2018/19 Bernard

[Cameron Manning]

Does anterior cruciate in pre-season written all over this post.

I hope it doesn’t happen to Bernard, or to you for that matter.

 

[LouReedwalkonthewildside]

Works hard, has a good touch, but needs to add goals to his game to take him to another level, if not, then he'll just be an alright player. Am confident enough though that we'll see him putting them away this season.

 

[Encoder]

Works hard, decent buildup, not that creative and doesn't score goals. Why is he better than Will Hughes or Matt Ritchie?

You deserve Steven Naismith on the wing.

 

[davids]

I hope it doesn’t happen to Bernard, or to you for that matter.

Happened to me already,wouldn't wish it on anyone.Always nervous of our better players pre-season.

 

[BornBlue76]

It's hard to say what "crucial to making it happen" means. Like he was involved in the counter attacks that led to Sigurdsson's goal vs United and Richarlison's vs Brighton but did he do something that a large amount of wingers couldn't have done? I'd say no he played a simple pass and our better players made something happen. There's a video posted on here of all his "moments" from the season. Go and watch it and pay attention to where on the field most of the stuff he does happens. Almost the whole video is 40 yards or more from goal. There are barely any touches or passes into the box. This is a problem for a forward.
.

This is not a popular statement especially by those that don't like to talk numbers and prefer contribution to be measured in much softer things, like cracking hair or lovely pirouettes, than assists or goals. I'm not a stats fiend but do think a minimum requirement that one of the attacking players we have on the pitch adds to the assist and goal column else it all falls on too few players. I still don't know how to measure contribution to a team unless there is something tangible to hold onto. I think Bernard was actually quite good defensively and runs himself ragged, which is great, but is it enough? I have the same issue with Gomes, but to a far lesser extent. I expect both players to do better this coming season, especially again Gomes (who I think could dominate games for us up and down the pitch) but not sure yet Bernard is a creator.

He's fun to watch and has plenty in the bag, but we are desperately short of players who can unlock a tight defense and he hasn't shown that he can create yet. I have seen more in Lookman in this regard, but he is raw and fans don't have patience for a player to make mistakes (read Pienaar's assessment for nail on the head here.. game time. game time and then some more game time). Curiously Lookman has less than half the Bad control per game stat and the same dispossessed stat as Bernard #justsaying.

As always I look at what takes us to the next level. I love Bernard as a joy to watch, but it all happens very far from the opposition box. Looking forward to more. People defend him like he was the next Ronaldo.. he's neither perfect not inept.. but we have to be honest about the gaps to progress.

 

[Parker]

This is not a popular statement especially by those that don't like to talk numbers and prefer contribution to be measured in much softer things, like cracking hair or lovely pirouettes, than assists or goals. I'm not a stats fiend but do think a minimum requirement that one of the attacking players we have on the pitch adds to the assist and goal column else it all falls on too few players. I still don't know how to measure contribution to a team unless there is something tangible to hold onto. I think Bernard was actually quite good defensively and runs himself ragged, which is great, but is it enough? I have the same issue with Gomes, but to a far lesser extent. I expect both players to do better this coming season, especially again Gomes (who I think could dominate games for us up and down the pitch) but not sure yet Bernard is a creator.

He's fun to watch and has plenty in the bag, but we are desperately short of players who can unlock a tight defense and he hasn't shown that he can create yet. I have seen more in Lookman in this regard, but he is raw and fans don't have patience for a player to make mistakes (read Pienaar's assessment for nail on the head here.. game time. game time and then some more game time). Curiously Lookman has less than half the Bad control per game stat and the same dispossessed stat as Bernard #justsaying.

As always I look at what takes us to the next level. I love Bernard as a joy to watch, but it all happens very far from the opposition box. Looking forward to more. People defend him like he was the next Ronaldo.. he's neither perfect not inept.. but we have to be honest about the gaps to progress.

I would like him even more if he had Gomes' hair tbh.

 

[TheBigIguana]

You deserve Steven Naismith on the wing.

