My only sympathy is, we are in desperate need of someone with his talent to create danger from midfield, so that is adding to the pressure. But, I'm not seeing a guy who's banging on the gaffers door saying you need to pick me. Quite the opposite in fact.
Ultimately he wants to do well for himself, to get noticed and potentially one day move to one of the big teams To do this he needs ot be in the first team. To do this he needs to imprss, which is why I think he currently too often opts to try and beat a man rather than play an easy pass. He knows his chances are limitted at the moment becuase he seems to be behind Redmond and Tadic, and so has to try harder to impress when he is on the pitch
He was our record signing, he should be given a run of games; others do despite poor form. My point is we create chances but nobody running onto those chances from midfield can shoot and its been going on for months.
No, but it was you who stated your demand, a demand that Le Tiss (as an example) didn't offer. I raised the point that following your demand, you couldn't have enjoyed him Maybe I was a little facetious, but i believe you get my point. I'd like him given time to show his magic, which he is clearly capable of, because we have been crying out for a long time for some creative magic. I don't want him to be the second or third one we chase off because he doesn't "chase back" or "work hard" or "bust a gut" enough. We absolutely need someone with his magic. We just have to get it to work.
To date; Sims has had limited exposure to first team football but, for me, shows more potential that what Boufal has done with his opportunities when played. Which should not be the case given the experience Boufal has over Sims. Not convinced Boufal is going to work out but he should be given the opportunity to prove doubters (like me) wrong. Here's hoping to being proven wrong; but l have this horrible feeling that l will be proven right.
Maybe he isn't picked due to how he trains or something more than just what he's offered in his limited appearances.
Boufal is incredibly talented, by far the most talented player in our squad in terms of technical ability. His decision making on the pitch definitely needs to improve, but that's only going to come with consistent game time. Bringing him on with 15-20 minutes left is not fair on the guy as flair players like him need to find rhythm and confidence. Give him 5-10 games as a starter and if he doesn't show up then we should look to move him on next summer.
Sims is brilliantly direct. No messing about, just get forward as quick as you can and stretch the opposition. Boufal is pedestrian in comparison.
Sims is brilliantly direct. No messing about, just get forward as quick as you can and stretch the opposition. Boufal is pedestrian in comparison.
In HR's defence, the game has changed since Le Tiss's time. He's said himself he would have to work more on fitness, tracking back and so on if he played now. He'd probably have had to do the same if he'd moved to Spurs or whoever when he had the chance. He's also said he might well have left if he played these days. On Boufal, he's an odd one. I was a big fan at first and he's clearly very talented but his "progression" seems to be in danger of matching Gaston's and at times he still reminds me of a few guys I've played five a side with who seemed more interested in finding a way to showboat or show off their latest trick than anything else. I'd be very tempted to give him a run in the side though because there's no doubt he can score goals and we've lacked a serious goal threat from midfield for some time.
That's not Boufal's game though. He is extremely good with both of his feet, and being able to turn and move in small spaces. He relies more on his skills to beat people then his pace (which often means he does over complicate things). He still reminds me of Mane in his first season with us, always looking to do too much.
I have high hopes for him, however I've seen him do this once on his debut against Everton and once against Liverpool for THAT goal. The other times he's played, he's done pretty much what the others have done. Not knocking him, just saying that sometimes we remember just the good stuff. So I wouldn't say he's brilliant direct, I'd say he did two bits of brilliant directness.
Just baffles me how dismissive people are of him, he's the same age as Redmond and much more talented. Neither Redmond or Tadic have been good enough in 2017 to be starters, if MP doesn't give Boufal a proper run in the next couple of weeks then I think his career with us is done.
Talent he has, no doubt, application to the team is what is in question for me and l suspect others who are less than than impressed to date. We all want him to succeed; for the team and that, is the crux of the issue.
