Bournemouth reaction and player ratings

[selassie]

Unfortunately I reckon Saka crumbles at the first sign of competition. Just doesn't strike me as the type of person with a set of balls on him. He's just never had to face adversity and has had everything too easy...which is a huge part of the problem.

And, again, Saka hasn't suffered a loss of form here. You, and others, are now just having your eyes opened, man. You, and others, won't like to admit that but Saka is playing no better or worse than he ever has.

This is a kid who was roundly jeered by fans from a majority of PL clubs last season after his Euros penalties miss. He produced last season under pressure so I have no idea what you mean by he has had it too easy and is not that type of person. Competition should breed an upturn in performances for all of those in the current starting XI.

Saka is definitely not playing at the level we know he is capable of, I have seen him turn out top class performances on a semi-regular basis last season, my eyes were open then and are open now!

[HCZ_Reborn]

This is a kid who was roundly jeered by fans from a majority of PL clubs last season after his Euros penalties miss. He produced last season under pressure so I have no idea what you mean by he has had it too easy and is not that type of person. Competition should breed an upturn in performances for all of those in the current starting XI.

Saka is definitely not playing at the level we know he is capable of, I have seen him turn out top class performances on a semi-regular basis last season, my eyes were open then and are open now!

It might be nice if you had a more objective analysis of how much of a liability Xhaka is but oh well

[mandela8]

This is a kid who was roundly jeered by fans from a majority of PL clubs last season after his Euros penalties miss. He produced last season under pressure so I have no idea what you mean by he has had it too easy and is not that type of person. Competition should breed an upturn in performances for all of those in the current starting XI.

Saka is definitely not playing at the level we know he is capable of, I have seen him turn out top class performances on a semi-regular basis last season, my eyes were open then and are open now!

Well, he wasn't jeered...in fact, he was cheered wherever he went. Naw really sure where you're getting that from, tbh.

As for these so called 'top class' performance, as I've asked multiple times, perhaps you could name a few. His only 'good' performances have come at left back, imo/fact.

[selassie]

Well, he wasn't jeered...in fact, he was cheered wherever he went. Naw really sure where you're getting that from, tbh.

As for these so called 'top class' performance, as I've asked multiple times, perhaps you could name a few. His only 'good' performances have come at left back, imo/fact.

He was jeered at quite a few grounds, the "You let your country down chant" was sung at a few grounds, Leeds being one that really springs to mind.

Off the top of my head, Saka was superb at home to the Spuds, United at home, Watford away and Chelsea away. His stats in PL last season were 11 goals and 7 assists which is not a bad return at all. If he improves his output on both goals and assists by say 5 then we are talking about superb numbers for a wide player.

Who do you think should replace him from the squad? Who will put up those kind of numbers? Because that is the bare minimum we require if we harbour any ambitions of finishing in top 4 this season.

[selassie]

It might be nice if you had a more objective analysis of how much of a liability Xhaka is but oh well

Regarding Xhaka, I just didn't think he is as much as a liability as you guys do. He was a liability when playing the Deep lying Playmaker role and clearly at times cost the team points. I think he can be upgraded on and I question his position in the team long term, especially now he is playing further forward. However I think Arteta moving him further up the pitch masks his deficiencies. I am somewhere in the middle with him. I don't think he is a liability but I am also not sold on what he offers the team (even though he is playing well at the moment).

[HCZ_Reborn]

Regarding Xhaka, I just didn't think he is as much as a liability as you guys do. He was a liability when playing the Deep lying Playmaker role and clearly at times cost the team points. I think he can be upgraded on and I question his position in the team long term, especially now he is playing further forward. However I think Arteta moving him further up the pitch masks his deficiencies. I am somewhere in the middle with him. I don't think he is a liability but I am also not sold on what he offers the team (even though he is playing well at the moment).

I understand why you say that but you are of course completely wrong. The fact that Xhaka has been allowed that free role is an admission by Arteta that he simply can’t be trusted in a deeper role. Its in fact a sign of the hubris Arteta has whereby in my view he should have been relieved of his job by now.

This isn’t the Bundesliga or Serie A, you simply cannot have a player who has no anticipation or reading of the game, takes too long to get the ball on his preferred foot and lacks positional awareness in central midfield at all. You can get away with it when playing championship level teams like Bournemouth or teams experiencing a crisis of confidence like Leicester.
But otherwise you’re ceding the middle of the park to the opposition, you cannot have a player who gives the ball away as frequently as Xhaka near the team. You might think I’m worried when we play teams like Man City or Liverpool, no I’m worried when we play Fulham. Fulham will not allow us to play the way we did against Bournemouth…a slow player like Zinchenko won’t be allowed to look better than he is and Xhaka giving the ball away like he does could even be fatal.

It’s not hyperbole. Central midfield is the most important part of the pitch….it’s where games are won and lost and if we don’t improve that position before the window closes…we will certainly lose at home to city, home to Liverpool and other games too.

[mandela8]

He was jeered at quite a few grounds, the "You let your country down chant" was sung at a few grounds, Leeds being one that really springs to mind.

Off the top of my head, Saka was superb at home to the Spuds, United at home, Watford away and Chelsea away. His stats in PL last season were 11 goals and 7 assists which is not a bad return at all. If he improves his output on both goals and assists by say 5 then we are talking about superb numbers for a wide player.

Who do you think should replace him from the squad? Who will put up those kind of numbers? Because that is the bare minimum we require if we harbour any ambitions of finishing in top 4 this season.

So a couple of numpties at Leeds? Hardly "roundly jeered" then, eh? He was cheered everywhere, basically.

As for those performances being "superb", I really don't know what to say about that. As hyperbolic as your "roundly jeered" claim, is about the best I can do..

As for his stats, remove the set piece padding and for the single mainstay in the 3 attackers it flatters to deceive a little. Regardless, I'm naw really one for these stats anyway. I'm more of an eye test guy and the chances that were lost when the ball went to Saka last season was shocking.

As for who from the current squad I'd play before Saka...Pepe, ESR, Viera (who I've never seen play) and Riess Nelson, tbh.

[HCZ_Reborn]

You’re naw really one for the Stats (except when you were conveniently in favour of them for defending Nicolas Pepe)

You’re naw really one for speaking proper English either are you ?

[mandela8]

Regarding Xhaka, I just didn't think he is as much as a liability as you guys do. He was a liability when playing the Deep lying Playmaker role and clearly at times cost the team points. I think he can be upgraded on and I question his position in the team long term, especially now he is playing further forward. However I think Arteta moving him further up the pitch masks his deficiencies. I am somewhere in the middle with him. I don't think he is a liability but I am also not sold on what he offers the team (even though he is playing well at the moment).

I think this is pretty fair, man. I don't necessarily agree with it but it's reasonable. Moving Xhaka up the pitch does mitigate one of his biggest liabilities, at least. He also seems to have a good engine on him, which is what Wenger said about him years ago. I think he's an obvious candidate for improvement but with Lokonga there and possibly Viera the goalscoring void, behind Jesus, is clearly the number 1 priority for the squad right now.

[Mac76]

I understand why you say that but you are of course completely wrong. The fact that Xhaka has been allowed that free role is an admission by Arteta that he simply can’t be trusted in a deeper role. Its in fact a sign of the hubris Arteta has whereby in my view he should have been relieved of his job by now.

This isn’t the Bundesliga or Serie A, you simply cannot have a player who has no anticipation or reading of the game, takes too long to get the ball on his preferred foot and lacks positional awareness in central midfield at all. You can get away with it when playing championship level teams like Bournemouth or teams experiencing a crisis of confidence like Leicester.
But otherwise you’re ceding the middle of the park to the opposition, you cannot have a player who gives the ball away as frequently as Xhaka near the team. You might think I’m worried when we play teams like Man City or Liverpool, no I’m worried when we play Fulham. Fulham will not allow us to play the way we did against Bournemouth…a slow player like Zinchenko won’t be allowed to look better than he is and Xhaka giving the ball away like he does could even be fatal.

It’s not hyperbole. Central midfield is the most important part of the pitch….it’s where games are won and lost and if we don’t improve that position before the window closes…we will certainly lose at home to city, home to Liverpool and other games too.

Was thinking that myself earlier, Xhaka's got away with it so far, but it won't last and the disturbing thing is that Arteta is as ever blind to Xhaka's failings