06 Dec 2023 18:08:55
Regarding Szobo seemingly regressing after initially flying out the blocks in his first few games. Anyone think that our players are 'over coached'? It seems the same with all the attacking players being afraid to shoot when they're in and around the box. They engage their brains, thinking "right, now what did the boss say I had to do when I got here" by which time they're tackled. I'd prefer them to play by instinct. They're good enough, and Szobo showed that in his first few games. Over coached.

1.) 06 Dec 2023
06 Dec 2023 18:18:35
Just wondering how to reply without upsetting all the emotional fans on here.

Regressed no. I think he plays much better at anfield than he does away. Hopefully that’s just a confidence thing and he performs tonight in Sheffield.

The Steven Gerrard comparisons haven’t helped one bit. Stevie was head and shoulders above any premier league midfielder playing today and that includes the ginger fella over at City.

Szobo just has to play his game and keep doing what he’s doing, we’re still unbeaten in the league in my eyes and Doms been the biggest part of the improvement. Delighted to have him.

2.) 06 Dec 2023
06 Dec 2023 18:32:50
When he came in at the start of the season he was an unknown commodity amongst opposition managers.

After his impressive start and how our midfield used to play I’d imagine opposition managers now pay a lot more attention to him during their teams preparation to face us.

3.) 06 Dec 2023
06 Dec 2023 22:45:51
Stone, Szobo is doing another job for the team that requires him to do a lot more defending and tracking back to help the collective effort defensively out of possession. If you watch the City game, Fulham and even tonight's game, you will see. So for me, it's not like he has tailed off or anything. It has more to do with what the coaches are now asking him to do and he is doing that brilliantly, IMO. As long as he is doing what the coaches want then, Im fine with it. All the other stuff is just white noise.

As for our players being overcoached, I see what you are saying cos sometimes it can look that way with the whole hesitation to shoot thingy even while in good positions. You could be right cos as a whole, players are overcoached in general these days hence, have problems playing footie instinctively.

4.) 07 Dec 2023
07 Dec 2023 07:53:45
Gerrard had some faults. I would say Szobo is a lot more tactically aware defensively. But also different systems etc. as you ve said, it's unfair to compare them. I think szobo has been excellent. I think we should all cool our jets in deciding how excellent he is and just enjoy him.

5.) 07 Dec 2023
07 Dec 2023 09:55:26
@JK, Eddie Howe certainly knew about him - he wanted to sign him for Newcastle. I suspect he was probably known by a lot of managers but most knew they couldn’t afford him.

6.) 07 Dec 2023
07 Dec 2023 09:58:48
He was everywhere tonight! Didn’t stop running and deserved his goal! The whole team played poor tonight! But he did his job stuck to it and tracked back every time! Can’t ask more than that! We are so slow when we play away and cram the middle! Even Diaz kept running into the congestion! He’s one player atm that needs confidence! Struggles to beat his man then just try’s far to hard and messes it up! Hopefully it will come back as he adds width.