Have to admit, I haven't been impressed by this fella really. I was hoping and hoping and saw a glimmer of something but alas, his first season here has been like our overall season - ordinary.
I really get fed-up with hearing about how certain players are played out of position. When you are young you can be tried and tested in a number of positions, you should be capable of putting in a shift almost anywhere IMO. If you are a winger, you should be adaptable enough to play in Mick McArthies hole, as part of trio up top, in midfield, wide midfield of a four, and even full back.
Loads of players have started their careers in other positions only to find their niche somewhere else; where did Carra first start his? Gerrard when he first broke into the team was a very good full back. Players of that age are flexible and not necessarily specialised in any particular role.
Now, it doesn't matter where he plays on the pitch but simple things like running with the ball and kicking it 10 yards in front of him and chasing it, only to lose it doesn't bode well for a player looking to make something of himself. I've seen him do this plenty of times as well, either that or running with the ball into blind alleys. If there is no awareness, control and vision, it doesn't matter what position you are played in, your flaws will still be highlighted. His shooting in the final third is also a reason he can't get a look-in past Coutinho and Sterling - even their not the best shooters of a ball but this lad doesn't even compare to them. Like Henderson, there simply is no composure at all when Markovic sets-up to shoot. Out of all his qualities, the real positives I've seen from him are his work rate, nothing flamboyant, nothing tricky or nothing that makes him standout. If you are a quality youngster IMO, you should be able to play in a role asked of you and shine in it to an extent. I haven't seen that from him.
In order to try and give him the benefit of the doubt, i.e. looking like a rabbit caught in the headlights with a sight on goal, or failing to dribble the ball and having close control, or getting his head up instead of running into blind alley's, or simply becoming a bit of a passenger he could, as a youngster have anxiety in his game given that he is still young, moved to a new country, playing for a huge club with a weight of expectation cast round his shoulders, and not forgetting the price tag paid for him.
I hope the last paragraph is the case for him and he can improve next season but looking at him, I don't think he'll cut the Mustard because you've either got something about you, or you haven't - "it can't be coached into you" (Stu-the-red) and he hasn't shown that for me.
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