Stoke fans about Assaidi

[Woland]

Just trying to be helpful.

 

[Woland]

Assaidsy.

 

[Woland]

You know when you pack in drinking and you can't sleep and nothing matters?

 

[Red Mullet]

This thread has aids

 

[StevieM]

You know when you pack in drinking and you can't sleep and nothing matters?

No - I have absolutely no idea what that feels like.

 

[rurikbird]

I agree with Ryan. Assaidi's problem is not lack of effort on defense or lack of physicality or speed or technique. His problem is being too one-dimensional; at times he seems to be playing by himself, only looking at the ball and his opponent. Rodgers is not the coach who simply relies on his players' individual qualities to somehow bring goals; his system requires all kinds of intelligent movement and interchange among the players, which requires a lot more tactical flexibility and "heads up" football intelligence than Assaidi seems to have.

He is the kind of player who can only flourish when the coach only asks him to do what he already likes to do – bombing up and down the left flank, cutting in and shooting. That's fine in a mid-table team, but way too predictable if you want to build one of the best attacking units in the country. There is a reason why we are averaging 3 goals per game at home, and it's not only Suarez's individual brilliance.

So no, I don't think we should be looking to bring Assaidi back despite his hot scoring streak and "at least he would be better than Moses" is not a very convincing argument. It's not hard to be better than a seemingly completely unmotivated, lackadaisical player. And objectively, Moses is a better player than Assaidi, it's just for some reason he is not playing anywhere near his maximum level now. As for Assaidi, it was a low-risk gamble on Rodgers' part and now it's looking like we might even make a small profit. Good for everyone.

 

[doctor_mac]

He did. He also played as the attacking midfielder of a midfield 3 for them a lot too. BR said that would excel there for us too. He's pretty versatile, and I think he's a top class footballer, always have.

I'm not sure what your point is here. You do seem desperate for an argument though.

I'm bored with this Ryan but my point is that you get things wrong too. And even if Allen played occasionally at the apex of a midfield 3, he could never be properly described as a Nasri or Silva type player. Can't you accept that? He played 7 attacking through balls all season for Swansea. His primary position was as a CM. Hence, 'Welsh Xavi'.

 

[tombrown]

You know when you pack in drinking and you can't sleep and nothing matters?

I've given up drink and am on the 5/2 starvation diet ... I feel a teensy bit effeminate. Roll on next Christmas