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

[KaKa]

Also, ASM talking about not having quality around him as an excuse for his poor output is weak.

 

Emmanuel Dennis at Watford has 10 goals and 6 assists in his first prem season for goodness sake, and they do not have more quality than us.

 

I am almost certain that when better players are brought into the team it will even look worse for him, as he will not link with them well enough, because he dwells on the ball too much.

[The Prophet]

13 minutes ago, reefatoon said:

His performances have been duly criticised as he has been consistently poor over that time. If players are not pulling their weight, fans are allowed to criticise. For me he just doesn’t fit into the ethos of what Howe is trying to put together. Players now want to run through brick walls for each other and that shows in the performances and results. That could change if some knacker decided to spout off crap about his colleagues. Especially when it his him letting himself and the team down with his poor displays. He needs to sort his head out and play his game. He potentially has all the talent in the world but is massively restricted by the way he goes on during matches. One tackle and his head is down and that’s him done. Needs to get over that or he will amount to nothing.

 

That's fair enough. He's in poor form so he'll inevitably draw criticism. I'd also there are parts of his game that he could him improve, but:

i) the criticism isn't recent and hasn't always been accurate.

ii) people fail to acknowledge how dependant we have been on him as an attacking outlet for over two seasons.

[gbandit]

Let’s at least wait and see. If he doesn’t improve with better players, hoy him in the skip and thank him for the laughs 

[KaKa]

1 minute ago, gbandit said:

It says - the other 14, so I’m guessing it’s just looking at players from outside the top 6

 

1 minute ago, Jackie Broon said:

 

"TheOther14"

 

Ah, okay. I was about to say man.

 

Would be more interesting to see a full list.

 

On that other 14 list, the only guy on there that I would expect him to be behind is perhaps Raphina. Don't think him being top of that list is particularly impressive.

[Guest reefatoon]

1 minute ago, The Prophet said:

 

That's fair enough. He's in poor form so he'll inevitably draw criticism. I'd also there are parts of his game that he could him improve, but:

i) the criticism isn't recent and hasn't always been accurate.

ii) people fail to acknowledge how dependant we have been on him as an attacking outlet for over two seasons.

agree that he was massively important over the last couple of years and the only shining light in an utterly shit time. For some bizarre reason though, he is the only one player that hasn’t improved since Bruce left, he’s actually been worse. I get the feeling he preferred that easy ride to life that he had under Bruce. 

[Sean]

I feel, although he creates a lot of chances, his final pass rarely sets someone up perfectly. It's just as likely to be slightly behind them, or too far in front of them for the chance to be converted. Even when it's the most simple of passes.

 

That's as big a problem as the rest of the team's finishing IMO.

 

 

Edited May 5, 2022 by Sean

[Sifu]

Bought an online copy of So Foot, will have a read of the full article when I go for lunch.

[KaKa]

Just now, Sean said:

I feel, although he creates a lot of chances, his final pass rarely sets someone up perfectly. It's just as likely to be slightly behind them, or too far in front of them for the chance to be converted. 

 

That's as big a problem as the rest of the team's finishing IMO.

 

I'm sure this is often over looked with chance creation stats.

 

So many final balls in general are weighted so poorly. Always find it incredibly annoying.

[St1pe]

Weird that even taken out of context his comments are exactly what the majority of this forum have said about him for most of this season yet the majority are fuming he said it. 
 

He’s right. The timing is awful given his form and it doesn’t fit with the overall ethos the club has created lately but he’s absolutely right. 
 

I’m sure this happens at all clubs but the determination by some to demonise this guy lately is properly weird. 
 

If we’re ever going to compete at the top level again we have to be better at dealing with players with egos as a fanbase. Liverpool/City have this ongoing stuff all the time. Or we can go back to having 11 Jack Colbacks. 

