Allan Saint-Maximin (now playing for Fenerbahce, on loan from Al-Ahli)

[TRon]

2 hours ago, Happinesstan said:

I love watching the guy, but you've just got to watch the highlights to the Leicester game to realise what he takes away also. Leicester's goals were all set up by quick passing through the middle, 3-4 players involved. Then you see ASM in a similar position to feed Wilson, in the box and he just runs into a blind alley.

 

This is just not given enough consideration. No matter how brilliant an individual player is, the chances of scoring wonder goals, or even creating them are a lot less than when you get 3 or 4 players pinging a few quick passes together. 

 

Of course you need 3 or 4 good players capable of doing it, but ultimately that's the most successful form of football. 

[Fantail Breeze]

2 hours ago, Happinesstan said:

I love watching the guy, but you've just got to watch the highlights to the Leicester game to realise what he takes away also. Leicester's goals were all set up by quick passing through the middle, 3-4 players involved. Then you see ASM in a similar position to feed Wilson, in the box and he just runs into a blind alley.

 

This. He’s absolutely fantastic and his skills are outrageous at times but his contribution to the team is questionable.

 

He shouldn’t be dropped as we quite frankly have nobody else anywhere near the level of quality that he can produce.

 

Howe needs to find a way to get the best out of him though.

[Happinesstan]

9 minutes ago, TRon said:

 

This is just not given enough consideration. No matter how brilliant an individual player is, the chances of scoring wonder goals, or even creating them are a lot less than when you get 3 or 4 players pinging a few quick passes together. 

 

Of course you need 3 or 4 good players capable of doing it, but ultimately that's the most successful form of football. 

This is true. To be fair to him, the occasion I referenced there were four Leicester players making a pass, to Wilson, very difficult. I've no desire to knock the lad, this was just something that stood out in that game.

Thing is though, it's frustrating, as in his recent interview he demonstrated an awareness of this, and I was hoping to see some change. His ball into Wilson, in the Burnley game, was brilliant and the kind of risks he should be taking more often.

[TRon]

2 minutes ago, Happinesstan said:

This is true. To be fair to him, the occasion I referenced there were four Leicester players making a pass, to Wilson, very difficult. I've no desire to knock the lad, this was just something that stood out in that game.

Thing is though, it's frustrating, as in his recent interview he demonstrated an awareness of this, and I was hoping to see some change. His ball into Wilson, in the Burnley game, was brilliant and the kind of risks he should be taking more often.

 

Yeah, we need to get to the stage we can even string 3 passes together before we can start looking further up the field to blame forwards. It's just an observation where we would like to be once we have players capable of doing it. 

[loki679]

If we had a defence worth talking about it wouldn't be an issue.  We're so shit at the back though that we have to rely on the midfield to help out else we get rinsed.

[jackyboy]

It's all about the alternatives and at the moment we don't have any

[Unlucky Luque]

You could argue having him on is just as much of a defensive play. If we don't play him, the opposition will be sitting a lot higher and the areas of engagement will creep closer and closer until we can't get out of our own half. ASM makes sure the oppo keeps a couple of players back to track his runs. He is a massive potential threat on the counter, no matter what form he's in.

[loki679]

4 minutes ago, Unlucky Luque said:

You could argue having him on is just as much of a defensive play. If we don't play him, the opposition will be sitting a lot higher and the areas of engagement will creep closer and closer until we can't get out of our own half. ASM makes sure the oppo keeps a couple of players back to track his runs. He is a massive potential threat on the counter, no matter what form he's in.

 

Aye, that's been working a treat

[GWN]

Thing I feel is if he’s not in the team we can’t create a thing ? 

[TRon]

15 hours ago, GWN said:

Thing I feel is if he’s not in the team we can’t create a thing ? 

 

Says more about how poor we are as a football team than how great he is tbh. 

[GWN]

1 hour ago, TRon said:

 

Says more about how poor we are as a football team than how great he is tbh. 

 

yeah but that’s where we are at the moment, it may change next year 

[Happinesstan]

2 hours ago, TRon said:

 

Says more about how poor we are as a football team than how great he is tbh. 

