Kyle Walker | The Flash

he is nowhere near being the best defender, its just that his insane pace makes it extremely difficult to take advantage when you do get past him
Exactly anyone who watches them play can safely say that their system depends on him sweeping behind when they push up and he is brilliant at it.
 
Exactly anyone who watches them play can safely say that their system depends on him sweeping behind when they push up and he is brilliant at it.

Not to mention that he’s a bit of a brick wall as well. Very few attacking players have the pace and strength to match him. He’s also annoyingly good at making contact without it being obvious enough for the referee to award freekicks, gets away with a lot. Completely lost his marbles with Martinez, which was amusing.
 
he is nowhere near being the best defender, its just that his insane pace makes it extremely difficult to take advantage when you do get past him

True. I found it weird yesterday though that I can't think of one occasion where he used that pace to overlap down the right wing. I get it's Citys structure and it's worked extremely well for them, but it seemed like a massive waste of his pace and tactical inflexibility on City's part. We aren't exactly the best defence in the world and yet City didn't create a whole lot against us. If Walker had occasionally been overlapping on the right it would have tested us a lot more.
 
True. I found it weird yesterday though that I can't think of one occasion where he used that pace to overlap down the right wing. I get it's Citys structure and it's worked extremely well for them, but it seemed like a massive waste of his pace and tactical inflexibility on City's part. We aren't exactly the best defence in the world and yet City didn't create a whole lot against us. If Walker had occasionally been overlapping on the right it would have tested us a lot more.

He's not good at delivering the final ball consistently

If the full back bites and follows Walker's runs, then that allows Bernardo or KDB to slip in behind and deliver that killer cross. But if you leave him with space he'll spam crosses that don't do much damage, or pass the ball back for another recycling period

We did an excellent job of preventing those runners they have from getting into the box.
 
True. I found it weird yesterday though that I can't think of one occasion where he used that pace to overlap down the right wing. I get it's Citys structure and it's worked extremely well for them, but it seemed like a massive waste of his pace and tactical inflexibility on City's part. We aren't exactly the best defence in the world and yet City didn't create a whole lot against us. If Walker had occasionally been overlapping on the right it would have tested us a lot more.

Good point, hadn't picked up on this but B Silva was constantly out there on his own, only ever going to cut inside against Dalot, and Walker could have pinned him for sure and opened more space, they had one good move where either Kovacic or Foden nearly got in because Silva was able to picked a pass, but that was it.
 
I can't believe how quick and good he still is. Hopefully he carries that on in the summer. But it would be nice from a club perspective if he drops off or retires soon please.
 
No need to rewrite history

Has had a mixed season, and at his worst can be brainless, but at his best has shut down the best wingers in the world on that flank who bring more than pure pace to the table, while also being functional in City's attack.

Not saying he's not a good defender, even if you go back to his time at Spurs I remember there were question marks around his overall defensive skillset positoning, awareness etc.

Superb player to have as part of a high line, his recovery pace has always been his best asset, it's amazing he's still as quick as he is at 33, doesn't seem to have lost a yard at all, a lot of players at his age would have started to drop a wee bit to give himself a few yards on the attackers going back.
 
Quoting myself but worth mentioning just how bad he was for the Mainoo goal.

His mistakes get glossed over so much because of his recovery pace. He's far from the player he once was.
The City defence could have organised the counter better, but for me the main fault for that goal was none of the City midfielders tracking their runners, assuming the defence would pick them all up. Ends up 4 v 5 in the City box. Foden could easily have tracked Bruno and Wan-Bissaka wasn’t followed by Bernardo either(?).
 
Annoyingly good in a setup that plays to his strengths. Will never get the most assists or consistently combine his way down the flank, but put him in a high line where the defending he has to do is chase down attackers then I struggle to think of many better than him.
 
10 outfield Walkers in a team is frightening.
Speed, physicality to a degree, decent shot, dark arts of not getting booked.

