Maybe Everton he could have changed? But I don’t know how he would have done with Digne.

Newcastle we were fine going forward just had a mare defensively. That was all tactics and not personnel

Could see him going to Georgia’s team whoever they are and playing Augusta every week

There were a number of occasions we could have made more use of him. What about when Sissoko was favoured as the wing man?

I know you don't really rate Bale, Edin, but his numbers are there for all to see in terms of his goal contributions. He has been one of our biggest threats this season and was underused, and we only needed 3 more points to get Europa. His lack of tracking back, work rate, defensive cover...whatever, was often used as the reason not to play him and yet our defence sucked regardless.

I don’t not rate him, I’m not blinded by the name like most admittedly, however I do agree that vs bottom 8 sides he’d be excellent. I also accept that he was he worst player on the park vs Arsenal and Leeds - he has been more of a liability against a team with a top fullback and decent system.

We’ve only really been poor the second half of the system, when he’s been fit, and there weren’t too many games where he was definitely missing. It’s more that I think any semi-decent system would have made much more of a difference

I think he was only really definitely missing with the game he missed out vs Fulham

further to our j cole discussion

Crooked Smile is still a tune

comment by Blarmy (U14547)
posted 1 minute ago
further to our j cole discussion

Crooked Smile is still a tune
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Can’t think of it from the top of my head. I quite liked the one ATM even if it is cheesy - good gym track

Players of the season in order of top 6:
Kane
Son
Lloris
PEH
Ndombele
Aurier

Don’t @me

Once he had that short run of games against the weak opposition of Burnley and Palace, he shouldn't have been taken out at the first sign of trouble in the league against Arsenal, since most of the team were poor.

He's a luxury player in that he can frustrate and look anonymous against some of the better opposition but he'll still carry a threat in those games so worth the risk playing him, since the alternatives - Berg, Lamela, Moura do not have as much attacking threat in their games.

You’ll have heard crooked smile before

One of his more well known songs before No Role Modelz

comment by Spurtle (U1608)
posted 22 seconds ago
Once he had that short run of games against the weak opposition of Burnley and Palace, he shouldn't have been taken out at the first sign of trouble in the league against Arsenal, since most of the team were poor.

He's a luxury player in that he can frustrate and look anonymous against some of the better opposition but he'll still carry a threat in those games so worth the risk playing him, since the alternatives - Berg, Lamela, Moura do not have as much attacking threat in their games.
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Berg/Moura were usually good in the bigger games. Moura our best player in the cup final & vs Arsenal - Berg was great in the City win, Chelsea draw and Arsenal win streak.

You are right he shouldn’t have been dropped after Arsenal and the plan should have been to play him vs bottom half but not top half. However I don’t think it’s as simple as he plays = we get Europa. Our system and tactics were way worse than the personnel picked.

comment by Blarmy (U14547)
posted 3 minutes ago
You’ll have heard crooked smile before
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Just put it on, yeh I remember it now - it’s good and was played a fair bit back in the day but don’t think it’s the most memorable.

Burnt my tongue on a greggs sausage roll

comment by EdinSelloutSpurs (U1109)
posted 1 second ago
comment by Spurtle (U1608)
posted 22 seconds ago
Once he had that short run of games against the weak opposition of Burnley and Palace, he shouldn't have been taken out at the first sign of trouble in the league against Arsenal, since most of the team were poor.

He's a luxury player in that he can frustrate and look anonymous against some of the better opposition but he'll still carry a threat in those games so worth the risk playing him, since the alternatives - Berg, Lamela, Moura do not have as much attacking threat in their games.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Berg/Moura were usually good in the bigger games. Moura our best player in the cup final & vs Arsenal - Berg was great in the City win, Chelsea draw and Arsenal win streak.

You are right he shouldn’t have been dropped after Arsenal and the plan should have been to play him vs bottom half but not top half. However I don’t think it’s as simple as he plays = we get Europa. Our system and tactics were way worse than the personnel picked.
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They can play well, particularly Moura but if you are after a goal then Bale is the go to.

This whole last quarter of the season we needed to just play our strongest team to try and get top 4 and Bale is a part of our strongest team.

Which game in the final quarter did he miss that he should have played? Everton?

I’ve said this to death - but it’s mad the amount of attacking talent England have currently.

As it stands it looks like Harvey Barnes, Callum Wilson, Ings and Ollie Watkins will miss the squad - even if fit. Each one of them would have started for England a decade ago.

Everton, Newcastle, and I'd have started him against Villa.

comment by EdinSelloutSpurs (U1109)
posted 5 minutes ago
I’ve said this to death - but it’s mad the amount of attacking talent England have currently.

As it stands it looks like Harvey Barnes, Callum Wilson, Ings and Ollie Watkins will miss the squad - even if fit. Each one of them would have started for England a decade ago.
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Not sure they would have started. We've had other more prolific goal scorers miss out on England squads altogether.

UEC trophy is probably the nicest of the 3

comment by Spurtle (U1608)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by EdinSelloutSpurs (U1109)
posted 5 minutes ago
I’ve said this to death - but it’s mad the amount of attacking talent England have currently.

As it stands it looks like Harvey Barnes, Callum Wilson, Ings and Ollie Watkins will miss the squad - even if fit. Each one of them would have started for England a decade ago.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Not sure they would have started. We've had other more prolific goal scorers miss out on England squads altogether.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

This is England’s 2012 euro squad:

England squad:
Goalkeepers - Joe Hart, Robert Green, John Ruddy.
Defenders - Leighton Baines, Gary Cahill, Ashley Cole, Glen Johnson, Phil Jones, Joleon Lescott, John Terry.
Midfielders - Gareth Barry, Stewart Downing, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Scott Parker, Theo Walcott, Ashley Young.
Strikers - Andy Carroll, Jermain Defoe, Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck.
Standby - Jack Butland, Phil Jagielka, Jordan Henderson, Adam Johnson, Daniel Sturridge.

I don’t think Bale would have agreed to risking 3 games a week and playing vs Villa so close to the Euros

comment by MK (U9129)
posted 2 minutes ago
UEC trophy is probably the nicest of the 3
----------------------------------------------------------------------

You have a link to it?

comment by EdinSelloutSpurs (U1109)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by Spurtle (U1608)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by EdinSelloutSpurs (U1109)
posted 5 minutes ago
I’ve said this to death - but it’s mad the amount of attacking talent England have currently.

As it stands it looks like Harvey Barnes, Callum Wilson, Ings and Ollie Watkins will miss the squad - even if fit. Each one of them would have started for England a decade ago.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Not sure they would have started. We've had other more prolific goal scorers miss out on England squads altogether.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

This is England’s 2012 euro squad:

England squad:
Goalkeepers - Joe Hart, Robert Green, John Ruddy.
Defenders - Leighton Baines, Gary Cahill, Ashley Cole, Glen Johnson, Phil Jones, Joleon Lescott, John Terry.
Midfielders - Gareth Barry, Stewart Downing, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Scott Parker, Theo Walcott, Ashley Young.
Strikers - Andy Carroll, Jermain Defoe, Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck.
Standby - Jack Butland, Phil Jagielka, Jordan Henderson, Adam Johnson, Daniel Sturridge.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Grant Holt scored more than Welbeck and Carroll put together.

Not that I'd have taken Holt but it goes to show you always get players in better form missing out.

We do have a lot of quality right now though.

https://twitter.com/ndanguytombele_/status/1396794469165543425?s=21