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

[Cronky]

2 hours ago, Oregon_Geordie said:

 

Team > Player has been the big thing of late and he just wants to be the star.

 

 

His commitment seems to be flagging and I suspect this is the underlying problem.

[The Prophet]

1 minute ago, Cronky said:

 

His commitment seems to be flagging and I suspect this is the underlying problem.

 

What's this based on?

[gbandit]

Absolutely nowt

[joeyt]

16 minutes ago, Cronky said:

 

His commitment seems to be flagging and I suspect this is the underlying problem.

[Cronky]

15 minutes ago, The Prophet said:

 

What's this based on?

 

My irrational loathing of him. 

 

According to some.

[Heron]

25 minutes ago, triggs said:

What exactly did he do wrong today? The time he lost the ball in his own half was a clear foul. The 2 Chelsea players literally sandwiched him

Didn't pressure when he was supposed to be (as the rest of the squad had been desperately doing for like 68mins before), stayed down longer than he needed to when we were under pressure, made bad decisions with the ball, just the general - when he's not having a good game ASM things.

 

He's clearly very talented and likeable but he seemingly has a bee in his bonnet, and that in turn is leaving many, like me, with a bee in my bonnet, because there's nowt for us to theoretically be whinging about at present at NUFC. 

[The Prophet]

13 minutes ago, Cronky said:

 

My irrational loathing of him. 

 

According to some.

 

I'm not having a dig though, I'm genuinely curious.

[Danh1]

Hope he turns up on Thursday. One of his best games for the club against Everton at home, he tore them to shreds. He also released the ball at the right time and put some quality balls in the box, shame he doesn’t do that more often. 

 

Bet he has Howe tearing his hair out a lot. 

[Joey Linton]

41 minutes ago, The Prophet said:

 

What's this based on?

I think its fairly obvious what it's based on. 

[The Prophet]

Just now, Joey Linton said:

I think its fairly obvious what it's based on. 

 

I'm not seeing it though, that's why I'm asking.

[Heron]

14 minutes ago, Danh1 said:

Hope he turns up on Thursday. One of his best games for the club against Everton at home, he tore them to shreds. He also released the ball at the right time and put some quality balls in the box, shame he doesn’t do that more often. 

 

Bet he has Howe tearing his hair out a lot. 

Yep, it was his best game for us because he did the right things at the right times.

[Sandrotastico]

6 hours ago, reefatoon said:

 No where near enough contact  to be on the floor for so long while they attacked and left us with no outlet when we won it back. There was nothing wrong with him and sitting around on the floor doesn’t change the refs mind.

He's also an athlete than can probaby cover 100m in 12 seconds when he fancies it.

Murphy and Almiron are 25% the player but they all trigger pressed there full backs which then allowed our full back to press the wingers.

When he came on he neither pressed nor wanted to cover back. So in other words the entire team shape went out the window.

 

And as quoted above, he sits on his arse sulking every time he falls over.

 

Simple things make a huge difference. It's disrespectful to the lads who had done it for 70minutes. I love the guy. But he needs to show his team-mates some more respect and work up a sweat.

He could be a superstar here for 5-6 years but if he's not careful he'll be replaced.

 

 

 

 

Edited March 14, 2022 by Oregon_Geordie

[Palestoon]

1 hour ago, Oregon_Geordie said:

He's also an athlete than can probaby cover 100m in 12 seconds when he fancies it.

Murphy and Almiron are 25% the player but they all trigger pressed there full backs which then allowed our full back to press the wingers.

When he came on he neither pressed nor wanted to cover back. So in other words the entire team shape went out the window.

 

And as quoted above, he sits on his arse sulking every time he falls over.

 

Simple things make a huge difference. It's disrespectful to the lads who had done it for 70minutes. I love the guy. But he needs to show his team-mates some more respect and work up a sweat.

He could be a superstar here for 5-6 years but if he's not careful he'll be replaced.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hate to agree because I love ASM, but feel the same. unlike some, im not really too critical about some of his decision making. When you have a player like that, you have to allow them to make mistakes and lose the ball, if you want them to also do the fantastic as we've seen he's capable of often. Cant have it both ways.

 

But the off the ball stuff... It stands out so much more when he comes off the bench. Shape of the team falls apart, and his pressing is almost a zero. He seems to try and get into the right positions, but there's no actual effort to close down and tackle anyone. And then there's the staying down after every tackle, sometimes its understandable but it seems too common an occurrence lately.

 

Its frustrating because he is capable of really being a world beater, but he needs to work out these aspects of his game that are all effort. Still love to watch him, hopefully Eddie cant get him drilled to play a better team game along with his usual attacking flair.

