Colin Reese

Why Christian Pulisic is Different than Other American Players

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What distinguishes Christian Pulisic from Landon Donovan and even Clint Dempsey is that Pulisic is faster than Dempsey and more skilled and creative than Donovan.

Dribbling

If Dempsey had the same electric pace that Pulisic has, he would have been more capable of eluding defenders and getting into even more scoring positions.

Pulisic is a dangerous and aggressive attacking player who can beat defenders going right or left. He even tends to go side to side on defenders until they are off balance, and then he takes off in the other direction.

This last quality makes him much different from Donovan. Donovan could beat defenders with change of direction or change of pace, but Pulisic can beat defenders with more of the trickery and skill that elite attacking players around the world use.

For the first time ever, there is an American player who can dribble straight past international competition or elite European club competition with real directness and score. Dempsey would have given anything to have that extra gear of speed that Pulisic has.

Passing

From all appearances, Pulisic is a more creative and adventurous passer than Donovan, but Dempsey as never hesitated to hit an audacious first time pass with accuracy.

Pulisic excels at quick combination passes and incisive final balls through the defense, and he has the vision to see openings in the defense quickly.

As much as Pulisic is a great 1v1 player, he’s equally as good as a passer where he creates goals and scoring chances every game. Pulisic already looks like a better playmaker than the United States has ever had, and when he first started for the U.S. in a playmaking role, the United States started playing a more creative and technical style of soccer than they had ever played.

Shooting & Scoring

Dempsey has never had any hesitation about attacking the goal or shooting, and Pulisic too has no problem pulling the trigger when he gets a foot of separation from his defender.

Like Donovan and Dempsey, Pulisic can score with both feet. You don’t see Pulisic waiting to get the ball back on his stronger right foot before shooting. He’ll unleash the shot off his left foot as soon as there’s an opportunity.

Pulisic has been scoring consistently for both the United States and for Borussia Dortmund, which is even more impressive.

Pulisic is only a teenager, and although his career has just started, we’ve seen enough to declare that he’s a level above Dempsey and Donovan, if only because he combines elite skill with elite speed.

 

Here are just a few highlights of Pulisic:

 

 

Breaking Down the United States’ September World Cup Qualifying Roster against Costa Rica and Honduras

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Bruce Arena selected 26 United States players (three extra players) for his 23-man roster for September’s World Cup qualifiers against Costa Rica and Honduras. The only real surprise on the roster was Chris Wondolowski, who was selected despite the roster having three other center forwards and Clint Dempsey.

Formation 

The roster appears set up to use a 4-1-3-2 formation with Michael Bradley playing as the lone defensive midfielder and Christian Pulisic playing as the center attacking midfielder behind two forwards.

Goalkeeper

Tim Howard and Brad Guzan were the first and second choice goalkeepers respectively on this U.S. roster, and Howard will probably start both games.

The Defense

With starting right back DeAndre Yedlin and starting center back John Brooks injured, Arena has two hard lineup choices to make. At right back, Arena seems to favor starting Graham Zusi, but, since it’s a World Cup qualifier, Eric Lichaj is the more experienced right back who has played the position longer.

For John Brooks spot, look for Omar Gonzalez or either Tim Ream or Matt Besler to start. Geoff Cameron as the team’s best defender will be starting at one of the two center back spots, and Besler might be the likely starting left center back because Cameron has been playing right center back for the United States.

At left back, Jorge Villafaña is the first-choice starter, and he has provided the U.S. with constant attacking play down the left sideline and plenty of balls played into the box or into dangerous positions at the top of the penalty box. Villafaña has a good understanding with Nagbe at left wing, and Nagbe frequently cuts inside where he can be more dangerous and Villafaña overlaps him down the left sideline.

Look for Lichaj, Cameron, Besler, and Villafaña to start as the U.S. Back Four.

Midfield

The U.S. midfield is pretty set as of right now. Bradley will play as the defensive midfielder behind a line of Paul Arriola, Christian Pulisic, and Darlington Nagbe from right to left as the line of three attacking midfielders.

There’s a chance that Fabian Johnson could start at right wing over Arriola, but Arriola has built up some momentum and credit with Arena at right wing. Johnson’s recent U.S. performances haven’t stood out enough to make him a lock as a starter.

Arena was smart enough to also include Kellyn Acosta, Dax McCarty, and Cristian Roldan on the roster. There’s a possibility of Acosta starting with Bradley, but that would change the formation to a 4-2-3-1, which would force either Dempsey or Pulisic to play wide. Alejandro Bedoya is also on the roster with Kelyn Rowe injured.

