Could be, he's just turned 29. It happens.
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Could be, he's just turned 29. It happens.
Etiam si omnes, ego non
9 goals and 8 assists was it, last season?
3 goals and 3 assists in the first 6 games - an incredible start. Then it was 6 goals and 5 assists in 32 games - which isn't great - and looks a little worse when you consider 3 of those came in one match against Southampton.
So in the other 31 games he created 2 goals for team-mates - his defensive workload certainly remained high, but that relative lack of goalscoring contribution is surely worthy of some sensible discussion.
If we include internationals he is probably looking at 250-300 games in the last five seasons, which, when you bear his work-rate in mind, is bound to create burnout. Someone mentioned February onwards - he could very well be missing the feeling of fans in a stadium more than some - or it could be both.
Has he become rubbish overnight? No - and I don't think anyone is insinuating as much - but I'd definitely be looking at rotating him for a bit and the fact we had an interest in Werner probably suggests as much too really.
Perhaps Minamino or Jota could get some of his minutes for a spell and get him rested. I don't think taking him out of the side would cost us a shedload of points and he might just be in need of a little refresh.
Mane is great through the middle btw.
Etiam si omnes, ego non
Bobby and our attack wasn't the problem on Sunday night. Mo with 2 , jota and Bobby with an assist.
Scoring 2 away from home would no doubt get us the 3 points in the last few seasons . It was the invisible midfield, awful defence and a 2nd choice goalkeeper that was the problem.
Quite true although we should have taken far more of the chances we had. It was the middle of the park that killed us in the Midlands Sunday night. Bobby was poor again though. Can’t hide that fact.
Last edited by Steveo; 5th October 2020 at 09:59 PM.
Bobby has been great but in decline in the last 12 months. We must be clear what we want. Do we want to live on memories or merit. At the moment he does not merit a starting birth or full 90 minutes.
His game is not 20+ a season, it is creativity and work rate. His signature as a false 9 is his touch and how he links up play and defends from the front. This now is almost none existent, he is bullied, terrible touch and loss of possession. Because he is a baller every now and again he will produce something like he did against Chelsea but a sprinkling now and again is not enough.
What has made us boss the last 3-4 years has been the willingness to move on and to improve. There are players in the first season we came fourth who deserve praise for starting out the project but now they wouldn't get a look in this team.
So Bobby must be rested if it is fatigue and if it is that he can no longer improve or at least maintain then it is time to move on. Jota looks hungry and quality. A front 3 of Mane, Salah and Jota will do and Bobby can wrestle his shirt back if he can.
I concur.
When you analyze a game holistically then it appears differently. But a match is also about moments, If Adrian doesn't make that mistake, Bobby scores 1 of his chances, Mo gets the pen etc. These are moments in a game. So yes the midfield was dour but a goal scored can deflate an opponent.
Since the start of 2019/20 till today in the PL
Salah 24 goals & 10 assists: 34
Mane 21 goals & 9 assists: 30
Bobby 9 goals & 10 assists: 19
Trent 4 goals & 14 assists: 18
Robbo 3 goals & 13 assists: 16
I'd rather see us change formation tbh than drop Bobby.
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