely and if you have to make use of him, this literally is the best way. You have Nico as Busquets backup and Pedri, Gavi, Kessie and Pablo Torre for Centre Midfield. We good there.
Another thing is, you don’t have to do this tactical setup Every game but I think in terms of how Barcelona wants to play football and to use Frenkie to his best strengths. This is the role.
The other cb’s like Eric and Christensen can pass greatly, but especially Eric is not as fast nor as good without the ball. Frenkie both as CM as CB had multiple good defensive stats and we all know how good of a passer/dribbler he is.
Let’s reinvent his Barça career if he really does not want to go and let’s hope he does accept some sort of contract changement. A lower salary or an agreement on how to make it more feasible. Frenkie the libero would be awesome.
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