Forwards

Up top, World Soccer Source predicts Clint Dempsey and Bobby Wood starting as the two forwards. Dempsey is simply too good and too in form to not start, and Wood is a more dangerous, more talented, and faster forward than Jozy Altidore. Wood provides more movement than Altidore, and he’s more direct and clinical than Altidore.

It’s possible Wood and Altidore could start up top with Dempsey on the bench, but that’s risky considering how much the U.S. needs to get six points from these two games to get closer to first place in CONCACAF World Cup qualifying.

 

Complete USA Roster

GOALKEEPERS (3): Brad Guzan (Atlanta United FC; 14/0), Tim Howard (Colorado Rapids; 36/0), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake; 0/0)

DEFENDERS (9): DaMarcus Beasley (Houston Dynamo; 34/6), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City; 11/1), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City/ENG; 22/2), Omar Gonzalez (Pachuca/MEX; 15/0), Matt Hedges (FC Dallas; 0/0), Eric Lichaj (Nottingham Forest/ENG; 0/0), Tim Ream (Fulham/ENG; 5/0), Jorge Villafaña (Santos Laguna/MEX; 3/0), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City; 18/3)

MIDFIELDERS (9): Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas; 4/0), Paul Arriola (D.C. United; 3/1), Alejandro Bedoya (Philadelphia Union; 9/0), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC/CAN; 35/7), Fabian Johnson (Borussia Mönchengladbach/GER; 16/1), Dax McCarty (Chicago Fire; 0/0), Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers; 7/0), Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund/GER; 9/5), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders FC; 0/0)

FORWARDS (5): Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC/CAN; 38/16), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC; 39/18), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders FC; 3/0), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes; 0/0), Bobby Wood (Hamburg/GER; 10/4)

Darlington Nagbe Must Become More Selfish

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Darlington Nagbe has been told that he must be more selfish numerous times by many coaches. His club coach Caleb Porter has told him, and his U.S. National Team coach Bruce Arena has also told him.

Yesterday, Nagbe scored a wonder goal against United States goalkeeper, Tim Howard. What made the goal a wonder goal was how Nagbe sent the ball up over Howard and back down quickly and from close range. Nagbe also scored the goal from basically a standstill, which required him to put so much curve and spin on the shot without a run up to the ball. In fact, the shot was so good and so unstoppable that Howard didn’t even move, rather he just watched it go over his head and drop into the net.

 


Nagbe’s goal resembled a ping pong shot hit with lots of top spin, and the degree of difficulty on the goal further showcases how Nagbe must get into the penalty box for the United States more and take more shots. The fact that Nagbe scored the goal on a goalkeeper of Howard’s quality and experience just further adds to the level of the goal.

So far for the United States, Nagbe has mostly used his individual skill to surge forward with the ball into the attack, but he’s hesitated to get into the penalty box to hit quality shots on goal. Christian Pulisic in comparison or of course Clint Dempsey don’t hesitate to really attack the goal with more boldness or aggressiveness than Nagbe.

The Portland Timbers midfielder isn’t exactly a playmaker, but he does have the skill set to play this role. In the upcoming World Cup qualifiers, Arena will hope to see Nagbe surge into the penalty box and attack the goal with the same flair and spontaneity with which he left Howard for dead yesterday.

Nagbe has repeatedly been called one of the most talented players in the pool by many of the best American players, and his game could use more selfishness and more use of his left foot, which he rarely uses. In the upcoming World Cup qualifiers, Nagbe should look to combine more with Pulisic and Dempsey, and Nagbe should attack the penalty box and take more shots.

 

Milan Would Be Wise to Keep M’Baye Niang

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Maybe this is a hot take, but even with all of Milan’s summer signings, it would be a shame if Milan let M’Baye Niang go instead of incorporating him into the team.

As a player, the French forward has world-class speed, excellent technical ability and creativity, and a frenetic work rate. Niang’s 1v1 abilities are first rate, and he also has an excellent left foot despite being right footed. Anyone who has seen Niang play can testify to his electric style of play, and it’s a wonder that Milan are even open to selling him. It sometimes feels like clubs are too quick to push good players out on an ice flow.

Watching Niang at full speed with or without the ball is a sight to see, and when you combine this with outstanding technical ability, you have to give the Frenchman his due.

Even for a forward playing in Serie A, you would have to describe Niang’s skill level as first-rate. The dribbling, passing, and shooting showcased by the French attacker stands out from others on the field, and he is also a dead ball specialist who can score off a free kick or put in excellent balls off corner kicks.

