So all of sudden Wilson and Almiron are fit having previously been ruled out further into April I'll just say I'm a little suspicious. To be fair to Bruce I accept this isn't down to him, the players and the physios simply tell the manager if the player is fit. So we'll have to assume this is above board. Sounds like we will have all 3 fit for the Spurs game. ASM has killed us this season. We've lost him for 11 games, same for Manquillo. Two of our best performing players from last season. Almiron missing too much too and out of favour too much, just like under Rafa. I don't know what the problem is with Almiron, every fan I speak to can't understand why neither Rafa or Bruce seem to fancy him at various stages. I hear the headless chicken thing, but to me that's just managers using him in defensive set ups. I thought we moved past it last season when Bruce used him a lot. But we seem to be back to the manager not trusting him. He's one of our better players FFS. We are ****.
Almiron, like 95% of our players, is crap. Sadly he is at the better end of the spectrum despite his headless nature. He simply must be picked otherwise we would only play Dubravka and Wilson if we only picked remotely decent players
Didn't he play every game available under Rafa? I think in the terms of overall package he's Newcastles best player.
Nope was in and out under Rafa. To be fair he was still adapting so Rafa had more excuse. Bruce is just an idiot not picking one of our best players having picked for nearly every game last year. It’s just weird.
I don’t agree. I think he’d be useful in an attacking team. That endless energy should be used to press the opposition rather than making 60yd guy busting runs he’s had to under the last two managers from sitting deep. A modern manager would get hold of him and develop him. I can see how ASM is made for counter attack football a bit, but I still think if you move up the pitch and had him, Almiron and Wilson pressing the ball, they’d be a useful front three.
Possibly. I would agree our style of play does not suit him but he was hardly scintillating in the MLS. Unless I'm remembering this incorrectly....
You are. He had a 1 in 3 goals to game ratio. His link up with the Atlanta striker was awesome. He was named in the Best XI one season where he got 12 goals and 14 assists.
Bellamy was playing in a much better team. I'd like to see how Almiron would fit in with a proper team and proper manager