It would be much cheaper for our manager to ask our players to try and support the striker as well as ask them not to play keep ball when the idea of the game is to score goals. Ole, Ole, Ole, Ole does not win games. Austin is getting a lot of unwarranted criticism for not being in the game when he is doing what he is supposed to be doing. Getting in goal scoring positions. It is not his fault that everyone else is more concerned about not losing the ball than actually trying to get the ball into him or support him. Personally, and I know this will draw a lot of criticism, I don't understand how Hojbjerg gets so much praise on this forum. What position is he supposed to be? DM? CM? I don't understand what he offers at this level. Other people on here seem to praise anything he does. We have a good base with VVD, Fonte and Bertrand on the left. Romeu in the DM. Where is Hjojberg meant to be playing?
Against Everton Pierre played further forward in midfield. He was excellent for about 65 minutes and then he tired and I was saying st the game he should have been replaced. His link up play, turning out of midfield and pushing into the final third was very good. First half, so much of what we did came through him. This is a lad who has played a handful of full Premier Leagie games. Sometimes we have to look at what is given now and what we can see will be given.
I was disappointed that, against a defence that has leaked so many goals from set pieces, we created no headed chances from our 9 (?) corners, plus a few free kicks. I'm guessing that Claude picked JWP, to start today's game, because he thought we might have plenty of chances from dead ball situations. "Everyone" seems to agree that JWP can hit a decent corner/free kick, but has that ability been over hyped? Yes he hits a ball with a good trajectory, pace and whip, which troubles defences, but how regularly does the ball actually pick out the run of a teammate? Not having a go at JWP, but would be interested to know his assist record from set pieces. Equally, if he is putting the ball in the right areas, does that mean our players are making the wrong runs?
Just had a look at Be'er Shevas record and they've only lost once in the last 8. All the others have been wins including a 5-0 thumping tonight. Their players are going to be up for it!
It's the latter. JWPs delivery is very good. The corners and free kicks today were good. Either he doesn't tell them where they are going or his team mates just like running to the wrong place. Or VVD is the only one that understands him.
You watch a different game to me. Lots of pretty touches but falls over a lot. Boufal reminds me of the early days of Mane at the moment so hopefully.......... .........but I didn't see much end result from him. Sims on the other hand had immediate impact, much more forward thinking where Boufal was quite happy to enjoy interplay outside the box.
I saw him create three of our best chances (one of them for himself), which Sims didn't do (not that I was expecting him to). If you didn't think Boufal was forward thinking today, then we definitely saw a different game.
The first part of your post kind of explains your questions about Hojbjerg. All of our midfielders (Hojbjerg, Clasie, Davis, JWP) are looking to keep possession and play boring sideways passes rather than take risk and try to drive forward. Personally I think they do it because they're told to do so.
Read again. It started with Beefy saying Jay and Long don't contribute as forwards. If you then follow our chat you'll see I said that Long contributes as a player. Beefy and I had a civil discussion about it. That's what I'm on. I clearly stated why I think Long contributes and also said that he is in a goal drought. That is why your snapshot one line was irrelevant to that conversation. All of us said Long wasn't scoring - be pretty mad if anyone said he was But hey, it doesn't matter as Beefy and I finished that chat amicably and seeing what each was saying.
Both JRod and Long have been contributing in their own way, but haven't had any of the sort of luck that Benteke had today.
Long should definitely start on Thursday. His pace and general energizer bunny nuisance will cause Be'er Sheeva constant headaches.
