TBF RLB has history with AA and from the outset he was banished to the under 21s despite being very positive in pre season. That's on the manager and I expect better from him as a leader.
He did very well last night, was involved and wanted to be involved straight away, culminating in a well worked assist. Wouldn’t mind seeing him a little more before January see if he can combine with Roberts. My gut still says he won’t make it, but plenty players have had a late reprieve and snatched it. Make or break Adil lad let’s see your bollocks.
Don't think it's necessarily "past issues" he just doesn't seem to rate him. From memory AA isn't the best at tracking back
A player has to want to learn so it's a two way thing. If Aouchiche can become more selfless for the team (work rate / positioning) then he could become excellent for us.
I can’t argue with that but he’s maturing or ‘getting older’ so he’ll be realising he has big decisions to make … … I honestly believe he thinks he’s better than some of his team mates, perhaps all of them. If you watch him he’s furious if he makes a run and isn’t picked out or if he has the ball and no one gives him an option. It’s up to the coaches to work on each player and address their issues and weaknesses … they all have them. Watson sometimes turns directly into trouble in dangerous situations. He did it last night, into the penalty area, that almost cost us a goal. But talent shouldn’t be tossed away either by the club or the players … … Aouchiche can be a key player in this system imo.
It was interesting seeing him on the left, I think there were signs that it can work if he has a quick, overlapping fullback with him, I still don't see him fitting in our system at this level though, not enough goals, but in some other function maybe, I'm open to seeing it.
I think he’s the only player we’ve got who actually plays like a 10 when he’s there tbh. Looks like he’s got loads of goal threat but never really given a chance to show it. Rigg and Jobe both suit playing slightly further back
The problem is that he is a true 10, an old school man in the hole, wants to sit in that space behind the striker (who is occupying the centre backs for him) so he can bend 25 yarders into the the corner all season (in his mind). The problem is that wikipedia has him on 4 goals in over a 100 games. He's a 1 in 25 man.
I'd agree but as @FellTop said in another thread. There must be a reason why 4 different Sunderland managers have now not used him as much we'd like.
What about Isidor left and Connolly upfront? Connolly scored a cracker against Millwall and has barely had a sniff since.
Well he is 21 tbf, not playing for the first team doesn't mean someone's been banished ... ... not really the right word. If there's a big problem between him and the manager he'd have left in the summer in my opinion. All of the players have to be assessed and, I'd assume, some were deemed fit and capable of being involved from the start. Others like Watson, Aouchiche, Mundle have had to prove themselves to be included.
Why would anyone want to drop Rusyn into the team when he's barely played in 6 months and never played left wing for us? Madness...
