One of the harder things in the game today is the number of players in a squad. This actually prevents some players from getting regular and consistant game time. Most players need to play regularly to play well, develop and improve. Maya is a good example of that. When third choice CB, he'd come in and be expected to perform instantly at the right level, but that is so difficult. Charlie is having that problem now, as is Boufal, as did Rickie at Liverpool, just to name a few examples.
He didn't show too many signs of fading away yesterday did he? It's hard to disagree with the way the current manager has used him up to now - because it's worked. Conversely, it's going to be hard for MP to leave him out from now on. Where he goes from here depends on him and the coach.
Don't think we have much choice tbh. Anyway, with VvD back, & Romeu and Lemina in front of the back four, he won't be left exposed nearly as often as he has been.
Yes I drink with him round the Dog & Duck, actually Jane Austin is gonna be playing centre forward for them today . Probably catch up with them in the Bar afterwards! . ( we are only visiting so don't take everything so seriously!)
As said, what is the point of booing a goalkeeper.....sounds counterproductive to me. He had a couple of ricks yesterday, but also made a save and prevented Jay from having a clean shot (and that was only in the highlights). It isn't as if we have a terrific keeper that he is keeping out....MP2 has made it clear that he is our number one....and he sees the other keepers in training.
MP 2 sets up not to get beat, New to the country, New to the EPL I don't blame him for that. A quarter of the way through the season now though and am hoping he does mix it up a bit. Some games be a bit less defensive minded, play boufal, jwp in place of a dm.
Mate, I try not to take anything too seriously. But if you're going to take the piss, expect to get some back. I'd definitely start Jane Austin - she has a better first touch than Charlie.
Actually Archers, I'm not so sure the manager has got it right. I think Puel and Pellegrino both should have played him for a run of games. Ok, MP2 has only had 9 games to do that, but he hasn't shown prior to now the inclination to play him back to back, let alone for a run of games. For me, it is clear that this type of player can be brilliant or a liability and the only way to find out if they are really going to cut the mustard is to give them a run of games. Get them into the pace and feel if this league. I am a massive Boufal fan and been beating the drum to play him since he returned from injury. However, for all yesterday's brilliance, we still have no idea how he is going to be in this league, because he has not had that run. I believe he has the ability to be a star here, it is a bloody shame that he's not had a proper chance to show it. Please let that be now. What I'm trying to say is that it is not right that we've seen two moments of magic in 12 months, when I'd like to see and assess him playing regularly over 3 months in the team, rather than 20 minutes here and there.
We weren't too defensive minded yesterday - Long, Tadic, Davis, Gabbi, with options on the bench was the perfect set up for the opposition - you can't go ****-or-bust at a Pulis side, you have to be patient, & we were. It was a decent performance against a side perfectly coached to frustrate - though we probably wouldn't have been feeling great about a 0-0.
Not to mention the tricky conditions and by luck or judgement he kept another clean sheet in the Premier, and they are still mounting up.
With your method of posting it is difficult to tell whether you are trying to encourage sensible debate or just on the wind up, whatever, if the latter, you will get some that will take the bait if so, but it isn't really clever, some of us are a bit gullible and are easily drawn in to a fight, particularly if we want to defend the players that we support who can't speak for themselves. Regretfully there are some who don't understand the true meaning of "support" any more, they have the right to express their concerns of course, but they should consider the negatives of their behaviour which can do more damage than good. That of course is just my opinion. I have since put St K on ignore to prevent me getting in to another scrap!
^this, absolutely. Even if we were playing free-flowing attacking football, the one game of the year guaranteed to get everyone frustrated is against a Pulis team. I thought yesterday's performance dealt with it well - and even then it would have ended in frustration if it hadn't been for 16 seconds of genius.
It is a universally accepted truth that any team in search of a goal must be in possession of a Charlie Austin.
I don't know if this has been mentioned before, but as Boufal was about to take his shot, there were one, possibly two, Saints players nearer the goal line than any WBA outfield players. (Note avoidance of the 'O' word). If Boufal had chosen to pass to one or other of them, the linesman may well have flagged. As it was, neither player was interfering (although I suspect that Pulis will say that their presence was pulling his well-oiled defence out of position), Boufal put the ball in the net and the goal stands. I don't think that the goal could have been ruled out for offside, but I would say that wouldn't I?
He cant beat players 1 on 1 but drags players out and gets in behind them using clever 1 twos all the time. When we are actually playing aggressively he gets to the byline with the ball, we've seen that enough times. He can create more than anyone else from that right side imo which is why I think he should start If we are playing a 4 2 3 1.
All fair comment. But however much flair or talent you have, you have to earn the right to play. This applies both to teams and to individual players. Teams often have to win their battles on the pitch before flair and quality can flourish. And individuals often have to force the coach to pick them. On this as in everything else, I'll judge the manager over the course of a season. That goes for each of the players to. I was delighted that Boufal has taken the opportunity to show us what he can do. Now let's see if hd can go on doing it. Incidentally, I thought his first goal for us (vs Sunderland I think. Might have been his debut?) was better than yesterday's. His decision making for that one was flawless.