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

[Cronky]

I've been one of his doubters for a while, and that performance did nothing to change my mind. He'll be good to have around as an impact sub if we're in trouble, but that's it.

 

Unless we give him a free role, with no defensive expectations, I don't think he's worth a starting place. We're a hard-working, passing team and he needs to link better with his team mates and move the ball on more quickly. He's very much an individual whose instinct is to try and make things happen on his own. 

[Joseph]

Yeah it was terrible the way he held on too long for our first goal. Greedy bastard. 

[TheBrownBottle]

He’s one of the very few who are likely to go who’d also command a decent fee (I would’ve thought c.£20-25m would be ok for him - maybe even higher).  He looks like a square peg in a round hole but I’ll give the lad full credit - these last few games you can see that he’s trying to play a game different from his natural one; but it’s better for both parties that we sign someone more suited to that style of play and let him go somewhere else (hopefully abroad, but I can picture a Palace or maybe newly-promoted Burnley hoping the wedge over for him)

[madras]

10 hours ago, Jaqen said:

A reminder for people wanting to bin him off, we currently have Matt Ritchie coming on as a sub. We will need even more depth if we have European football next season. 

And we'll have Gordon and Anderson and the Joe/Joe dovetail and possibly more coming in in the summer.

[magvicar]

Against Wolves Maxi did very well and he was half decent against Forest to be fair.
Maxi is one of those players that can look outstanding in a team that allow him to be the main man.

Unfortunately for Maxi the training and match reliance is on entire team effort all game with all players to be relevant all game and not go missing for some part of it.

 

I don't want to knock Maxi because he's clearly one hell of a player when his mind is right and his fitness is in check.

Against Wolves Maxi showed what a team player he can be so there's work in motion for him.

It'll come down to where we finish this season as to how much Maxi wants to continue to fit this set up.

 

If we gain Europa or even (dare I say it) champions league then where could Maxi go to better it?

The answer is very few teams on that level who would be willing to take him and his price tag plus wages.

 

I'd like to see him carry on with us for at least another season, obviously with mind right and his ability integrated more into Eddie's set up.

 

Having said all this, if he does go, whether he's surplus or wants out then I'd be sad to see him go but also buoyed by the fact we will be replacing with players that are as good or better in his position.

[Doctor Zaius]

I don't want him to go at all like. Still think he's a special player and worthy of a start

[WilliamPS]

If a new LB is brought in, or Targett gets a run in the team we’ll see a different player. The lack of an overlap rally hinders him

[TheInfiniteOdyssey]

Would absolutely hate if he played for another Premier League team like.

The ideal scenario would be selling him to a club like PSG, admittedly an unlikely scenario.

[nufc123]

9 minutes ago, WilliamPS said:

If a new LB is brought in, or Targett gets a run in the team we’ll see a different player. The lack of an overlap rally hinders him

Will we? We said the same when Howe came in. Howe will transform him like he did with Joelinton and Almiron. But its still the same. Always a knock or an injury, one step forward two step back. He has his usual 10/10 game then you wont see him for another ten games. He just doesnt click, there is just no consistency.

[Lish007]

4 hours ago, Cronky said:

I've been one of his doubters for a while, and that performance did nothing to change my mind. He'll be good to have around as an impact sub if we're in trouble, but that's it.

 

Unless we give him a free role, with no defensive expectations, I don't think he's worth a starting place. We're a hard-working, passing team and he needs to link better with his team mates and move the ball on more quickly. He's very much an individual whose instinct is to try and make things happen on his own. 

I think we should probably give him the benefit of the doubt that he was actually struggling with his hamstring like Howe suggested. And he was rightly taken off. Don't think that's a problem with his performance if he's injured... 

 

He can't help his hamstrings! 

[Shak]

Think the issue is that if he's not able to consistently rinse players with his dribbling then he's not offering much as he really struggles to link up well with his teammates.

 

His movement off the ball is really poor, he never seems to receive the ball in any position other than on the touchline facing a fullback. How often do you see him make a run into a clever space to receive the ball in a good spot, or making a run that drags a defender out of position to create space for a teammate? Those little one touch quick passing moves we like in the buildup are very hard to do with him as he doesn't move very well and he also isn't quick to release the ball.

 

He's a very good player but he's just a terrible fit for the way Howe wants us to play in possession. Also, the way we play without the ball is also very intense and he keeps picking up these injuries. I do wonder if his body is not able for it, physically.

 

I do think we'll move on from him in the summer and it'll be best for all concerned.

 

Assuming the injury is nothing serious, he does have a big role to play down the stretch for us though. We're so thin on the flanks that he'll see plenty of action. Hopefully he can produce a few moments of magic and get us into the CL spots.

[dcmk]

Taking yesterday's performance to prove he's not good enough is quite disingenuous, considering he couldn't run towards the end of the half.

