| Not to be unkind to Ali... 18:28 - Nov 24 with 11784 views | Zx1988 |
But if we have Hirst or a PL-level backup on the pitch for the last 20mins, we win that. |  |
| |  |
| Not to be unkind to Ali... on 10:57 - Nov 25 with 962 views | FrimleyBlue |
| Not to be unkind to Ali... on 10:46 - Nov 25 by DJR |
To take an example, he came on with 10 minutes to go against Fulham, and this is from Phil's report.
As the game moved into five additional minutes, Al-Hamadi was thwarted as he sought to break down the middle, then was found on the left of the box from where he cut back to Clarke, whose shot was deflected behind for a corner. |
His cut back was behind clarke and ruined the chance unfortunately.
But he did chase the ball over the top [Post edited 25 Nov 2024 11:00]
|  |
| |
| Not to be unkind to Ali... on 10:58 - Nov 25 with 957 views | tractorshark |
| Not to be unkind to Ali... on 09:33 - Nov 25 by Dubtractor |
He needs to get out on loan in January, to get more match time and sharpness at championship level. Being completely frank about it, he looked miles off it yesterday, and unfit too. His anticipation, his movement, his use of the ball were all lacking.
That said, he's our sub option till Hirst is fit, so we need to back him when he comes on. |
This is spot on. It's not the player's fault. We bought him as a potential Championship striker in the making, a project that we could develop.
But after failing to get a third striker, he's now our backup for our backup.
He isn't up to this level (yet), he looked unfit and way off the standard required yesterday but he's an option while Hirst is injured and we have to back him.
No doubt McKenna would have rotated Delap and Hirst through the next few weeks but now that's not possible, a lot rests on Delap not getting injured because no way will Al Hamadi start a Prem match.
I think Broadhead and Chaplin are potential alternatives as well for that 20 min cameo (presuming Szmodics is starting). | | | |
| Not to be unkind to Ali... on 11:01 - Nov 25 with 931 views | FrimleyBlue |
| Not to be unkind to Ali... on 10:58 - Nov 25 by tractorshark |
This is spot on. It's not the player's fault. We bought him as a potential Championship striker in the making, a project that we could develop.
But after failing to get a third striker, he's now our backup for our backup.
He isn't up to this level (yet), he looked unfit and way off the standard required yesterday but he's an option while Hirst is injured and we have to back him.
No doubt McKenna would have rotated Delap and Hirst through the next few weeks but now that's not possible, a lot rests on Delap not getting injured because no way will Al Hamadi start a Prem match.
I think Broadhead and Chaplin are potential alternatives as well for that 20 min cameo (presuming Szmodics is starting). |
No ones blaming Al. Most are understanding of his situation.
I think the consensus is tho that KM shouldn't be using him. | |
| |
| Not to be unkind to Ali... on 11:04 - Nov 25 with 895 views | tractorshark |
| Not to be unkind to Ali... on 11:01 - Nov 25 by FrimleyBlue |
No ones blaming Al. Most are understanding of his situation.
I think the consensus is tho that KM shouldn't be using him. |
Don't disagree with you. I think Broadhead would be a much better option for that role when he is fit.
Al Hamadi needs to go out on loan. His touch, awareness and fitness yesterday was way below what is needed but you have to factor in a bit of rustiness as well.
As I said, he's an option as a sub. He won't start a Prem game, Szmodics will play up front and Clarke will come in. | | | |
| Not to be unkind to Ali... on 11:04 - Nov 25 with 895 views | pointofblue |
| Not to be unkind to Ali... on 09:52 - Nov 25 by textbackup |
I hear you.
But if that’s the case just tell him to ‘play the final 10 like AAH would’
Barely run, mis control it, do nothing. Be a mini warm down for him |
Delap had a great game yesterday but that's how he was playing shortly before he went off. He couldn't get off the ground to win headers, he struggled to hold the ball off. He was spent. Al-Hamidi is clearly not fit, even before considering his actual ability.
The blame should be laid at the feet of Ashton and co for making a complete and utter mess of bringing in a third striker in the summer transfer window. I don't know why it's such an issue for us - we went through the same issue in the summer of 2023. Fortunately it didn't cost us then. Hopefully it won't cost us now, but the margin for error is less. | |
| |
| Not to be unkind to Ali... on 11:05 - Nov 25 with 890 views | textbackup |
| Not to be unkind to Ali... on 10:58 - Nov 25 by tractorshark |
This is spot on. It's not the player's fault. We bought him as a potential Championship striker in the making, a project that we could develop.
