I've seen articles talking about how Howe has a selection headache with bringing ASM back? I'd not drop Fraser, but the only contender for ASM's spot is Murphy.. What has murphy done to make it so it's such a difficult ****ing decision? ASM is still our best attacking player, and there's no one in our team that can do what he is capable of. Also if we want a good chance of keeping him next season, we really don't need to drop him. We'd have scored 2-3 more goals in the last two games with him in the side. Anyone who thinks Murphy vs ASM is a difficult decision is definitely on crack.
Its a ridiculous suggestion for me. Its not like the Shelvey problem where he has been performing thus giving us the Bruno problem. Murphy has been cack and hit the man in front of him with every single cross just about. I get Eddie is trying to run it like a proper team where those in possession of the shirt hold the cards if they're playing well. But the likes of Krafth, Murphy and to a significantly lesser extent Wood can't really claim to have done enough to prevent he likes of Wilson, ASM and Trippier coming back in. To be honest the only decent game Murphy and Krafth had was Brentford where everything was stacked in our favour.
100% agree with both of you. Murphy is a poor player, he'll be ok back in the Championship and I think a move back to Norwich might suit. But he's terrible here. Bar the odd fleeting run he offers nothing. I'm marginally surprised he gets in ahead of Almiron, another who flatters to deceive too much of the time with no end product. Murphy should've scored twice this season, sitters, hit the post both times. Can't cross for ****. Fraser has been polar opposite. He's instantly out for ASM, just as both Trippier and Manquillo instantly replace Krafth, and Wilson instantly replaces Wood.
I think Almiron deserves more game time, he doesn't seem to be a Howe type player which is a shame and he only makes late cameos these days. With Fraser, Joey, Willock and Shelvs playing so well, Miggy ain't gonna dislodge any of them, but he should have got in ahead of Murphy. I can see Almiron going in the summer.
There is a suggestion that ASM has downed tools. Story goes when the club were forced to change plans at the last minute last weekend due to high winds and flight having to be cancelled to London, he refused to travel by coach. Hope its just a rumour but this particular one comes straight from Keith Patterson, who weather you like the bloke or not has very good contacts inside the club.
Sounds like absolute crap. Wasn't he in Monaco having treatrment? Howe has deliberately spoken very highly of him. I think it's just good management. Why risk him, when you have enough to turn Brentford over without him? Then you bring him for a game where he'll have an impact, as Brighton play with wing backs, stick Targett on Lamptey and let Max have the ball.
Don't believe this for one second, maybe there might have been a disagreement, but I don't see him downing tools, he's always seemed massively reasonable and easy going.
Indeed he was. This was Eddie talking about him at the end of last week prior to the game. Literally is complete fabricated bollocks by looks of it. https://www.shieldsgazette.com/spor...sue-allan-saint-maximin-injury-update-3585729 I like the way Eddie deals with guff coming from journalists. Ooh he's gone back to France, could be more to this than meets the eye. Eddie - **** off you useless ****. Just plays it with a straight bat and moves on. I fully expect ASM will be fit for Brighton. If he was close for Saturday, then I think he should be good to go. It went our way against Brentford, lady luck did us a favour while he's missing.
Yeah I also like the way he deals with the 'non-football' questions, about owners, stadium moves, new DoF, etc. Just says "That's not for me to comment on. Next question." without even blinking. Then as soon as they get back to questions about players, tactics, training, match prep, etc. he's straight back in.
Maybe it was one of the things he learnt from the whole souring at the end of Bournemouth. Too much falling on his shoulders. The PL now is an absolute animal in terms of what is required to compete and develop. If I was a coach, I'd be 100% focused on the football and coaching. If you allow yourself, the distractions are endless now. Infrastructures are vast, the general media and social media interest is wildly over the top, they have a "somebody" for every mortal thing. Its actually what makes Ashley's time mildly impressive. He charged along without all the baggage and still managed to keep the clubs head bobbing above the water most of the time. It was catching up with us again of course.
Yeah he seems 100% focused on the football and coaching, everything else he just says it's not up to him. And that's 100% about what WE do. When they ask him about other teams in relegation battle, their results, their signings, their new managers, etc he just says he doesn't watch it and encourages his players not to either. Don't waste energy getting caught up emotionally on things you have no control over, just focus on what you CAN do. Lifestyle, what you do on the training ground, in the dressing room and on the pitch. Love it!
Brucey would be talking about how good the other teams are and how their new signings and managers make them stronger and why we have to roll our sleeves up because it will be tough. In other words: "I don't know how to deal with it, so everyone needsrto work harder"
