In which case fat mike needs to get him ****ing told in my opinion. Petulance and stubborness works both ways surely, or is Rafa above all that cos he's Rafa? Say he bangs the goals in for Anderlecht and has a cracking world cup, we have a £20m+ proven goalscorer who is 23/24 years of age. I know who i'd rather have in my team between Mitro and Jorgensen for example. If I were Fat Mike I for one wouldn't be giving Rafa a penny to buy a new striker until he'd given Mitro a chance back here. Chances are tho, based on what we've seen in the window is that Ashley will be off and the takeover will go through, assuming we stay up so it won't be his call.
I just think he's got the reputation for being immature (hey, he's 22 so not having a go, most of us are immature at 22). Rafa values having players in the squad who will listen carefully to him and follow his instructions to the letter; it's just the type of manager he is. Pardew was more the kind of manager who would rely on a player's natural instincts to carry him through, which is why he got a great half-season out of Cisse but had ****-all clue as to how to help him when he went off the boil. It's also the reason we started scoring more from set-pieces after Rafa took over. He's more astute and involved, but needs to have players in the squad who don't make the same mistake twice after he's brought it up the first time. I'm not writing Mitro off. But it's clear that he's not commanding the trust of his manager and there has to be a root reason for that.
None of us know. But let's consider this - for all his wonderful ability, in two separate transfer windows his main option has been Brighton @ £8m, or a loan to Anderlecht or Bordeaux. I don't think Rafa's alone questioning his mentality. Or ability. Hopefully he comes good and more hopefully he does so whilst we can benefit and doesn't "do a Thauvin".
Reading this thread in utter amazement... Some describing Mitro as a good prospect, with wonderful ability etc It's absolutely soul-destroying, to know that it's been years since we had a decent striker to compare him with. I mean, even I've wanted him to start over Joselu... But my god, a good striker he is not. He's a chav, flat-track bully, who cannot score in the premier league. Don't even quote International goals. Means nothing! Premier League teams are better than International teams, and he can't score against them, and that's what matters. Championship quality, at most.
Welcome to group 3, my friend! Remember those days when the "Number 9" was a cherished prize? I really miss those days. Cole, Ferdinand, Shearer doing the distant memories of Wor Jackie, Wyn Davies, Supermac and Hughie Gallacher proud. Even Quinny, Cisse and Carroll gave it a bit of prestige on occasion.
It has made me chuckle how Mitrovic got slated when he played in the past. "Couldn't hit a barn door....", "Missrovic", etc etc. And now he's the saviour and a goal machine.
Mark DouglasVerified account@MsiDouglas 3m3 minutes ago Hearing Mitrovic is back in the air and could now be on his way to Bordeaux.. #nufc
In terms if time on the pitch, Rolando Aarons contributed more, why is everyone not fuming about that?
What has Aarons ever done on the pitch other than be greedy and lose possession? Not a lot to be honest.
Stats can be misleading . There have been suggestions that he is a "big time Charlie" and has a poor attitude. Maybe he'll come back a better player. He's not as good as Murphy, Atsu, Ritchie or Kenedy (IMO) so it's fair enough he's out on loan. We should be thankful that he's avoided a major injury this season in fairness.
To be fair no stats required, read match reports if it floats ya boat. You need someone to encourage the ball into the net and, for all his flaws, he had that potential ability. I think he's an improvement on Atsu who, aside from two games facing Zabaleta, has contributed little
Think loaning him to Fulham is the ultimate insurance bet. Plan is if we are going to get relegated due to a lack of strikers we send one to the team who play Sunderland second last match of the season in the hope that he can keep them at least a division below us whatever happens.
