2018/19 Bernard

[Neiziro]

Don't get the hate for him - yes he can do better an awful lot of times but he's one of, if not our most creative player. He provides a good link-up with Digne on the left and he sees things that no one else does. If we other smart technical players in the attack that he could link up with then we'd see the goals and assists start to roll in. Thing is - again nobody else sees the things he does or sees the runs he wants others to make. Our attack needs to be smarter and mentally sharper.

 

[Daveysgingerlovechild]

Used to read similar about Pienaar- for and against. Loved Stevie P, me.

 

[ToffeeTim]

Bernard is the reason Digne is able to get forward as much as he does, because he puts a shift in defensively down that side covering for Digne.

I think Richarlison would offer as much, if not more

 

[Bigjoe]

I thought he had a good game on Saturday and combined well with Digne doing some nice one touch passes.

 

[Lanolin]

Don't get the hate for him - yes he can do better an awful lot of times but he's one of, if not our most creative player. He provides a good link-up with Digne on the left and he sees things that no one else does. If we other smart technical players in the attack that he could link up with then we'd see the goals and assists start to roll in. Thing is - again nobody else sees the things he does or sees the runs he wants others to make. Our attack needs to be smarter and mentally sharper.

This gets trotted out every time we have an attacking player who isn't contributing enough, and every time it's absolute rubbish.

Theo Walcott's spent his career making runs for Fabregas, Ozil, Cazorla, Sanchez etc and we're saying that a free transfer from the Ukrainian league is just too clever for him. Gomes and Digne have played the very best in the world but they're just not smart enough to know what Bernard wants. Come off it.

Arteta used to create goals for a front line of Anichebe, Stracqualursi and McFadden but now we've got £100m+ worth of internationals, and it's the one who's contributing the least who's apparently the one that's too good.

I've said before, I like Bernard. He's a quality player, and I think he makes the team better because of his ability to link play, his work rate and his willingness to take responsibility. He's not doing enough for an attacking player though, one assist every five games and no goals just doesn't stand up, and he needs to improve massively on that.

 

[Parker]

It will take a lot to put me off Bernard. He works so hard and every game he does something that no other player in the squad can do or has the ability to. A proper centre forward would love playing with him.

 

[ijjysmith]

Honestly, I could not be arsed picking on specific players at the minute when they are all so out of form/don't know what they're doing.

 

[BernieH]

Honestly, I could not be arsed picking on specific players at the minute when they are all so out of form/don't know what they're doing.

The simplest straight to the point answer, that seems to be the most logical way of thinking really. It seems to be a problem over the last few seasons that we are out of form collectively and in form collectively. That;s when you need leaders and people not afraid to take responsibility and that's what we lack in abundance.

 

[Tel001]

....there was a moment at Southampton where he could’ve put Lookman in on goal but the pass was intercepted. It wasn’t a difficult pass to complete but that moment was symptomatic of what i’ve seen on a number of occasions with him.

He does create, he can put in dangerous crosses but often when a killer ball is on he fails to deliver. Disappointing for somebody with his ability.

Penear has a similar problem, but his 6 yard 1-2’s with baines was outstanding and a joy to watch , Bernard is almost the same as penear just with more pace and a better left foot

 

[abelard]

Penear has a similar problem, but his 6 yard 1-2’s with baines was outstanding and a joy to watch , Bernard is almost the same as penear just with more pace and a better left foot

pen ear?
paneer?

 

[BlueToff]

I think Richarlison would offer as much, if not more

He hasn't when he's played there with Digne recently, though.

I don't get why people seem to ignore that Richarlison has played on the left a fair bit recently and been missing in those games.

Now, I am all for him playing on the left of a proper front three, because that's definitely his natural position.

But it doesn't seem to work in a 4-2-3-1. So again, comes back to a change of system.

 

[Strikinglyhandsome1]

pen ear?
paneer?

We could do with a panacea.

 

[chippy1722]

He hasn't when he's played there with Digne recently, though.

I don't get why people seem to ignore that Richarlison has played on the left a fair bit recently and been missing in those games.

Now, I am all for him playing on the left of a proper front three, because that's definitely his natural position.

But it doesn't seem to work in a 4-2-3-1. So again, comes back to a change of system.

The current system doesn’t work. Richarlison is not a CF, Lookman doesn’t like playing on the wing, every time Coleman gets it he runs inside, every time he gets the ball himself he runs inside.

 

[when i score we riot]

This gets trotted out every time we have an attacking player who isn't contributing enough, and every time it's absolute rubbish.
[...]He's not doing enough for an attacking player though, one assist every five games and no goals just doesn't stand up, and he needs to improve massively on that.

Some fair points there but let's be fair to the lad, he's delivering a far better return in terms of form than any other winger bar Lookman, who is frankly on too few minutes to make a claim. Our team is absolutely one of the league's worst in terms of creating chances and while he does bear part of the blame for this, we might also laud how our team is 3rd in the league on corners had and 2nd in terms of amount of crosses put in

 

[BlueToff]

The current system doesn’t work. Richarlison is not a CF, Lookman doesn’t like playing on the wing, every time Coleman gets it he runs inside, every time he gets the ball himself he runs inside.

I don't disagree.

We need balance.

Ultimately both DCL and Tosun have failed to offer much when starting as well. I'd say DCL has offered more, though.

Walcott adds someone who likes to stretch a defence. So ultimately for me for the system to work he needs to play.

With Gomes and Gylfi both out of form, I wouldn't mind seeing Lookman/Bernard central, and then Richarlison left.

But ideally we need to change system.