Originally Posted by
jackal2
Jodi isn't back to full match sharpness yet but it's not just that. I don't care what he prefers or what the manager thinks, the simple self-evident truth is that he's half the player on the right that he is on the left. In fact, 'half' might be too generous. When he receives the ball he looks cramped and boxed in, often having to play the pass back because of the body position he has to adopt for his first touch. I feel uncomfortable for him. It's like facing backwards on a train!
Jodi claims he likes playing on the right, and I can only think that's because it offers the chance to cut inside and shoot for glory, but opponents know what he's going to do and can cope with it more easily, whereas on the left he can beat his defender down the outside and put in great crosses. He offers far more to the team when he plays on that natural side.
If we persist with the current tactic then I fear we'll only ever see half the player we know Jodi can be. He'll still have great moments, like the one he almost had last Saturday, because he is fundamentally so talented, but he won't be the constant and consistent threat he is when he plays down the left.
Absolutely agree. Best referee of the season, and I'm not saying that to be politically correct, I'm saying it because it's true. So many refs clearly want the game to be all about them - this one didn't.
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