Hang on. We have to be talking Liverpool away, right? Were you there? No-one was stand out (although controversially Gaston played a significant cameo role) but Clasie was sound. Did nothing wrong and rated about 7/8. That made him pretty bloody good I reckon.
Yep. As you say, no one really owned the match but most of the team played fairly well, including Clasie. In fact, I remember someone asking about Clasie after that game as I believe it was his first start and everyone was quite positive.
Clasie had a good game against Liverpool, although I thought he was no better than one or two others IMHO. Accepting he is still finding his way in the EPL and not wanting to appear overly critical, I have yet to be wowed by any of his performances. Hopefully, standout performances are coming, but, to date, am just a little underwhelmed as he does not seem to have the presence to dictate the flow of the game as I hoped he would - at times the games seem to pass him by. By 'presence' I mean the focal point of defensive play-maker, also breaking up opposition attacks as Jack Cork and Morgan we able to do by chasing down and pinning the opposition player/intercepting passes/nicking the ball from their feet - but reiterate he has had only a few games.
Having played both positions (a lot) at a fairly decent level, I disagree. give me full back over DM to play anyday of the week thanks.
No one was stand out. Lots of good performances. None that I would consider to be very good. That's my opinion. I'll certainly give you fairly well! But not "very good". Richardson was absolute quality for us in the Championship, but looked woeful in the Premier League. Fox and Butterfield were also good at Championship level, both woefully out of their depth at Premier League level. With a DM you won't find a quality DM at Championship level suddenly be woeful out of their depth in the PL. The moral of the story is that full backs need the pace to deal with opposition wingers or they will get torn to shreds at this level, they need to get up and down the park all game. They need to offer a threat going forward. And fans that don't understand football much give all the blame to letting in goals to the defence. I think it's definitely a harder position to play if you want to be seen as a quality, or capable, player. You have to have the pace, defensive abilities, the fitness levels and at least a half decent cross. A DM just needs to be fitness levels and defensive abilities. Keeping it simple on the ball. Obviously for an individual, or yourself, players full back might be easier. That's not really relevant. I prefer playing centre back. Right back and DM about the same amount. I think full back's a harder position to look like, and be seen as a quality player, than any outfield position on the pitch. It's just my opinion.
TinTin, not digging now, but pointing something out. Is this the moral of the a story or your opinion? Fine to say it is your opinion, but to say it is the moral of the story? Dare I say that calling it the moral of the story could be considered nonsense (by the way, that is a humorous remark based on your vocabulary)? Here is just one counter view, based on my experience playing in both positions (for the record, I spent several years as a midfielder, several as a full back and several as a striker at a good standard. I even played one FA Trophy game in goal - never again mind you ): As a full back, you spend most the game only having to move in a longitudinal direction, as a DM you have to move and have more awareness in every direction as you are centre of the pitch and have players all around you. This makes awareness easier as a full back, in my opinion. Just one view and may I just reiterate that this is not fact, but my opinion based on playing both those positions and not about where I preferred to play as that would always be either striker or number 10, as nothing beats scoring a goal.
Can't believe the Gaston debate is still going on. He's not the future of the club. Harry Reed is though, so yeah, it would be nice to see him get some game time. Give Pochettino his due, he likes to play the youngsters
I can't believe people are questioning Clasie after so few games. Anyone remember this little Senegalese chap we bought who was crap at first until he had a run of games, some good coaching and settled into the Premier League? I mean there's a hundred more examples I could give from various clubs as well... Patience please. It's very obvious that the quality is there.
