Sambi Lokonga: Sam Be the Man in Midfield?

[Henry boi]

He will get better that's for sure

 

[boonthegoon]

Got an early yellow, still played decently
Have no issues with him

 

[RunTheTrap]

He’s been fine. Some dodgy moments but overall he’s okay and I’m pleased we signed him. In fact, it kinda shows just how overrated Xhaka’s importance to the first team is. Sambi is doing nothing extraordinary but he keeps things ticking and is good under pressure.

 

[Farzad Stoned]

He’s been fine. Some dodgy moments but overall he’s okay and I’m pleased we signed him. In fact, it kinda shows just how overrated Xhaka’s importance to the first team is. Sambi is doing nothing extraordinary but he keeps things ticking and is good under pressure.

All of my memories of Xhaka outside a couple long range blasts is of him being red carded. I don’t know how people rate him. Sambi is more difficult to press and when he loses the ball he has the desire and pace to get back and break up the counter without going to ground and putting us at risk

 

[A_G]

 

[Henry boi]

Yeah you can see that lokonga is an intelligent player, never seems rushed but honesty the way he plays he is more busquets than Yaya imo.

 

[Barry]

Yeah you can see that lokonga is an intelligent player, never seems rushed but honesty the way he plays he is more busquets than Yaya imo.

If he develops into either of those players then we're dining good!

 

[drippin]

Nice.

A side sidenote, I'd hope people start calling him Sambi like Kompany does here, (or Albert) like he wished in his interview.

He doesn't want to be called Lokonga, but almost everyone still does it.

 

[Wiltorrrrrrd]

hiding in certain parts which xhaka doesnt do.

Yeah, Granit just gets sent off when he doesn't fancy it

 

[Wiltorrrrrrd]

The Kompany comments are good but Joel is so annoying

 

[Jury]

Wasn't aware he ruptured an ACL in 2018. Hope he stays on course.

 

[rich 1990]

Why is the thread title mocking him? I like him a lot, he's done really well.

 

[Farzad Stoned]

I like Sambi, I’d like a ham sandwich in midfield before Xhaka, but he does have a certain ease and comfort on the ball, and for a skinny midfielder he mixes it up nicely. He has to develop a bit of the end product. There are a lot of players who look really nice on the ball and are really fast but are useless to the side because they can neither shoot or pass, Iwobi comes to mind. He doesn’t need to chip in a lot going forward but he has to pitch in and at least create a lot of key passes and assists. He doesn’t strike me as a player who lacks end product but it is always a danger.

 

[Henry boi]

I like Sambi, I’d like a ham sandwich in midfield before Xhaka, but he does have a certain ease and comfort on the ball, and for a skinny midfielder he mixes it up nicely. He has to develop a bit of the end product. There are a lot of players who look really nice on the ball and are really fast but are useless to the side because they can neither shoot or pass, Iwobi comes to mind. He doesn’t need to chip in a lot going forward but he has to pitch in and at least create a lot of key passes and assists. He doesn’t strike me as a player who lacks end product but it is always a danger.

What do busquets, frenkie de jong fabinho etc stats look like

 

[Barry]

I like Sambi, I’d like a ham sandwich in midfield before Xhaka, but he does have a certain ease and comfort on the ball, and for a skinny midfielder he mixes it up nicely. He has to develop a bit of the end product. There are a lot of players who look really nice on the ball and are really fast but are useless to the side because they can neither shoot or pass, Iwobi comes to mind. He doesn’t need to chip in a lot going forward but he has to pitch in and at least create a lot of key passes and assists. He doesn’t strike me as a player who lacks end product but it is always a danger.

You can't have three midfielders who don't score or create but you can just about get away with two if they are good enough. I get your point though.

 

[Farzad Stoned]

What do busquets, frenkie de jong fabinho etc stats look like

I didn’t say he needed goals or even assists we need him to fulfill his distribution duties with some forward thinking in a midfield that struggles to create chances. I bet both those guys you named get a ton of hockey assists also Busquets plays deeper. If he produces the assists and key passes of Frankie I’ll be happy

 

[Farzad Stoned]

You can't have three midfielders who don't score or create but you can just about get away with two if they are good enough. I get your point though.

I actually think you need all three to both pick a pass and put in a challenge people hate Mo because he passes sideways only or backwards. Modern midfielder has to be a jack of all trades to an extent especially when you don’t have traditional number 10s anymore you can’t afford two pure water carriers anymore or your teams play like Jose’s teams

 

[CaseUteinberger]

I’d like a ham sandwich in midfield before Xhaka

Thanks mate! Made me laugh!

 

[BigPoppaPump]

Nice.

A side sidenote, I'd hope people start calling him Sambi like Kompany does here, (or Albert) like he wished in his interview.

He doesn't want to be called Lokonga, but almost everyone still does it.

Sambi feels to informal, I don't know him like that.

 

[samspade]

I like Sambi, I’d like a ham sandwich in midfield before Xhaka, but he does have a certain ease and comfort on the ball, and for a skinny midfielder he mixes it up nicely. He has to develop a bit of the end product. There are a lot of players who look really nice on the ball and are really fast but are useless to the side because they can neither shoot or pass, Iwobi comes to mind. He doesn’t need to chip in a lot going forward but he has to pitch in and at least create a lot of key passes and assists. He doesn’t strike me as a player who lacks end product but it is always a danger.

I think he has the end product in his locker personally, I don’t know how it’s escaped people’s notice and I wish I had a video to back me up but he’s put people through or into very advantageous positions quite a few times this season. He put Laca through with a beautiful, deft pass in the opening minutes against Watford but the fans and commentary totally ignored it.

I believe his line splitting passing skills will further reveal them selves in time as he has a feal for the press, he can read people’s body weight and find unexpected options as a result. The skills that allow him to elude challenges are closely related to the ones that will eventually show them selves in his passing. I think he’s a better a player than Arsenal fans realise.