Not too concerned with his form he's still playing very well even if he's not at his best, my concern is his attitude. He doesn't seem very happy and when he's subbed he seems really down about it. Something is not right with him that's for sure but I don't get what? He's been moved left for Salah and Mane is now a squad member other than the main man, is it as simple as that? Anyway I hope he stops this sulking as we could do with both Mane and Salah on fire this season other than one or the other.
He was the main man last season meaning, when fit, he played. That's no longer the case. I don't think he has been playing well and I think getting subbed off is frustrating him because the only way you refind form is by playing.
I really don't think this is a very big issue at all. 1. its his form thats the issue. he is not happy with how he's playing. 2. He's never been imo all sweetness and light so i don't see a sulk or strop on at all. 3. who likes being subbed??? Also I really don't think the move left is an issue at all. In fact he's compeltely free to so what he wants AND he is coming in on his stronger right foot so he's ideally placed The reality IMO is when coutinho was on a stop mane, firmino and salah played really well as a three in the exact formation we are talking about. Mane got sent off then injured and he's not quite been right since. He's also gone on duty half fit for his country and i think genuinely that all adds into this. I don't think the 4 together works anyway as they are half tripping over each other tbh. I don't think its salah v mane in any way. Its wedging the 4 together.
Problem is, Coutinho wants that space too. Phil rarely got to the right hand side Also, Firmino drops deep although that didn't seem to cause Salah a issue.
Yup. But that's cos salah wants to run in behind all the time so he's on the end of every pass. Salah is loving the three of them fighting over the same space to pass it into him. This is why I've said all 4 together doesn't work for me. Coutinho needs to sit almost in a playmaker slot in the centre circle for it to really work... in other words he is prob too advanced. For me a 433 is not 4213 its should be a triangle of LB, LCM, LF working together and the same on the right side. what we see with all 4 is a very narrow system.
He's been moping around for weeks. I guess losing to Salah as African player of the year and Salah taking all the plaudits for us has put him in a downer. However he has cost us some points recently by not going for a simple pass and when he scores himself against Burnley he looked miserable about it.
To be fair to mane - he’s had a stop start to his season due to suspension/injury, and it seemed he was rushed back. However, his goals + assists per 90 mins is better than last season, as well his overall stats. Whilst not playing well, he is still producing, which is a sign of a good player. I’m sure he will get back to his blistering best soon.
Sadio seemed to get the hump at the time Salah became the star of the show, could be a blossoming Suarez/Sturridge situation in the making, jealousy is a bad thing.
You are seeing nothing that Southampton didn't see when he was with them, sometimes he can be brilliant, others very average. Last season was a really good one for him, this season is his normal form to date.
Err, you've just been banging on about last season having no relevance in comparison with this season.
Seems only you are allowed to choose when last season or further back is relevant. "But that was last year Just because you went 15? games unbeaten then doesn't mean you will do it again You can only rely history so far "
Seriously, what did I say in that thread to contradict that? I can`t remember every thread and am not arsed to look back. If I made some statement saying we will do something because we did the season before I will willingly admit a **** up.
