I made the same argument for Johnson mate saying he'll thrive with better players, but he just won't for the simple reason that he's an absolute dickhead. Spitting at himself in a mirror in a bar/club, come on ffs who does that? He had talent in abundance at one point but he just seems a disruptive influence from my point of view. You saw yesterday you don't need him, move on, put all of that in the past and enjoy the new SAFC that DA and co are putting together.
Hit the target? Of course - as gonads says - it's a bad miss and strikers miss - I don;t "hold it against him" but, IMO, it's a poor finish from a striker who was asking not to be ignored for England recently - when you get those chances you have to score - it was his only "clear cut" opportunity of the game!
Confidence will sort that out. Memphis is doing the same thing, taking too long to get the shot off or to decide where he wants to go with the ball. You don't get that time in this league, benteke's entire career in England has been shaped by the exact same problem, when he's on point he's ridiculously good, when he's taking too much time he looks like Emile Heskey's less talented brother.
Isn't that the same reason the big boys have been avoiding M'Vila? Because he's a bit of a prick away from football (or has been?) AJ is undoubtedly quality - what he does in his own time is his business (age permitting of course!) - but I do think he'll be a much better player with the players we have now! I think as well that Dick might have a role for him too.
Firstly though, Johnson isn't even fit to lace M'Vila's boots if the lad is running at optimum, that's ridiculous. Secondly, Johnson WAS good. Too much water has gone under the bridge for him to ever be that player again. You seem happy to have Cattermole and Johnson in the team and Wickham which is testament to you for standing by your players mate but sometimes you just have to move on. For years I hoped Nani would spark into life but he never, he's absolutely ****. **** him, he's in the past.
Why are people even debating Defoe. He missed a shot ffs, every striker in the premier league will miss many this season. He has scored 5 already for us and was our best striker yesterday. End of story.
Until Johnsons criminal case is resolved, I wouldn't dream of defending him. He's still a potential nonce, let's not forget that. Not very fair on him but tough ****, it's one of them situations that anybody would have to suffer. Fair or not, that's just the way it is.
Maybe you have hit on something there. I was a fan of Fletcher and didnt want to acknowledge that hes now ****ing ****e. But he is. Its also happening with Catts. I didnt want to know that hes going down hill. Its Catts man. Hes class. Sadly hes not. Times are changing.
Oh believe me, I will be enjoying it ! This time last season, if someone told me AJ would no longer be able to play for us I'd have been crying into my cereal in the morning (ok, maybe a slight exaggeration), cos he was the only attacking player (not suffering multiple injuries) with any attacking talent in our team. Right now, it wouldn't really bother me too much, especially with talent like Watmore looking for a place. However, he is a sunderland player right now, and having him competing for a place can only be a good thing, especially as he would do better in the current squad than previous ones. Is he a dick head ? probably. Do I have to socialise with him? No. As long as he performs on the pitch, brings competition for places then he can do whatever he wants (as long as it is legal of course). There are plenty of footballers who are dick heads and with the IQ of fruit flies. John Terry is a twat, but I wouldnt have said no to having him in our defence before he got too old.
He has got off to a flier this season for us, I'm grateful we have a natural goal scorer in the team. He showed he can play down the centre yesterday and his running off the ball is on a different level, absolutely superb. On a separate note... Your thread yesterday about watching the game not pissed nearly knocked me off my feet, it was a great thread, well worded and I agreed with everything you said. Very impressive and your football knowledge is far superior than you usually put across ****ing piss heed
One of the hardest things in football mate is watching your favourite players leave, I've seen it enough times, Cantona, Hughes, Beckham, Keane, Ince, Ruud, Ronny, Almost De Gea... But your club moves on, you get new players and they if they give their all then you soon forget the old ones, apart from Cantona. And Beckham. And Ronaldo. Keane. And Ruud. Well we still have De Gea.
Well thank you kind sir. I do usually watch them pissed as the time difference makes them all night games. But with just starting this new project ive been drinking far less.
It will take another few games before all of the new boys are match fit - but then we will score goals with this line up. Should be just in time for the skunks!
I think Dick will look at horses for courses. Yesterday, I think Gomez was picked for ball retention (he's better than Catts or Larsson at that). 'Spurs aren't having a great time right now, but they've been top 6 or 7 for a long time, and they're not a team you want to give the ball to often. Gomez was the right choice. For a different opposition, Catts or Larsson might get the place. I suspect we're going to have to get used to a bit of rotation with Dick.
Terry I never compared the two as players - I'm comparing the two's off field antics - both have been arseholes but it's on the field that matters. Cattermole is now a squad player at best - Only player he could replace would be Gomez as he's tougher than Gomez but I wouldn;t change anything from the starting line up. I think Wickham will be a decent striker personally - again an Opinion - I'd have been interested in seeing him play the role Defoe did as the central striker in our system but he's gone. Adam Johnson I have seen a lot more of than you over the last year or two I guess - I know he has some footballing quality - I have seen him play a number of fantastic through passes which players like Fletcher and Altidore just haven't anticipated - I saw Defoe, although he missed the chance, make a fantastic run to make that ball from Lens possible - we haven;t had that - I would like to see Johnson play in that front three - it'd possibly be at the expense of Defoe though with Borini moving to the centre - I said it before. I think Advocaat likes Johnson as a player - I know he has a very good football brain (when it's on song) and I just see him as an asset in a team playing good football.
If Pantillimon went up for a simple catch and dropped it in the goal he'd get it in the neck. - Defoe's miss is no different in my eyes - yes striker miss chances but 1v1 is someone that, had the defender fouled him, they'd have been sent off for stopping a goalscoring opportunity - he ballsed up an easy chance (and it was easy by premier league standards) and it cost us - the ref had a very big hand in the loss as well. If you look at my other posts, outside of that chance I said that I thought Defoe played well - but that is a golden opportunity and one that could be the difference between the sides (or, god forbid, the difference between relegation and staying up)
Harsh on Seb. I think a lot of people have forgotten just how good he was last year. Admittedly, Catts was too but he's clearly lost the plot this year, Larsson hasn't done anything wrong imo. I think I'd start him ahead of Gomez in most games personally.
