If that’s what you have to do to describe how shit Claudio Bravo is, then so be it.
A good pundit doesn’t spare fans’ dispositions.
Jamie Carragher doesn’t even spare his fellow Liverpudlians’ aggressive defence of Loris Karius. If someone’s bad, they’re called bad.
If someone’s good, they’re called good.
If it’s not Pogba’s fault, he’ll even argue that too. No bias.
On Monday night, he let rip at Claudio Bravo and it was bloody brilliant.
The stats that condemned the Manchester City goalkeeper showed how pathetic he’s been since Pep Guardiola brought him as what was supposed to be a key instrument to his new team.
Since December 1, the Spaniard has faced 22 shots in 8 games. He’s saved 8 of them. He’s conceded 14.
.@Carra23 spoke about Manchester City's Claudio Bravo problem on MNF. Read here: https://t.co/kDe5Dpalar pic.twitter.com/Cijwj9HbLA
— Sky Sports Retro (@SkySportsRetro) January 16, 2017
Now, stats don’t always tell the whole story. Stats aren’t always useful in any way. But there are three types of stats that are relevant. There are three types of stats that tell you most of what you need to know.
- The manager’s win ratio
- The centre forward’s strike rate
- The goalkeeper’s save percentage
When it comes to save percentages, Claudio Bravo is languishing at the bottom of the Premier League form table.
And it’s not like he’s been faced with unstoppable efforts as a despairing Carragher would tell you.
In that game against Chelsea, City conceded three on the breakaway.
Neither were particularly impossible to keep out. They were very damn possible to keep out if anything.
Second Captains’ Ken Early’s report on the game was brilliant.
“Diego Costa broke free and fired a shot into the middle of the net past a stationary Bravo.
“Willian broke free and fired a shot into the middle of the net past a stationary Bravo.
“Eden Hazard broke free and fired a shot into the middle of the net past a stationary Bravo.”
But he’s there to play football, you see. In this pure, total football side, Guardiola needs a ‘keeper good with his feet but, actually, what is his number one really doing with his feet that no-one else can do?
Bravo rushes outside his box, he takes a touch, he rolls it to either wing. Joe Hart isn’t a top ‘keeper – let’s nip that in the bud – but could he not take a touch and roll the ball out wide too? What is it that Bravo is contributing from open play that allows for his sieve-like body to stand doing nothing in goals? At least Joe Hart would save a few more of those tame efforts.
Anyone could do what Bravo is doing for City right now. Anyone could take a touch and roll the ball sideways. Anyone could watch a ball slide in past them.
Man City would be better with Yaya Toure in goals than Claudio Bravo.
He’d be just about as useless at shot-stopping. But at least he can actually play football.
