The wolves game for a start. The first goal jota gets to chest the ball down and shoot whilst in the 6 yard box. The second he pushes it up in the air. Newcastle fans are the only fans who rate him. I think he's an average keeper tbh.
No its confidence imo but he can play weve seen he can... i think hes had to play a role hes not to also tbf..
Like I say, what feels like every week, change the formation, fair enough we've got no one but you don't need to put anyone else on. Take off a CB, put the new LB on and push Ritchie up go 4-5-1 or move perez up top as well and go 4-4-2. **** it even leave it exactly the way it is but go really attacking in a 3-4-3 but tell Kenedy and Perez to get in and around Rondon and not bother both tracking back into the 5-4-1 at the same time. Schar could go play holding mid like he did vs Blackburn a few weeks ago and give Longstaff a bit more license to roam forwards - there are options. All I'm saying is I'd rather see a positive change than just hoping we nick a goal, we've all seen games where a teams a goal down in the last few mins and the CB go's sits up top and inevitably wins a knock down that leads to a goal or nods one in themselves. I want to see us go for it not just stick rigidly to the plan even though its not working.
Kenedy has been **** all season. Lost confidence - bollox! If I have a bad observation at work, I lose confidence yet when I next work I still ****ing do a job not head down and do **** all. He clearly lost interest - he had a purple patch for 10 games last season and before coming here what had he done? Nothing! And what has he done since that purple patch? Nothing! Bit like Michael Rickets when he got the England call up - had a good half season, got called up, end of career.
It's really easy to criticise a goalkeeper after a howler, because a howler from a keeper invariably leads to a goal and usually a loss of points. He came in and is an improvement on what we have, and was brilliant last year, and at some points this year. It has to be said that he has been worked out though, because he cannot deal with a specific type of shot drilled at him with dip (aside from the goals conceded, numerous times this season he has just about blocked it and looked uncomfortable palming it into danger), and he does not command his box.
I'll add something I've noticed about him - when he grabs it and has an opportunity to start a counter, which is clearly all we're capable of, he dallies. Every, single time. We have NEVER had a successful breakaway from goal. He always looks like he's about to throw to Ritchie or Yedlin, but stops, checks, pisses about then ultimately kicks it to the opposition. It's infuriating and it contributes to our embarrassing possession stats, imo. He was brought in specifically because he was allegedly good with his feet, but to me looks laboured and clumsy with the ball. I think he's a good lad and an above average 'keeper, but his distribution is shocking. He's not had a great season, has conceded some pretty poor goals and doesn't read the game that well at times. Particularly poor on corners/free kicks, hence our record of having being one those to have conceded the most from set plays in the division.
Mate, he obviously doesn't want to be here. I don't blame him - no possession, and quite poor on the counter too, it's a challenging situation for most players. But for someone like Kenedy, known for his arrogance and petulance, he's going to be thinking he should be somewhere better. I don't even think England is the right league for him, too much graft that he's not keen on. Back end of the season, Rafa teams always tend to step up a notch, so he may come round again. I'm not talking about giving up on the lad - what I'm saying is sometimes you have to be a bit more realistic and a bit less stubborn. But this is Rafa, so......
To call anyone fools is a bit unfair, you have to remember how fickle NUFC fans are, especially those on here. A player can be good one day and **** the next, thats just the way it is.
It was a definite handball but to be fair the defender shoved hm hard in the back so it evened itself out. Only watched the 2nd half but thought we played okay.
Its ridiculous we have fans looking to be offended by small things, and getting on young players back. The fans are quick to criticise Ashley and co (rightly) when they do not act in the best interests of the club, but too many of them need called out on their ****. They certainly are not helping things with their moans and groans, and social media witch hunt of the lad. There is no two ways about it, Kenedy has been very poor. There are fans who want to ignore the mitigating reasons for his loss of form and confidence. Fortunately his manager is big enough to admit the part he's played in this situation. He correctly notes how he has had to use him this season. The lad has never been a wing back nevermind a left back. It has knocked his end in big time. He is young and needs support. Rafa seems happy to give him it and I trust Rafa to get the lad back firing now he has options at full back. Its not a perfect world. We can ill afford to lose players, regardless of their abilities. I happen to think this lad is one of the two most talented in our squad, and we'd be well served by unlocking that ability again rather than discarding it.
