Jacob "The Juice" Murphy

[TRon]

1 hour ago, RS said:

He’s shit and lucky. Strange combo. 

 

 

He's the reason we win, and he's the reason we lose. Plays like a lucky dip bag.

[Slim]

2 minutes ago, TRon said:

 

 

He's the reason we win, and he's the reason we lose. Plays like a lucky dip bag.

Not sure ever seen a game he plays shit be the reason we lose.

 

 

[Heron]

[Heron]

I get it's a forum and football is all about opinions etc. but I honestly find it a bit strange how much folk go out there way to criticise certain players like

 

He shares the same number of goal involvements as Gordon this year and I think it's pretty unanimous who folk think the better player is (ability wise). That suggests to me that Murphy is actually performing at a higher level to achieve the same, and yet Gordon gets zero shit.

[David Edgar]

Gordon has had plenty of (warranted) criticisms this season. Mainly in the first couple of months before his form notably picked up.

 

Also, nobody is criticising Murphy for his creative play. Everyone agrees he's great there. It's other parts of his game that get specific criticism. The same as how Gordon's ropey finishing gets pulled up now and then. 

[McDog]

1 hour ago, RS said:

He’s shit and lucky. Strange combo. 

 

 

If he is shit then Eddie is a moron, no? He has Barnes to play there or Gordon. Why would he play someone who is shit? My answer is he isn't shit, he's just not a top EPL player, he's a squad player doing a job.

[Heron]

6 minutes ago, David Edgar said:

Gordon has had plenty of (warranted) criticisms this season. Mainly in the first couple of months before his form notably picked up.

 

Also, nobody is criticising Murphy for his creative play. Everyone agrees he's great there. It's other parts of his game that get specific criticism. The same as how Gordon's ropey finishing gets pulled up now and then. 

That may be the case for some on here, not others, but even at the stadium this level of imbalanced criticism exists. The amount of folk who kick off at Murphy by comparison is farcical. As soon as he makes any mistakes "He's fucking shit". Etc. It's bollocks.

 

 

Edited February 23 by Heron

[TRon]

10 minutes ago, David Edgar said:

Gordon has had plenty of (warranted) criticisms this season. Mainly in the first couple of months before his form notably picked up.

 

Also, nobody is criticising Murphy for his creative play. Everyone agrees he's great there. It's other parts of his game that get specific criticism. The same as how Gordon's ropey finishing gets pulled up now and then. 

 

Agree with this. The reason we lose possession is because we have players who struggle to control it when we are getting pressed. Not saying this is all on Murphy, for example, even Bruno has been guilty in a lot of games this season. But ultimately we'll only get better by having a team full of top class players. Murphy's not one of those, and that's not his fault, he's having a great season personally.

[The College Dropout]

2 hours ago, David Edgar said:

He is absolutely brilliant at a very small part of the game, which happens to be very important, and very mediocre at a lot of other stuff. We've been here a million times. 

 

 

I've found peace with how he plays. I know he is going to give the ball away under pressure - and I've stopped getting wound up by it. I know he isn't going to score regularly (even if he did score today). I know he is going to create chances in the final third at a ridiculous rate - and it isn't a purple patch because he's been doing that for years.

 

For now, he's our RW and there isn't a player at the club who could play the role any better.

This. He’s also going to give the ball away under no pressure too. He can strike a ball, he’s quick, works hard and will create. Take the rough with the sublime.  It is what it is. 

[The College Dropout]

49 minutes ago, Heron said:

I get it's a forum and football is all about opinions etc. but I honestly find it a bit strange how much folk go out there way to criticise certain players like

 

He shares the same number of goal involvements as Gordon this year and I think it's pretty unanimous who folk think the better player is (ability wise). That suggests to me that Murphy is actually performing at a higher level to achieve the same, and yet Gordon gets zero shit.

I’m a big Murph fan. But a player that gives the ball away a lot is always going to get groans. Gordon is typically tidy and secure on the ball. 
 