In today’s modern football, clubs are willing to buy and sell players so quickly, and a talent like Niang obligates the coach to put in some extra time to cultivate a special talent. No one has ever accused Niang of not running enough or not playing hard enough, and if you combine that with his individual dribbling skill at pace and from a stop, you have to wonder what exactly Milan is doing.

Niang has received some criticism for not scoring more goals, and others have made the claim that Niang must improve his finishing. But, based on several of Niang’s excellent goals with his weaker left foot from the run of play, you’d have to question whether or not the French striker even has a problem with finishing. Someone can question his finishing, but it gets harder to support such a claim when you rewatch several of his goals.

Niang once missed a goal in the Champions League vs. Barcelona when his shot nicked off the post, but it was just a close miss off the post that even a blade of grass or a drop of water on the field could have caused.

He is a flashy player, but Niang’s play always creates problem’s for opposing defenses and opens up games. He isn’t a player whose fancy tricks hinder his team from building up a rhythm. When Niang plays he makes Milan more dangerous and direct.

No matter what you hear or read about Niang, don’t forget to watch him for yourself. The Frenchman has an ease with executing tricks and blowing past defenders, and many of these tricks are tricks that very few players can actually pull off at pace in games against strong competition. Niang’s tricks and moves aren’t fruitless, but rather they are highly effective at eluding defenders and getting into the penalty box.

Niang has been called a prodigy and a phenomenon for a reason, and his electric and creative play is always accompanied by non-stop running and working for the team. The French striker can’t be accused of walking around the field or checking out of games.

Maybe it’s an opinion in the minority, but selling an extremely fast and technical player like Niang seems like a shortsighted decision of the “grass is always greener” mentality, especially since the Frenchman isn’t a burner but an attacker with elite skill on the ball.

Below is a video of his highlights from last season, and his electric play and skill are on full display:

 

Bobby Wood Should Start in the September World Cup qualifiers for the United States

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Bobby Wood is too electric and too clinical not to start alongside Clint Dempsey for the United States in the September World Cup qualifiers.

For many Jozy Altidore is the first-choice U.S. center forward, but he doesn’t provide the same scoring threat as Wood. The Hawaiian Number 9 plays more direct and more aggressive than Altidore who doesn’t look to get behind the defense as much as Wood.

When Wood plays he makes runs all over the attack looking to receive a through ball or chip over the defense, and he attacks the goal more. Altidore has really improved his passing and playmaking, and this causes him to often not be high enough up the field to receive a final ball. Wood on the other hand plays higher up the field and also attacks defenders directly off the dribble, and he has better 1v1 skills than Altidore.

A trademark of Wood’s play for the U.S. is his willingness and accuracy with half chances and shots off the turn. Even when he’s marked, he can create enough space to hit a quality shot on goal. A more electric and creative forward like Wood is harder for opposing defenses to contain, and his play draws the attention of defenders, which leaves Christian Pulisic and Dempsey more open.

Often center forwards are either the kind that like to play with their back to goal or the type that face the goal and try to slip behind the defense. Altidore actually likes to face the goal and receive balls to feet in space, but Wood does this same thing better. When you watch Altidore and Wood play, you have to concede that Wood is the one that looks smoother, faster, and more skilled, and those qualities are much more effective and harder to defend.

There’s nothing wrong with Wood and Altidore starting together, but if the option is one or the other with Dempsey, then the best choice is Wood who is faster, more clinical, and more direct than Altidore.

Statement Game from Christian Pulisic on Bundesliga Matchday 1

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Christian Pulisic looks like he has Landon Donovan’s speed with Clint Dempsey’s technical ability and creativity.

Pulisic starts for Borussia Dortmund in an attacking position, and that already puts him ahead of all other American players in the past in terms of the skill required to play at that level.

Pulisic is playing in the Bundesliga, which is a league with much more skill than the English Premier League. Playing in Germany, Spain, or Italy has always been more impressive than playing club soccer in England.

Pulisic’s game on Matchday 1 for Dortmund was something of a statement game. The American teenager was impressive for Dortmund last season, but on Matchday 1 he was one of the focal points of a squad with the German playmaker and forward, Mario Götze, who scored the winning goal of the 2014 World Cup, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, a striker that everyone wants because he’s one of the best scorers and Number 9s in the world.

The USA Number 10 has a lot of flash to his game, and more so than Dempsey, Pulisic is able to use that flair and skill to fake out defenders and blow past them off the dribble.