But after failing to get a third striker, he's now our backup for our backup.
He isn't up to this level (yet), he looked unfit and way off the standard required yesterday but he's an option while Hirst is injured and we have to back him.
No doubt McKenna would have rotated Delap and Hirst through the next few weeks but now that's not possible, a lot rests on Delap not getting injured because no way will Al Hamadi start a Prem match.
I think Broadhead and Chaplin are potential alternatives as well for that 20 min cameo (presuming Szmodics is starting). |
Not seen a single post saying it’s AAH fault that he’s not even L1 quality, let alone PL.
He hasn’t got any better after a year or so under KMs coaching tho, a rather telling sign. |  |
| |
| Not to be unkind to Ali... on 11:06 - Nov 25 with 879 views | textbackup |
| Not to be unkind to Ali... on 10:57 - Nov 25 by FrimleyBlue |
His cut back was behind clarke and ruined the chance unfortunately.
But he did chase the ball over the top [Post edited 25 Nov 2024 11:00]
|
Was it the same game he toe punted it at Jack Clarke, neither to his right, or left foot, therefore killing any chance of a proper chance at goal?! | |
| |
| Not to be unkind to Ali... on 11:07 - Nov 25 with 873 views | DJR |
| Not to be unkind to Ali... on 11:01 - Nov 25 by FrimleyBlue |
No ones blaming Al. Most are understanding of his situation.
I think the consensus is tho that KM shouldn't be using him. |
I think I'd rather trust KM's judgment. |  | | |
Login to get fewer ads
| Not to be unkind to Ali... on 11:09 - Nov 25 with 863 views | Exiled2Surrey |
| Not to be unkind to Ali... on 10:09 - Nov 25 by textbackup |
The simple answer is - we should never have gone into a PL season with a L2 quality striker as our 3rd choice striker. |
No one thinks we have adequate resources at Number 9. But I wasn’t asking a question - maybe AAH was not the best option with his current fitness issues, but keeping Delap on would have been the worst route to take | | | |
| Not to be unkind to Ali... on 11:10 - Nov 25 with 845 views | textbackup |
| Not to be unkind to Ali... on 11:09 - Nov 25 by Exiled2Surrey |
No one thinks we have adequate resources at Number 9. But I wasn’t asking a question - maybe AAH was not the best option with his current fitness issues, but keeping Delap on would have been the worst route to take |
He could have stood still, not ran, not even touched the ball, and would have had more of an impact. | |
| |
| Not to be unkind to Ali... on 11:11 - Nov 25 with 835 views | redrickstuhaart |
| Not to be unkind to Ali... on 11:05 - Nov 25 by textbackup |
Not seen a single post saying it’s AAH fault that he’s not even L1 quality, let alone PL.
He hasn’t got any better after a year or so under KMs coaching tho, a rather telling sign. |
Utterly inane edgelord nonsense. Hes barely played. What are you basing such stupid comments on? | | | |
| Not to be unkind to Ali... on 11:14 - Nov 25 with 809 views | BlueForYou |
| Not to be unkind to Ali... on 18:34 - Nov 24 by TresBonne |
Every time Ali comes on, he looks knackered??? I don't get it? |
He's hardly had any game time so how is he going to get match fit..?? |  | | |
| Not to be unkind to Ali... on 11:16 - Nov 25 with 797 views | textbackup |
| Not to be unkind to Ali... on 11:11 - Nov 25 by redrickstuhaart |
Utterly inane edgelord nonsense. Hes barely played. What are you basing such stupid comments on? |
I’m basing it on the mins I’ve seen, obviously - of which I think he’s proved to be pretty naff
I’m assuming you are in the camp of ‘there’s a player in there’ so guessing you base that on the mins you’ve seen too? | |
| |
| Not to be unkind to Ali... on 11:18 - Nov 25 with 780 views | WeWereZombies |
| Not to be unkind to Ali... on 11:04 - Nov 25 by pointofblue |
Delap had a great game yesterday but that's how he was playing shortly before he went off. He couldn't get off the ground to win headers, he struggled to hold the ball off. He was spent. Al-Hamidi is clearly not fit, even before considering his actual ability.
