Hanshithispantz

Ritchie's assist rate is pretty much limited to set-pieces but there's a pretty clear improvement over him putting balls into the box compared to Atsu and Yedlin like. Atsu just isn't that great in the final 3rd. He's meant to be our direct winger, the one who has it in him to carve a side open, and he rarely ever does. Was decent in the first half today like.

I don't think Atsu is that effective like, but that's sort of the point. We need to replace Atsu with someone who can carry the ball forward and do something with it. Along with a proper AM and a striker obviously. Ritchie isn't infallible obviously but I think he's pretty far down the list of who we need to replace.

But the onus is on Atsu to run at defenders and make things happen - he does the former well but never makes anything of it. Often runs down blind alleys or whips in a rubbish ball. That's not Ritchie's game. If we're replacing one we replace the one who's genuinely pretty poor at his role rather than the one who basically does what's expected of him.

If we have a proper striker with a good partner behind him, as well a far better winger than Atsu on the left, Ritchie's negatives won't be as bad like. Benitez probably as much as any other top level manager in the Premiership has always had players like that. Dirk Kuyt the obvious one. EDIT: Fergy was similar.

It's one of the reasons I proper like Gayle Shelvey runs up to random players and starts screaming in their faces.

Thought he was good first half, 2nd we let Bournemouth get on top of us as a team and like everyone else he look somewhere between shite and industrious.

I'm just happy he's looking fit and hoping he can remain injury free as he's the only striker we have who isn't hilarious in front of goal. I think he made a decent enough account of himself today. Not great, but a marked improvement on the last couple of month.

Saying he "didn't do much" is hardly berating him like mate. You said he's our 3rd choice striker. Your whole argument is quite clearly based around criticising him too.

He's started one game in dokeys and look fine. Scored a goal that was probably unfairly chalked off and you're focusing on him missing a good chance to berate him? Howay man His finishing is good, that's never been an issue. Him missing one good chance isn't evidence of him being shite or that he will consistently be missing sitters.

Tammy Abraham, who Rafa wanted on loan but wasn't allowed. Ofcourse Jordan is blaming the signing of Jacob Murphy for our awful squad though.

You expected us to wisely spend every penny of our limited funds without no signings missing the mark like? The biggest issue with our limited funds was that we never had a coherent plan with how we would spend them because our daft sell to buy policy. There was no chance of Benitez ever building an effective squad under that shite.

We don't really need a good striker outside of the box though. We're a solid unit but absolutely horrible at scoring goals. Honestly cannot see how we could ever be serious about playing Joselu up top ever again tbh. If Gayle is capable of playing 90 then he'll score more.

He played like an actual striker for one. Was looking to play one twos and immediately run into the box. Scores a goal which was questionably dissalowed. I don't think it was some vintage number 9 performance but he made it look like we were playing with one again.

The difference between him and Joselu is stark like. He might not hit a goal every other game but he looks threatening. Considering Benitez is allergic to playing Mitrovic I'm praying he doesn't pick up another daft injury.

help iz

I get why he picks him over Gamez, even though I think Gamez has looked better and assured on the ball in his cameos Benitez obviously prefers someone diciplined defensively. I cannot remember Mbemba doing too much wrong though, and going forward it's night and day.

I thought he picked up a knock when away and was still unfit

When is Mbemba back?

Which is a testament to how stunningly shite we are going forward.

I’d prefer Aarons coming off the bench because he’s clearlly a confidant lad and has been effective in that role before. Murphy off the bench is literally nothing until he finds a bit of confidance.

Atsu was good today but has been pretty shite for most of the season so far like.

Which ones are ridiculous? He's been absolutely shit for every minute he's been on the pitch for us; not just a bit rough around the edges or finding his feet - but consistently poor. Sick of seeing him being brought on and he needs to go - preferably on loan. Well this comment is ridiculous for a start. Young player absolutely shot on confidence and clearly not ready for the Premier League... yes I can see why the suggestion of a loan is quite bizarre. What am I on. Tbf Yorkie you basically said ""sell him or loan him" it was slightly overboard like. I don't think selling him should be in anyone's minds yet.

As mental as it sounds I think he'd be better off starting a game for us rather than coming on with 10 minutes left with us needing a goal. Him having to deliver in such a short space of time is clearly not working for him. He obviously feels like he has to make something happen while simultaneously being shit scared to make anything happen. No chance of that happening with us on a pretty poor run and him looking shite in his cameos though.

In previous weeks I'd have agreed but I had no issue with Gayle playing the 90 today. If Joselu starts ahead of him again though it'll be absolutely mental.

He cannot actually be this bad like, surely