Sven Botman

[GOTONEW]

I think a fair few times we were pushing so high up that a lot of their breaks caught us out. He nearly scored at one end...but us being so high meant he was caught out a bunch of times/exposed.

He's objectively slower and clumsier. Maybe it is a lack of sharpness, but I see a lack of motivation in his game. Like he's disinterested in us. I'm probably (likely) misreading it, but something feels off about him.

But the real Sven Botman is absolutely an top-tier CB.

 

[John P]

A month or so ago people were saying him and Thiaw would be our centre back pairing for the next 5 years, but now he's had a couple of dodgy appearances after injury he's finished? This place is mental

[Holloway]

1 hour ago, GOTONEW said:

I think a fair few times we were pushing so high up that a lot of their breaks caught us out. He nearly scored at one end...but us being so high meant he was caught out a bunch of times/exposed.

He's objectively slower and clumsier. Maybe it is a lack of sharpness, but I see a lack of motivation in his game. Like he's disinterested in us. I'm probably (likely) misreading it, but something feels off about him.

But the real Sven Botman is absolutely an top-tier CB.

 

Quite remarkable the amount of times this is said about some of our players on here, do you think the players really turn up with this kind of mentality ?

[ExiledGeordie]

Obviously everyone has concerns about his ability to stay fit following an ACL injury, a subsequent knee arthroscopy and the recent back issue. But I think it’s far too early to just simply write him off yet - he was sluggish last night but he’s clearly lacking match sharpness and he did some solid stuff too. I think we need to see how the rest of the season progresses with him. If they are nearing a new deal with him they obviously think they still have a player on their hands.

[NUFC91]

his pace is a worry but what worries me with Botman it's decision making,against Leeds he looked stuck in 2 minds when Aaronson was running at him and back pedalled, yesterday he seemed to not make an early decision when a couple of through balls were played through and he was caught napping.

 

He probably is rusty and out of form in fairness however with Schars injury and age as well we really need to look at 2 centre halfs 

[Kid Icarus]

His balls into the forward line aside I've never rated him as highly as others have tbh. Even when he was at his best and was (imo inexplicably) getting in everyone's PL Team of the Season, I thought it was Schär that was by far and away the star out of our centre backs. I don't actually think his form has dipped that much, but as a team we're nowhere near as defensively streetwise as we used to be and that's exposing his weaknesses more.

 

Think he was dead right that Ramsdale should have been collecting that ball at the end, but from the moment it was clear that Ramsdale wasn't coming for it, it was on him to deal with it.

 

 

Edited January 11 by Kid Icarus

[Tsunami]

Tavanier shouldn’t have been able to get anywhere near the ball for their 3rd. Very weak defending, just shepherd him out of the way.

[Sibierski]

11 hours ago, RUHRLYASLEEVESUP said:

Progress being made on his new improved contract

Reckon Eddie knows more than most 

Not like us to offer contracts instead of moving on.

[GOTONEW]

6 hours ago, Holloway said:

Quite remarkable the amount of times this is said about some of our players on here, do you think the players really turn up with this kind of mentality ?

Disinterested? It's only really said about Gordon and Botman (and Willock?). And yeh, I do, because it was confirmed by an ex-player about our star player Isak (and our eyes)...who confirmed it himself when he went on strike. So it's not a stretch to think his best mates mirrored this ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

BUT, my post admitted that I was likely misreading it  Maybe 1+1=4, but there is very recent precedent, and weird those three's form has gone off a cliff.

 

 

Edited January 11 by GOTONEW

[McCormick]

At his best, he’s a very good player, but at no stage during his time here has he been the standout centre-back in a partnership imo. First it was Schär, then Burn, and more recently Thiaw.

I’m hoping his recent poor form is more down to rust than a decline caused by his injury problems, as I still rate him highly.

[AyeDubbleYoo]

I think he has been our best CB at points, not for long enough though obviously. There were a few times when Burn was keeping him out mainly due to non-playing qualities IMO (rightly or wrongly).

 

No CB looks good in a really open game with multiple attackers running directly at them really. Especially when knackered and returning from injury. Still don't think there's much evidence for actual quality decline from Botman individually. He saved a goal off the line, for example. 

[El Prontonise]

I don't think he was helped yesterday by stand on his line Ramsdale in goal yesterday especially on that 3rd goal.

 

 

Edited January 11 by El Prontonise

[The Prophet]

Even back at his peak in 22/23 he wasn't the fastest and we were all crying out for a defender with a bit of recovery pace.

 

We played a high line to, but got away with it because Pope was such a proactive sweeper keeper.

[Sir Joel Inton]

I find it a mere coincidence that he and Gordon publicly backed Isak and they are the two players this season who people cannot wait to jump on the back of.

[AyeDubbleYoo]

People never really liked Gordon TBH. Possibly also the attachment to Burn makes us underrate Botman. 

[Kid Icarus]

People didn't like Gordon? I can't think of a player in living memory who's been cut as much slack for as long as Gordon has. Ironically I think he's getting the criticism at a time where it seems like he's turned a corner and started playing well.

