Allan Saint-Maximin

[Nufcian]

He was instrumental in the goal, as were Big Joe and Longstaff. He was also knocked off the ball and gave the ball away on a number of occasions which was very frustrating.
I think he’d be coming on off the bench if Bruno wasn’t suspended and that’s where he should be until (and to help him best) find his form.
I can’t wait to see him firing again.

Not sure there’s anyone in the team that currently isn’t giving the ball away cheaply ☹️

[tinostongue]

It’d be interesting to see how well Miggy would’ve done this season without Trippier behind him. I noticed that Maxi swapped to the right a couple of times during the second half and seemed to do better.
I think he’s just off form at the moment and I don’t think he’d be starting if Bruno wasn’t suspended.
Our left side is weaker but with Targett on the way back, Maxi coming back to form and Gordon finding his feet, the future looks bright.

Not sure if I would agree that Maxis coming back to form but like the look of Gordon on the left. You are right though our left is weak attacking, Burn much as I love him doesn’t offer much going forward, but he is an integral part of our defence at left back. Difficult decision for Eddie to make at some time in the future,don’t envy him. Getting back to Maxi, if we could get 60 million for him, I would sell, and bring in a more consistent player, both injury wise and performance wise, Diaby maybe,would just be a swap deal hopefully.

[Ragatino]

Not sure there’s anyone in the team that currently isn’t giving the ball away cheaply ☹️

There is a certain crisis of confidence about the team/squad at the moment. That is self-evident with Bruno out the side.

Uncharacteristic small errors in passing and also even BDB taking a bad touch without taking a look late on against Bournemouth as an example.

Not singling anyone out here. We are just looking a bit ragged last few matches.

Dunno what happened to Miggy. He was direct, confident and accurate during his good run of form. Now he seems to not be in the right position when starting his runs, over laps are awkward, he's not makes enough use of the space.

Admittedly the opposition teams have had the WC break to figure out how to low block against us / Miggy which is to be expected. Teams aren't just gonna let us run all over them. However if the lads are not bang on it then we do struggle.

Saying that, you could copy paste that into any Prem team forum post. That 1,2,3% margin in terms of being clinical separates the top four from the mid-table mire, mid-table chuggers from the relegation fighters. As we know even Cabbage heed got luck with a run of form back end of his first season, MAXI was on fire and we ended up 14th.

We don't lose, that is massive!

With a refreshed Wilson, Bruno off his suspension, the Gordon impact, Isak getting sharper (we have to remember the lad is still learning the league only appeared 7 times) it's all very new to him, Targett back in to compete with BDB for the left back birth the squad will offer Eddie greater Tactical options and we can set up in ways that will compliment the more creative players like ASM.

Everyone has to play everyone. I don't fear any series of games. We defend well as a team. We fight as a team. We may not be the prettiest at times but we battle.

All we need to do is beat Spurs to 4th that's it! After the 26th we are solely focused on the league. Other teams around us compete in multiple competitions.

Win or Lose in the final Eddie will harness that energy to push the squad on to ensure we finish top 4.

Win - we are champions and have that victorious energy.
Lose - we are angry and determined not to let the season sizzle out.

[GBruno]

We've effectively ruined Saint Maximin by insisting he tracks back and passes more. He's proven this is not his game.

I miss the old ASM who only has one thing on his mind, which is running at the whgole opposition team.

Yes it's frustrating, yes it won't serve us well in the long run and we should sell him at some point, but i just don't think he has another side to his game. It's going on mazy runs or nothing. I'm not sure i have seen someone who can go past players so easily on his day.

Even though he can be frustrating when he goes on the runs and will often lsot the ball, the amount of defenders he draws to him opens up so much space for other players.

There are so many times when i can see him make a pass that he doesn't really want to make. He's also expected to do more helping out defensively because Burn is not a left back and needs added protection.

So at the minute, i'm happy for him to play, but let's just let him do what he wants. It's either that, or don't play him at all for me. Apart from his dribbling. Isak and Gordon are possibly both better at everything else. (Actually i have no idea how Isak is regarding helping out defensively!?)

[Nufcian]

We've effectively ruined Saint Maximin by insisting he tracks back and passes more. He's proven this is not his game.

I miss the old ASM who only has one thing on his mind, which is running at the whgole opposition team.

Yes it's frustrating, yes it won't serve us well in the long run and we should sell him at some point, but i just don't think he has another side to his game. It's going on mazy runs or nothing. I'm not sure i have seen someone who can go past players so easily on his day.

Even though he can be frustrating when he goes on the runs and will often lsot the ball, the amount of defenders he draws to him opens up so much space for other players.

There are so many times when i can see him make a pass that he doesn't really want to make. He's also expected to do more helping out defensively because Burn is not a left back and needs added protection.

So at the minute, i'm happy for him to play, but let's just let him do what he wants. It's either that, or don't play him at all for me. Apart from his dribbling. Isak and Gordon are possibly both better at everything else. (Actually i have no idea how Isak is regarding helping out defensively!?)

I agree about ASM, let him play his game, as he did against City at the start of the season when was fully fit, and he will terrify people.

I think that will have an impact on BDB, who has done a cracking job of filling in as a left back, but he's not one really... and if you are going to hold ASM up an say he has to be effective at helping defend, then you also have to hold BDB up and say he has got to be effective in attack... and in terms of building play down the left he isn't really.

For me... as we improve the team we might still be asking the front line to help out still, but we shouldn't need it as much... and as much as I think BDB is a great guy and a big part of the squad, I think we need a specialised left back, someone who can get up and down the flank quickly and defend and attack... another Tripps basically ;-) Not sure if that is Targett long term, but I think in terms of a more rounded full back then he's ahead of BDB, and at 6' he's not a midget.



Isak helping out defensively... well he lost his man who had a free stab at it and scored last weekend, so he's not exactly setting the world afire, getting used to this league etc etc, but still... if he is on a man he needs to be on him and not get caught ball watching.