As a fanbase we should try and do better.  

[Ellis H]

It just simply isn’t enough that he’s playing so far above his previously assumed level that he’s got 13 attacking returns in 16.6 league games. It doesn’t matter that he’s saved us at least £50 million, allowed us to sell Almiron for re-investable money and has greatly helped us get to a cup final and be in top 4 contention going into March. He’s the easiest target in the team so we NEED to treat him as such.
 

It’s honestly like moaning about finding £50 in your back pocket. “Why isn’t it £100?!”

(Gordon has 12 attacking returns in 22.4 league games and Mbuemo has 19 in 26 league games for comparison, with 5 penalties between them)

[Rod]

2 hours ago, alexf said:

Game to forget really. It's why he struggled so much earlier in his career here, has all the attributes but mentally weak. Knew after that fuck up for the first goal his confidence would drop. Pretty much every time he touched the ball for awhile after that he messed up. 

But thankfully the older more mature Murphy kept going and managed to bag a goal. But there wasn't much else to show for his performance. 

 

His form has seemed to drop off a little since the Almiron sale. It's weird cus Almiron was getting nowhere near a start but he was still something of competition for a place, now he only has Osula if Howe wants to put him there, but we all know he isn't starting Osula in the league unless desperate. 

 

I am just a little nervous in the final that a shithouse like Robertson is going to smash in to Murphy and rough him up in the final and chat shit to him all game to put him off. What should happen is Murph should be realising that Robertson's powers are waning and he should get after him as much as possible. 

I agree with the mentally weak observation.  He easily goes to pieces at the slightest.

[The College Dropout]

11 minutes ago, Rod said:

I agree with the mentally weak observation.  He easily goes to pieces at the slightest.

Disagree. He often recovers well from a poor start.  
 

He’s just not that good at football  he’s extremely effective in the final third. But his all round game has major weaknesses.  So yeh he’s going to give the ball away a lot. It’s not mental weakness, it’s the lack of ability. 

[Conjo]

2 hours ago, Heron said:

I get it's a forum and football is all about opinions etc. but I honestly find it a bit strange how much folk go out there way to criticise certain players like

 

It's like some people are seeing him play for the first time every week Yeah, his decision making can be questionable, yeah, he isn't the best passer, yeah, he isn't the best dribbler - but he never gives up, works hard both ways, gets into good positions and contributes with a decent amount of end product whether its goals or assists.

 

Turned 30 ~two hours ago too. Happy birthday juicy!

[Sibierski]

Don’t understand what he was doing for goal. Like he could easily slide in and tapped it like a normal person, instead it was almost like he was going to shield it in, realised late on it wasn’t going in and had to adjust to get something on it  Proper weird finish.

[Groundhog63]

Had a stinker but they happen. The goal was a homage to Miggy's tap in but I can't remember who that was against 😂 

[andyman]

35 minutes ago, Groundhog63 said:

Had a stinker but they happen. The goal was a homage to Miggy's tap in but I can't remember who that was against 😂 

 

This beauty against City: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HniyJJTidwU

[Groundhog63]

1 minute ago, andyman said:

 

This beauty against City: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HniyJJTidwU

 

Aye, that one 😂 Varnigh the same body part 😂

[The College Dropout]

11 hours ago, Conjo said:

 

It's like some people are seeing him play for the first time every week Yeah, his decision making can be questionable, yeah, he isn't the best passer, yeah, he isn't the best dribbler - but he never gives up, works hard both ways, gets into good positions and contributes with a decent amount of end product whether its goals or assists.

 

Turned 30 ~two hours ago too. Happy birthday juicy!

It's great end product. Whoever we replace him with, I don't expect more G/A - i'd be happy with what Murphy is producing. It's the rest of the game that will help us keep the ball and control a game better. Take away penalties I'm sure Murphy is similar to Mbeumo for G/A. I would still prefer an all-round playmaker type.