The blame should be laid at the feet of Ashton and co for making a complete and utter mess of bringing in a third striker in the summer transfer window. I don't know why it's such an issue for us - we went through the same issue in the summer of 2023. Fortunately it didn't cost us then. Hopefully it won't cost us now, but the margin for error is less. |
Were we the only club chasing Broja ? And now glad we didn't land him ? Maybe a strong No 9 is the rarest commodity in football, especially one who can see out ninety minutes like Haaland. And whilst on the subject of Delap being spent midway through the second half I was worried about how quiet he was for the first twenty minutes of the game, and greatly heartened by the next twenty eight minutes. Think we have to accept that Ashton has a better handle on what is available and what the club can afford than anyone posting on this forum, and McKenna has a better idea of how to train them and when to play them. [Post edited 25 Nov 2024 11:34]
|  |
| |
| Not to be unkind to Ali... on 11:24 - Nov 25 with 734 views | LeoMuff |
| Not to be unkind to Ali... on 11:16 - Nov 25 by textbackup |
I’m basing it on the mins I’ve seen, obviously - of which I think he’s proved to be pretty naff
I’m assuming you are in the camp of ‘there’s a player in there’ so guessing you base that on the mins you’ve seen too? |
He had some decent cameos in the championship whilst carrying an injury that needed surgery, the last thing he needs is some occasional minutes at a level currently above him. There is a player in there but to see it he needs regular game time ideally lower champ or top lg1, but we have no choice at the moment .
We better pray Hirst stays fit, but it’s unfair to judge him at Town I would say as he has barely played and been mostly injured. |  |
| |
| Not to be unkind to Ali... on 11:24 - Nov 25 with 733 views | tractorshark |
| Not to be unkind to Ali... on 11:16 - Nov 25 by textbackup |
I’m basing it on the mins I’ve seen, obviously - of which I think he’s proved to be pretty naff
I’m assuming you are in the camp of ‘there’s a player in there’ so guessing you base that on the mins you’ve seen too? |
Don't disagree Al Hamadi doesn't look up to it and I don't want him to be our replacement for Delap in the last 20 mins.
But there is absolutely no way in the world McKenna brings him on in a Prem match if he didn't think he had something that would contribute.
I'm not defending Al Hamadi's performance because it was ineffective (and that's being kind).
But if we're talking judgement calls, McKenna's opinion is probably worth a lot more than mine, yours and any other fan on here.
I'm sure McKenna would concede privately he's not an ideal option and yes he needs to go out on loan or move down a level.
But McKenna wouldn't play him if he wasn't in that camp of 'there's a player in there'. | | | |
| Not to be unkind to Ali... on 11:26 - Nov 25 with 725 views | Churchman |
| Not to be unkind to Ali... on 10:45 - Nov 25 by textbackup |
That’s just an opinion of mine. Not directly calling him out, and even I was he wouldn’t care, he’s a professional PL footballer… on paper. |
You are calling him out and sticking the boot right in. Obviously you are entitled to, as is everyone. The bloke who sits next to me calls out Harry Clarke every game regardless if he plays or not. it’s just opinions on a forum after all. But I think you are being harsh on him. He was on for no time at all in front of a midfield that had lost control and alongside a forward in Clarke who couldn’t press a grape, let alone the opposition back line at the moment. Like Omari, Clarke may learn. He’d better.
As for who we have in that department, who would you have brought in to back up Delap and Hirst? Who was out there who was good enough and available? Do you not think the club tried? I think one of them said they got in 80% of who they wanted. Something like that. I bet the ones they didn’t included a forward, but doing deals doesn’t sound easy. Maybe it is - I just don’t know how it works.
I’ve seen on here suggestions that Jackson and Freddie might have been better options. Really? At Premier League level? No chance. Moore might have done as a stop gap but who is to say he didn’t want regular football? I might be wrong, but I thought that was one of the reasons he went down to the Championship.
Looking objectively, we are light in the forwards area. Everyone knows that. Ogbene, Broadhead, Hirst all out doesn’t help. Should we have planned for that? Hardly. We signed 12 players as it was.
