Outremont

The way Rafa froze him out was disgraceful. As time goes by, the more I don’t miss Rafa’s regime.

He’s wank and didn’t come when we needed him. No thanks.

You’re right, take a look at this: Dembele 243 apps, 12 goals, 12 assists J7 93 apps, 7 goals, 5 assists J7 equivalent apps to Dembele 18 goals (+6), 13 assists (+1)

Good call. For me, I love him for how imperfect he is. An enigma. He is the best passer in the team by a country mile which makes him stand out. He also possesses a goal threat and I love watching him strike the ball - it’s pure at times. As for the greatest frustration - being camped close to the centre backs especially late in games and not contributing to passing moves further up the pitch. For Watford at home in the last 10 mins he formed a back 5 as the 3rd CB - clearly against instructions. It was really poor. But I still like him enough to remain in the squad. He needs to come out for Bruno this weekend. Howe needs an alternative to 4-3-3 to play Shelvey, Bruno, J7 with Willock further forward.

Dembele had more creative attributes. I think it’s a point well made. To be elite he needs to improve his passing ala Kante. At the moment he is playing a McTominay disrupter role. We need more than that in the long run.

Jones Out

If you think he is first choice in a back 4 for us, go and watch Hwang Hee-Chan’s two goals against us at Wolves away earlier this season.

I saw some footage of the ghastly empty flat parts/ boxes of the London Stadium over the weekend and I couldn’t believe how bad it was. No wonder hammers fans wanted rid of the stadium as their home ground. This isn’t the best image, but it looks even worse on some videos from the away end. What a shit ground for watching football.

Joselu is/ was superior to Wood

I think this could work… and would be even better with our first choice fullbacks.

What game was that after?

Anyone seen the Fozcast episode where he talks Pards and Rafa? Worth a watch: https://youtu.be/52RVPqrG1Cs He was terrible though. Could not kick the ball to save his life… most of the time would struggle to get it to half way.

Yep, ok.

He has to come in for Shelvey. Willock makes forward runs and JL7 is undroppable. Shelvey all day.

Now the real question is who would you prefer? Vurnon Anita or Krafth? ?

He’s the left sided CB in a 3, not a modern day LB. The game has evolved so fast that 10 years back when he was breaking through it wasn’t so much of an issue. I don’t get the hate in this forum for him. He was immense against Watford only to be let down by Almiron for their leveller. Top defender and deceptively quick. Worth a squad place this season and maybe next before shipping off. Meanwhile he’s a Geordie so show him some respect.

I hope he gets a 2 year extension. He might not yet have reached his best level. edit: I mean he hasn’t played for a true footballing team since he joined. A proper back 4, GK and midfield might mean he hits a new level consistently.

I agree he doesn’t look fast… but we’re comparing him to Ramsey and Bailey (and others) who are basically athletes first, and football players second. Put Bruno in against a Man City or Liverpool technical midfield and you’d probably notice it less. Given his pedigree you’d have to think it won’t be an issue.

Totally agree, terribly slow. I remember watching replays of him running back towards the box as the opposition attacked and half the players on the pitch overran him despite a head start.

Loved Hatem. When we played 4-3-3 with Ben Arfa, Cisse and Ba it was the best football of Pardew’s time and the best attacking team in recent history. I remember one goal in particular (not his over popularised solo vs. Bolton or that FA cup solo) might have been WBA away, where he ran with the ball from the halfway line, used Ba and Cisse as distractions, a little shimmy and then put it in the far corner. No fuss, not complicated, just ruthless.

Thanks for the explanation mate. It makes sense and thanks also to others who have explained similar things. I started following the club in 1995/96 as a kid in Australia with Geordie ancestry. We had a strong team and had invested in Shearer and could have challenged again if he stuck at it. But he resigned and it seemed needless at the time. Perhaps unfairly I attributed the dismantling of the team by the odious Kenny Dalglish to Keegan’s resignation. We went from 2nd to 13th in a season and the dream was gone. Then again under Ashley I felt Keegan was a bit naive and rather than fighting Mike (like Rafa did), he threw in the towel. In my mind it wasn’t constructive dismissal, it was willing resignation. Again, Keegan left us in it a bit.. and while he was ultimately powerless it felt like we were back at square one and resorting to lesser options (albeit Hughton did a great job and is a brilliant man). So there you have it. I should have asked without casting judgement, but I’m a big fan like anybody else. Barely slept before Norwich, Watford, Everton and Leeds games of late - willing the team to win. So don’t insinuate I am a fake or plastic fan. Thanks.

Unsure why he is adored so much. Quit the club twice and failed twice. Not much more to say really.

I think Murphy is a better option. More physical, faster and can strike the ball. He can get in behind too. Is prone to making bad decisions with the ball and positionally but this alone is not enough to keep Fraser in the team.