80 Posted March 19, 2022 Share Posted March 19, 2022 Speaking as someone who basically checked out of football for 10 years until recently, he reminds me of a high quality Lua Lua. That's not the insult some might take it as. I've seen lengthy interviews with him where he talks about feeling solely responsible for making goals for the team due to (the lack of) what was around him. I respect that, and he was probably right to think that way. But he needs to grow out of that mentality for his own sake now. It looks like teams have gotten wiser to him, keeping a player trailing just behind him ready to snatch his inevitable cut back from his blind spot. I'd like to see him stop automatically progressing the ball forwards when he gets possession for a change and instead stay still and draw one or two players into a challenge, while his new teammates provide effective movement around him. We, and he, would benefit from it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SUPERTOON Posted March 19, 2022 Share Posted March 19, 2022 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest HTT II Posted March 19, 2022 Share Posted March 19, 2022 33 minutes ago, SUPERTOON said: Less talk, more… Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrRaspberryJam Posted March 19, 2022 Share Posted March 19, 2022 1 hour ago, SUPERTOON said: Go on lad. Love it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RodneyCisse Posted March 19, 2022 Share Posted March 19, 2022 2 hours ago, SUPERTOON said: The amount of results he’s got us in the past, everyone has short memories. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conjo Posted March 19, 2022 Share Posted March 19, 2022 Straight out hate aside (assuming there is a lot of it on twitter), I don't feel it's too much to ask that he passes the ball more often and get up from his ass instead of sitting down and shouting to the ref while opposing team is counter attacking X times a game. Just by doing that he'd be a big improvement in general, not only the last few games. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Awaymag Posted March 19, 2022 Share Posted March 19, 2022 (edited) 4 minutes ago, Conjo said: Straight out hate aside (assuming there is a lot of it on twitter), I don't feel it's too much to ask that he passes the ball more often and get up from his ass instead of sitting down and shouting to the ref while opposing team is counter attacking X times a game. Just by doing that he'd be a big improvement in general, not only the last few games. Howe should just show ASM the 2nd half of the Everton game at St James and say - play like that, that's what we want you to do! Edited March 19, 2022 by Awaymag Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thiago Posted March 19, 2022 Share Posted March 19, 2022 If that's what's needed to get his arse then so be it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiLvOR Posted March 19, 2022 Share Posted March 19, 2022 Hopefully the criticism has lit a fire under his arse. He needs to be better, especially if he wants to take his own game to the next level. That's not me slagging him off, he's a great talent, but performing once every what, 5 games? We need more. Again, just to reiterate, he's the least of our worries. Almiron, Murphy, Wood, all need to step up and deliver, or get out. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oregon_Geordie Posted March 19, 2022 Share Posted March 19, 2022 Probably see him winning a Media Award before that ballon d'Or! Just messing before anyone get's upset Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pata Posted March 19, 2022 Share Posted March 19, 2022 I would expect more from Trippier and Wilson too tbh, both have been on poor form for a long time now. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fantail Breeze Posted March 19, 2022 Share Posted March 19, 2022 (edited) 4 hours ago, RodneyCisse said: The amount of results he’s got us in the past, everyone has short memories. Said it numerous times but he performs well about once every five games, mainly because of his decision making and selfishness. For now, we can just about accept that as a bottom half team. Will that be good enough next season, or the season after? Nah. He’s a loveable maverick and does some brilliant charity and local work but he’s not going to last long. He’ll be off to Nice/Marseille or somewhere. Edited March 19, 2022 by Fantail Breeze Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
triggs Posted March 19, 2022 Share Posted March 19, 2022 Performs well once every 5 games is just horseshit Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BennyBlanco Posted March 19, 2022 Share Posted March 19, 2022 Has anyone actually seen any of this supposed criticism online? I’ve seen lots of people harping on about this so called vocal minority but I can’t see anything where anyone is giving him any real vitriol. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fantail Breeze Posted March 19, 2022 Share Posted March 19, 2022 1 minute ago, triggs said: Performs well once every 5 games is just horseshit His goal record this season of 1 in 5 and tracking back through his games this season seems to suggest it’s true. Even during our run of good form I can only really pick out the Everton & Man Utd games where he was good. Since Howe came in, those two games plus Brentford and maybe Norwich at home. I can easily recall many more games where he’s been incredibly poor or completely uninterested: Liverpool, Villa, Man City, Cambridge, Arsenal, Leicester, cameos at Everton, Chelsea & Brighton. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
