2017/18 Ashley Williams

[LouReedwalkonthewildside]

Weird when he scored how it didn't feel like he was celebrating with the fans, if you know what I mean.

 

[Toffeelover]

Had a decent game but still times when one has too blink, silly pen to give away. Still a bench warmer for me or the exit.

 

[Eggs]

Had a decent game but still times when one has too blink, silly pen to give away. Still a bench warmer for me or the exit.

..was going to post similar, Matey. I thought he rolled his sleeves up for the cause last night. The tackle for the penalty was reckless, he plays on the edge and is fully committed but you’d think he’d know not to go to ground in that situation. I don’t think it’s the first penalty he’s conceded this season.

Other than that, credit to him last night.

 

[Mrk]

Maybe we should just bring him on if we win a corner, because he's crap at defending. That penalty was ludicrous, had Pickford not saved that, there's a good chance we would have capitulated again.

 

[kenada_blue]

..was going to post similar, Matey. I thought he rolled his sleeves up for the cause last night. The tackle for the penalty was reckless, he plays on the edge and is fully committed but you’d think he’d know not to go to ground in that situation. I don’t think it’s the first penalty he’s conceded this season.

Other than that, credit to him last night.

But that's what kind of defender he is. He actually performs when he's amped up and the pressure is high...but still ends up being a liability.

He spreads panic over that defence.

 

[Eggs]

But that's what kind of defender he is. He actually performs when he's amped up and the pressure is high...but still ends up being a liability.

He spreads panic over that defence.

..that’s a fair point, he does play on the edge and I don’t think that will change at this stage of his career.

 

[dannyboy]

Maybe we should just bring him on if we win a corner, because he's crap at defending. That penalty was ludicrous, had Pickford not saved that, there's a good chance we would have capitulated again.

35 minutes to go? We were already pinned back. Every chance we are going onto not win that game.

 

[Zeke]

When you watch Williams for Wales he is more measured in his approach, never risks silly challenges in bad positions and shows real leadership skills.

When he plays for us, it's like we have his evil doppelgänger who has ants in his pants and can't wait to do something stupid - so ducking frustrating!

 

[Jonte]

What have you been smoking???!!!!

Yes, I admit, at times he’s been found wanting and by his own admission, he’s just an old style ‘get stuck in’ type Centre half.

However, his concentration levels and hence his anticipation to enable him to make some important interceptions over the last three games, have improved exponentially.

And, of course, his well taken goal was easy on the eye and a relief to us all.

You may not like him, but you have to be fair.

 

[blue61]

Weird when he scored how it didn't feel like he was celebrating with the fans, if you know what I mean.

It's not as if the fans have been on his back either.

 

[Andy_Oz]

I honestly think that there is something going on with Ashley. Problems at home, psychological problems, etc. He seems shot this season. Glad he got a goal tonight, hope it picks him up.

Has to be something going on with him. In his pre-match interview he came across as the least bothered person in the ground. If it wasn’t for injuries I wouldn’t have him anywhere near the team - simply based on the attitude he portrays, let alone the shambolic displays he puts in on the pitch.
Hopefully Allardyce can get him playing again, but not holding my breath. He needs a full on wake up call from someone.

 

[Andy_Oz]

...and someone should tell him to give Raheem Sterling his hair back.

 

[Mrk]

35 minutes to go? We were already pinned back. Every chance we are going onto not win that game.

Indeed.

 

[Daveysgingerlovechild]

..that’s a fair point, he does play on the edge and I don’t think that will change at this stage of his career.

Agree with this. A truly quality defender is far more composed

 

[toffeejack]

To me he just looks really unfit and I don't know how that can be the case other than maybe his age means he can't keep up with the training demands anymore. He always looks 3 seconds behind the passage of play and doesn't have the legs to ever catch up and correct himself. The thought of seeing him having to defend against Salah, Mane and Firmino in the derby makes me want to start a petition demanding his forced and immediate retirement.

Honestly think he's just reached that stage where "it" goes and can never be recovered. Need to do what we did with Distin and never use him again after January, preferably not before then either. He got a goal tonight but it shouldn't make people forget the fact that he's been practically throwing the ball into our net all season and very likely could have cost us 3 points tonight if not for Pickford. It's over for him.

He just needs a rest imo. He's about 35 and has come off the back of a full international tournament followed by 3 games a week before going back to play for Wales. He's too old to be doing all that. I can't recall him having a sustained period of time out either since he moved to swansea years and years ago.

If he retires from Wales and with us out of Europe I think he'll become less of a liability. I think knowing he'll never play in a world cup is bound to have an effect too.