prove this season.
Maddison - Hasn't looked the best in pre-season, dropped from Euro squad and tailed off badly towards the end of last season. Famed for starting off well at the beginning of the season, can he continue for a full season this year?
27 years old and should be entering the prime of his career, I hope he can deliver consistently and knowing Bergvall is hot on his tail, he can be extra motivated this season.
Brennan Johnson - Signing Odobert will provide adequate competition and it should give BJ extra motivation this season to fight for his place. Still needs to polish his final delivery and finishing, but I'm looking forward to him proving his doubters wrong. Hopefully he improves on his decent return from last season. Still only 23.
Timo Werner - Could be more clinical as always but with Son likely to start ahead of him, he will get limited chances. Still has his pace and a great fit for Angeball. If he could finish, then we have a very good player on our hands. Should be enjoying his prime years, can he fix up and deliver for one season?
Honourable mentions to Udogie and Micky who were great but need to keep fit. Vicario needs to improve on his distribution but he saved us alot last season. Soloman, stay fit and get a loan if that is the plan?
Looking forward to the new season and hoping Madders and Johnson in particular, kick on.
Second year players with a point to
posted on 19/8/24
Will be nice to see Bentancur back at his best after 12 months out and slow return from that.
Ange says he's looked good pre season and I think we tend to forget what a classy player he can be. He can make a big difference to us.
Bissouma is also a very good player when he wants to be and is focused. He needs to show his top levels consistently and he now has more competition.
I.portant with all these players is that I think last season they suffered from fatigue as they got used to the new way while having not much cover.
With Gray and Bergvall as genuine first teamers I think we can manage these key positions better to get the best out of them. Need one more in CM which I think will happen with Skipp going.
posted on 19/8/24
Did Werner not have a season where he was lethal in front of goal for Leipzig?
Due another season of things going his way or was that complete fluke?
posted on 19/8/24
That early form from Maddison is what I was sort of hoping we'd get from him and he was one of our and the season's best players at that time. Such a shame he's gone off the boil so much. We know what he's capable of and we've seen it first hand. Did the injury take it out of him or is that just what one expects of the way he performs in seasons? Hope it's more the former. One other thing I'd add is his set pieces, they've been nothing special so far when he's supposed to be good at them.
BJ did ok for a debut season but definite flaws in his game that need ironing out such as finishing and delivery into the box. Whether that is within his ceiling I don't know because being the age he is, he's never shown excellent form before. Maybe I'm being unfair here but he has a sort of clueless expression on his face a lot of the time and it makes me think we shouldn't expect big things from him.
As for Werner, does anyone really expect much? I feel like we're never going to get better than what we've already seen and that is form going back almost 5 years now. Second string quality who you just hope has a good day when he can convert one of his many chances.
posted on 19/8/24
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posted on 19/8/24
I'm afraid Maddison will always be a tad hit and miss, has been his whole career, Luckily we have Bergvall who I would not hesitate to introduce, maybe not PL but certainly Europa and cups
posted on 19/8/24
important not to sit on Maddison and Bissouma if they dont perform this season. much needed funds from them next summer will be very handy
Bentancur very much in that category too
posted on 19/8/24
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posted on 19/8/24
Disagree about Bentancur. He has offered more than the other two.
posted on 19/8/24
comment by Luka Bosh Brasi (U22178)
posted 9 minutes ago
Disagree about Bentancur. He has offered more than the other two.
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Agreed. Both Maddison and Bissouma have shown their qualities in a span of about 10 games. Bentancur was pretty consistent barring last season with injury. There was a spell when Bentancur was carrying our MF.
posted on 19/8/24
Not only that but remember last season when he defied the doctors and turned up for the Bournemouth game when we all thought he was injured/recovering?
Just got spanked 4-2 away to Brighton the game before. That was some return, Hobby or Skipp would have started with GLC and Sarr. Gave us a massive boost and we won.