[Cronky]

10 hours ago, The Prophet said:

 

What's this based on?

 

Okay, I'll pick my words carefully because I do seem to have a knack of upsetting people over this issue.

 

Like other posters, I was a bit concerned about the recent injury and illness absences, and the trip to Monaco. There was a somewhat last minute air about them, and not much clear detail. 

 

I think Oregon Geordie had a good point about him wanting to be the star, whereas the whole direction since Howe has come in has been about teamwork. We're also moving towards a more passing style of game, rather than relying on his ability to beat opponents, and pressing high rather than deep defence. He needs to adjust, on a personal level as well as footballing, and I'm not sure he's doing it. Beforehand, it felt like, despite his individualistic style of play, we were better off with him than without him. Now it's not so clear.

 

He was very disappointed, in a public manner, when Bruce went. A new man has come in and has largely taken over his status as hero. I wonder how well he's dealing with that.  

 

Of course this is speculation. I may be reading too much into things, or he may adjust to the new situation. If anyone looks at the same picture and says there isn't a problem, then that's fine, but that feels like speculation too.

[Awaymag]

I actually think he may be sold in the summer.  I dont think he fits into Howe's, high press, high intensity formation.   Unless he is willing to press and track back then I see more a sub role and I dont think he will accept that. I'll miss him but things change and players move on.   

[joeyt]

Can't remember him ever playing well when he's brought on as a sub. Might be forgetting something

[Dr Jinx]

It’s all well and good trying to cover for someone who won’t do the things his teammates are doing if he is doing good things up the pitch, but we didn’t see that yesterday.

 

Again I’m not overreacting, he has good games and then bad ones. Yesterday, not so good. ASM finding consistency has been the running theme ever since he signed, but for the games where he finds his rhythm, there’s nobody better in the PL imo.

 

The natural thing is to look for a scapegoat when we lose, but we’re looking in wrong place, it was Dan Burn who lost his concentration that lost us the game after all and nobody is criticising him (rightly so)

[Guest neesy111]

2 minutes ago, joeyt said:

Can't remember him ever playing well when he's brought on as a sub. Might be forgetting something

 

Everton away last season?

[TheGuv]

41 minutes ago, Cronky said:

 

Okay, I'll pick my words carefully because I do seem to have a knack of upsetting people over this issue.

 

Like other posters, I was a bit concerned about the recent injury and illness absences, and the trip to Monaco. There was a somewhat last minute air about them, and not much clear detail. 

 

I think Oregon Geordie had a good point about him wanting to be the star, whereas the whole direction since Howe has come in has been about teamwork. We're also moving towards a more passing style of game, rather than relying on his ability to beat opponents, and pressing high rather than deep defence. He needs to adjust, on a personal level as well as footballing, and I'm not sure he's doing it. Beforehand, it felt like, despite his individualistic style of play, we were better off with him than without him. Now it's not so clear.

 

He was very disappointed, in a public manner, when Bruce went. A new man has come in and has largely taken over his status as hero. I wonder how well he's dealing with that.  

 

Of course this is speculation. I may be reading too much into things, or he may adjust to the new situation. If anyone looks at the same picture and says there isn't a problem, then that's fine, but that feels like speculation too.

I have to agree with this.

 

I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s sold in the summer or is replaced in the starting XI regularly from next season. Once we’ve stayed up, I don’t think he’ll fit into the style of play Howe wants to play. 
 

I’m ALL for attacking flair, we all are. But I must say, I was pretty frustrated when he came on in the 69th minute and was half jogging to press down Chelsea players within 5 minutes of being on the pitch, whilst players like Longstaff were pressing from the very first minute. It doesn’t sit right with me.

[SUPERTOON]

12 minutes ago, neesy111 said:

 

Everton away last season?

Burnley away as well I think he came on ?

[The Prophet]

46 minutes ago, Cronky said:

 

Okay, I'll pick my words carefully because I do seem to have a knack of upsetting people over this issue.

 

Like other posters, I was a bit concerned about the recent injury and illness absences, and the trip to Monaco. There was a somewhat last minute air about them, and not much clear detail. 

 

I think Oregon Geordie had a good point about him wanting to be the star, whereas the whole direction since Howe has come in has been about teamwork. We're also moving towards a more passing style of game, rather than relying on his ability to beat opponents, and pressing high rather than deep defence. He needs to adjust, on a personal level as well as footballing, and I'm not sure he's doing it. Beforehand, it felt like, despite his individualistic style of play, we were better off with him than without him. Now it's not so clear.

 

He was very disappointed, in a public manner, when Bruce went. A new man has come in and has largely taken over his status as hero. I wonder how well he's dealing with that.  

