Infinitely Content

Sent similar to a mate yesterday. Lejeune sent out on loan, knowing full well the other defenders we had all seem to have injury problems, bar maybe Fernandez, who know annoyingly, is injured. Also knowing Lascelles, Clark, Fernandez and Dummett are all crap on the ball. Schar was probably the best of the lot, maybe Lejeune was a bit better with his passing. Weren't we playing 3 centre halves still? Or switched to it not long after Lejeune left. Seems mental that Schar only got a look in when others were missing. He does seem to have the odd lapse of concentration. But we are clearly a better side to watch when he is playing. Yep, those last months of Rafa’s reign with a back 5 , two good passers in Lejeune and Schar then Almiron, Rondon and Perez spearheading the attack was incredible. When lazy pundits and other fans ask why we were so positive and optimistic about the club under Rafa despite finishing 13th/10th, they don't realise how good we looked when he started to get the tools he needed. They talk about us being super defensive always but never moaning about it as we do with Bruce; but they fail to realise we were playing some genuinely top quality attacking football in those last months. Could have been unreal. I remember vividly some of our one touch passing sequences stemming from Schar & Lejeune, with the movement of Almiron and the chemistry between Rondon & Perez.

Didn't realise he had such a brutal, impoverished upbringing. Perhaps goes some way to explain why he never sulks and is always so positive and happy. Gratefulness. Edit: "Brutal" might have been a bit strong, he clearly had a loving family who worked their bollocks off, but humble beginnings in poverty indeed, which I suspect is rather commonplace where he's from.

We need shot of him like. Midfield needs an complete transformation. Hayden is fine but needs balanced options around him and competition for his own spot, he's hardly a world beater himself.

A real blow, I believe him & Almiron have been our best players lately. Always really admired Schar, think he's one of those we'll look back on in years to come very fondly and with the belief that he could have been a real top quality player at the highest level but never happened for him for whatever reason, similar to Ben Arfa.

I think Klopp has made some massive errors this season and should be held accountable for why Liverpool may not win, or even come close to winning the league. Losing Van Dijk is obviously a disaster to the team, as not only is he a good leader, but he was also integral to Liverpool's build up play - allowing everyone to push up the pitch as he steps out of defence into that deep lying playmaker role. I am hearing Liverpool fans defending Klopp saying the fact they lost Van Dijk has meant they have had to drop back 15-20 yards or so in order to protect the goal and have therefore been less potent offensively and unable to play their system. They talk about losing Henderson from the midfield as being detrimental, fair enough - I agree. I think he's a wonderful midfielder. However, none of those excuses have any substance to me, and they are just that - excuses, because nobody wants to question the club or the manager. Liverpool were so successful because of their system, and losing Van Dijk was the moment you turn to Klopp to earn his money, and clearly he's made gaping, critical errors and been shown up tbh. Why would you completely abandon an entire system, juggle positions of players around just due to losing a defender? Surely they would have been better off replacing Van Dijk as early as possible with a ball playing centre back. Of course they would never get anyone as good as Van Dijk, and were always going to be worse off and more likely to concede goals, but suck it up, welcome to reality. Sign a Schar or someone similar who can still bring the ball out and play those diagonal passes Van Dijk could; allowing you to keep the system the players were so used to, and keep your key players in their actual positions, not shuffling everything around to the point the team looks a shadow of its former self. Then they go sign a Preston defender on February 1st? Nah man, architects of their own downfall. From 'the best champions ever' to not even as good as OGS's Man Utd ffs.

Contracted till 2023 so probably roughly £20m aye. Need to see more to truly know if he's worth it like. Arsenal are such a disorganised, incompetent club when it comes to transfers and contracts though so who knows.

That one yesterday was strange, it wasn't the most favourable angle to goal but appeared to suit Almiron much more; particularly after his excellent effort the previous match. He should be on them until we have a 'specialist' in the side.

I love that one at 35 seconds against West Brom where he stops seemingly on purpose square in front of the pure roid rage fan and just holds his arms out like 'what?'

Under pressure too because Saint-Maximin is on for the square ball. Backed himself and just tucked it away from outside the box too. Lovely stuff.