Don’t like him but he’s a hell of a player. Greatest defensive athlete I’ve seen in a defender.
 
Not saying he's not a good defender, even if you go back to his time at Spurs I remember there were question marks around his overall defensive skillset positoning, awareness etc.

Superb player to have as part of a high line, his recovery pace has always been his best asset, it's amazing he's still as quick as he is at 33, doesn't seem to have lost a yard at all, a lot of players at his age would have started to drop a wee bit to give himself a few yards on the attackers going back.

I think every player that's ever existed has lost some pace by 33.

Walker somehow is a complete one off. I'm not one for conspiracy but how has he done that.
 
33 (and soon to be 34) ain't nothing nowadays, IF you follow the strict regime that's been set by the guys around the world that have set the standard to age like this. I mean, he's still in a major rare class in those that do age so well. But I do find it mad that the 2 33-34 year olds are pretty much, rightfully, England's 2 favoured right sided players despite a "generational" wealth of talent at the position behind them who for a variety of reasons can't quite usurp them.
 
I don’t think he is to be fair anymore, people just can’t get their head around Rashford’s pace declining, he was getting matched by most full backs this season. He’s 34, even being genetically gifted and on peds he wouldn’t be the fastest in the league.
I’ve seen Walker catch up with speed demons like Vini, Mudryk and Gordon this season tbh mate. He’s ridiculous.
 
I’ve seen Walker catch up with speed demons like Vini, Mudryk and Gordon this season tbh mate. He’s ridiculous.
You’re mistaking catching a player with the ball with being faster than them. He was easily the fastest player a couple of years back but he’s not now. Genuinely even juicing he wouldn’t be able to do that with how professional football is.
 
True. I found it weird yesterday though that I can't think of one occasion where he used that pace to overlap down the right wing. I get it's Citys structure and it's worked extremely well for them, but it seemed like a massive waste of his pace and tactical inflexibility on City's part. We aren't exactly the best defence in the world and yet City didn't create a whole lot against us. If Walker had occasionally been overlapping on the right it would have tested us a lot more.

Because one thing we have in abundance is pace. If Walker got caught forward and they lost the ball they would have nobody to defend our counter.
 
In that video he seems very well media trained for someone who thought it was a good idea to do an exclusive with The Sun about his infidelity.
 
33 (and soon to be 34) ain't nothing nowadays, IF you follow the strict regime that's been set by the guys around the world that have set the standard to age like this. I mean, he's still in a major rare class in those that do age so well. But I do find it mad that the 2 33-34 year olds are pretty much, rightfully, England's 2 favoured right sided players despite a "generational" wealth of talent at the position behind them who for a variety of reasons can't quite usurp them.

I’ve been at the pub with Kyle Walker twice when he’s been quite drunk. He’s a good lad but he ain’t following any strict regimen
 
I don’t think he is to be fair anymore, people just can’t get their head around Rashford’s pace declining, he was getting matched by most full backs this season. He’s 34, even being genetically gifted and on peds he wouldn’t be the fastest in the league.
Which full backs were matching Rashford for pace?
 
City are going to miss the hell out of him when he retired/leaves. He saves them so often with his pace. In the CL he did it against Vini Jr. a few times when he would have been away otherwise.
 
Which full backs were matching Rashford for pace?
I can’t think of many he’s had the better of like we used to see. Can you name any?

His take on stats have steadily declined since he played through that injury, he’s just not as lightening quick as he once was.
 
I was surprised by just how articulate he is to be honest.

The thing with a player with his pace is that he doesn’t need to be the best defender or even that good offensively. By regularly being the fastest player on the pitch he transforms the way a team like City play, allowing them to push up and suffocate teams.
Without him, the whole team would have to be far more cautious or be way more susceptible to counters.
 
I’ve been at the pub with Kyle Walker twice when he’s been quite drunk. He’s a good lad but he ain’t following any strict regimen

He, and almost every player at City absolutely is.