This is actually the problem. We spent so long with Kone or Naismith or Cleverley on the wings that we've forgotten what good wingers look like. So now we've been seduced by a couple of flicks and the occasional effective body faint and missed the fact that Cleverley had more goals+assists than Bernard in his first season.

And for all the lads asking who we could get that's better the answer based on last year is a lot of players. But regardless of who we get or don't get we are going to need our wingers to be better next year if we want to move up. For Richarlison that means adding more creativity. The other wing needs to be more productive too whether that's Bernard, Lookman, Onyekuru or a new signing.

 

[Encoder]

This is actually the problem. We spent so long with Kone or Naismith or Cleverley on the wings that we've forgotten what good wingers look like. So now we've been seduced by a couple of flicks and the occasional effective body faint and missed the fact that Cleverley had more goals+assists than Bernard in his first season.

And for all the lads asking who we could get that's better the answer based on last year is a lot of players. But regardless of who we get or don't get we are going to need our wingers to be better next year if we want to move up. For Richarlison that means adding more creativity. The other wing needs to be more productive too whether that's Bernard, Lookman, Onyekuru or a new signing.

No worries, I've concluded that your Bernard posts are actually just low grade bait anyway. Good day to you amigo.

 

[MikeH72]

This is actually the problem. We spent so long with Kone or Naismith or Cleverley on the wings that we've forgotten what good wingers look like. So now we've been seduced by a couple of flicks and the occasional effective body faint and missed the fact that Cleverley had more goals+assists than Bernard in his first season.

And for all the lads asking who we could get that's better the answer based on last year is a lot of players. But regardless of who we get or don't get we are going to need our wingers to be better next year if we want to move up. For Richarlison that means adding more creativity. The other wing needs to be more productive too whether that's Bernard, Lookman, Onyekuru or a new signing.

About 12 months cumulatively.

Also no one cares that Cleverley had more goals and assists. He was crap and we were crap, and Bernard is good and makes us play good.

 

[TheBigIguana]

No worries, I've concluded that your Bernard posts are actually just low grade bait anyway. Good day to you amigo.

Nah I genuinely believe he's the most overrated player in our squad. I'm actually concerned that we may overrate him more than Spurs overrate Sissoko.

 

[TheBigIguana]

About 12 months cumulatively.

Also no one cares that Cleverley had more goals and assists. He was crap and we were crap, and Bernard is good and makes us play good.

It was more than 12 months because Roberto hardly played a proper LW his last two seasons.

And does Bernard makes us play good? Or do Digne, Gana, Richarlison, Gylfi and Gomes make us play good and Bernard just doesn't mess it up?

 

[Lelouch]

It was more than 12 months because Roberto hardly played a proper LW his last two seasons.

And does Bernard makes us play good? Or do Digne, Gana, Richarlison, Gylfi and Gomes make us play good and Bernard just doesn't mess it up?

You’re taking the biscuit here about Bernard you’re making him out to be Maggy Gueye here

 

[MikeH72]

It was more than 12 months because Roberto hardly played a proper LW his last two seasons.

And does Bernard makes us play good? Or do Digne, Gana, Richarlison, Gylfi and Gomes make us play good and Bernard just doesn't mess it up?

No mate. Watch us play.

 

[andy4efc]

Was watching plenty of highlights from last season. Needs to be better infrnot of goal, unlucky not to have more assists (ie his wonderful pass to Siggurdson when he rounded the keeper and it got blocked on the line). Talented player and helps us tick on well as proven last 7/8 games of the season.

One of his touches bringing the ball dead from out of the sky was David Silva esque(who if anyone with a good memory did it against us and got a round of applause).

Technically a quality footballer, right type of striker will bring out the best of his statistically.

 

[TheBigIguana]

No mate. Watch us play.

I have. And I've seen a player who's supposed to have an impact in the final third make none and instead only be impactful in the middle/defensive third.

Think about how many teams that finished above us last year that Bernard would start regularly for and then once you come to the answer of zero ask why that is. He's a mid table player and if we are happy being in the 7th place cup race then fine roll with Bernard. If not we need an upgrade.