I can still remember how Donovan told the press after Benny Feilhaber scored his 2007 Gold Cup winning volley against Mexico that he (Donovan) was thinking “No!” when he saw Feilhaber about to hit his volley, and this illustrates how Feilhaber and of course Pulisic and Dempsey were more willing to go for big plays without overthinking them. Donovan was thinking no, but Feilhaber was thinking “I can smash this volley in with the outside of my foot.”

In the same way, Pulisic is an aggressive and bold player who plays with flair, and flair is unpredictable and hard to defend. Bruce Arena was right to start Pulisic as the United States’ playmaker and Number 10 behind Clint Dempsey and another forward. It’s possible that the leading role Pulisic played for the U.S. recently emboldened him to be more aggressive for Dortmund.

The way that Pulisic scored his goal on Matchday 1 by firing his shot between a small gap between two defenders to the far post is a perfect example of how Pulisic is the real deal. That goal required the boldness to take the shot where there was only half a chance, and it required the skill to be able to execute the shot in the Bundesliga from the run of play.

The most notable thing about the American teenager, Pulisic, is definitely the combination of skill, creativity, speed, and a big-game mentality. Dempsey didn’t have the extra gear of speed that Pulisic has.

 

Projecting the United States Roster for September’s World Cup Qualifiers

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Projecting the United States Roster for September’s World Cup Qualifiers

World Soccer Source recently published a “Who Should the United States Call Up for the September World Cup Qualifiers?” article, and now there have been several injuries to defenders DeAndre Yedlin, John Brooks, and Omar Gonzalez, so coach Bruce Arena will have some hard roster choices to make. In front of the defense and in the goal there are no injuries to key players with the exception of Kelyn Rowe who’s made a strong argument for a substitute spot in the midfield.

Here are World Soccer Source’s predictions for Arena’s roster selections for the September World Cup qualifiers:

Goalkeepers: Tim Howard, Brad Guzan, Ethan Horvath

Tim Howard and Brad Guzan are instant selections, and you’d have to think Ethan Horvath is the third-choice pick if William Yarbrough isn’t selected. Yarbrough plays in Liga MX, and he’s done well for the U.S. in the past where he’s played with authority and confidence.

The U.S. has never had problems with goalkeepers. The problem has been having technical skill at every other position and special skill in the attacking positions, so the third goalkeeper spot isn’t that crucial.

Defenders: Graham Zusi, Eric Lichaj, Geoff Cameron, Walker Zimmerman, Matt Besler, Tim Ream, Jorge Villafaña, Justin Morrow

Lots of injuries to American defenders. Starting left center back John Brooks is injured, and maybe Big Bruce lives a little and calls up Walker Zimmerman and Steve Birnbaum who have both done well for the U.S. in the past in the center of the defense since even Omar Gonzalez is also injured.

Luckily Matt Besler is available, and the good thing about him is that he isn’t slow and he isn’t poor technically, although he could stand to just play some easy passes on the ground instead of playing soft chips to nobody when he doesn’t have any life-changing passing ideas.

Arena will have to start Graham Zusi at right back, and Zusi hasn’t been bad at a position that he has basically been forced to play by his club coach and Arena. He’s done a decent job at right back because he has decent speed and good technique with both feet. At left back, Jorge Villafaña has to be the starter with Justin Morrow as his substitute. I though Morrow looked pretty smooth and aggressive going forward at left back, which is what you’d expect from a left back. We’ll see if he keeps improving and looking good.

Midfielders: Michael Bradley, Dax McCarty, Kellyn Acosta, Cristian Roldan, Paul Arriola, Christian Pulisic, Darlington Nagbe, Alejandro Bedoya

The United States has been using four midfielders with Michael Bradley as the defensive midfielder and Paul Arriola, Christian Pulisic, and Darlington Nagbe from right to left.

From that trio, Pulisic is the playmaker or Number 10 without question, and Arriola is the likely right wing starter with Sebastian Lletget still injured.

Dax McCarty, Kellyn Acosta, and Cristian Roldan are all substitutes or partners for Bradley depending on the formation. Acosta and Roldan are box-to-box midfielders or central midfielders.

Injuries have forced Alejandro Bedoya to likely be on this roster, and Bedoya lacks the smoothness and passing ability of Lletget and Rowe, both injured.

Nagbe has excelled as a left wing where he adds to the team’s creativity and technical ability, but the Portland Timbers player needs to be more selfish and aggressive closer to goal. He’s really involved and active in the midfield, but closer to goal he hesitates to pull the trigger or burst into the penalty area.

