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

[Ronaldo]

Still a place for ASM but it’s not as a guaranteed starter in this side. We simply play too high up to pitch to get the best out of him, and that’s not even taking into account his fitness unreliability. Not that I could care less in truth because we’re a far better side now.

[mighty__mag]

4 hours ago, Wolfcastle said:

Was that a serious post you've responded to?

Thought it was a wummery. Sir Bobby wasn't hounded out, nor was Ben Arfa and Dyer had been next to useless for 3years which was about a third of his career as it turned out. Whilst Robert was hounded out by an idiot of a manager and the previous owner had a little something to do with the stagnation as I recall.

 

 

 

 

Depends what context you read it in. I was responding to the post that was basically saying I cant believe what I'm reading regards to ASM and people think its sensible to flog him. all the other stuff, I can see the points, because some fans did get on HBAs back also.

Bobby I'm not sure, the dressing room youth at the time Dyer,Bellamy, Bramble, they helped Bobby's reign end, but knowing what we all know, Bobby would never have been well enough, it was a sad exit, but he'll always be cherished by us all.

 

5 hours ago, TRC said:

The difference is ASM isn't on the same level as Ben Arfa and Ginola who were world class players. We should see ourselves as a top 6/7 club. This is more of us out growing the player, rather than a dinosaur of a manager not knowing how to get the best out of a player.

 

It's all very similar though, HBA,Ginola you say were world class, but both were rarely picked for the national side. ASM in the minority here still being uncapped, but still has age on his side (so who knows). All three also have made their name by making a move and becoming loved again as all three seemed to come with alleged rumours they were difficult to manage in France.

 

You mention we should see ourselves as a top 6 club already? We've literally just come out of a season surviving relegation and then into a season where if we are totally honest, we are slightly over achieving, were not a consistent top 6/7 side over night, I think you're running before you can walk, were flying in the league but that could easily change, reading that reply how we can or should out grow good players sounds arrogant at this stage. I'm glad the owners actually have a plan, because it will be slow progress I think, so if you're expecting them to replace players over night I think you'll be disappointed.

 

I dont want to come over as a total dickhead with this reply, but I think a lot of our members here and fans alike should cut the guy some slack, he's brilliant on his day.

[Stottie]

7 hours ago, Whitley mag said:

He was unplayable at home to City and looked set for a big season. Definitely was a difference in his game and  was looking for the pass a lot more. Needs a good 2nd half of the season, or could well be sacrificed if someone is willing to gamble on him and pay a decent fee.

Yes, there is so much going on around the club. injuries aside a tidal wave of good news, that the City performance and Wolves goal are easily forgotten. 

 

The stats people, Wey Aye Scout Kev and Sanjay on Twitter, both said Almiron's numbers were all up BEFORE he went on the scoring run. Kev's first article on the NUFC.co.uk website now looks like prophecy. The reason I'm saying this is that pre injury this season, ASM's production numbers were all up and were leading the side. Shot creating actions per minute played etc. The classic ASM criticism has always been "fancy tricks with not enough end product", but in those first games in 22/23, he was the biggest attacking contributor to the team. If (I want to say "Since") we have become a Top 4 team, we're going to have to play against probably 10-12 out of 19 teams in a low block. That will shut down the counter and space in behind, so dribbling past or through them will only become more useful. 

 

This last time may prove to be an injury too far for ASM, you never know, but he was looking promising before it, and promising in a Howe team way, not a "give to to him on the halfway line and pray" Steve Bruce way.

 

[Johnny]

If some on here think he can gaslight me on the SBR case, dream on.

 

I was there where some fans booed him and the team. And I clearly remember that some of the fans want him sacke as manager (or move up the club hierarchy -whatever wording you prefer).

 

And I think we got ourselves cursed by the way we treated SBR. 14 years of curse.

[MrRaspberryJam]

11 hours ago, TRC said:

That entire season we just didnt have it, it was a weak PL and we drew a lot of games we just couldnt kill teams off. At the time most fans wanted Robson 'moved upstairs'

 

I still blame Thomas Gravesen for everything that happened to Robson and that team.

 

Bringing in only Lee Bowyer in the summer didn't help whilst Chelsea got Abramovich and signed every player under the sun. 

[Dr.Spaceman]

12 hours ago, TRC said:

That entire season we just didnt have it, it was a weak PL and we drew a lot of games we just couldnt kill teams off. At the time most fans wanted Robson 'moved upstairs'

 

I still blame Thomas Gravesen for everything that happened to Robson and that team.

 

Was that the Bernard foul? I remember being utterly incandescent with rage after that. Sure they won a pen as Bernard was still crumpled in a heap as well...

 

VAR is good afterall!

 

 

Edited December 20, 2022 by Dr.Spaceman

[jackyboy]

Players,like managers, either outgrow the team or the team outgrows them. During my working days I attended an an employee's 25 years service presentation. I was stood with our new MD and I said how nice it was to see such service. He said that he didn't want anyone working for him for long periods of time. He said that you get get the best out of people in their first three years then they should move on

[LV]

He sounds nice 

[MrRaspberryJam]

11 minutes ago, jackyboy said:

Players,like managers, either outgrow the team or the team outgrows them. During my working days I attended an an employee's 25 years service presentation. I was stood with our new MD and I said how nice it was to see such service. He said that he didn't want anyone working for him for long periods of time. He said that you get get the best out of people in their first three years then they should move on

 

He doesn't play by, "the rules".

[JonBez comesock]

4 minutes ago, MrRaspberryJam said:

 

He doesn't play by, "the rules".