triggs Posted March 19, 2022 Share Posted March 19, 2022 7 minutes ago, Fantail Breeze said: His goal record this season of 1 in 5 and tracking back through his games this season seems to suggest it’s true. Even during our run of good form I can only really pick out the Everton & Man Utd games where he was good. Since Howe came in, those two games plus Brentford and maybe Norwich at home. I can easily recall many more games where he’s been incredibly poor or completely uninterested: Liverpool, Villa, Man City, Cambridge, Arsenal, Leicester, cameos at Everton, Chelsea & Brighton. Forgot you had to score goals to play well Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oregon_Geordie Posted March 19, 2022 Share Posted March 19, 2022 (edited) In my opinion, I'm not sure it's about just tracking back or scoring goals. It's a work ethic to be part of the team and show your teammates some respect. Watch Salah, Mane or Luis Diaz, they loose the ball they are individually driven to get it back, for themselves and to help their team. It's a little selfish to only play or be arsed to play when you have the ball and you can try and dribble through the whole team like a kid on the school yard. There are less and less of these flair players that just perform solely on the ball, that day of football has gone, unfortunately. I used to love HBA, I don't think Maxi is half the player he was. But I really admire his ability on the ball and I genuinely hope he wakes up the bigger picture. We need him and he could have a great career here and be even more worshipped, not a lot to ask to close down your full back occasionally and not sit on your arse for 5 minutes every time your tackled or things don't work out. I don't think anyone has short memories, but it's sometimes hard to remember the 1 in 8 MOTM performances. The players I mention above do it week in week out and still don't talk about balon d'or. They just get on and do their shit. Edited March 19, 2022 by Oregon_Geordie Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pata Posted March 19, 2022 Share Posted March 19, 2022 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fantail Breeze Posted March 19, 2022 Share Posted March 19, 2022 55 minutes ago, triggs said: Forgot you had to score goals to play well Did he score against Norwich? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattoon Posted March 19, 2022 Share Posted March 19, 2022 This thread is starting to reek of "Cats fer me lyk!" Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaqen Posted March 19, 2022 Share Posted March 19, 2022 For all the 'selfish' talk doesn't he have one of the highest chances created stats in the league? There's always a weird narrative around him. From faking injuries to not wanting to try because Bruce got binned or caring more about his board game. He's a raw talent that has essentially carried our whole attack and creativity since he's been here. He's going to have off days, it's normal. Even if the 1 in 5 good games rhetoric was true that was still have him miles ahead of the likes of Murphy and Almiron. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oregon_Geordie Posted March 19, 2022 Share Posted March 19, 2022 Not sure anyone is comparing him to Miggy or Murphy. More so against what he can be, when he 'can' be arsed to be. That's the dilemma...but it's pretty clear its the Maxi show and not the team for Maxi. I doubt you'll see much of Miggy or Murphy after this season, wether or not Maxi joins them in a taxi, is more down to attitude than talent, pity as the two others have the opposite. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oregon_Geordie Posted March 19, 2022 Share Posted March 19, 2022 On the topic of team wide commitment and pressing. This is worth a watch. Team identity > Individuals is why we turned the corner. I'll say it again, I hope he can learn to be a better team player, pull his weight and be a star here. It wouldn't take much. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolfcastle Posted March 19, 2022 Share Posted March 19, 2022 (edited) 3 hours ago, Fantail Breeze said: His goal record this season of 1 in 5 and tracking back through his games this season seems to suggest it’s true. Even during our run of good form I can only really pick out the Everton & Man Utd games where he was good. Since Howe came in, those two games plus Brentford and maybe Norwich at home. I can easily recall many more games where he’s been incredibly poor or completely uninterested: Liverpool, Villa, Man City, Cambridge, Arsenal, Leicester, cameos at Everton, Chelsea & Brighton. He was the worst player on the pitch against Watford too. Happened to score the goal and that's the conundrum with us and for managers. The only other game I remember him playing up to the standards affixed to him in was against Leeds at home. I'd go along with 1 in 5 too. Used to think once a month throughout his time here but that's still a lot more than most of his teammates pre Eddie so didn't feel a risk at all then. Edited March 19, 2022 by Wolfcastle Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The College Dropout Posted March 19, 2022 Share Posted March 19, 2022 Was excellent against Villa. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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