I thought it was a terrific effort on Saturday. Rafa is definitely learning and growing into the role here. We got overly defensive at times in the first half. We were inviting too much pressure and got the balance wrong as we did last season against City at home, and against Chelsea at home this season. Spurs need to be stifled at Wembley somewhat, we've seen this season they can become frustrated. When we got too defensive Rafa came out onto the line and gestured with his hand for the defensive to ease up the pitch. He realised we were offering no threat at all because the gaps were too big between the lines which meant players were reluctant because of the ground they had to cover. This simple closing of the gap meant we started to have chances and the balance was better. Its a tough task and we weren't quite up to it, but we could easily have nicked something. I mean we could slaughter Dubravka but keepers have a tough gig. He is no world beater but he is a nice solid keeper who has done a good job for us. It was a costly error on Saturday but they always tend to be with keepers. I thought the defence were excellent except for Schar who looked like he'd been on the lash. Not sure what was going on there, some of his defensive work was ok. He played two or three schoolboy passes straight across the line to Spurs, he was lucky not to be punished. I thought Longstaff did well. Hayden did ok too in spells, but he does just look out of his depth. He is at full tilt just to even get close to competing at this level. Fair play though he grafted. I can't watch anymore of Atsu. He isn't a footballer. I wouldn't care defensively he did ok and got through some work. His passing and crossing is a disgrace though - I just can't comprehend his thought processes at times. Overall I thought we gave a good account of ourselves and I couldn't fault the effort of any of them. The manager did well again. He had the right plan, and when they didn't get the balance right, he adjusted it rather than sitting on his hands like he has done previously. As bad as Rafa was early in the season in his malaise, he has been very very good of late. He seems to have his mojo back.
The issue I have with this comment is this is how he was sold to us! I had never seen him play before coming to us but a lot of people on this very forum was saying he was a winger/wing back. People need to give over on this confidence ****e. If he has been played out of position you should still try your all but he hasn't. In fact this is worse than what Dyer did to SBR. I personally think he has been found out. His two tricks are no longer paying off. He needs to put more effort in. Or are what people defending him saying is "being a quitter is all ok with us". When you are in the position we are we can't take slackers. Perez gets the most ridiculous amount of **** ever but he is a striker that is played as an attacking midfielder whilst being asked to be a central midfielder.
I think that was due to Conte trying to use him as back up to Marco Alonso in that 343 he liked. He wasn't very good for them either, but the premise was "he has played for Chelsea so should be good for us". Fortunately last season we rarely had to see him operate in that way. I don't think this is anywhere near as bad as Dyer or even similar personally. Dyer refused to play on the wing against Middlesbrough. It was ridiculous, not least because he could actually play there. Kenedy has never refused to play anywhere and has tried. There are no two ways about it, he is ****e at left back and not much better at wing back. Its just the way its worked out with Dummett injured and the board not deeming a left back necessary. When Clark is injured he has had to play there. He should probably have went with Ritchie but I can see why he thought Kenedy might be better. If he was a 27 yr old experienced player, I'd say come on get over it. Kenedy certainly needs to take the learning from this. He certainly needs to improve his own attitude towards these situations. It won't always go your way and sometimes you have to dig in. I'm sure Rafa is working behind the scenes to help him see that. I just think you can't ignore his age and the circumstances which have led to his current form. He is 22 and if we are not going to be able to throw an arm round a young lad when they are still developing, then just shut down the youth system now and don't buy anyone under 23. Otherwise as fans we need to get a better understanding of football and developing young players. The lad has ability, he looked a cut above anything we had last year. He has ended up at Chelsea for a reason and he came out of a very famous youth system. He just needs a bit of love and we can have a left winger again who is the envy of any of our rivals. Him and Almiron could make us a great watch at home in the 2nd half of the season. Perez is another one the fans need to lay off. The moans and groans around him are counter productive. The lad plays where he is told and he tries his nuts off. Yes he does himself no favours with all the play acting, diving and over reaction to physical contact, but I could never say he doesn't try. He too needs to improve his attitude with regard to certain situations, but again he is learning and getting better. The only thing is Perez is 25.
.....and where did we get Atsu from whom by your own admission you can no longer watch. Don't get me wrong I'm with you on that front, it boggles the mind that he keeps getting game time for me. He's meant to be a winger and he's ****ing **** ! His first touch is horrific, he's meant to be quick but I'm yet to see it, his decision making (other than really ****ing bad ones) is just none existant and he has virtually no end product. He's stealing a living, and a pretty ****ing reasonable one at that off us and it needs to stop !! We should just stop doing business full stop with Chelsea, Duff, Parker, Atsu and now Kenedy....rinse and repeat.