Back to AAH, I think there is a good player there. Not here not now, but I fully understand why we signed him. He is what he is, needs time and a loan and maybe a bit less of people calling him out, especially as we are so limited until January in what we can do. |  | | |
| Not to be unkind to Ali... on 11:32 - Nov 25 with 692 views | textbackup |
| Not to be unkind to Ali... on 11:26 - Nov 25 by Churchman |
You are calling him out and sticking the boot right in. Obviously you are entitled to, as is everyone. The bloke who sits next to me calls out Harry Clarke every game regardless if he plays or not. it’s just opinions on a forum after all. But I think you are being harsh on him. He was on for no time at all in front of a midfield that had lost control and alongside a forward in Clarke who couldn’t press a grape, let alone the opposition back line at the moment. Like Omari, Clarke may learn. He’d better.
As for who we have in that department, who would you have brought in to back up Delap and Hirst? Who was out there who was good enough and available? Do you not think the club tried? I think one of them said they got in 80% of who they wanted. Something like that. I bet the ones they didn’t included a forward, but doing deals doesn’t sound easy. Maybe it is - I just don’t know how it works.
I’ve seen on here suggestions that Jackson and Freddie might have been better options. Really? At Premier League level? No chance. Moore might have done as a stop gap but who is to say he didn’t want regular football? I might be wrong, but I thought that was one of the reasons he went down to the Championship.
Looking objectively, we are light in the forwards area. Everyone knows that. Ogbene, Broadhead, Hirst all out doesn’t help. Should we have planned for that? Hardly. We signed 12 players as it was.
Back to AAH, I think there is a good player there. Not here not now, but I fully understand why we signed him. He is what he is, needs time and a loan and maybe a bit less of people calling him out, especially as we are so limited until January in what we can do. |
Jackson or Ladapo would be no worse than AAH, at this level. That’s a hill I’m happy to die on.
Jackson would have, at the very least, been fit enough to complete 15 mins and apply some pressure on the defence.
I’m not anti AAH as such, he’s not going to turn down the chance to play, and fair play to him. But I’m shocked so many people are actually semi content seeing him come on, he’s got to be the worse PL striker in the league this year by some margin. | |
| |
| Not to be unkind to Ali... on 11:34 - Nov 25 with 686 views | textbackup |
| Not to be unkind to Ali... on 11:24 - Nov 25 by tractorshark |
Don't disagree Al Hamadi doesn't look up to it and I don't want him to be our replacement for Delap in the last 20 mins.
But there is absolutely no way in the world McKenna brings him on in a Prem match if he didn't think he had something that would contribute.
I'm not defending Al Hamadi's performance because it was ineffective (and that's being kind).
But if we're talking judgement calls, McKenna's opinion is probably worth a lot more than mine, yours and any other fan on here.
I'm sure McKenna would concede privately he's not an ideal option and yes he needs to go out on loan or move down a level.
But McKenna wouldn't play him if he wasn't in that camp of 'there's a player in there'. |
KM is brilliant, a god, but I can’t for a min believe he watches that game back and thinks ‘AAH done really well when he came on’ | |
| |
| Not to be unkind to Ali... on 11:34 - Nov 25 with 688 views | charlie1 |
I agree that Ali wasn’t particularly effective when he came on, but there needs to be some perspective.
From the bench United introduced
Shaw $30 million,
Zirkzee $36.5 million,
Ugarte $42 million,
Hojlund $72 million
Mount $60 million
While our subs were bought from Sunderland, MK Dons, Peterborough and Barnsley.
That’s the level these teams can go to. | | | |
| Not to be unkind to Ali... on 11:36 - Nov 25 with 681 views | FrimleyBlue |
| Not to be unkind to Ali... on 11:26 - Nov 25 by Churchman |
You are calling him out and sticking the boot right in. Obviously you are entitled to, as is everyone. The bloke who sits next to me calls out Harry Clarke every game regardless if he plays or not. it’s just opinions on a forum after all. But I think you are being harsh on him. He was on for no time at all in front of a midfield that had lost control and alongside a forward in Clarke who couldn’t press a grape, let alone the opposition back line at the moment. Like Omari, Clarke may learn. He’d better.
As for who we have in that department, who would you have brought in to back up Delap and Hirst? Who was out there who was good enough and available? Do you not think the club tried? I think one of them said they got in 80% of who they wanted. Something like that. I bet the ones they didn’t included a forward, but doing deals doesn’t sound easy. Maybe it is - I just don’t know how it works.
