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

[Happinesstan]

1 hour ago, cubaricho said:

After we beat CP next weekend I’d love to see this experiment tbh. 

This Wednesday innit?

[Rod]

4 minutes ago, Happinesstan said:

This Wednesday innit?

Yes

[Pata]

1 hour ago, cubaricho said:

After we beat CP next weekend I’d love to see this experiment tbh. 

 

What could we possibly gain from that experiment and why would you love to see it?

[Pilko]

Great to know he's a good influence round the place, drives high standards in training, helps the group etc but not arsed about him playing unless it's to give Wood a rest in the latter stages of a game or he's chucked on with 5-10 to go to try and nick a goal.

 

I'm sure Ritchie, Gayle, Dummett etc are doing great things for the atmosphere round the place but I'd still not want any of them near the pitch unless it was a late cameo.

 

Howe might well throw some of those sorts the odd run out at SJP once we're safe to thank them, hopefully they'll be fucked off after that for players of a similar temperament and personality but ones who can actually play football at this level.

 

 

Edited April 17, 2022 by Pilko

[cubaricho]

18 minutes ago, Pata said:

 

What could we possibly gain from that experiment and why would you love to see it?

We’d be safe and maybe Gayle knocks a few in before the end of the season? Not that hard to imagine really.  

[Pata]

Just now, cubaricho said:

We’d be safe and maybe Gayle knocks a few in before the end of the season? Not that hard to imagine really.  

 

And then we keep him to be possibly fifth-choice next season? I could understand it if he was young but Gayle is done here and only question is if Wood will be third or fourth choice CF next season.

[Lazarus]

There was a moment in the extended highlights just before Brunos sexy time when ASM drifted past 3 players and was looking for a pass but Gayle was sandwiched between 2 Leicester players. You can see him looking and lift his hands palms out as if to say 'wheres the pass?' but then he played the ball to Gayle anyway and it came to nowt.

 

Once ASM has more support in the final third he will look much better. Trouble is hes so quick to turn and run with the ball, his passing options are limited. As said before, should be better once Wilson comes back in.

[Lotus]

One idea to stop him getting double or triple marked would be to give him a floating role. Let him pop all over the pitch. 
Don’t think it would hurt our defensive solidity much.

He would, of course be very careful if he wants to take players on much closer to our box (should he ever find himself there….).

[David Edgar]

9 minutes ago, Lotus said:

One idea to stop him getting double or triple marked would be to give him a floating role. Let him pop all over the pitch. 
Don’t think it would hurt our defensive solidity much.

He would, of course be very careful if he wants to take players on much closer to our box (should he ever find himself there….).

 

Can't give a player zero defensive responsibility.  Perhaps the most significant reason for our success under Howe is our defensive discipline.  And that's with ASM half arsing his duties. 

[Tiresias]

I suspect the kind of runs willock makes from the centre does benefit him as will draft defenders away from him. He needs to be more patient receiving the ball deeper to try and vary up what he is going to do. 

[Lotus]

29 minutes ago, David Edgar said:

 

Can't give a player zero defensive responsibility.  Perhaps the most significant reason for our success under Howe is our defensive discipline.  And that's with ASM half arsing his duties. 

He could press from wherever he is. He doesn’t press from the left anyway and barely offers Targett any support as it is.

Anyway, just an idea. 

[ExiledGeordie]

42 minutes ago, Lotus said:

One idea to stop him getting double or triple marked would be to give him a floating role. Let him pop all over the pitch. 
Don’t think it would hurt our defensive solidity much.

He would, of course be very careful if he wants to take players on much closer to our box (should he ever find himself there….).

We just need more creative options and goals elsewhere on the pitch. Teams just load up on him because they know currently he’s our only creative outlet. A number 10 and right winger would make a huge difference. 

 

 

Edited April 18, 2022 by ExiledGeordie

[Happinesstan]

1 hour ago, Tiresias said:

I suspect the kind of runs willock makes from the centre does benefit him as will draft defenders away from him. He needs to be more patient receiving the ball deeper to try and vary up what he is going to do. 

Yeah, he definitely benefits from having somebody running alongside. He's just so fast that if that player isn't already there then they're not getting there.