[IndonesianToon]

On 08/01/2026 at 05:30, andycap said:

He looked canny pity he is so unfit  he was like ecco the dolphin gasping for air after five minutes. 😂 

I also saw this last night.

Especially in 2nd half and ET

[Earp]

12 hours ago, GOTONEW said:

I think a fair few times we were pushing so high up that a lot of their breaks caught us out. He nearly scored at one end...but us being so high meant he was caught out a bunch of times/exposed.

He's objectively slower and clumsier. Maybe it is a lack of sharpness, but I see a lack of motivation in his game. Like he's disinterested in us. I'm probably (likely) misreading it, but something feels off about him.

But the real Sven Botman is absolutely a pultop-tier CB.

 

You could tell by his reaction to our winner against Leeds that he is certainly not ‘disinterested’

[Holloway]

3 hours ago, GOTONEW said:

Disinterested? It's only really said about Gordon and Botman (and Willock?). And yeh, I do, because it was confirmed by an ex-player about our star player Isak (and our eyes)...who confirmed it himself when he went on strike. So it's not a stretch to think his best mates mirrored this ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

BUT, my post admitted that I was likely misreading it  Maybe 1+1=4, but there is very recent precedent, and weird those three's form has gone off a cliff.

 

 

 

it was also aimed at Wissa last night by someone, when he's only appeared to me like an over enthusiastic puppy 

If cuntchops did indeed down tools post cup final, the strange thing is nobody as far as I can remember picked up on it, it was assumed he was carrying a knock by the majority,and only considered in hindsight given his rancid behaviour. Yeah it;s very much a stretch to think his mates have followed suit, Botman has been struggling with injuries and Willock is just a dopey looking individual. As for Gordon, there's a number on here want to believe he doesn't give a fuck,can't even give a bit of credit to the good things he has done recently

[The College Dropout]

16 hours ago, kenlau88210 said:

If you want to know what partiality or favouritism is, just compare this thread or Bruno's (before him hitting form lately) vs Gordon's

People were talking very bad about Bruno.  Considering what he’s done for the club - the floor of his performances I was disgusted. But the nature of forums is wild swings in opinion. 

[Theregulars]

Just the current target, elanga will be back soon to be the misery magnet. 

[AyeDubbleYoo]

1 hour ago, Kid Icarus said:

People didn't like Gordon? I can't think of a player in living memory who's been cut as much slack for as long as Gordon has. Ironically I think he's getting the criticism at a time where it seems like he's turned a corner and started playing well.

Think a lot of people really disliked him before he came and didn’t think he was a good signing. Some hangover from that lack of affection IMO. 
 

There are people in all camps of course. 

[GOTONEW]

4 minutes ago, Holloway said:

it was also aimed at Wissa last night by someone, when he's only appeared to me like an over enthusiastic puppy 

If cuntchops did indeed down tools post cup final, the strange thing is nobody as far as I can remember picked up on it, it was assumed he was carrying a knock by the majority,and only considered in hindsight given his rancid behaviour. Yeah it;s very much a stretch to think his mates have followed suit, Botman has been struggling with injuries and Willock is just a dopey looking individual. As for Gordon, there's a number on here want to believe he doesn't give a fuck,can't even give a bit of credit to the good things he has done recently

 

Yeh, everyone deserves credit where credit's due   And most on here agree Gordon's form has improved over the past month+. But ignoring him being turbo-gash for months before is just ignorant. 

The Wissa one is strange. Most seem to say, like myself, he's been a positive since his return. 

BUT, to be fair, re Botman, I also heaped praise on the lad  And give him an out for yesterday's performance. But there's a tendency for some on here to constantly look for tiny excuses to blow up and go "UrGh, ThIs ForUm SuCkS!". That's been a thing here for well over 10 years. And it's a massive thing on social media. 

[robbo_11]

You just have to look back to last season when he returned from injury around this time and was brilliant in the Arsenal semi finals (fairly sure he came back and had to play 3 matches in a week which was a gamble). You could say from the other perspective without a Botman assist we draw 3-3 with Leeds and not back into the top 6.

 

The context this time is again, he us returning from injury, but almost thrown in to a depleted back line. It doesn't excuse poor play or errors, but I'd still rather Botman on the books. I think it is clear A. Murphy isn't as fancied, Howe was always going to say he would trust youth, but actions don't suggest he does. 

 

I think we need to buy another CB as short to medium term Schar/Burn will not be adequate cover if we're looking to compete on all four fronts.

[TRon]

4 hours ago, McCormick said:

At his best, he’s a very good player, but at no stage during his time here has he been the standout centre-back in a partnership imo. First it was Schär, then Burn, and more recently Thiaw.

I’m hoping his recent poor form is more down to rust than a decline caused by his injury problems, as I still rate him highly.

 

 

Same here. He's coming back after some long lay offs and might just be rusty. I would prefer to give him the benefit of the doubt because when he's been good, he's been absolutely top drawer.