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

[Hanshithispantz]

Walker seems to have recovered well but I honestly thought that game was the start of a very fast decline. It was painful to see at times.

[Kimbo]

22 minutes ago, greydos said:

Kieron Dyer said recently on the True Geordie podcast that the problem with the England team and English media is that we focus too much on what players can’t do, instead of focusing on what they can do. He said this in the context of playing Trent against lesser teams like Wales and USA in the World Cup. But I think his point applies to us. 
 

Saint-Maximin can do an awful lot that other players can’t. Let’s just let Eddie figure out how to  bring his strengths to the fore whilst masking his weaknesses in the team, and let’s just celebrate what he can do for us. 
 

I don’t think this really works when it comes to playing a high press though. Either you press as a team or you don’t, if you have holes in your press then you get picked apart.

[Smal]

8 minutes ago, Hanshithispantz said:

Walker seems to have recovered well but I honestly thought that game was the start of a very fast decline. It was painful to see at times.

 

I think ASM was just on it to be honest. Walker had no choice but to back off him and they ended up brining Rodri/Stones/Bernardo over to help foul him. Totally unplayable that day.

This is the same Stones/Walker combo that kept Mbappé almost completely anonymous at the World Cup.

[Lush Vlad]

City were really arrogant against us and ASM in particular, mind.  They regularly left Walker totally exposed 1 on 1 against ASM.  There aren't many defenders in world football who could handle him when on form and with basically the entire flank to attack.  Which is why basically every team we play doubles and even trebles up on him, at times. 

 

I think there was a good analysis piece put together by one of the Twitter statto types.  Explaining the setup and Howe being brave with the press and where he left players high, to expose that space on the counter.  

 

Like, don't the City fullbacks often tuck into a kind of central role when they build attacks in possession.  Leaving a lot of room if you nick the ball back and a lot of ground to make up for Walker or the left back. 

 

EDIT - not taking anything away from ASM.  As he was unstoppable that day and looking back at those highlights.  They did start trying to get a midfielder across to help out.  But he still kept taking the piss  

 

 

Edited December 22, 2022 by Lush Vlad

[greydos]

56 minutes ago, Kimbo said:

I don’t think this really works when it comes to playing a high press though. Either you press as a team or you don’t, if you have holes in your press then you get picked apart.

That’s why Eddie adjusts the team. We don’t press the same with Maxi as we do with Big Jow out on the left. It’s different tactics which can be successful. You don’t need a unified press against all teams as not all teams try to play out from the back intricately. Many just play into full back to play channel ball, which is another successful tactic of ours as with our 3x centre backs we’re likely to win the ball back albeit with possession in our half not the final third, but the modest press has still been successful in turning possession over

[Infatuation Junkie]

I get you but seriously. When did you last see the bloke get stuck in and win a ball back? 
 

Ymmv but I have a big issue with people not pulling weight when EVERY single other player does. 
 

If he can wake up on the ball. He sure as hell can wake up off it as well. Or go. 

[Numbers]

8 hours ago, Big River said:

 

 I find him so frustrating because he's so capable, on his day. he should be one of the best players in world football, but for various reasons I don't think he'll ever get there.

Think if he doesn't click early on his head drops too easily, wish he could find some consistency as on his day hes unplayable.

 

Also wish he wouldn't act as if hes broken his leg every time he loses the ball.

[Hanshithispantz]

Maxi has been getting stuck in since the end of last season.

 

His issue is his fitness, he's barely put a foot wrong in ages.

[Lotus]

It’s nice to see Miggy coming across to the left side and putting a cross in occasionally. I’d like to see ASM do that on the right now and again.

 

I think our next evolution will be players changing positions temporarily to confuse the defenders. 

[Lazarus]

Before he got injured Maxi was doing very well i thought.

 

He was less gung ho in the sense of going for glory himself and was looking for a way to get the ball to a teammate more often than he used to.

 

Then he got injured. But as said above, Howe will figure out how to get the best out of him in his system.

 

But further down the pecking order than Murphy? Nah

[Dr.Spaceman]

I was thinking the other day that we should maybe move him on for his own sake - our fans are never going to collectively warm to him. Then it dawned on me that we're only going to see more of his type over the next decade, meaning more whinging pricks in the east stand. GERRIN.

[sushimonster85]

2 hours ago, Lazarus said:

Before he got injured Maxi was doing very well i thought.

 

He was less gung ho in the sense of going for glory himself and was looking for a way to get the ball to a teammate more often than he used to.

