That was a continuation of a trend. He doesn't help us control midfield, and against Fulham that's a worry. I haven't seen anything special from the start, just another body in midfield.
15
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 18
- Goals
- 3
- Assists
- 1
- Yellow cards
- 1
- Status
Gets about really well, good press, always seems to arrive in really good spots in the box, good shot and good crisp passing, especially on the counter.
The deeper he plays though the less he seems able to do/be involved in. I still think he's adding good value and has been broadly good.
The deeper he plays though the less he seems able to do/be involved in. I still think he's adding good value and has been broadly good.
He's just too charismatic for the English Media I think... he's operating on a different level.
SO much better in the final third. Hes got a good shot on him and im happy he got the goal (nice finish).
He was a timely loan for us and has done well for us so far.
He was a timely loan for us and has done well for us so far.
My preference is for two midfield additions to both be high quality passers to counter our deficiency in this area. That or one of them a good dribbler to help bear the press. The kid at STH seems to have good feet if we can’t get two good passers.
That’s my issue with him too. We need control more than we need someone to float around putting a foot in and trying to be box to box
I like him.
I think he'll score a few goals for us.
I'd happily sign him for the right price if he's happy being rotated.
Because he's not a controlling midfielder. Said it before he signed. He's similar to Fred in the role he plays, but different qualities (not as loose on the ball, stronger, better shot, but less nimble, worse dribbling and link up which Fred excels at in the attacking third).
Which was important as we lost Eriksen so we needed 2 players to rotate that spot. In the summer he wouldn't make sense if we sign a starting CM to partner Casemiro. Maybe makes sense if we sell McTominay, sign Lavia, and then have Fred, Sabitzer, Eriksen and sometimes Lavia to play in the CM position, Lavia and Casemiro and sometimes Sabitzer to be the DMs, Bruno and then Eriksen/Sancho to play CAM. Would be good depth where 1 injury doesn't kill you and plenty of games to rotate between all of them. But Sabitzer is an extra 3rd man cover at that point rather than being either the starter or first backup in either of those deep positions. Needed, but not as big of a priority.
A lot of comparisons with our missing/not selected players but I think we are failing to understand the player rather than shoehorning a position.
Although he can tackle and read danger he isn't a 6, although he can pass and shoot he isn't an 8 that we are accustomed to with Fred, I would see him more as cover for Bruno than anywhere else.
He has a good eye for goal, makes good runs in the final third and I do believe he used to be a Striker/winger so I don't understand the criticism when we aren't playing him in his best position aka the Weghorst position, I would love to see a trial run of
Casemiro - Fred/Eriksen
Antony - Sabitzer - Sancho
Rashford
And then we know we can bring on Bruno if it doesn't work
Although he can tackle and read danger he isn't a 6, although he can pass and shoot he isn't an 8 that we are accustomed to with Fred, I would see him more as cover for Bruno than anywhere else.
He has a good eye for goal, makes good runs in the final third and I do believe he used to be a Striker/winger so I don't understand the criticism when we aren't playing him in his best position aka the Weghorst position, I would love to see a trial run of
Casemiro - Fred/Eriksen
Antony - Sabitzer - Sancho
Rashford
And then we know we can bring on Bruno if it doesn't work
Can't quite figure this player out tbf. When he's on the ball he does the right things. It's just that it's far too seldom. After the games he's played in, I'm asking myself: did he play?
We can't have someone playing in midfield who hardly gets involved.
We can't have someone playing in midfield who hardly gets involved.
This I agree with 100%
Would like to see him partner with Cas and Eriksen before comment on, definitely good enough to play for us based on his performance with RB leipzig.
The question is can he pick up his old form, with better understanding of his new teammate and more time under Eth, I am pretty sure he will be better than McT and even Fred.
He is a box to box CDM, shoot well from outside the box, and is hard working presser, technically he is much better than McT, easily a ETH type of player.
Now he have 3 more games to perform, let's hope he can do well as our top 4 spot is far from secured, now Rashy is injured too, we need everyone to step up if we are to archive more this season.
The question is can he pick up his old form, with better understanding of his new teammate and more time under Eth, I am pretty sure he will be better than McT and even Fred.
He is a box to box CDM, shoot well from outside the box, and is hard working presser, technically he is much better than McT, easily a ETH type of player.
Now he have 3 more games to perform, let's hope he can do well as our top 4 spot is far from secured, now Rashy is injured too, we need everyone to step up if we are to archive more this season.
Started as a second striker in his first season, then played as a "right winger" for 3,5 seasons, and then the last 1,5 season as central midfielder after a formation change where they went from 4 to 5 at the back.
His ratings as CM aren't exactly spectacular (at least not compared to his winger/AM-ratings). It's really worth noting that when playing CM in a midfield two for Leipzig they were usually playing 5 at the back, which means there's 3 central players behind him. That changes the dynamic a lot.
In their winter report for 2019-20 (which was his last half-season playing on the right) kicker actually ranked him #1 attacking midfielder in the league. (Link).
The way Leipzig played he usually wasn't a touchline winger, but more of a AM/winger hybrid where he'd drift into the box quite a bit (just like Nkunku or Forsberg on the other side). They were more or less playing with 2 defensive midfielders and a fluid front 4 with 2 attacking midfielders/wingers and 2 strikers (usually helping set up things on either flank by the looks of it). (Note that these are deductions based off of touches made, and not actually me having watched any serious footage).
