Between him and Twine they've scored 9 goals, and Fab will probably get more before the end of the season. That's a decent record for an attacking midfielder/winger/false 9. If the other players who've been on 7/8/9 goals since November hadn't all stopped scoring entirely we'd be alright. I suppose there's various reasons for it, but it is bizarre for people to be criticising Carvalho when he's the only one doing anywhere near enough in attack.
He never really showed enough of the direct running either. By the end he seemed to have absolutely no desire to take anyone on, he just hesitated and turned back every time. Same thing we're now frustrated by Philogene doing a lot too.
Maybe that's because they're being coached to play that way? Play a simple backwards/sidewards ball instead of risk losing the ball taking someone on. Seems to fall in line with the over coaching accusations if someone who started by doing direct running ended up stopping it after a few months.
I think it’s because of the reputation he has as a player. Bit flash, dives a bit, automatically labelled lazy when he really is far from it.
I'm not sold on this idea of over-coaching. I just don't think Jaden has been fast enough at beating his man, has been successfully defended by the opposition, and has had to resort to the only option available to him, the safe pass.
Jaden has no choice half the time to turn back. It's down to not having space to run into due to us being so slow to get out from the defence.
Carvalho’s been good for us. Clearly has loads of talent. His only weakness is, well, his physical weakness. He goes down way too easy on the ball expecting a foul. Refs in England have allowed the game to be more physical in the last couple of years. I don’t know if the FA updated guidelines for refs recently but refs are a lot more lenient when it comes to physical challenges. It’s like the Overton Window has shifted from refs over-officiating games when the likes of Hazard played for Chelsea and basically punished bigger, stronger players for using their bodies in shoulder-to-shoulder challenges, to now where physicality has the advantage again and refs are more likely to wave play on and tell the smaller players to get up and get on with it. I’m seeing a lot more physical challenges be allowed now than 5 or 6 years ago when 9 times out of 10 it would be a soft foul.
That was so bad against stoke We had players in the box Jaden was through to do a pass cross Instead he holds onto it and stoke fully get behind the ball and he lays it off to someone 30 yards from goal
They are already hyped up when we are trying to sign or loan them, some believe all the hype then pile a whole load more on top when we get them. Then Rosie either doesn't play them or plays them in the wrong position. Funny old game. Not football, social media.
I’ve just noticed recently that teams are prioritising strength, height and athleticism again, compared to the early-to-mid 2010s when the likes of Coutinho, Hazard, Sánchez, Sterling etc. were given a lot more protection by refs and bigger players using their physicality were at a disadvantage against these small, quick and technical players. Maybe the introduction of VAR has played a big part in it as refs have something to fall back on regarding challenges in the box, so they’re more willing to let play continue. I think it all has a knock-on effect. My theory is that before VAR in the 2010s, defenders in the Prem were more hesitant to commit strong challenges which gave players like Hazard and Coutinho space and time to dribble at teams and the slightest touch that would knock them off balance would be called as a foul. Carvalho reminds me of Coutinho. I think if Carvalho was given the space, time and protection by refs 5-6 years ago in the Prem, he’d be starting for Liverpool instead of us right now. But players across the board are more physical again. They step up and mark tighter, use their bodies to their advantage and refs allow it more.
I also like that our fans on monday were apparently the best n loudest away fans to visit the shed As well as impeccable respect for their two fans
Who's criticising? He's scoring goals. I'm saying he's turning out to be a different player than expectations suggested, but I'm not criticising his output overall.
Someone who'd dictate play more. As I've said before he's a bit more of a bellwether player as opposed to someone who will take the game by the scruff of the neck. But then, maybe that's the hype that surrounded him coming in.
