Americans Abroad Midweek Preview: Wright, Scally, and more

Gio was subbed on at the 78th minute for RW Elanga, but was slotted at the LW. Score was 1-1 at the time of Gio subbing on.

Below are some thoughts on the good, the bad, and the opportunities for improvement, for Gio’s first performance with Nottingham.

I will pre-empt the info below by acknowledging that I have no idea what Gio’s tactical instructions where by the NFFC coaching staff when he was preparing to sub on. The info below are general thoughts and based on the 4-2-3-1 formation.

Bad –

– Off the ball he does not show a good work rate, including not working hard to get goal side. If that continues, EPL teams will pick that up on video analysis and he will be exposed, including when they switch the field of play quickly and counter quickly

– He wants to be on the ball too much. This a problem if he is slotted as a winger

Opportunities for improvement –

– If he is playing on the wing, he must stay wide, unless the outside back is overlapping, and also look to stretch the defense.

– He needs to learn to play better with Gibbs- White…if formation is 4-2-3-1, and Gio is on the wing, he needs to work off the ball to create a passing option for Gibbs- White and / or making incisive runs for Gibbs-White

– When he is floating and “playing as #10,” he needs to look to play positive and / or direct more often, versus just keeping possession.

Good –

– Showed his technical skill and playmaking ability is up to snuff for EPL

– Showed enough to get some time as the #10 in this formation

– Defensively, and on the ball, he showed an above average work rate

From this initial run, there is nothing objective which indicates a reason to be worried about Gio getting injured because he is playing in the EPL, as there were no signs or incidents in this game of him getting kicked.