You say that but the first 5-10 games this season he looked a new player. He was aggressive in his defending. He never has and never will be the best but he was running hard to get out towards the winger which forces them to actually beat him. TAA has decent enough pace and strength so it’s not easy to just knock past from a standing start and beat him. But last few weeks has reverted to lazy half asses defending, standing off players and letting them start running at him or making runs off him
fully agree but that makes it worse as he has shown he can so what other conclusion can you reach but he can't be arsed atm
Earlier on he was, but he's reverted to bad habits over the last two or three games. He was awful yesterday. Where's his footballing brain? It's ok to venture into the middle in a game where there's little threat down our right, but he was up against Iwobi and Robinson so he should have understood his responsibility to defend first and foremost. It's not a coincidence that most of Fulham's attacks were down that side, because there was acres of space for them to play into. He left Gomez to deal with things too often and even then he hardly bust a gut getting back behind him to cover. When he was in the right place he failed to prevent crosses. Unforgivable, imo.
Yes but he was after playing 90 v girona (Slot wouldn't take him off) so was not able to move imo. He is only back after injury. Now this doesn't allow for his seemingly inability to work back quickly (first goal he never gets trend properly and jogs backwards rather than get half turned and getting in the linewhen he knows someone can get down around his outside. So many times you'll see him completely square on and gambles on a block and once the ball goes by he is never getting back in so doesn't burst a gut on top. Imo this is all about desire to go do the job and focusing on the basics. If he's just focus on his position without the ball and getting a good body shape then he has some chance
It's very clear to me that when he's in the position to defend he very often just looks extremley sloppy. As I mentioned yesterday he gets far too square on and put zero effort in getting a good body shape and position. That's on him not on any coach wanting him on the ball when we actually have it.
Tbf he's just come back from a hamstring injury so that maybe why he's not running full speed atm. Doesn't account for his positioning though, he let Iwobi have free rein.
maybe but I've been moaning about his lack of intensity in running back towards our goal line for 2 1/2 years though
I'll be sad to let him go, but he can come back once he realises Madrid was a mistake... as long as the greedy bastard doesn't go to Newcastle for more money instead.
Trey Ogunsuyi, Sunderland 17 year old striker is LFC's next steal from thr English academy system. Zero apologies for it from the lfc recruitment team as nyoni, nallo, Ayman, Ngumoha and others such as McConnell all settle in. however our local talent gets shoved aside. Danns is all of 18 now.