Better than Loic for me, better attitude and more likeable. Seems to enjoy himself. Demba on top, of course.

That sort of approach works for teams like Man City, Liverpool, but we really need a focal point forward that allows those three to play from. Don't really see ASM - Almiron - Fraser working out. Need someone to run channels, and even when not going route one Bruceball, a team like us does need someone up there you can play up to direct. Would rather see those three all play off Joe if we put have Hayden and Willock in midfield. Chelsea and Man U next, so should be interesting to see Jones' influence. If Bruce has his way we'll roll over and camp from outset, you'd think from what we've heard about Jones he'd set us up to go toe-to-toe. You're probably right. I'd still give it a shot tbh as I don't really see the other 3 working as much of a focal point either, as you suggest we need for this system to function. Maybe Joelinton as it's pretty much the role he played feeding Kramaric at Hoffenheim but the guy has no confidence left.

Dubravka probably.

Romero in the summer for sure. Nah, they need better than that like. Pickford is actually a really talented keeper he just seems a little dense.

I remember when I thought Sean Longstaff was about his equal

Whilst he's injured, would anyone be tempted to just go Saint-Maximin---Almiron---Fraser? I think the other 3 striker options we have would detract from this system we're playing.

That doesn’t look right, like. Premier League era potentially. All time, it's legit https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/newcastle-united/topTorschuetzen/verein/762 41st (Gayle's 15th, Carroll 16th and Ritchie 24th too!) - according to this particular list anyway Eh, are you's taking the piss? All time top goal scorers? Gayle in 15th, Shola in 3rd? Never heard of Jackie fucking Milburn? You know, that dude one of the stands in our stadium is named after?

Was absolutely ridiculous. The ball to him was decent enough but he had so so much work still to do. One touch was all it took.

You’re wrong. I’m on my phone so cba to post all the stats, but just look at how often he played 90 minutes last season. Even this season you there is one game he started where he didn’t make it past 73 minutes (Brighton; where he was deployed as a second full back). https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/allan-saint-maximin/leistungsdaten/spieler/272642/plus/0?saison=2019 I may be wrong, it's just an observation which I feel has some truth about it. You share that link but I'm only counting 11 times he played 90 minutes? Does that prove my point wrong? Also, in the games he does play 90 minutes, what does he have left in the tank in the latter stages? His cardio could use improvement, that's all I'll say for certain. The rest I may have missed the mark a little.

Roughly 60-70 minutes he's usually taken off. I don't have the exact stats and tbh the exact number is largely irrelevant. He seems incapable of playing 90 minutes of football and that's the problem I'm touching on here.

Some good points He has all the natural ability in the world when it comes manipulating a football. He's breathtaking at times so we don't need to work on that area of his game at all. But it beats me why he can't improve his cardio and start lasting full games without falling off a cliff after an hour or getting taken off. I'm not saying he needs to become Miguel Almiron, or even saying he should be fitter so he can track back. None of that, I just would like to see him in the starting line up and believe he's capable of lasting the full game. It should be expected.

I'm a huge fan of his, and this may sound very harsh, but his inability to play 90 minutes is a problem imo. I'm not meaning recently as he's clearly still recovering his fitness; but even prior to COVID he barely ever lasted 90 minutes which basically means you have one sub taken up before the match has even kicked off. Usually that wouldn't cost you, but (albeit) exceptional circumstances like today where you get two injuries, add Saint-Maximin's 60 minute limit and you're fucked if you want to effect the game with a change or you get another injury. It's harsh, I know, but I just think any professional footballer, even those 30+ should be lasting 90 minutes on a football pitch. There's no excuses for me. I'm sure someone will tell me if I'm wrong, but that's just my point of view.

I was thinking earlier I wonder if he ever loses his temper irl, he seems almost like a puppy infectiously happy guy Yeah, but hands off, okay?

Absolutely perfect for today's circumstances though

I think I'm in love with him, lads.

Dominated some of those corners coming in. Didn’t hide at all. It's his bread and butter tbf, but I'm not sure we come out of that with 3 points without his contribution.