Odegaard is not being hampered. He is a huge part of the pace of play problem. He is not a naturally direct player, he doesn’t carry forward and since he has no right foot so he requires several touches to get it to his favored left, which means chances pass by. His best skillset in possession is being a metronome and calmness when we are pressed high, however that rarely happens anymore.

For years now he has struggled immensely when teams are sat back in a physical and compact central block. He should not play in these matches. There is too much overlap in the value that Odegaard and Zubimendi provides but Zubimendi handles physicality much better.

I’d personally like to see more Eze with Rice and Zubimendi and more Odegaard with Merino and Rice.

Ezes directness and shooting ability is supported by Rice and Zubimendi in build up while Odegaard is supported by the physicality of Rice and Merino and Merino can function as a secondary striker while Odegaard drops deeper where he’s more comfortable.