Forwards: Clint Dempsey, Bobby Wood, Jozy Altidore, Jordan Morris

You have to think that Clint Dempsey and Bobby Wood are the starting forwards here. For as much as Jozy Altidore has looked smoother and more dynamic, Dempsey is too good not to start, plus he has a great partnership with Christian Pulisic.

Bobby Wood is a more dangerous Number 9 that Altidore for a variety of reasons. Wood is more technical, more clinical, and more direct forward than Altidore. Wood is also better at creating his own shot, finishing off balls in scoring positions, and stretching the defense. Since the U.S. has a playmaking like Pulisic, Wood is the player who makes the runs that Pulisic can feed.

You even have to say that Jordan Morris might be more dangerous that Altidore. The Seattle Sounders forward runs all over the attack non-stop and he’s never needed an invitation to attack the goal and score. Altidore is a good center forward, no doubt about it, but too many people feel like backing Wood over Altidore is somehow betraying Altidore. A team needs several quality center forwards.

 

Free Range Neymar Shows Out in Home Debut for Paris Saint-Germain

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In his first game as a Paris Saint-Germain player in the Parc des Princes, Neymar ran amok and humiliated Toulouse with his individual skill and ability to create for his teammates. Neymar had two goals and two assists in his home debut, and he didn’t let the crowd down.

There’s no doubt that playing without Lionel Messi has freed Neymar up to express himself more on the field, and that led to plenty of goals and assists for Paris Saint-Germain. Despite all the praise heaped on Neymar for his solo play, the Brazilian is a team player with a track record of taking his teams far.

Julio Gomes of UOL lamented Neymar’s playmaker position in his first PSG game against Guingamp away, but in Neymar’s home debut, Gomes felt that Neymar was playing his free role on the left on paper as he does for Brazil. For me, there was no difference; Neymar was free to go wherever he wanted.

While Neymar did trash plenty of Toulouse players off the dribble, you can’t really say that he was selfish or the proverbial ball hog, but there was some talk of whether or not Neymar was being disrespectful to his opponents by really showing them up.

The counter argument to this is of course that Neymar was paid to play his personal brand of flair and skill soccer, and there is the other counterargument that soccer is for entertainment. People come to the games and watch on TV and online to be entertained. If Neymar leaves someone for dead with a rainbow, then that’s fair.

This was statement game for Neymar, if you can say this for someone who is already easily the third best player in the world, and maybe the second best player in the world. This was the first time that Neymar was the leader of his own team in Europe in a big venue, and the Brazilian definitely did not disappoint. You have to remember that PSG is absolutely loaded with elite and world-class players, so the fact that Neymar stands out so much for his individual skill and speed of play and speed of thought really says something.

Neymar was everywhere for PSG, and leaving Barcelona is letting Neymar show more of his game. The PSG and Brazil Number 10 looks more versatile than Messi, if it’s safe to say that without being dogpiled by keyboard warriors on the internet. Whereas Messi has his trademark Stratavarius left foot as Ray Hudson of BeIN Sports calls it, Neymar uses both feet interchangeably to dribble, pass, and shoot.

Neymar is the man on fire right now, and no one would blame you for watching Neymar play instead of a Barcelona game.

Translation: Neymar debuts in a Messi role, playmaking and farther from goal

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Julio Gomes has a blog for the Brazilian site, UOL Esporte, where he recently wrote the following article about Neymar:

“Neymar estreia “à la Messi”, armando jogo e mais longe do gol”

Translation: Neymar debuts in a Messi role, playmaking and farther from goal

Here is the link for the article, and the translation from Brazilian Portuguese is below:

https://blogdojuliogomes.blogosfera.uol.com.br/2017/08/13/neymar-estreia-a-la-messi-armando-jogo-e-mais-longe-do-gol/

“Neymar had a good debut in a Paris Saint-Germain jersey. He scored the third goal in the 3-0 victory over tiny Guingamp, off a pass from Cavani – the Uruguayan had scored the second, off the first assist of Neymar for PSG. The floodgates (lit. can) had been opened on Guingamp’s pathetic own goal at the start of the second half.

A goal, an assist, a nutmeg, a good cross that Marquinhos headed into the crossbar. Nothing to complain about.

I am a voice out of order from the majority in the analysis of the soccer of Neymar. The guy is a baller, of this there is no doubt. But, from my point of view, his principal quality is finishing.

