Are we doing better without ASM

[5under1and]

Would love to hear your coms on this
My opinion is we are stronger without him in defence and should use him as a late sub when necessary

[Alberts__Lob]

Maybe.....i would start Maxi over Murphy any day though

[HughieG]

I'd start ASM over Willock and Murphy. Don't see what good it does leaving a player of his calibre, when 100% fit, on the bench. On the days where Callum and Miggy aren't performing, and those days are rare, he's one of the only players we can turn to for some creativity (some call it X-factor) apart from Bruno G. in midfield.

[MidsMagpie]

We have done well without him but there is no contest between him or Murphy starting The Saint can conjure up some magic at anytime Murphy sadly cant.

[tinostongue]

We have done well without him but there is no contest between him or Murphy starting The Saint can conjure up some magic at anytime Murphy sadly cant.

Murphy follows Eddie’s game plan though, high pressing, especially away from home.Maxi sadly is a bit of a loose cannon, although his passing and awareness is improving. If we got a very good offer for him I would accept and buy a Diaby who might be a bit more consistent and less injury prone hopefully, just a case of swapping one player for another.

[ex_pat_magpie]

I'd start ASM over Willock and Murphy. Don't see what good it does leaving a player of his calibre, when 100% fit, on the bench. On the days where Callum and Miggy aren't performing, and those days are rare, he's one of the only players we can turn to for some creativity (some call it X-factor) apart from Bruno G. in midfield.

He's a match winner more than Murphy or Willock. Neither terrify defences as much as Maxi.

[Ragatino]

He's a match winner more than Murphy or Willoch. Neither terrify defences as much as Maxi.

ASM showed signs of the 'Howefication' as a player. Like Miggy, J7 et al we started to see a smarter ASM, an ASM who chose his passes more accurately and was more deadly in terms of team play before his spate of injuries.

Our form this season as continued on from that of the 2nd half of last season. So I don't think we are 'better without him' it's just a case that we are better overall.

Once he's fit and focused, with Miggy now being a goal getting world beater on the right we will have a balanced team with a threat down each side.

When he's fit and on form god help our opponents! Throw young Isak in that mix along with a healthy & fit Shelvey we have ball carriers and ball players in a variety of positions across the pitch that can hurt teams in any area they are weak, slipping or just turned off.

Happy Freaking days!

[Zippity]

I would turn the question round and ask are weaker in attack and the answer is indisputably yes.

With ASM instead of Murphy we may have turned some of those draws into wins?

[TANYA_]

i dont believe we are playing better without him, we are a much more dangerous threat when he plays.

We just have a squad of players that need to fight when they get in the team to keep their place.

Look at when we went on the 9+ game unbeaten run from last January onwards, we had Chris Wood as the only striker,

does that mean we play better without Callum Wilson?

I do however think it has put extra emphasis on Miggy needing to step up as the main wide threat in the absence of ASM because Murphy

cant hit a cows @rse with a shovel.

I cant wait for January mind, to see who we bring in, if we keep improving the starting 11, the bench will be better and competition and

performances will improve even more

[Scott Kirkland]

If we can get Jack Grealish to slag off Murphy. Then Murphy will end up becoming our best left winger.