Strange season... Strange times ... Everton did a number on us in midweek and we've just done the same to you ... everything to play for ... wishing you all a Merry Xmas
And just to add that little extra bit of joy to the season, Aurier's been getting a ****load of racist abuse on Instagram...
Yeah he did look a top talent at an early age but he was another (injuries also didn't help) who just couldn't level up after that early hype. One or two fancy passes was all that he could/ still can muster. Dele's 24 now, 25 in April and he's severely regressed as a player. That fiery side he once had hasn't been seen for years and his actual ability - to me at least - just doesn't seem as clean as it used to be. He looked like he'd go on to be a big money signing for Real Madrid after his first couple seasons, now he'd struggle to make the XI of any top six/ top eight side. It's telling that so far only a PSG loan or a transfer to Everton are the only options for him and I think if he went PSG he'd be on the bench most weeks, especially as PSG don't generally play with a number ten in their system.
Dele was in the PL team of the season twice. Granted the last time was 2017 but that’s still a decent achievement
So was Wilshere. Wilshere also got two goal of the season awards. And he's STILL bang average. At best.
Last season when you claim he was useless, he got 8 goals and 4 assists in 25 pl games. This is not in the least bit bad, except in comparison with his stellar early years.
5 of those goals and 3 of those assists came in that new manager bump spell over about 7 games. Then he turned to **** again.
What a bad week Let’s see how we respond minerals or no minerals you all know what I think of Jose but you all also know what starts to happen when I raise one of my eyebrows We looked clueless today...when a team sets up middle block we are gazumped
3 goals and 3 assists were in that 4 game new manager bounce he had (that I mentioned early). 2015-16... 10 goals 9 assists 2016-17... 18 goals 7 assists 2017-18... 9 goals 10 assists 2018-19... 5 goals 3 assists 2019-20... 8 goals 4 assists That suggests the view of him seriously deteriorating is correct. Something changed 2 years ago. His performances in the EL this season have been beyond poor to be honest so imho expecting him to regain form seems hopeful.
Thing is even if we excluded the stats for a second, his all round game was brilliant in the first two/ two and a half seasons. If he didn't score or assist he'd generally be involved in a lot of positive stuff. Plus - and this is a compliment - he was a right little **** back then, that nasty streak was what allowed him to excel, he had a level of arrogance that he was able to utilise perfectly. Rarely see it nowadays, a few very small glimpses here and there but he's just nowhere near that player we saw take the league by storm in his early years.