He sounds more like a ‘Chilled out entertainer/ boss’

[Dr.Spaceman]

25 minutes ago, jackyboy said:

Players,like managers, either outgrow the team or the team outgrows them. During my working days I attended an an employee's 25 years service presentation. I was stood with our new MD and I said how nice it was to see such service. He said that he didn't want anyone working for him for long periods of time. He said that you get get the best out of people in their first three years then they should move on

 

What a depressing attitude.

[mighty__mag]

43 minutes ago, jackyboy said:

Players,like managers, either outgrow the team or the team outgrows them. During my working days I attended an an employee's 25 years service presentation. I was stood with our new MD and I said how nice it was to see such service. He said that he didn't want anyone working for him for long periods of time. He said that you get get the best out of people in their first three years then they should move on

 

Sounds a right cunt.

[Unbelievable]

3 minutes ago, mighty__mag said:

 

Sounds a right cunt.

Says a lot more about the manager than about the people who have worked under him imo, if they only perform for a brief period after joining and tail off as they get more experienced.

[Stal]

This is certainly true at senior manager/director level. It's not so much about getting the best though, it's about the time they get found out for their ability, and if they stay on then the city loses confidence in the company and the shareprice drops and then that is aimed at them. Conversely, if they are good (or get lucky) then they still go at these times on a high and move onto new pastures.

[JonBez comesock]

1 hour ago, jackyboy said:

Players,like managers, either outgrow the team or the team outgrows them. During my working days I attended an an employee's 25 years service presentation. I was stood with our new MD and I said how nice it was to see such service. He said that he didn't want anyone working for him for long periods of time. He said that you get get the best out of people in their first three years then they should move on

Gerrard 

Totti

Le Tissier

Scholes 

John Terry

Jamie Carragher 

Jack Charlton 

Maldini 

 

all say ?

 

 

[HawK]

21 minutes ago, JonBez comesock said:

Gerrard 

Totti

Le Tissier

Scholes 

John Terry

Jamie Carragher 

Jack Charlton 

Maldini 

 

all say ?

 

 

[Guest]

4 hours ago, Johnny said:

If some on here think he can gaslight me on the SBR case, dream on.

 

I was there where some fans booed him and the team. And I clearly remember that some of the fans want him sacke as manager (or move up the club hierarchy -whatever wording you prefer).

 

And I think we got ourselves cursed by the way we treated SBR. 14 years of curse.

 

Clear booing during that Wolves home game. Bobby booed, Robert booed going off, Viana booed even louder coming on.

 

[AyeDubbleYoo]

Think we go a bit over the top on the criticism of that TBH. Fans regularly decide they need to move to another level, they're not progressing as they should etc. 

[sushimonster85]

1 hour ago, JonBez comesock said:

Gerrard 

Totti

Le Tissier

Scholes 

John Terry

Jamie Carragher 

Jack Charlton 

Maldini 

 

all say ?

 

 

 

I think their can be a difference in personal feelings of loyalty for a club, and recognising what may have been better for their careers. 

 

Gerrard, Totti, and Le Tissier all probably should've moved on if they thought with their head rather than their hearts. Gerrard should probably have gone to Chelsea when all that was brewing, Totti to Madrid.

[TRC]

4 hours ago, Dr.Spaceman said:

 

Was that the Bernard foul? I remember being utterly incandescent with rage after that. Sure they won a pen as Bernard was still crumpled in a heap as well...

 

VAR is good afterall!

 

 

 

Yes, after that game we never really were a top level team. It seemed like it affected the team mentally.

[PauloGeordio]

2 hours ago, mighty__mag said:

 

Sounds a right cunt.

[The College Dropout]

People definitely wanted Bobby sacked in one form or another.

 

That era is where the "deluded Geordie" thing started.

 

 

 

Edited December 20, 2022 by The College Dropout

[TRC]

We somehow finished 5th on 56 points that year. There was a clear regression in how we played. Gravesen, the Partizan game all knocked the stuffing out of us and we were on a downward slope. Most people thought Robson has lost the dressing room.

[HawK]

It's easy to look back with rose-tinted specs, I think most fans were indifferent when he was sacked. But had we known it'd be Souness coming in, I don't think there'd have been a toon fan in the land that would have supported that decision. 

 

I did remember at the time, they can't have sacked him without a plan. It's gotta be someone good coming in. Then as the days went by, and it became Souness, I was very disappointed, but was willing to give him a chance. 

 

Now I'm older and (hopefully) a bit wiser, it's a lot easier to see from experience these train wrecks coming a mile off. 

 

Back to topic, ASM is the best at what he does. But the team is demanding what he does best less and less. We've gone to third in the league with Jacob Murphy starting most of our recent games, and his ball retention and use is atrocious. But off the ball, he unquestionably contributes more than ASM. 

 

I'm struggling to remember a game where we've sat in an opponent's half with Maxi in our team. Am I just not remembering this happening, or does the fact that he plays literally means our whole team identity of winning the ball back in their third comes off the rails as a result? 

 

I'm Maxi's biggest fan and even I said this season he'd have to really put up the numbers to justify my faith in him. But in the team we have become, he is unsuited. As we become the team that dominates possession and becomes like rabid dogs out of it, he has no real place. 

 

Against a high-pressing team that's just better than us, like City, he's going to be absolutely immense on the break from deep. But we don't play much like this any more, and under Captain Pieface when we had no tactics and were under the cosh every game, he was the one player that could be counted on to be effective. 

 

 

Edited December 20, 2022 by HawK

[buzz]

47 minutes ago, TRC said:

We somehow finished 5th on 56 points that year. There was a clear regression in how we played. Gravesen, the Partizan game all knocked the stuffing out of us and we were on a downward slope. Most people thought Robson has lost the dressing room.

 

Three away wins all season. Loads of stupid last minute equalisers against us, including infamously Lua Lua's. 

 

The mood was very bad even in spite of finishing 5th and getting to a semi final.