Michael Jordan slept like 4 hours, drank, smoked cigars, played poker until the early hours and would sometimes play 36 holes of golf.... his regime was still unbelievably strict and why he was miles clear at 35, 25 years ago.

It's an absolute myth that you have to live like Brady and Ronaldo, but obviously it helps. You've just gotta be strict and exceptionally consistent, the motivation to keep that consistency after 30 wanes for most, especially when you've already been doing it for the best part of your life at that point.
 
He's really really good, amazing pace and strength makes it nearly impossible for wingers to get past him on pure acceleration. He managed Rashford and Garnacho on every single challenge either by pace or strength. He's 33 already and doesn't seem to be declining, physically at least he's a tank.

He's also the kind of player rival fans hate but you'd love to have on your team. City relies a lot on him bailing them out when they lose the ball and face a counter attack.

His only weakness is his positioning which isn't great, of course he has pace to make up for it but thats the only the weakness you can explode on him.
 
The City defence could have organised the counter better, but for me the main fault for that goal was none of the City midfielders tracking their runners, assuming the defence would pick them all up. Ends up 4 v 5 in the City box. Foden could easily have tracked Bruno and Wan-Bissaka wasn’t followed by Bernardo either(?).

Agreed. Something seemed off about our 2nd goal yesterday in the sense that it appeared so easy. Just been having a look now and it's definitely on their midfield for me.

When Bruno pops it in to Mainoo in our half it's Kovacic engaging Bruno. Kovacic then falls completely asleep. He stands still, watches the ball reach Mainoo then admires Mainoo's pass to Rashford. In that time Bruno starts to move forward and Kovacic goes from goalside of him to 6 or 7 yards behind him. At no point does he bust a gut to get back in.

Foden, who originally engages Mainoo passes him on to Stones which is fine, but then he really needs to chase after Bruno to cover up Kovacic's error. There are no other midfield runners, he can see he's free, and could get to him if he sprints but he doesn't. In the end both Foden and Kovacic are miles away from Bruno and Bruno wasn't sprinting the whole way.

When Garnacho is about to pass to Bruno, Ake is aware of Wan Bissaka and gets drawn there, Stones in turn is distracted by the pass to Bruno, and has to try and cover both him and Mainoo now which is impossible and we get the goal.

Walker has his eye on Rashford the whole time after half-facing him up as he played the cross field pass to Garnacho. Perhaps he can try to sprint back in early but then he's just leaving Rashford in a ton of space, albeit not imminently dangerous space. I think he's done the job he's supposed to do there for the most part. He does make a late effort to get back in but it's too late.

The biggest culprit was Kovacic for me, Foden second. Their mistakes/laziness left Walker and Stones with decisions to make.
 
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Not sure if it's been mentioned he had a hell of a game but was a complete cnut when Lisandro went off injured.
 
Positioning for that second goal was bad. So I'm not sure why people praise him that much.
 
City are going to miss the hell out of him when he retired/leaves. He saves them so often with his pace. In the CL he did it against Vini Jr. a few times when he would have been away otherwise.

He did, but again, he was at least partially at fault for the Rodrygo goal, completely lost track of him.
 
I think every player that's ever existed has lost some pace by 33.

Walker somehow is a complete one off. I'm not one for conspiracy but how has he done that.

I would be shocked, shocked I tell you, if a Pep Guardiola coached team would resort to that kind of thing.
 
He’s obviously stronger and faster than pretty much every other fullback in the league but as others have alluded the thing that really helps him in my opinion is the way he niggles at players just enough to put them off and allow him back in. He uses his hands and body just enough to nudge and distract a player without fouling them, helps to negate the pace differential where that exists. I used to play with a centre back who was a master at it, he knew to just push/nudge a faster attacker enough that they couldn’t hit top speed and allow him to keep up with much faster players. Walker doesn’t usually need it but he is an adept when he does.

Sounds like a librarian though :lol: