22 Oct 2024 09:18:12
Is it just me that is concerned with Szoboszlai's performances? He seems to be playing within himself and a bit indecisive with the ball sometimes. He has had opportunities in the past to shoot which he passes up only to shoot when is crowded and passing is easily the better choice. Is it over coaching or what? Help me out ed01.
22 Oct 2024 10:19:39
Can’t fault the guys engine but I get what your saying. He is also playing a different position to the one he was when we signed him. It looks like confidence to me. I’ve seen in glimpses the player we signed from RBL but got to give him a chance to adapt to slots positioning. Will he come good? Who knows, same debate as Darwin. can’t fault the guys hunger but not the goal threat we wanted when we signed him. Just my opinion. we’re sitting top of the league for a reason, get behind the team, no need to always pin point faults. not one person on this sight has any idea of what’s going on behind closed doors, so sit back, watch and enjoy the game where all here to talk about.
22 Oct 2024 10:34:32
Great engine and effort as above. My only complaint would be similar to Jones, he regularly takes a touch more than os absolutely necessary. Considering he probably has the best shooting technique in the squad, I just want him to pull the trigger when he gets an opportunity to do so, instead he try to take on one more defender and loses the opportunity. Same thing with Jones, except Jones usually waits too long to pass. He was excellent v Chelsea, and I rate him and glad he is still with us, but his pass to Salah for Cody's disallowed goal was a perfect example of where he can improve. A better keeper than Sanchez saves his goal as well as his touch was poor. Should be smashing that it first time giving the keeper no chance.
22 Oct 2024 10:39:17
I feel the same, felmil GH.
I know people will tell me that he runs around a lot and that he captains Hungary but he's been disappointing so far. He could turn it round but I'm not sure what he is really good at.
The team with him in it is going well though so maybe his work rate is enough.
22 Oct 2024 10:45:26
He is being asked to do a jo, which means adapting his game to be less hollywood and more graft. He could even be our new turbo water carrier.
If you look at what he does for the team, he is integral.
22 Oct 2024 11:47:10
Presses well and lots of energy. Feel he would be better suited to an 8 role as doesn’t have the composure to play number 10. Slot must like that he starts the press from the front and can track back vs a Mac who wouldn’t be able to recover as quickly. Needs to shoot more.
22 Oct 2024 11:50:54
not concerned one little bit. obviously needs to add goals / assists etc but the rest of his game has been really good and his energy and drive around the pitch is top.
feel like after each game we're searching for a player to highlight their deficiencies.
22 Oct 2024 12:44:52
It's just provoking discussion with some banter thrown in, Faith.
Like with Nunez, the running around without providing one of- if not the- most important parts of the game is enough, then great.
I was also critical of Firmino but he was part of a front three and team that was successful.
I can't help wanting more from Szob though. When we play the top sides we will need quality and for him to be more clinical.
22 Oct 2024 13:18:50
Faith, I hear you and you know I can't stand such scapegoating tactics esp. when we win either but I think the guys have a point here. Szobo is a very talented player with excellent ability on the ball and an engine that can run for days. However like one of the lads have said, he is either playing within himself or he lacks the confidence to follow threw on the decisions he actually makes.
I've seen in games where you can see what he wants to do and half the time, they are good decisions. But then, he slows down, takes an extra touch and either executes it poorly or just loses the ball.
I don't know what the issue is but he seems to always be caught in two:three minds. As they say in boxing, "Just let your hands go". Hence in football, "Just let you feet go" and you know, execute with conviction. It will be what it will be BUT you got to do it first. Just my take.
22 Oct 2024 14:35:42
He is a machine who plays like his life depends on it. Runs and runs and runs. And just as you re absolutely exhausted watching him, he'll run some more.
Honestly, it's not happening for him with the ball for a while but you can see it there in glimpses.
I will never not support a man that puts in that much effort. And the disruption he causes the opposing teams ideas is immense. I get the criticism but I personally love the man. I think he'll sort the on the ball stuff at some point but in the meantime, I still think hd is very valuable to the team performance.