[Guest]

He’s going to look a tit this time next season after we’ve signed a top striker and the striker is saying he’s not worried about not matching Haaland’s figures for goals but wait until he’s playing alongside someone who’ll provide the bullets. 

[Guest reefatoon]

It’s just a shame when everyone is loving the club again, the feel good factor is back and we are on the up, that he has managed to turn it about him. Anyway, that’s enough about it from me, would much rather concentrate on how fucking great we are now and how amazing the summer will be.

 

 

Edited May 5, 2022 by reefatoon

[Guest reefatoon]

4 minutes ago, St1pe said:

Weird that even taken out of context his comments are exactly what the majority of this forum have said about him for most of this season yet the majority are fuming he said it. 
 

He’s right. The timing is awful given his form and it doesn’t fit with the overall ethos the club has created lately but he’s absolutely right. 
 

I’m sure this happens at all clubs but the determination by some to demonise this guy lately is properly weird. 
 

If we’re ever going to compete at the top level again we have to be better at dealing with players with egos as a fanbase. Liverpool/City have this ongoing stuff all the time. Or we can go back to having 11 Jack Colbacks. 

Sorry, but you don’t come out in public and criticise your team mates no matter how true it look on the outside. You just don’t do it. Go back to 11 Colback’s  you are talking shite there mind.

 

 

Edited May 5, 2022 by reefatoon

[Mazzy]

Saint-Maximin has created 45 chances from open play this term, the eighth-most in the league and most outside the top six.

 

Quoted from Fotmob.com

[Sean]

His FBRef report basically confirms he is good at carrying the ball and creating chances, but poor in nearly all other metrics, such as passing (hardly ever attempts a pass), expected assists (surprisingly seeing as he creates so much), pressures (he's in the 1st percentile), it's just a sea of red. 

 

Compared to someone like Zaha or Raphina, he lacks so so much it's actually funny:

 

https://fbref.com/en/players/2b16cb1a/Allan-Saint-Maximin#scout_summary_AM

 

https://fbref.com/en/players/b2bc3b1f/Wilfried-Zaha

 

https://fbref.com/en/players/3423f250/Raphael-Dias-Belloli

[Sifu]

19 minutes ago, Sifu said:

Bought an online copy of So Foot, will have a read of the full article when I go for lunch.

 

It's quite a long interview with ASM but I've read the part which brought about his comments.

 

It got pointed out to ASM that the stats say he's had the most successful dribbles this season of all the top 5 European leagues which hasn't quite equated to assists or goals in his name, ASM basically replied with the comments we know. I sort of get why he's saying it (like a defence mechanism) but as has been pointed out by most on here, he shouldn't be saying it in public.

[ElDiablo]

He shouldn't have said it and I hope he gets a talking to, but I'm not that bothered by it tbh. It's definitely bad timing for him to say that though, when he's been playing pretty poorly recently. If he comes out and says it a year ago the reaction would probably be different.

[The College Dropout]

1 hour ago, St1pe said:

Weird that even taken out of context his comments are exactly what the majority of this forum have said about him for most of this season yet the majority are fuming he said it. 
 

He’s right. The timing is awful given his form and it doesn’t fit with the overall ethos the club has created lately but he’s absolutely right. 
 

I’m sure this happens at all clubs but the determination by some to demonise this guy lately is properly weird. 
 

If we’re ever going to compete at the top level again we have to be better at dealing with players with egos as a fanbase. Liverpool/City have this ongoing stuff all the time. Or we can go back to having 11 Jack Colbacks. 

City and Liverpools biggest stars work hard on the pitch.  Or at least don’t make it look like such a chore. 

[Holloway]

Before he starts shooting his mouth off, he should have a look at what the majority of French journalists are saying about his chances of getting in the national squad

[TRon]

8 minutes ago, Holloway said:

Before he starts shooting his mouth off, he should have a look at what the majority of French journalists are saying about his chances of getting in the national squad

 

That's because the way he plays is really ineffectual at the top level. It's exciting to see, but how many of his marathon dribbles actually come to anything? More often than not he loses the ball, and even when he does get through the defence, by the time he's finished his stepovers and tricks, the rest of his team mates are marked up. Strikers like the ball in early so they have some space to attack.