Get this season over, then give Howe the Summer to work with him.

[Outremont]

Maxi is a much better player with Willock on the pitch. Willock offers forward runs and dynamism in the final third, which few of our other players offer. Play Joe and Maxi if you want the best out of Maxi.

 

[joeyt]

Loved how much he celebrated Miggy's goal. And some people think he doesn't care

[HaydnNUFC]

Those millions of stepovers in the first half was borderline Kenny Wharton sitting on the ball level showboating

[Guest HTT II]

St. Minimum again last night for me, and again with half hearted tracking back, stopping on the half-way line hands on hips blowing out of his arse while even Shelvey is frantically racing back into position. I think he could do with a spell on the bench (bring Willock in).

[Kid Icarus]

Thought he was much better last night tbh, passed it when he should have and ran with it when he should have. If his finishing and final ball was better at the moment I think most people would be loving it.

[MrRaspberryJam]

Looked better last night. Seemed to more purpose in his running with the ball. 

[alexf]

18 minutes ago, HTT II said:

St. Minimum again last night for me, and again with half hearted tracking back, stopping on the half-way line hands on hips blowing out of his arse while even Shelvey is frantically racing back into position. I think he could do with a spell on the bench (bring Willock in).

 

Didn't see the game live last night, but I'll say the same thing I say to a guy in my team who sits deep and then screams at you to get back. Its alot more draining, going on long lung busting sprints with the ball then expected to sprint back again, than it is to sit in deep. ?

[relámpago blanco]

14 minutes ago, Kid Icarus said:

Thought he was much better last night tbh, passed it when he should have and ran with it when he should have. If his finishing and final ball was better at the moment I think most people would be loving it.

Yep, I think he is starting to take on board what EH has been drilling into him.  He passes a lot more now.

[mofo]

Looked better last night, he is desperate for a goal to lift his confidence. Doesn’t help that as soon as he get’s the ball people are screaming ‘PASS’ even when there is nothing on…. Also really hope I’m wrong but sure I heard boo’s when his name was announced before KO.

[AJ9]

He’s clearly a complex character that needs to feel his way into games. I don’t really think he’s ever going to lose that trait of flapping his arms around in frustration either. I do enjoy when he plays but ultimately I think he’s probably not good enough for where we want to be. 

 

 

Edited April 21, 2022 by AJ9

[Tiresias]

I dunno, maybe I'm pessimistic but I don't think we'll be quickly at a level where ASM isn't potentially a game changer for us, he is no doubt one of the most gifted wingers in the league still in some ways but he is definitely frustrating. I never liked the slating he got under Bruce at times when as poor as he could be he was at least the only way we were ever going to get up the pitch at all. It feels like he's always either brilliant or awful in everyones eyes whereas he's been frequently middling. He often has a frustrating game and yet is crucial in moves leading up to goals still.

 

I think there is a difficulty, if we are playing on the counter, like we were under Bruce, he can be brilliant because the whole team couldnt fucking pass so we just relied on ASM to get the ball once a game and run through opposition who were all overcommited up the pitch as they thought these twats are useless we are going to win this easy no need to defend. 

 

Now we are pressing higher and pushing up the pitch he struggles because teams are putting effort into defending him and he has way less space to run into. I am thinking about how Guardiola used to use Sterling really wide on the left to drag defenders out of the position and then the left back and the left midfield would pile into the vacated space, I wonder if that is what should be going on in future. 

 

I just think we needs to be not reliant on him so he is less frustrating and then see about if Howe can coach him back to his best, where he's beating the last man in a defence rather than getting lost in a cul de sac

[KaKa]

Yeah, lots of great points in your post. The key one being the lack of space to run into right away because we are now playing with more purpose to take the game to teams, and with more of a pressing style, rather than sitting deep, which leaves a lot of running room to break into on the counter.

 

He now needs to adjust his mindset and look to release the ball very early and look to work quicker one-twos to then release him into space higher up the pitch. I don't think he quite sees that yet, and is still looking to just go straight into dribbling a multitude of players. We'll see if he can figure it out.

 

 

Edited April 21, 2022 by KaKa