robsblubot

Achilles lesion does not require trauma. It’s usually caused by overextension and overuse.

One of the worst injuries for a footballer. This is a six mo recovery. Prob lost next season too... this sucks...

There are reasons for that. It goes into the characteristics of all our wingers (will stop here not to derail the thread ) except Odoi. still, higuain is way past his good/decent prime, and is now just a bad football player.

I've written countless times about what I dislike in his game, very specific points too. Regarding your ridiculous name calling, which this forum seems to be ok with these days. You could have started, like, "no, you are wrong, he's great at CL." It would've been a lie, but at least responding to a semi-point I've actually made. Could’ve said he’s great in the pl which is definitely true, but not a cup. Once again, up to this point, only one of us is name-calling. I made a point that you did not retort, just criticized without any argument. I see SEVERAL deficiencies in his game, but whatever. That's why I'm not a fan, not because he's leaving. I'm not salty, sad, angry, because I've had the very same opinion for years, and Eden did very little to change that. the only thing I’m slightly disappointed about is that we did not sell him sooner for more money.

You would like to start debating the specific points that I’ve made over and over again, but then again you quote a semi joke instead. I mean hazard really goes missing in CL... Needless to say, most things your write don’t make much sense to me either. I mean in general, not just this thread. and yet I don’t go about calling you names do I?

Mods is calling people idiot allowed? Because then I’ve been missing out... 😂

Me too! That’s where he belongs... Europa league.

Was integral part of the starting XI up until the injury. So, I ask again, was the talk about wanting to leave, because of the lack of minutes, just BS? Because it sure looks that way.

Yeah come on... He hasn’t signed a new deal and wants out... what’s a club to do? Move on and move on already... I wasn’t as much of a fan as others around here, now I’m kinda really sick of him. Hate his demeanor, on and off the pitch. answering your second point, like many of his fans like to say, the club has been incapable of adding quality around hazard, which essentially proves, to me at least, that having such a player may be detrimental to the squad. as in, the squad would benefit more from 2 additional good players instead of hazard. The ban is unfortunate obviously, but hope it can be lifted at least for this window.

As someone who did criticize him before, he’s been impressive lately. good positioning and great reaction... consistency is mostly welcomed also.

Our best player right now. So happy for him and the club.

Honestly don’t think it has anything to do with his commitment. He’s just not that influential or at least not consistently enough. just fuck off already. Let the club plan and give the much sought-after free role to someone who wants to improve and become the player some here think hazard is.

Fair enough, but he’s not the highest earner only because he does not want to be. point being he does enjoy a certain status at the club that can be very very appealing to certain players.

I honestly think his potential absence is greatly exaggerated. Folks are thinking of what we have now, but a reminder that he is our top earner. These type of wages can attract excellent players to our club.

Agreed. He is indeed very close to becoming a top midfielder. the impressive thing is that on top of all that size and power, he’s got close control, finesse, and acceleration... not to mention scoring massive goals. Makes him really tough to play against in contested areas. Reckon that will translate really well against stronger opposition. just needs to improve composure and fitness.

good points. However, I cannot separate our difficulty in keeping possession in the first half, as a possession side that is, from the absolutely poor touches and passing by higuain. His inability on the ball was hurting us in the first half, and I think this is going to keep on happening given his age. Reckon we just can't afford having bystanders with the style in which we play. Again, unless we change the style and rely less on possession to defend, but then I don't think we have the players for it. Regardless, very happy with the top 4 and with RLC impact. Always thought he had the most important: skill.

Sorry, but those very heavy touches just won’t cut it against stronger opposition. It’s like he can only score with first time shots...

I thought he was great at United and was picked as motm by many. Now, he was terrible against warford. In attack, he was timid, slow, uncommitted, just passing the ball back even though he had lots of space. Rattled by the fans perhaps? in defense, wasn’t closing down on players quickly enough for me. he was contending with higuain as the worst player on the pitch, but then higuain scored, so alonso won.

We seem to value motm performances, which included the goal that earned us a point and kept us in the race for CL, very differently. my personal take is that Alonso’s ability to win us points is wasted when he plays LB. he’s often ineffective there for the reasons already discussed ad nauseam. It’s the manager job to find the position where players are the most effective. Sorry just don’t see any quality in Emerson.

Right on. And their defensive deficiencies are very different too, which seems to confuse folks: Emerson’s pace helps him to transition back better than Alonso, but Alonso is physically stronger and wins many headers (check stats from United game). after a tough away game where Alonso was arguably motm, I’m still waiting to see a similar contribution in attack from Emerson. they are both terrible at crossing the ball though. Really painful to watch.

Agreed. Not much different with spurs tho. They have a couple of dangerous players, but they are a tier below the other side of the bracket.

Yes, but for me the run he did not make, and that Alonso did, was the most worrying part. it’s the most basic thing as a striker: someone shoots from afar, you run towards the goalie... period. A number of things can happen and the striker must be about to benefit... it’s his fucking job to make those runs.

They both (Emerson and Alonso) struggle when pressed like any player on earth. It’s down to the system to protect them against overlaps and what not. to me he was actually quite solid defensively winning many headers and tackles, but that’s what I saw. We seem to always see a different game. Also that is narrowing down to defensive ability, which I actually think they are very similar, with Alonso having an edge in high balls and set pieties. not exactly sure what Emerson is good at to be honest. He runs fast nice! eden has a very poor and, but folks here will see his nice turns and runs where all I can from him is the last ball.

That run that alonso made was what higuain should have done, but was resting away from the goal, well because he needed the rest... Since I know nobody here will say it, alonso had a very good game today. still, given our striker options, I’d not hesitate to try alonso there, instead of our two retirees. Miss morata

Hmm ball playing CBs “properly defend” by keeping possession. Sure they need to throw a tackle here and there, anticipate, and def win headers esp in set pieces, but The most important is being comfortable on the ball esp passing. hazard is one of the defensive problems we have in the system we try to employ. because of his free role. Nobody enjoys a free role at city. Messi does at Barca, but he’s a high working rate genius. Those sides employ a high press where attacking players swarm the opposition until they regain possession. They only rest when they have the football and by passing it around. So, I’m not disagreeing regarding Andreas, because his development has indeed stalled, which is worrying. He’s prob not that match fit tho. I am however disagreeing that Zouma can ever play in a remotely possession side. Perhaps you are thinking of a more direct system. Rudiger, who’s a lot better than zouma with the ball is already questionable in that system. I meant that it’s too soon to declare Andreas a flop. CBs mature late and at different progression rates. No guarantees, of course.