Kever10
Player Valuation: £25m
I think you have given a carefully considered and logical argument there, and i agree on a lot of the points made. But i also think we are experiencing a period of bad form, exacerbated by more games, and unfortunately timed injuries to key players at key times, ie, the eve of the season, just as another player is about to return, international breaks, or sometimes multiple injuries in the course of 1 week/game. We haven't been able to find a rhythm like we did last season, and it has led to a stop start and often stunted run of form.
The problem is, the players who you would normally turn to in times of low confidence and poor form are the older, more experienced players, who you hope have the know how and the experience to get you through the tight spots. But to a man, all of these experienced players are the ones that are playing the worst. Instead of leading by example, they have consistently underperformed, but the younger players behind them in the pecking order haven't the experience to play us out of the sticky situation that the older, wiser players have got us in.
The most consistently bad performers this season have been Howard, Jagielka, Distin, Baines, Barry, and Osman, with Pienaar having barely played due to injuries, and Eto'o spending most of his playing time out of position.
Lukaku has been poor, but is a victim of his own success to this point, in that he hasn't been able to find a way to transition himself from promising youngster to a consistent, top player he clearly thinks he is, but i do think he will find some form again before the end of the season, because his ego is to big for him to fail.
Barkley is trying too hard or not at all, depending on the situation he finds himself in, and doesn't appear comfortable being asked to play any other position than his own.
Mccarthy has been in and out due to a persistent injury problem, but carries us when he is in and fit.
Besic has been good, but his inexperience is clear for all to see with some of his decision making.
Coleman to me has not looked consistently fit since the beginning of the season, and appears to be playing within himself, perhaps down to fitness, or maybe as a tactical decision / confidence problem, due to the early season goal glut.
Mirallas has been our best player, but even he has had his moments of frustration. Sometimes he will do the impossible and then fail to do seemingly inevitable.
I think we have badly missed Oviedos enthusiam, and maybe he, and some of the younger players coming through could perhaps give us a boost. Garbutt certainly has when he's been in, but typically for us, they both play the same position, and that being the same position as 1 of the "Must picks".
I do think it's hard to blame Martinez, because his supposed trusted senior players have let him down badly, and he now finds himself in a scenario where by the only options he has are to trust them again or rely solely on the exuberance of youth.
Or go out and spend a LOT of money in the January window.
Tough call.
But i feel he deserves our support, for last year and his efforts in the Europa League as well.
I just hope some of the nobhead players think the same.
The problem is, the players who you would normally turn to in times of low confidence and poor form are the older, more experienced players, who you hope have the know how and the experience to get you through the tight spots. But to a man, all of these experienced players are the ones that are playing the worst. Instead of leading by example, they have consistently underperformed, but the younger players behind them in the pecking order haven't the experience to play us out of the sticky situation that the older, wiser players have got us in.
The most consistently bad performers this season have been Howard, Jagielka, Distin, Baines, Barry, and Osman, with Pienaar having barely played due to injuries, and Eto'o spending most of his playing time out of position.
Lukaku has been poor, but is a victim of his own success to this point, in that he hasn't been able to find a way to transition himself from promising youngster to a consistent, top player he clearly thinks he is, but i do think he will find some form again before the end of the season, because his ego is to big for him to fail.
Barkley is trying too hard or not at all, depending on the situation he finds himself in, and doesn't appear comfortable being asked to play any other position than his own.
Mccarthy has been in and out due to a persistent injury problem, but carries us when he is in and fit.
Besic has been good, but his inexperience is clear for all to see with some of his decision making.
Coleman to me has not looked consistently fit since the beginning of the season, and appears to be playing within himself, perhaps down to fitness, or maybe as a tactical decision / confidence problem, due to the early season goal glut.
Mirallas has been our best player, but even he has had his moments of frustration. Sometimes he will do the impossible and then fail to do seemingly inevitable.
I think we have badly missed Oviedos enthusiam, and maybe he, and some of the younger players coming through could perhaps give us a boost. Garbutt certainly has when he's been in, but typically for us, they both play the same position, and that being the same position as 1 of the "Must picks".
I do think it's hard to blame Martinez, because his supposed trusted senior players have let him down badly, and he now finds himself in a scenario where by the only options he has are to trust them again or rely solely on the exuberance of youth.
Or go out and spend a LOT of money in the January window.
Tough call.
But i feel he deserves our support, for last year and his efforts in the Europa League as well.
I just hope some of the nobhead players think the same.