With this, I don’t mean that he isn’t a good dribbler or that he doesn’t know how to be the playmaker. I’m just saying that the best version of Neymar is that in which he plays really close to goal, receiving clean balls and with few adversaries in front of him. Preferably, at speed. He has a finishing rate on the level of Cristiano Ronaldo and other finishers around the world.

In four seasons at Barcelona, Neymar scored 88 goals from open play. 40 of those with just one touch on the ball, 39 with a controlling touch and finish and only 9 where he created his own goal.

In his debut, the goal came with one touch on the ball. It’s logical that that proportion is going to change at PSG. He played as a 10. The change of a jersey number never was too loyal to a tactical change. He played Messi’s position at various times with Barcelona, receiving balls in the middle of various adversaries (as the photo below shows). It’s fine. The comparisons will become even easier.

Last season, the first one of coach Unai Emery, Paris almost always played with two players quite wide – including Draexler, Di Maria, and Lucas. This Sunday, Neymar and Di Maria played centrally, opening up the channels for the outside backs. It’s just that it practically ripped the game away from the Italian Verratti, who was originally the principal playmaker of the team.

Daniel Alves had few surges down the right side, with time he will acquire more linkup with the Argentinean. Kurzawa advanced a lot into the space that would have been Neymar’s down the left. From him came the cross that later ended up as a goal for Neymar.

That wasn’t what happened in his debut. He was an attacking midfielder in fact, a playmaker, the principal builder of all the plays. He was more an Isco or Rodriguinho or an Inesta than a Neymar. He was more Verratti than Verratti. This didn’t work out that well on the Seleção in a few moments of slim pickin’s pre-Tite,

He occupied a part of the field where there was more people, more congestion. And he stayed too far from goal.

In the first half, PSG, despite having the ball all the time, created very few chances of real danger. In the second half, they won a present from Ikoko, one of the most bizarre own goals that everyone had seen in our lives.

And then, yes, the game changed. It became easy. PSG came to have more openings. On one occasion, in a counter attack, Neymar played a marvelous pass for Cavani to score a second goal. His first assist with the new jersey.

The number of assists will inevitably increase. But it’s good to jump back to the fact that Neymar already provided many assists at Barcelona. This didn’t necessarily happen by having the position of playmaker.

Honestly, I don’t think that he’ll keep this position, and it’s fair that the coach tries it in a game against a weak adversary like Guingamp.

In the nick of time, I believe that Emery is going to prefer Neymar playing more to the left, closer to goal, where he is much more productive.

If the plan for leaving Barcelona and going to PSG was to be the protagonist and play like Messi, it seems that he will really be in his position. He’s going to be lacking… playing like Messi.”

 

Neymar Plays Number 10 Role in Paris Saint-Germain Debut

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Neymar Plays Number 10 Role in PSG Debut

Embed from Getty Images

Neymar made his Paris Saint-Germain debut last Sunday against Guingamp, and the $263 million Brazilian provided a goal, an assist, and a nutmeg for good measure. There was also a cross to Marquinhos, which the defender hit off the crossbar.

Neymar was lining up out left on paper, but the Brazil and PSG Number 10 was playing in a playmaking position as an attacking midfielder, more central than he would be at Barcelona, his former club.

Neymar had the ball constantly for PSG on Sunday, and his teammates had no problem handing over the keys to the team to him and letting him run the show, as was his due.

Every other touch for PSG seemed to be a Neymar touch. Neymar would play the ball to a teammate who would play it back to Neymar, and the Brazilian would then play the ball to someone else. No doubt PSG improved immediately with the addition of Neymar, but with Neymar PSG got an unselfish teammate.

Despite the 3-0 scoreline, Guingamp wasn’t that bad. A Guingamp own goal opened up the game in the second half, but Neymar’s excellent debut can’t be attributed to a poor opponent.

Jonathan Johnson of ESPN gave Ángel Di Maria a poor rating of 3 for the game, and the Argentinean’s so-so performance could open up a spot for Javier Pastore to start. Julio Gomes of UOL in Brazil wrote that Neymar’s best position is closer to goal, but a player like Neymar has a bigger impact on the game the more he has the ball. If Pastore does start the next game, Neymar will probably be closer to goal, or at least he might receive more passes in scoring positions.

Neymar was lively and impressive in his PSG debut, and the more we see Neymar playing without Lionel Messi, the more everyone will be able to gauge how Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Neymar really compare to one another.

Playing for PSG could be Neymar’s first step in improving his chances to win the Ballon d’Or over Messi and Ronaldo.