I think that giving him some playtime on the right (start with sub appearances, then see how he gets on) once Eriksen is back could be interesting. Maybe he could even play AM with Bruno out wide or rested (less likely).
Thanks, excellent response. Sounds like the Austrian James Milner! Which I'd take for sure.
He might, in the end accept the reality that he is being rotated but if it’s put to him that he’s being signed as back up or squad option he’ll tell us to feck off and rightly so.
I’ve seen this type of thing posted so much in this thread. Stuff like “we should sign him if he’s happy to play half the games”. We’d never find that out until after he’s signed.
Interesting idea, except that if Bruno is fit he plays, everyone knows that. Sabitzer has played all over, you’re right, but his best position is no8 alongside a proper no6. I think Case and Sabitzer behind Bruno would be well balanced.
With five subs he'd participate in most games just not start them. It's a squad game these days.
Sabitzer would be getting a lot more time if it wasn't for our fixture congestion. There is no time to work on anything other than recovery and some drills/plans for the next game.
Last edited:
True. I was just making the point that we will never ask him to sign on the proviso that he promises to be happy to be a squad player. He wouldn’t volunteer for that. All players should have the right attitude towards being part of a squad and do their bit when required of course but you don’t lead with that when you’re trying to sign someone.
The lads barely had a run of games and some people are righting him off.
One thing I note, his passing absolutely brilliant. Over the course of his short stint he's done a few really good bended balls round the back of the defence that a faster striker might have been on to. He also supports the attack really well and always seems to be in a dangerous position when the ball breaks.
One thing I note, his passing absolutely brilliant. Over the course of his short stint he's done a few really good bended balls round the back of the defence that a faster striker might have been on to. He also supports the attack really well and always seems to be in a dangerous position when the ball breaks.
Yes, but probably only one. We are still restricted on how much money we can use, and one qualify midfielder and one quality striker is already a lot of money. We could perhaps sell players and buy Sabitzer for a decent price, but I think we'll be disappointed if we expect 4-5 players in.
Yeah very true, but I believe we are starting to see the detriment to that as Bruno is showing signs of mental fatigue recently, his decision making under pressure has progressively gotten worse the more he's played.
I would be interested to see how we would play with Case at the No.6, then a combo of Sabitzer/Fred/Eriksen as 2x No.8s
Essentially a 4-3-3 with a CDM & 2x B2B CMs instead of a 6/8/10 option for when we need midfield control aka the Fulham game
Yes I prefer 433 against certain teams. But even then, Bruno probably plays, not as one of the two no8s but as a RW. Bruno does get a bit ragged at times but even then, he’s usually one of our most influential attackers.
Good player but I think he is sometimes a bit in and out of games. Not quite to the extent of someone like Donny but he has gone missing a bit during spells. It would probably help him to play more alongside Casemiro where we will dominate possession a bit more and he won't have to do as much defensive work
He’s a better version of Donny, and not all that much better either.
Yeah. From Sabitzer’s own point of view he has been very unlucky to get almost no game time alongside Case.
I don’t see much similarity. He’s much more physical for a start. He pisses on Donny, to be blunt.
He has a different skill set to Donny but suffers similar issues in that he just drifts around the periphery of games or just seems to fade into the background. He does lots of things ok, but doesn’t seem to excel in any of them. He’s the kind of player we’d sign then spend 3 years moving around from position to position waiting in vain for it to click for him.
He’s not good enough.
I like him but he's another midfielder who doesn't seem to want to be in midfield. Bit of a headless chicken.
If he actually plonked himself centrally, became an option for the back four to pass to, he might be really useful.
If he actually plonked himself centrally, became an option for the back four to pass to, he might be really useful.
Exactly. He's a kind of floating 8/10 but hasn't got the physicality or speed of thought to impose himself on premier league games. He does scamper about eagerly, I'll give him that. He's tidy on the ball when he does get it, and he looks useful in the final third.
I guess his audition will continue for another 10 weeks. If he hasn't significantly raised his level by then, then we should absolutely give it a miss. There are midfielders available on a free who would be better bets than spending £15-20m on this guy.
Its to early to judge before we see him next to Casemiro. Look at Fred with Casemiro vs Fred next to McTomminay. Its night and day. Sabitzer has showed signs that there is a good player there.
I'd really like him to replace McT and see him next to Eriksen and/or Casemiro. Think he will play a part in this busy run in for sure.
Good player but doesn't fit the profile we need in terms of transfer priority unless he was dirt cheap or we have a massive budget in the summer.
Also I'm hoping Mebri is going to take that bench 6/8 spot next season.
Also I'm hoping Mebri is going to take that bench 6/8 spot next season.
Captain's Austria. I can see we've gone for leaders and it was much needed whether buying or loaning. It's good were looking at people's characters too when making a signing or bringing them here
Scored for Austria.
Ye it’s been a long time coming but ETH is always mentioning a winning culture and winning mentality so it’s clear to see what type of players he’s targeting.
Scored 2 so far. One of them an absolutely brilliant fk. Playing really well overall
He wears #9 for his country.
He seems to be a nein for much of the Caf, too.
- Status