[The College Dropout]

5 hours ago, Sibierski said:

Don’t understand what he was doing for goal. Like he could easily slide in and tapped it like a normal person, instead it was almost like he was going to shield it in, realised late on it wasn’t going in and had to adjust to get something on it  Proper weird finish.

Think he might of thought he was offside but then wasn't sure it was going in.

 

It was though.

[Smal]

On 24/02/2025 at 12:27, The College Dropout said:

It's great end product. Whoever we replace him with, I don't expect more G/A - i'd be happy with what Murphy is producing. It's the rest of the game that will help us keep the ball and control a game better. Take away penalties I'm sure Murphy is similar to Mbeumo for G/A. I would still prefer an all-round playmaker type.

 

I previously agreed about wanting a playmaker type (a Kulusevski profile) there but I think given how effective Murphy has been, we have to look for a similar profile of player and trust the coaches to improve them.

 

If we could get a Murphy-type who is better at retaining possession in build up then that would be ideal. 

[The College Dropout]

27 minutes ago, Smal said:

 

I previously agreed about wanting a playmaker type (a Kulusevski profile) there but I think given how effective Murphy has been, we have to look for a similar profile of player and trust the coaches to improve them.

 

If we could get a Murphy-type who is better at retaining possession in build up then that would be ideal. 

I think Murphy is a playmaker type in the meaning of a creator.  He’s there to provide assists.  It’s just that he doesn’t have the all-round playmaking skills. 
 

Im thinking someone that can provide for our strikers. But is super comfy on the ball in deeper areas.  I like Mbeumo but Mbeumo is a forward. He scores and creates chances but is not overly influential in the build up.  
 

In our team - Burn, Murphy, Joelinton, Pope and to lesser degree Livra they bring the football level down. Having Tonali, Dubs and Botman, even Tripps significantly increased the footballing level. Allows us to play with more composure and assurance. We suddenly had so much more ability on the ball. We milly rocked at old Trafford. Another proper baller changes the team again imo. 

[kingxlnc]

1 hour ago, The College Dropout said:

I think Murphy is a playmaker type in the meaning of a creator.  He’s there to provide assists.  It’s just that he doesn’t have the all-round playmaking skills. 
 

Im thinking someone that can provide for our strikers. But is super comfy on the ball in deeper areas.  I like Mbeumo but Mbeumo is a forward. He scores and creates chances but is not overly influential in the build up.  
 

In our team - Burn, Murphy, Joelinton, Pope and to lesser degree Livra they bring the football level down. Having Tonali, Dubs and Botman, even Tripps significantly increased the footballing level. Allows us to play with more composure and assurance. We suddenly had so much more ability on the ball. We milly rocked at old Trafford. Another proper baller changes the team again imo. 

It's difficult to find that elusive player. I feel we need a mix of a few types. Barnes is the no frills finisher. Gordon is the energetic direct full of running option. Murphy is the back up, can do a good job type. We need a quick skilful speed merchant type - i.e. a Minteh or a Doku type. Then a technical player comfortable on the ball that can create, finish and combine - a Kulusevski type. I'd like to see more types of profile within the squad, which we can use for different scenarios. Think an Arda Guler type would be perfect - techie, skilful, fast, and can shoot and create. 

[The College Dropout]

From what I’ve seen from Minteh, he’s a final third player but more about goals than assists. Doesn’t get much involved in build up.  We need another player that can put his football on the ball. Maybe that’s Miley taking over from Joe and we get a speed demon killer in the box at RW. 

[Heron]

On 24/02/2025 at 06:48, Sibierski said:

Don’t understand what he was doing for goal. Like he could easily slide in and tapped it like a normal person, instead it was almost like he was going to shield it in, realised late on it wasn’t going in and had to adjust to get something on it  Proper weird finish.

From the Strawberry Corner he looked to be setting himself for the diving header and then realised it wasn't going to bounce up enough or quickly so adjusted his body to shield/dick the ball in. He actually did canny well in the end it seemed.

 

You're right though, it was bizarre.

 

 

Edited February 25 by Heron