Useful Idiot

I think this is pretty much on the money. The huge difference between MLT and Boufal is their decision making. MLT was leagues ahead of Boufal in that respect. Boufal's first touch was probably as good as MLT's, and he's consistently better at taking people on because he's faster. It doesn't make him close to as effective a player, though. Boufal works far harder off the ball than MLT ever did, though, which is my main point. Just because somebody doesn't contribute as much out of possession as another player, they can be carried by the rest of the team if they are good enough on the ball. The initial post I replied to seemed to suggest that this was never the case.

Well, Boufal works far harder to win back the ball than MLT ever did, so I suppose the comparison is flawed in that sense. However, both are flair players who can do things with a football that others can't. MLT was a far better striker of a football than Boufal. Boufal is quicker than MLT was and arguably a better dribbler (most completed dribbles in Europe last season). The problem I had with the initial post is the assumption that Boufal is lazy (which in itself is lazy). He's always worked to get the ball back. I think it's probably more about him learning the triggers to press and the positions he has to take up to form Ralph's net. I expect this is where he had to work himself into the ground and why Ralph has all the guidelines drawn over the training pitches. The assumption that all he has to do is close down more is the problem I have with the initial post. There is more to Ralph's work against the ball than just running about like a headless chicken.

Yeah, you're quite right. MLT was utter rubbish because he didn't close down the opposition.

Given the fact he causes chaos in the penalty area, maybe we should try him up front?

No, he just said that when he signed it was agreed that he would move after 2 seasons. It's not his attitude to work in training that is the problem, it is his commitment to the team.

----------------McCarthy--------------- ------Bednarek---Yoshida----Danso------ Cedric-----Slattery-----Romeu-----Vokins --------Armstrong--------Boufal--------- --------------Long/Obafemi------------- Subs: Gunn, Vestergaard, Valery, Hojbjerg, Djenepo, Adams, Long/Obafemi If Hoedt is not leaving, play him instead of Bednarek and put the latter on the bench instead of Vestergaard.

Considering Ings likes to drop deep to link play our 4-2-2-2 is very close to a 4-2-3-1. My only concern is that our defence looks a bit wobbly when put under pressure and really struggles against pace, especially in a 4.

Would have been very happy with a point today, so I'm delighted we managed to steal 3. Didn't play well as a team; looked shaky in defence, unbalanced, and a bit toothless up top until the subs came on and won the game for us. Great individual performances from both Djenepo and Boufal.

Hell yes!!! "And Redmond couldn't miss from there!" at least he tried his best...

Hojbjerg has been pretty awful today. Can't remember him having played worse.

Wow! Didn't see that coming. Great finish! Looks like a quality left back option

Redmond is really doing my head in. Never passes to Danso at all in the opposition half even when it is clearly the best option.

JWP booked and will get a second yellow if he fouls again. Friend will want to even things up.

Valery right back, Danso left back. We are allegedly playing a back 4, so no wing backs.

Also, the Brighton fans booing Valery for taking a bad tackle are a bunch of tossers.

Formation is poor. Danso is not a left back. Adams has done absolutely nothing so far. JWP will get sent off unless he's subbed.

We look appalling with a back 4.

I don't really rate him as an attacking midfielder who plays from the left wing, he tends to cut back inside too early and run into traffic. He looked pretty decent in a central midfield role, though. Albeit against a tired dipper midfield.

Hope you have a great time in Zimbabwe, Love and Light!

Dippers in disgusting, classless behaviour shocker. More importantly, I hope that the kid is ok!

Thought he was very good. Just a shame he didn't scuff that left footed chance he fired back across the face of goal; if he had either Yoshida or Vestergaard would have had a tap in!

With our defence the way that it is, maybe Everton at home? They don't seem to travel south that well. We'll probably pick up a few draws before that, though.

Just to make my position clear. I do not think that he looks like a bad player, at all. I think he seems talented and quick. However, he also looks like a luxury signing when we needed to improve other areas of the team more than we did attacking midfield.

That's just it; I expect the front 3 to mostly be Redmond/Ings/Adams when we do that. Even if he is first replacement for one of the latter two, I can't see him shifting Redmond from his spot. We also have plenty of players who can play in a front 3, with Obafemi, Long, Boufal, Armstrong and JWP all having played in a variety of attacking positions. I just think we needed to strengthen other areas of the team more impotently than we did attacking midfield. Especially central defence. I'm not sure if Danso can sort out the horror show we have back there all by himself.

Who would you replace with him in our first XI?