We have four players there in Jones, Macca, Grav and Szobo that I am very comfortable with in any combination.
Well Grav must play the way he is right now. The two he plays with can be any combo of the other two.
22 Oct 2024 14:35:46
He is being asked to do a jo
What job precisely? Aimless running with no end product? Midfield Adama Traore?
22 Oct 2024 16:43:01
Ultra Violet the end product is that we win the ball back which is quite an important part of the game.
If he was like Bruno Fernandes or Haaland that don’t do anything unless they have the ball then I’d understand your point but chasing and harrying the opposition is integral to the way we play and he’s better at it than most.
Just another load of whingers picking holes because they upset we are top of the league. Don’t worry I’m sure we’ll lose a game soon so you can all have a good old moan and say how rubbish we are. I’m sure that’ll make you happy.
22 Oct 2024 17:15:56
The concern is what he does when we do have the ball, BP; especially as a number 10.
Some of us are saying that he doesn't do enough. I think Fernandes and Haaland do quite a lot when their teams have the ball.
22 Oct 2024 19:09:05
@Davey, I’d add Elliott and young Nyoni to the four you mentioned and we have six players for the two holding and central player of the ‘3’ in the 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 set up. Also worth noting that Macca, at 25, is the elder statesman of the group.
22 Oct 2024 19:38:17
I felt he bottled a few challenges on Sunday. That bothered me more than anything.
22 Oct 2024 21:49:20
I’d argue with you about Fernandes Rigsby. One flash of quality every 10 games is not doing something with the ball.
Szob has shown us that he has quality. It’s in there we’ve all seen it. We need to persevere with him as he’s doing a new role in the team and his defensive work is exceptional. The quality on the ball will shine through in the end.
22 Oct 2024 22:17:09
Szoboszlai is being asked to play ugly, something he has had to adapt to. He will come good, just having to do a lot of learning on the pitch, in full view of us.
22 Oct 2024 22:27:50
So you're talking about what Szob will do and not what he has done, BP?
You can argue about Fernandes, too, but he's a good player in a bad side and one flash of quality in ten games is inaccurate.
He's shown more for United than Szob has for us.
22 Oct 2024 22:49:05
His final pass is woeful and he can’t shoot for toffee but all his work off the ball is faultless. A Duracell bunny if I’ve ever seen one.
23 Oct 2024 02:38:39
again, the focus appears to be on one aspect of his game, albeit an important of his role in terms of creating chances, scoring etc.
for me, it's mind numbingly simple to take that aspect of his game that is supposedly not going very well, completely disregard everything else he is doing and then come up with the outcome that he is lacking confidence, playing poorly, playing within himself etc.
23 Oct 2024 08:46:37
Amazing. Apparently we're carrying some of our midfield players but we're top of the table.
Go figure.
23 Oct 2024 10:29:55
We are top but there is always room for improvement. Slot has said he wants more from him and we are not disregarding everything else he is doing. His work rate has been mentioned several times.
23 Oct 2024 21:46:01
Listening to Slot talk about his reasons for Curtis not starting tonight. Basically that Curtis isn’t in condition to start two games in quick succession.
Dom is.
There is something about a player who has the physical and mental application to be available game in game out that we’re not valuing enough. In saying that I do hope Slot looks after him and gives him his share of rotation to keep him fresh.
23 Oct 2024 23:07:20
Players bring different attributes and skills to the squad / team. There is a definite undertone on this forum that every player in the squad should be at a level of perfection at all times and not only for their own position but also for everyone else’s position.
24 Oct 2024 00:25:28
Curtis (cringe) might not be available to start every game, physically or mentally (double cringe) and he is 23 (triple cringe) .
I'd love to hear Roy Keane and Graeme Souness's take on this.
It's just banter, Redmen, don't be thinking I'm retiring young Curtis (quadruple cringe) just yet.
He'll probably end up at Brentford, anyway ?.