I’ve seen on here suggestions that Jackson and Freddie might have been better options. Really? At Premier League level? No chance. Moore might have done as a stop gap but who is to say he didn’t want regular football? I might be wrong, but I thought that was one of the reasons he went down to the Championship.
Looking objectively, we are light in the forwards area. Everyone knows that. Ogbene, Broadhead, Hirst all out doesn’t help. Should we have planned for that? Hardly. We signed 12 players as it was.
Back to AAH, I think there is a good player there. Not here not now, but I fully understand why we signed him. He is what he is, needs time and a loan and maybe a bit less of people calling him out, especially as we are so limited until January in what we can do. |
Jackson can run. That's why I name dropped him.
But no It was right he had left. It was right ladapo had left
Al should have gone on loan
We should have had backup. We didn't and now we find ourselves in a pickle. It's simply that.
But when you've watched 60 minutes of pressing and excellent work and then see Al hamadi come on and look knackered after 5 minutes.. it's absolutely fair to wonder why we bother with it. | |
| |
| Not to be unkind to Ali... on 11:36 - Nov 25 with 680 views | thebooks |
| Not to be unkind to Ali... on 18:34 - Nov 24 by Marshalls_Mullet |
His press looked really slow.
Was he asked to hold off a bit?
I expected him to be all over them when they had the ball. |
We went to what I believe is known as a “lower block” towards the end of the match, so AAH wouldn’t have been all over Onana as we were earlier in the game. Instead, he moved to block any passing channels. Might look a bit slower, I guess.
I think all this is a bit unfair on him (not you specifically!), you just don’t know what would have happened. Hirst made little difference v Leivester, for example.
Obviously we do could do with reinforcements though! |  | | |
| Not to be unkind to Ali... on 11:40 - Nov 25 with 655 views | textbackup |
| Not to be unkind to Ali... on 11:36 - Nov 25 by FrimleyBlue |
Jackson can run. That's why I name dropped him.
But no It was right he had left. It was right ladapo had left
Al should have gone on loan
We should have had backup. We didn't and now we find ourselves in a pickle. It's simply that.
But when you've watched 60 minutes of pressing and excellent work and then see Al hamadi come on and look knackered after 5 minutes.. it's absolutely fair to wonder why we bother with it. |
You know that this isn’t the place to maybe mention any negative though.
The board police will go into panic mode and start talking about 2 years ago how we draw at the dog and duck or something. | |
| |
| Not to be unkind to Ali... on 11:47 - Nov 25 with 641 views | _clive_baker_ |
| Not to be unkind to Ali... on 11:11 - Nov 25 by redrickstuhaart |
Utterly inane edgelord nonsense. Hes barely played. What are you basing such stupid comments on? |
I don't think people have any idea how difficult it is to play about an hour of senior football over a c.6 month period and be expected to be match fit in the premier league.
I'm not suggesting he's a Premier league footballer by any stretch of the imagination, he might never be, but the intensity of this level is nuts. He probably needs a run of 5-10 games before we could expect anything from him, but we're not afforded that luxury. Most have come from playing regular football at the level below, he's not even had that. He's not had regular football for a year and that was in L2. |  | | |
| Not to be unkind to Ali... on 11:55 - Nov 25 with 613 views | BseaBlue |
| Not to be unkind to Ali... on 11:47 - Nov 25 by _clive_baker_ |
I don't think people have any idea how difficult it is to play about an hour of senior football over a c.6 month period and be expected to be match fit in the premier league.
I'm not suggesting he's a Premier league footballer by any stretch of the imagination, he might never be, but the intensity of this level is nuts. He probably needs a run of 5-10 games before we could expect anything from him, but we're not afforded that luxury. Most have come from playing regular football at the level below, he's not even had that. He's not had regular football for a year and that was in L2. |
Yeah, can't disagree that it has been a massive jump for him in such a short space of time and it does show.
The only thing I would say though is that it was evident that when Clarke came on, he has worked at getting fitter and sharper and tried to press a lot more effectively than he has done in previous games. Ali struggled after about five minutes to keep that intensity, which does make you wonder whether he is still carrying something and playing through the pain barrier.
We've been very fortunate to have Hirst to call upon, who is probably the most intelligent presser in the team. The difficulty in Jan is going to be finding someone that is happy to play second fiddle to Delap! |  | | |
| |
By continuing to use the site, you agree to our use of cookies and to abide by our Terms and Conditions.
