There has to be a reason why, week-in week-out, he doesn't start, even when fit. What is it about the lad that means he doesn't get to start a game? Would we have to change the line up around so radically, it wouldn't be worthwhile? What is it about him that more than one manager just doesn't see he him as a regular, (when fit)? I honestly don't understand the whole Giacc thing.
We were warned, either by TJ or a ManC fan, that AJ could only perform best as an impact sub. Expect nowt though if he starts and he has lived up to that warning.
Neither do I, he looks a perfect No.10 in the making to me. Quality player, Italian International who has European experience. I just don't get it myself. If you go on his CV he should be the first name on the team sheet. Last season he came on in the league cup game against Birmingham city and tore them apart. I know they were a championship club but I did not see anyone else on our team doing what he did. I have not seen all the games he has played but every time I have seen him play he looks a class act.
His best form was for us last season. Scored and made loads in around a ten to twelve game period. Every bit a world class player for around 3 months straight. Andros Townsend got picked for England for his position. He'd scored one and made none in the same period and his average rating in papers was around a 4 or 5 when AJ was about 8-9! AJ is, without doubt, the only player to start at the weekend with the world class ability to play "that pass". If the pass is there he'll make it 9 times ou of 10. It was there once on Saturday and he made it! Giaccherini is the only other player who has that ability. Hopefully Giaccherini gets a free role at the weekend!
AJ has paid for himself in goals and assists. He's always been a highlights player. Never one to look brilliant over 90 minutes.
If we go 442 (I have no idea why this formation isn't sexy anymore btw): Defoe Fletch Lens Catts M'Vila Seb (with Watmore as an impact sub and Janu to hopefully come in as the starter) Van A O'Shea Kaboul Matthews (Van A hopefully with the digit removed this week) Pants If we go 451, I would do the old 4-2-3-1 variation: Fletch Lens Giacc Seb M'Vila Catts Same defence as above Defoe/Watmore as impact subs Rodwell to think about what he's done wrong and stand in the corner of the dressing room
More or less exactly what I want, though Seb on the right isn't ideal these days. He deserves to play though! I still think Fletch can do a more than adequate job holding the ball up when it's reasonably good quality ball
That was the season before Marcus, get with it mate, 15/16 has kicked off already! Last season he was arrested, remember and accused of touching kids.
The only good spell I've known from Johnson is like I said January of last year when he got player of the month trying to impress Hodgson, to replace Walcott. As soon as the World squad was announced and he wasn't in it he went back to being the player he was and he's been like that ever since. He's just a very average player imo.
I'd still swap do Spurs a swap any day of the week. Andros is more explosive and runs at his fullback. The incident you are talking about was Jan 2014. He was very good for one month only.
My 2 cents fellas, a player of AJ calibre and his transfer fee should be summed up in one word.. 'Consistency' I'm gonna agree with Tees here because at the moment overall I don't believe he's been consistent enough no way.. Great assist on the wknd I know Marcus but too often he goes missing..
If he had started that run of form in September and maintained it till the squad was announced in Feb he probably would have made it. 1 month was not enough for Roy and its not enough for me now after 3 years in a Sunderland shirt.
9 goals in 10 games? pretty sure we didn;t play ten games in a month! Start of December through to the England announcement just before the cup final tees - he was excellent 90% of those games. Townsend is ****e - I wouldn't swap Buckley for him as I don;t think he'd be an improvement!
No arguments Aussie - but we have probably (as I said before) only him and Giaccherini capable of playing that killer pass. Him and Defoe were both ****e at the weekend - but he got an assist with a great pass and Defoe got a goal with a great finish! Doesn;t change the fact that neither played well!