 

Of course this is speculation. I may be reading too much into things, or he may adjust to the new situation. If anyone looks at the same picture and says there isn't a problem, then that's fine, but that feels like speculation too.

 

You're perfectly entitled to your opinion. What I would say is that he has a spell like this every season, where he picks up nagging injuries and the commentary surrounding it is always quite similar.

 

Everton was one of his best games for us and the following game he picked up his injury, I just don't think he's up to speed.

[buzza]

I think all of the above state what is clearly obvious to us all; he does not put in the hard yards when opposition has the ball (pressing, covering and tracking runners).

Yes, he has a bit more license than others only because he is capable of pulling results out of a hat due to his magic moments.

Against lesser opponents who do not pose such a threat, we can more or less carry his lack of defensive duties and depend upon his attacking attributes to help get us the win, but against top ten teams such as chelsea we all see how it makes a difference when an opposing full back can adavnce and pick his passes. Eddie must be seething when he sees a display like yesterday, he was only on for 30 minutes, so in my book he should have run harder than the rest of the team on the pitch...

 

I also think he could well be sold in the summer if a large offer came in. I am also quite suspect of the last week or two´s "illnesses & injuries".

 

I absolutely love the bloke and he has saved our skin a few times this season, but I also hate him at times when his attitude stinks. I should take the positives and be thankful for those crazy moments he gives us... but there is always the little bit of conscience that asks "imagine if he tracked back aswell? what a player he could be!"

[joeyt]

14 minutes ago, SUPERTOON said:

Burnley away as well I think he came on ?

Oh aye, he was brilliant in that game

[Cf]

5 minutes ago, buzza said:

I think all of the above state what is clearly obvious to us all; he does not put in the hard yards when opposition has the ball (pressing, covering and tracking runners).

Yes, he has a bit more license than others only because he is capable of pulling results out of a hat due to his magic moments.

Against lesser opponents who do not pose such a threat, we can more or less carry his lack of defensive duties and depend upon his attacking attributes to help get us the win, but against top ten teams such as chelsea we all see how it makes a difference when an opposing full back can adavnce and pick his passes. Eddie must be seething when he sees a display like yesterday, he was only on for 30 minutes, so in my book he should have run harder than the rest of the team on the pitch...

 

I also think he could well be sold in the summer if a large offer came in. I am also quite suspect of the last week or two´s "illnesses & injuries".

 

I absolutely love the bloke and he has saved our skin a few times this season, but I also hate him at times when his attitude stinks. I should take the positives and be thankful for those crazy moments he gives us... but there is always the little bit of conscience that asks "imagine if he tracked back aswell? what a player he could be!"

 

Exactly. The frustration is we can all see the player he can be. But he needs to be more.

 

When you're in a relegation fight and Bruce has the entire team underperforming then a player like ASM is what can help you out of it because his quality is like night and day with the rest of the squad. You need his moments of magic because lord knows you're not going to create anything else.

 

But that's not the case anymore. The rest of the team is now putting in a much better shift. Having his moments of magic is still a massive help of course - especially with our injuries we could do with the creative flair. But unlike before the team has a shape and identity. He needs to fit inside that. We looked noticeably worse yesterday when he came on in that sense. When he did get the ball he regularly just ran himself into trouble.

 

There's nothing here that can't be fixed. But there's a reason he's playing for us and not one of the "big sides" in the first place. And if these parts of his game don't get fixed then we should be looking to upgrade ourselves. You can't have 10 players executing a game plan and one just doing his own thing. Get this stuff sorted out and we have a world class player. As it stands we just have a very very talented player and the two things aren't the same.

[KaKa]

40 minutes ago, TheGuv said:

I have to agree with this.

 

I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s sold in the summer or is replaced in the starting XI regularly from next season. Once we’ve stayed up, I don’t think he’ll fit into the style of play Howe wants to play. 
 

I’m ALL for attacking flair, we all are. But I must say, I was pretty frustrated when he came on in the 69th minute and was half jogging to press down Chelsea players within 5 minutes of being on the pitch, whilst players like Longstaff were pressing from the very first minute. It doesn’t sit right with me.

 

If we stay up we're going to be in a position where we can bring in flair players that also have the work rate required for a high pressing game. These players do exist, Liverpool currently have four of them in Salah, Mane, Diaz and Jota.

 

My gut instinct is that ASM won't be here long term. I think he prefers and is more suited to a defensive setup that sits deep in a block, and doesn't require him to press, and allows him to pick up the ball and run with it on the counter when there is a turnover in possession.

 

 

Edited March 14, 2022 by KaKa