2019/20 Bernard

[Archie Knox]

Still can't believe Silva thought it was a good idea to break up the Digne and Bernard partnership to put meat head Iwobi in the side.

 

[TheBigIguana]

He should play only because Sigurdsson has been disappearing so thoroughly from games that him getting taken off and replaced by no one had no effect. At least Bernard is an option and will allow us to attack with 11 players. I don't expect he will actually produce anything on his own, but I think Iwobi and Richarlison can do enough to make up for it so long as they have the third person being somewhat involved.

Also Digne's contribution Saturday was poor because Digne was poor with his crossing just like when Digne played well with Bernard it was because Digne played well. Way too much of his play is being credited to a "partnership" and not enough to Digne just being a very good player. Iwobi and him have combined fine and Iwobi is actually a threat in the final third. Dropping him isn't the answer.

 

[longers]

Still can't believe Silva thought it was a good idea to break up the Digne and Bernard partnership to put meat head Iwobi in the side.

How exactly is Iwobi a meat head ?

 

[Archie Knox]

How exactly is Iwobi a meat head ?

Looks about a stone overweight.

I'd still have him in the team, but ahead of Sigurdsson, not Bernard.

 

[Toffee90]

Not sure Bernard is the answer going forwards. Lacks pace, power and isn't productive enough. That being said, he needs to be in the team over the next few games- as the chemistry between him and Digne could be pivotal to us getting ourselves out of trouble.
I'd look to sell him at the end of the season- and bring a top winger in. Disappointed we didn't go for Saint-Maximin from Newcastle, he looks absolutely mustard.

 

[kenada_blue]

Let’s not get stupid here. As quoted on a previous post, players who aren’t playing suddenly become a lot better just by sitting on the bench when the team doesn’t play well. Davies and Bernard are not the answer....we don’t score any goals and Bernard has contributed to about 5 in over a season as an attacking player. He’s great on the halfway line but he’s an absolute jigsaw.

Pienaar never had good goal or assist stats even though for seasons, all our attacking play came through him and Baines.

It's about how they contribute to the play, in transitions, or allow others to play.

 

[TheBigIguana]

Pienaar never had good goal or assist stats even though for seasons, all our attacking play came through him and Baines.

It's about how they contribute to the play, in transitions, or allow others to play.

Pienaar ever have a 10 month period with 1 goals and 0 assists? Because unless he does something against West Ham in two weeks that will be Bernard's record since Boxing Day last season.

 

[McBain]

Pienaar ever have a 10 month period with 1 goals and 0 assists? Because unless he does something against West Ham in two weeks that will be Bernard's record since Boxing Day last season.

When he played for Spurs?

 

[TheBigIguana]

Not sure Bernard is the answer going forwards. Lacks pace, power and isn't productive enough. That being said, he needs to be in the team over the next few games- as the chemistry between him and Digne could be pivotal to us getting ourselves out of trouble.
I'd look to sell him at the end of the season- and bring a top winger in. Disappointed we didn't go for Saint-Maximin from Newcastle, he looks absolutely mustard.

Not sure about Saint-Maximin. The guy is lightning and he's exciting, but I reckon the end product isn't quite there. I don't know what kind of value Bernard could fetch since we pay him a good bit but I do agree that improving our quality in the creative positions is vital.

 

[TheBigIguana]

When he played for Spurs?

When he played for Everton?

 

[McBain]

When he played for Everton?

Yeah i was asking you I don’t know

 

[TheBigIguana]

Yeah i was asking you I don’t know

I looked up his Spurs period, 12 months from January '11 to January '12, and he had two assists. He was also hurt and completely out of the team for half of that and still he was producing more than Bernard.

I don't think it happened here either. At least when he was still healthy enough to play from time to time.

 

[mahermi1]

He should play only because Sigurdsson has been disappearing so thoroughly from games that him getting taken off and replaced by no one had no effect. At least Bernard is an option and will allow us to attack with 11 players. I don't expect he will actually produce anything on his own, but I think Iwobi and Richarlison can do enough to make up for it so long as they have the third person being somewhat involved.

Also Digne's contribution Saturday was poor because Digne was poor with his crossing just like when Digne played well with Bernard it was because Digne played well. Way too much of his play is being credited to a "partnership" and not enough to Digne just being a very good player. Iwobi and him have combined fine and Iwobi is actually a threat in the final third. Dropping him isn't the answer.

Thought Iwobi was poor Saturday, it seems to take him two or three touches just to get control of the ball. All about opinions, for me Bernard and Digne are a much better partnership.

 

[mahermi1]

Pienaar never had good goal or assist stats even though for seasons, all our attacking play came through him and Baines.

It's about how they contribute to the play, in transitions, or allow others to play.

Our team looks much better balanced with Bernard in.

 

[Lanolin]

Pienaar never had good goal or assist stats even though for seasons, all our attacking play came through him and Baines.

It's about how they contribute to the play, in transitions, or allow others to play.

We say this as if Pienaar was some sort of footballing God though. He was good like, but maybe if he had got more goals and assists, we'd have broken through that glass ceiling instead of becoming known for being best of the rest.

I like Bernard, and I think the team is better with him in it, but that doesn't really excuse him from scoring or assisting. He needs to do the knitting together and have an end product, not one or the other.