Midfield is a big problem without Thiago. The Nottm Forest game showed how lightweight the younger players are and they need to be introduced gradually and sparingly not like the mess on Saturday. Curtis Jones is beginning to worry me, is he good enough? He has talent but he does get knocked off the ball as does Carvalho. Worried about midfield tonight, could be a big problem with Fab off form and Hendo still not quite right
Dodnt think was much wrong with midfield v forest. Their goal came from a Gomez **** up plus poor set piece defending and then we just didn’t take the chances we created. No one played well but not sure Jones or Elliott were anything to worry about from that game.
IO we never looked like scoring in open play bar 1 or 2 passes V forest. Elliott pass to carvaho being one. We need to really put that game out of our heads as ajax have to win tonight and have to try come a us somewhat to do so. We can park the ****ing bus here. I'd put nunez and slah on breakway duty and tell the rest not to allow any gaps just like city
Just a wonder. thiago is never fit, neither is naby, why is one treated like the second coming and the answer to all our problems and the other as a pariah, complete waste of space?
Cos one played the majority of last season and was arguably our best player. the other has played about 20 minutes of football in the 5 years he’s been here
Thiago is often injured, whereas you correctly state Naby is never fit. He simply is very rarely available and is never a 90min man when he is. Also compare the two on the pitch and you have your answer
Did he play the majority of last season? I must of missed all the appearances in the flurry off thiago out, thiago back in training, thiago out, thiago back in training information.
Thiago can't play 90 minutes either, can't run when he does. I'm just amazed that people still think thiago is the answer to our problems rather than being part of the problem itself.
Never going to happen but... PUT TRENT IN MIDFIELD!!!! He's the only other player we having with that passing and vision. Konate is available again so play him CB move Gomez to RB I'd rather Tsimikas at RB (leaving Gonez at CB) but that's not happening either
Hes absolute quality. Passing is up there with anyone in the world. He breaks the lines with his passing. He has quick feet and drop of the shoulder to get away from people in tight spaces. His awareness of players around him is top notch, when ball is played into him he knows where teammates are and oppo are so knows if can take a touch, or drop a shoulder and move away from them. Takes the ball under pressure so is always available to receive it. Rarely loses a header for short guy either. Tackling is ok, could be better but willing to stick a foot in at least. Obviously not the most mobile now, got him towards end rather than 5 years ago when he could get around pitch a bit more. He’s just an absolute joy to watch
Maybe not the majority of the minutes, think was prob subbed off a lot. Yeah gets a few niggles but can’t argue with the stats. When he plays we are significantly better and the win % shows that
You've basically just wrote a description of his YouTube high lights. There's plenty of games where he's ineffective because he's carthorse slow, or just can't get up and down, or runs out to make a challenge but gets nowhere near and leaves the defence completely exposed. In the right situation he's a great player, but so is every player. I dont think he's right for the team, he's a luxury we can't afford.
