Waste of a place

[bobsrighthandman]

I think it is unfair to single out Pienaar when we have players like Naismith and Jelavic getting game time. I love Jelavic but I think the time has come to admit that he isn't out of form, he actually just isn't as good as we thought he was. I think Pienaar offers so much and those of you who are suggesting he should be dropped for Deulofeu are being a bit naive. Deulofeu was average against stevenage and although the raw potential is definitely there he is definitely not ready to be a starter. He would make too many wrong decisions, not track back well and not link up with baines as well as Pienaar does.

IMO Mirallas been the worst starter this season. He has been pretty much absent in all three games. However I wouldnt drop him for Deulofeu either as I think Kev will come good soon. When he got taken off last weekend he looked pretty angry so at least he knows he is playing badly. Naismith looks like he thinks he is the star man.
For me both wings are the best bit of our team and to disturb that would be a bit stupid. Deulofeu is an impact sub for me for now.

 

[bobsrighthandman]

I think the team will all make sense with Lukaku in it.

 

[Petit]

I think the team will all make sense with Lukaku in it.

I agree.

I think we´ve been playing for more than a half a season with out a forward on the pitch. A kind of 4-4-1 with Fellaini as a attacking midfielder with his back to goal doing the work of two players.

My point of course is that Jelavic has to go, asap.

 

[ART]

Pienaar is comfortable on the left with Baines. The thing he needs to keep doing is keep getting on the scoresheet. As Baines said quite a few months ago, Pienaar had added goals to his game. He needs to keep this up. He's a great little player.

WELL Said, and if its not broke don,t fix it.

 

[Big Fat Sam]

Works best of all with Baines and isn't actually that bad. Dead slow, mind, and a ****e finisher, but great with the ball at his feet and very, very clever. His movement alone can take him past a man. Definitely deserves to stay in the side, but needs to be kept on his toes. Thankfully that will happen as Mirallas can also play on the left and if Deulofeu is pushing for a first team spot it'd be right wing then it'd be between Pienaar and Mirallas for the left.

Osman can do one.

 

[nigelcoyb]

He fell into the comfy zone under Moyes just as Arteta did, even dour Davy had to have a smattering of creativity and these two were the tokens.

He played a completely different level trying to get back from spurs driving at defences and beating people he was a real threat even managing a goal.

He's reverted back to looking busy but nowhere near as effective, hopefully a bit of competition will get the best out of him again.

 

[larrygobfiend]

We're 3 games into a season and have a thread asking who we think is rubbish and a 'waste of a place'. Is it too much to get behind the team and the new manager? It's sure to take a bit of time for his ideas to gel. Couple that with some on here calling some of our new signings rubbish without them even playing and it seems patience is a quality in short supply.

I have been getting behind the team and the new manager and I'm generally quite optimistic, especially after the Lukaku signing. My post merely relates to something that's bugged me for a while.

My OP relates to a player that I've personally felt has been off form for a 'year' not '3 games'. I've also stated that I like him as a player and hope he returns to form.

The term 'waste of a place' can be seen as positive and negative. I thought that there was room for a discussion on which players were under-performing and holding back the team and who could fill their place and make a marked improvement to the teams performances.

 

[Housequake]

That little drag back and pass through two Cardiff players was pretty sweet at the weekend though.

 

[Little Ralphy]

Pienaar's best form was the 2009/10 season, without a shadow of a doubt.

Which was the season when he had 12 months left on his contract that Summer and knew he'd be re-negotiating. There are lots of players who find their best form in the run up to contract negotiations.

 

[Deco]

He's still quality but he needs a more free role where he doesn't have to run around as much. In all honesty it's looked as if his legs are starting to go and he's been fouled out of matches recently without the ref giving him any protection.

 

[Brennan]

We're 3 games into a season and have a thread asking who we think is rubbish and a 'waste of a place'. Is it too much to get behind the team and the new manager? It's sure to take a bit of time for his ideas to gel. Couple that with some on here calling some of our new signings rubbish without them even playing and it seems patience is a quality in short supply.

Irrelevant when Pienaar has been playing for us for a year now.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Irrelevant when Pienaar has been playing for us for a year now.

Sure, but we have a new coach and all. Each to their own like, but I'm going to give every player a clean slate and see how they get on. Give them until Christmas before making any big judgements.

I have been getting behind the team and the new manager and I'm generally quite optimistic, especially after the Lukaku signing. My post merely relates to something that's bugged me for a while.

My OP relates to a player that I've personally felt has been off form for a 'year' not '3 games'. I've also stated that I like him as a player and hope he returns to form.

The term 'waste of a place' can be seen as positive and negative. I thought that there was room for a discussion on which players were under-performing and holding back the team and who could fill their place and make a marked improvement to the teams performances.

The nice thing about the squad is that we do have some options now, as you say, so players can be mixed in and out a bit. You did sense over the past few years that some players were guaranteed a slot because we had no other options.

 

[Housequake]

Which was the season when he had 12 months left on his contract that Summer and knew he'd be re-negotiating. There are lots of players who find their best form in the run up to contract negotiations.

No it wasn't, 2010/11 was when he had a year left, part of the reason why he went in January was to stop him going on a free.

2009/10 was the run up to the World Cup, which was in his home country, and let's not forget he was the captain.

 

[Foot Long Hot Dog]

So you don't think Pienaar's best form are when he was first on loan looking for a permanent deal, when he wanted the bigger contract and we sold him to Spurs or when he came back on loan and wanted the permanent deal?

Also the thing about Baines is true. Baines doesn't need Pienaar to play well, but it would appear that Pienaar does need Baines.

You intimated that the period he was looking for a new deal was the only time we've seen him perform at his best, which (with respect) is a load of crap imo. Personally I think he achieved his best level of consistency during his loan spell in the 2nd half of 2012, but there's a massive leap from that to what you're suggesting is his driver.

Your point about Baines is nonsense imo. They're the best left sided pairing in the league & the fact is that they interact so well & know each others game so well, which results in them combining superbly when on form. They're a great partnership & one benefits from the other.

Pienaar's getting some stick as he's not been at his sparkling best so far this season, so that obviously means we can write him off & make him butters new hate figure.

 

[Little Ralphy]

No it wasn't, 2010/11 was when he had a year left, part of the reason why he went in January was to stop him going on a free.

2009/10 was the run up to the World Cup, which was in his home country, and let's not forget he was the captain.

2010/11 was his last 12 months. So he would have had contract discussions in the Summer of 2010 which was indeed the World Cup. So 2009/10 was both leading up to the World Cup and also leading up to his contract negotiations.