Theregulars

But again you’re making arguments up for me. I’ve not at any point said he’s not as good as Bellingham so therefore he’s not good enough for us. It’s a tactic that bullies use to win arguments. Nonetheless - here is a list of players who, in my view, at age 20 or under have done more positive things on a football pitch than Anderson: Hojlund, Udogie, Kerkez, Chukwuemeka, hall at Chelsea, rico lewis, lavia, garnacho, Enciso, Harvey Elliott, Evan Ferguson, Levi colwill…

It’s not though. We aim to be an elite football club - he’s not at that level and I don’t see very much to suggest he will get there. I’ve given multiple examples from today’s match…

Yes, he did well in that passage of play and it was a great save to deny him. I don’t think he was great in that match.

By that point he’d missed 2 presentable chances and been the main contributor to conceding a goal.

After multiple poor performances. Anything of substance to contribute or no as usual?

Ok - so still waiting for the example of a good thing he’s done. Is being “comfortable in possession and defended well” what you want from our attacking midfielders? I think we can do better, like also offering an attacking contribution, which he doesn’t very often. The age thing is irrelevant. Old enough, good enough. Simple as. Look at Bellingham.

Can you give me an example? I’ll give you 3 bits of evidence from today’s match alone: 1. the cross from the right which landed perfectly to feet in the box and in space. He could have pulled back to Isak or shot. He miscontrolled out of play. 2. the pullback from the right, which landed perfectly to feet, from which he had a very presentable chance. He miscontrolled and lost the ball. 3. The equaliser, where he gave coufal the run of the park.

I have a good grip, thanks. Can you point me to any evidence of Elliott Anderson playing well or making a memorable contribution to a match instead of just dismissing my arguments? Your argument makes no sense - I’m not complaining about the result or its context. I’m saying Anderson isn’t good enough based on visual evidence of him playing football for us.

It’s an observation that he isn’t good enough. What’s he done, in your opinion, to suggest that he is?

Why?

Hopefully that’s the last we see of Anderson. Comprehensively not good enough at any aspect of the game to play serious minutes for us.

Anderson completely at fault. Really, really shouldn’t have been on the field since about 30 mins. Piss poor.

Can one not simultaneously think the team is playing better but one player still poorly?

Long past time to take Anderson off now.

At least Almiron is trying to force the issue. Most of his team mates could use the same endeavour.

We’re not going to do anything with this personnel without speed and quick passing. This weird ponderous 3 at the back and running sideways is boring.

Longstaff has also been really, really poor after midweek fawning.

I reckon Anderson is only there to spare the embarrassment of a pre-HT substitutIon. He’s been an active impediment

Tonali again doesn’t look on the same wavelength as the team

Is disaster new slang for coincidence?

Anderson passes the ball backwards a lot

Is there a simultaneous youth game maybe? Either that or his performance in the LC suggested he's not there yet (I'd agree).

Surprised Murphy isn't starting from a rotation perspective. I reckon Tonali will have a good game today.

He's been pretty consistent at saying he's got his group and will stick by them. I understand what he's doing, I think it just feels so weird because we watch the premier league so see players in and out of form. I do think there is something in the argument that some players perform better for country over club (set up, less pressure etc) and seem to be able to switch it back on (I don't think Maguire is too bad for England, I've not watched Phillips play enough for England to know). The downsides for me are the argument vs incentive - surely players need to see that consistent good form will at least get them a competitive 10-20 mins from the bench? - and the fact that players aren't playing enough football to be in any sort of rhythm / form, or aren't playing any competitive football. The professional game is now one of such fine margins that any lapse in concentration or rust can cost you a tournament. I like Southgate and back him to continue, and it might just be a case of "you can't have both", but I think there's room for a mix of loyalty and rewarding performance. I'd set up an international squad as, e.g. "here are my 16 established, I keep the other 7 open for form" and you have whatever mechanism for switching between the two as time / circumstance require. Sometimes I wonder whether he just feels desperately sorry for Maguire and wants to help him out, which I can get behind.

Tekkaboo, son.