And is exactly why it is difficult to drop him. Statistically he is likely our most productive player, despite wasting most of his opportunities. He's a luxury we can't really afford, but one we can't afford to drop.

[1964]

Any news on his fitness after he hobbled off?

[Beth]

13 minutes ago, 1964 said:

Any news on his fitness after he hobbled off?

He'll not be risked for City if its still on.

[Geordie Ahmed]

16 minutes ago, 1964 said:

Any news on his fitness after he hobbled off?

I really like ASM but I think he just couldn't be bothered, not convinced he's injured

[Lush Vlad]

Still our only proper attacking threat. Wilson relies on service and doesn’t really get any. ASM is dangerous from the halfway line and possibly even deeper. 
 

What is a bit disappointing. Is that he seems to have gone back to running down blind alleys and not releasing it quick enough. He certainly had a spell where he would look for the pass or cross. Sometimes a bit prematurely.
 

Not sure he fancies playing on the wing any more. But out wide is where he is best. Has just sulked there under Howe. 
 

File under moody mercurial Frenchmen that have played wide for NUFC. Love them. 

[xLiaaamx]

Getting bored of reading the PFM type shite everyone twitter is saying about him right now like. Pure Souness style shite. We deserved Ashley and Hendrick out wide. 

[arnonel]

What annoys me is how every tackle he seems completely broken. Always hobbling around

 

Still love him though

 

 

Edited December 17, 2021 by arnonel

[AyeDubbleYoo]

Think it’s hard to draw too many conclusions from the Liverpool game mind. The plan was obviously to defend with everyone and rely heavily on ASM to run counterattacks almost on his own. 

[Shearergol]

27 minutes ago, ManDoon said:

It’s HBA all over again basically. Being asked to create over and over. 

With half the ability.

 

not saying you’re wrong though.

[Lush Vlad]

1 hour ago, xLiaaamx said:

Getting bored of reading the PFM type shite everyone twitter is saying about him right now like. Pure Souness style shite. We deserved Ashley and Hendrick out wide. 

Aye. The shite I’m reading. It is getting dangerously close to Carver and his “a team of 11 Jack Colback’s” comment   

[HaydnNUFC]

Aye, I knee jerked after a few drinks on Sunday and said he should maybe be an impact sub for the next few. He's the only one who can make a significant impact attacking wise aside from Wilson. We've been so reliant on him for the last 2 years we have come to expect him to be on it every game and no player is like that in world football.

 

Hopefully he's okay for Sunday as we need him badly.

[Happinesstan]

pointing out it's a team game and he's unlikely to win every match on his own is far from PFM territory.

[Palestoon]

The turn on ASM from the supporters is crazy. Is he a perfect player? absolutely not, their are several areas of his game that can be frustrating, but he is by far and away our only attacking threat. I promise you, when opposing managers game plan for us, it is centered primarily around neutralizing him.

 

Some people may have forgotten what this team looked like the last 2 years with him out of the side... it was absolutely shambolic. I think it was something like 1 win in 16 without him. Would i like him to track back more and make better decisions at times? of course, but to circle him as a reason for our current situation is unfair.

 

now if we actually build a team with some actual quality in other areas of the pitch, that gives him actual options to play off of, and take some of the load and attention off his back... and hes still not contributing, fair enough. Until then, i think he deserves the benefit of the doubt 

[NWMag]

My main gripe with him is his attitude and body language - just look at Joelinton now, gives his all every week and everyone is full of praise. ‘We don’t demand a team that win, just a team that tries’.
 

I’m not saying ASM doesn’t give his all, but too many times from him he throws his arms about in a hissy fit if he doesn’t get the ball, or spends 30 seconds on the floor if he doesn’t get a free kick.

 

He’s been subbed ‘injured’ in multiple games where it just isn’t working for him and he throws the towel in, in my opinion. 
 

However at present he is our most dangerous player so we have no real choice but to let the above slide. 
 

I’m not convinced he will still be first choice in 2 years time though unless he improves his overall game.