 

Then he got injured. But as said above, Howe will figure out how to get the best out of him in his system.

 

But further down the pecking order than Murphy? Nah

 

Aye, feel like he was on course to have his best season for us. And, as you pointed out, seemed to be showing signs of being more of team player. If I remember rightly his injury was likely caused by him busting a gut chasing back for the Wolve/Jimenze goal that was ultimately ruled out for offside. 

[Wild Geese]

Struggling to believe people are doubting Maxi, on his day he's unplayable.

All flare players are confidence driven, if Eddie plays him off the bench his form will return.

 

Nowt so fickle as folk, Maxi returns to form and people will be licking his hoop again!

[Rafalove]

The only reason I doubt Maxi is his fitness

[Kimbo]

As far as I’m aware everyone likes ASM and wants him to succeed here, but there are obvious questions around how he’ll fit in long term. Hopefully he gets a run in the side without getting injured to we can properly judge.

[Abacus]

Quite happy to have a maverick in the team that gets other teams worried and stepping back.

 

Whether it's the first team or a sub impact, I'd keep him as long as his fitness allows. 

[Minhosa]

2 hours ago, Wild Geese said:

Struggling to believe people are doubting Maxi, on his day he's unplayable.

All flare players are confidence driven, if Eddie plays him off the bench his form will return.

 

Nowt so fickle as folk, Maxi returns to form and people will be licking his hoop again!

I'm not sure people are being 'fickle' tbh. Just some legitimate debate around his merits in respect of systems/style of play since Howe's arrival.

 

Not seen anyone saying he's a bad player or that they dislike him but it's fair game to question how he's going to fit particularly when he only 'returns to form' once a month.

 

What he needs is a run of form, a run of fitness and a run of 'fit' in the team to stop any chat about it tbh.

 

That's on him, not supporters.

[GWN]

Totally agree with above comment, no one is on his back but I must say he needs to be on his A game to keep in this side .

 

Right now personally I’d not miss him if he wasn’t in the team, he’s an individual, we need top team players.

[TRC]

Leicester could be a good game for him to be honest. They dont have any fit fullbacks and will probably attack us.

[Ikon]

I think he understands by now what’s needed from him and what the expectations are.. All we need is to get him 100% fit and keep him fit.  Pretty certain that the penny has dropped for him. It won’t be long before he stands as motm at the end of a game shouting “Are you not entertained!!?!?!” With the crowd standing up chanting “ Maximin! Maximin! Maximin” and all the doubt will be gone again. Just get fit and stay fit and great things will come. Easy to forget with time. 
 

A player like him needs that fitness more so than others. Only then can he really be unplayable.

 

 

Edited December 23, 2022 by Ikon

[mighty__mag]

Great response from Eddie Howe, Maxi tapping up players???

[Lush Vlad]

I’m hoping he gets some meaningful minutes against Leeds. Either a start or a decent run off the bench. 
 

I think he might be our key player against Arsenal and would personally start him against them. 
 

We won’t be able to press quite as aggressively as usual. As they are good at playing around it and passing out of trouble. I think we may have to sit in a bit deeper at times, a bit like Liverpool and City. Where we had to do similar at different stages of the game. 
 

I just think he’ll get a lot more space away against a big team like Arsenal and will be really dangerous on the counter against Ben White. Plus, Willock has been a bit below par the last two games I’ve seen and sounded like he was off it in the Rayo friendly and all. 

[gbandit]

Class video of Howe that, nice to see him having a laugh. I know in that high performance podcast he said that he struggles to enjoy it all because of how driven he is to always be improving but I’d hope that if we could win something he’d find that balance of being able to really enjoy it whilst still having big expectations for himself and the team 

[Dokko]

No idea what the future holds for ASM, but he was the one bright spark for such a long time in a dead club, and I really hope his future is here with us and he gets to enjoy the ride. 

[mighty__mag]

2 hours ago, Dokko said:

No idea what the future holds for ASM, but he was the one bright spark for such a long time in a dead club, and I really hope his future is here with us and he gets to enjoy the ride. 

 

Cause he will, he's a top level player, he just needs a bit of what Miggys got on the right, if he had a leader and a player with Trippiers quality supporting him, add to that some consistency without being knocked all the time, I'm sure hed have some super times ahead. 

 

I always think back to Jonas and Enrique on the left, neither at first were super stars and one without the other never really worked, but together they were awesome, I'd say Jonas had a massive part to play in Enrique becoming the player he did.