[sushimonster85]

1 hour ago, Sean said:

His FBRef report basically confirms he is good at carrying the ball and creating chances, but poor in nearly all other metrics, such as passing (hardly ever attempts a pass), expected assists (surprisingly seeing as he creates so much), pressures (he's in the 1st percentile), it's just a sea of red. 

 

Compared to someone like Zaha or Raphina, he lacks so so much it's actually funny:

 

https://fbref.com/en/players/2b16cb1a/Allan-Saint-Maximin#scout_summary_AM

 

https://fbref.com/en/players/b2bc3b1f/Wilfried-Zaha

 

https://fbref.com/en/players/3423f250/Raphael-Dias-Belloli

 

If you really want to pray for ASM take a look at Hugo Ekitike, who we remain heavily linked with:

 

https://fbref.com/en/players/5b92d896/Hugo-Ekitike

 

I know Ekitike is more of a central forward, but if he it played out wide he could be way more effective than ASM in time. 

[80]

3 hours ago, macphisto said:

It's difficult to know what he's worth? We paid around £25 million for Willock so you would think we'd get more for ASM but then I can't think of any teams who would pay over that amount?

 

Probably the best solution would be to exchange ASM for another player. 

That's not a bad shout if Howe can see value in a player in a similar predicament. A Harry Maguire, say (not literally him, but you get the idea).

 

It is difficult to settle on his value, it's in the eye of the beholder.  He's living in football's uncanny valley. Can he make the crossing? I don't think so, but I hope he does.

[80]

2 hours ago, Jackie Broon said:

Wor Flags are amazing and beyond criticism, but I think that display at the Palace match possibly just served to feed into his ego, which really doesn't need any extra feeding.

Alternatively, it means there are no excuses he can give about lack of support from fans when he's going through a hard time. This one's on him. If a flag display causes him to blow up, then he was always a ticking time bomb.

[Guest]

Can see him at Crystal Palace within 2 seasons.

[Miercoles]

He's a great player for a bad team, gives you some threat no matter how the game is going. I don't think he'd fit into a top side, he would really have to go back to basics with his passing, pressing, etc which 1) I don't think he would, and 2) would probably ruin his value as a wildcard x-factor type player anyway.

 

He's a mid-tier luxury player for me, and at the top level if you carry a luxury player their production has to be way better than his.

 

Of course the tricky bit is when you watch us play you can absolutely understand why he never passes, he would do a ton of work, lay the ball off in a good position, and then watch us Bruce it back to the keeper, or fire it 50 yards into the stands. So maybe that would be different in a good team, who knows.

 

He's fine for us right now, but if we get a good offer I have no doubt we can improve the position.

[Ste]

They feel like comments made by a man under pressure and feeling the heat. Not the wisest but if he finishes the season strongly they'll be quickly forgotten about.

 

I like ASM. I think the problem comes partly from Wood wanting aerial service into the box and he's never going to be the type of player to whip in a quality cross so I can see where he's coming from. Swap Wood with Wilson and it pads ASM's stats a bit with assists. He has to look beyond his own personal stats and buy into the thinking from the players that the team comes above the individual. Everybody works in conjunction with each other and those comments give a feeling of ASM being his own personal interest.

 

The team right now is largely set-up to accommodate him but where he is struggling is repeatedly doing the same manoeuvre of cutting inside and dribbling the length of the box before running into trouble. He does look like he's improving in terms of releasing the ball a little bit more often but his passing is wayward and his shooting has been abysmal. 

 

I'd say the majority of fans do want him to succeed here, I really hope he does because I do like him. It's all up to him because there is a lot more ability to come out of him.