 

He's clearly adapting his game to be more of a team player to fit in with Howe's style of play.  Proving he wants to be a part of what we are building.  He's certainly less selfish than the Maxi of old.  We've all seen him destroy teams on his own in the past, and even recently has looked very sharp, his understanding with Isak especially, don't quite understand why we should immediately push him out of the door.

 

It's like witnessing Roberts treatment all over again, towards the end of his time here.

 

 

[Thomson Mouse]

Finished here, as much as people will laugh as usual he’s gone in the summer, guaranteed.

 

 

[AyeDubbleYoo]

I want to give him as many chances as possible but the easiest option is to let him go this summer. 

[SUPERTOON]

He’s still also one of our only saleable assets (discounting the new lads). He’s the only player here pre takeover who we would want to go and who would fetch some decent money.

[Yorkie]

The fact he's injured a-fucking-gain is the kicker for me, in terms of the keep him/sell him debate. Whether he ever fully assimilates into Howe's style of play is basically a moot point now, imo. 

 

The image of him lining up for another PL team who have a greater focus on counter-attacking (say Villa/Wolves, cos I don't think the likes of ManU/Liverpool would go near him) saddens and scares me in equal measure. However, if a team on the continent came on with a reasonable offer I'd hope we'd take it and find a more suitable replacement. 

[tgarve]

15 minutes ago, dcmk said:

Taking yesterday's performance to prove he's not good enough is quite disingenuous, considering he couldn't run towards the end of the half.

 

He's clearly adapting his game to be more of a team player to fit in with Howe's style of play.  Proving he wants to be a part of what we are building.  He's certainly less selfish than the Maxi of old.  We've all seen him destroy teams on his own in the past, and even recently has looked very sharp, his understanding with Isak especially, don't quite understand why we should immediately push him out of the door.

 

It's like witnessing Roberts treatment all over again, towards the end of his time here.

 

 

It’s nothing like Robert

 

Robert had countless assists and goals for us and often changed games , he was treble as effective and a set piece threat

 

ASM is 26 and doesn’t have the right output yet

[80]

His injury record now is pretty shocking. I'm not sure he's been fully fit since September now has he? Despite multiple comebacks.

 

 

Edited March 18, 2023 by 80

[Thomson Mouse]

10 minutes ago, Yorkie said:

The fact he's injured a-fucking-gain is the kicker for me, in terms of the keep him/sell him debate. Whether he ever fully assimilates into Howe's style of play is basically a moot point now, imo. 

 

The image of him lining up for another PL team who have a greater focus on counter-attacking (say Villa/Wolves, cos I don't think the likes of ManU/Liverpool would go near him) saddens and scares me in equal measure. However, if a team on the continent came on with a reasonable offer I'd hope we'd take it and find a more suitable replacement. 

 

It doesn’t sadden me, I see that as his level

[Cronky]

56 minutes ago, Lish007 said:

I think we should probably give him the benefit of the doubt that he was actually struggling with his hamstring like Howe suggested. And he was rightly taken off. Don't think that's a problem with his performance if he's injured... 

 

He can't help his hamstrings! 

 

I can't help but feel that he's been getting the benefit of the doubt over his injuries for too long now.

 

Anyway, it's not really about that particular performance last night. It's about his overall strengths and weaknesses, and whether his style really fits in with the team that Eddie is trying to develop. Yes, he's making an effort to adjust, but as someone else said earlier, he still looks like a round peg in a square hole.

[Yorkie]

17 minutes ago, 80 said:

His injury record now is pretty shocking. I'm not sure he's been fully fit since September now has he? Despite multiple comebacks.

 

He hasn't been fully fit since 2019.

[TRon]

14 hours ago, Mountain said:

He's not like his old self, he seems to have lost a yard and he wasn't even trying to take people on today.

 

I don't know what the issue is.

 

Maybe it's just all the injuries over the years.

 

That might have been his injury tbf. I've been fairly critical of him this season but wouldn't want to judge him if he was only half fit.

[AyeDubbleYoo]

I know it’s a meme how much I mention his bandages, but both legs and both arms strapped up is really weird for a footballer

[alexf]

He plays like someone nervous that if he opens up fully his hamstring will go. People like dyer and Owen had the same issue for years. I think it's really difficult if you are an explosive player like him and are scared to run full speed in fear of getting injured. Even when it looks like he's not going 100% he is still picking up the odd strain here and there aswell. 

 

However the last few times he's looked most useful have actually been when he plays central. Liverpool after the red and Forrest before the goal. He seems to come alive abit more with his movement. 

 

Hopefully something Howe might explore. Also negates his defensive weaknesses a little aswell by him not being on the wing. 

[Heron]

@ThumbheedI didn't say he wasn't a threat. He absolutely is doubled up on too. However, he doesn't score or assist often enough. 3 assists and 1 goal in 18 games for a team in 5th isn't a great return for someone who wants to be starting every game, and if he's not contributing defensively (as he rarely does) he's not offering much other than a perceived threat.

 

On the other hand, to his defence, by him being double up on, this frees up other players such as Almiron which has obviously benefitted him (and us).