The on topic thread 4.0

[Misher]

Vicario the obvious omission. Apart from that it looks pretty good.

 

[chef]

Vicario the obvious omission. Apart from that it looks pretty good.

Might be time to concede on that one

 

[Misher]

Might be time to concede on that one

Why would I when I can mount an extremely strong case for him not to be in the side?

 

[Misher]

David Raya should be replacing Vicario.

Most clean sheets. Excellent shot stopping and distribution. Strongest defence in the league. Raya has been bloody immense for Arsenal.

 

[Art Vandelay_]

"extremely strong case"

 

[Frank Bunn]

Our own El Fenomeno. Not a thing the defender could have done to stop that.

He's on the Bradeslist at 18 yo. I'm tipping Ballon D'Or in the next five years

 

[Art Vandelay_]

That’s what I said.

I would agree with you, but then we'd both be wrong

 

[moomba]

Haaland's actually had a pretty underwhelming season to be honest, but not as if there's any real alternative.

Just the 30 goals so far in all comps.

 

[SM]

Just the 30 goals so far in all comps.

I don't think the PL team of the season cares about other comps.

And as an aside, 30 in all comps is pretty low.

 

[moomba]

I don't think the PL team of the season cares about other comps.

And as an aside, 30 in all comps is pretty low.

OK just the 19 in the league. With 7 still to play.

I wonder how often 30 in all comps has been done. With potentially 14 more games to go.

 

[SM]

OK just the 19 in the league. With 7 still to play.

I wonder how often 30 in all comps has been done. With potentially 14 more games to go.

Yep, and I think that's been underwhelming. Watkins is a whole 1 goal behind and I think his season has been far more impressive. He's also got more total goal contributions than Haaland, 28 to 24.

 

[Cruyff14]

OK just the 19 in the league. With 7 still to play.

I wonder how often 30 in all comps has been done. With potentially 14 more games to go.

I think the argument for him being underwhelming in the league is a fair one. And that is borne from the standard he set last season. Unless he got within 1 or 2 goals it would always be seen as underwhelming.

But your second point is pretty compelling. 30 in a season, with still some to go is impressive.

I certainly wouldn't be complaining if one of our strikers had numbers like that. I don't think anyone would to be honest.

 

[Cruyff14]

Yep, and I think that's been underwhelming. Watkins is a whole 1 goal behind and I think his season has been far more impressive. He's also got more total goal contributions than Haaland, 28 to 24.

Where was Watkins last season though? Where was Watkins at Haaland's age?

And Haaland isn't in a team to assist either, so not sure that comparison is entirely fair.

I am not disagreeing his season - in the league - has been underwhelming - but that's only because of his astronomical numbers last season.

 

[SM]

I think the argument for him being underwhelming in the league is a fair one. And that is borne from the standard he set last season. Unless he got within 1 or 2 goals it would always be seen as underwhelming.

But your second point is pretty compelling. 30 in a season, with still some to go is impressive.

I certainly wouldn't be complaining if one of our strikers had numbers like that. I don't think anyone would to be honest.

Watkins has 25 with games remaining and plenty more assists than Haaland, so I don't think it's as cut and dry as it's being made out.

 

[SM]

Where was Watkins last season though? Where was Watkins at Haaland's age?

And Haaland isn't in a team to assist either, so not sure that comparison is entirely fair.

I am not disagreeing his season - in the league - has been underwhelming - but that's only because of his astronomical numbers last season.

Isn't that the point? Watkins has had a better season.

Is Watkins in the team to assist? He is involved in his side scoring more goals than Haaland is.

 

[Cruyff14]

Watkins has 25 with games remaining and plenty more assists than Haaland, so I don't think it's as cut and dry as it's being made out.

Fair enough. But if Watkins is so good, why he is not producing Haaland like numbers from last season?

Isn't that the point? Watkins has had a better season.

Is Watkins in the team to assist? He is involved in his side scoring more goals than Haaland is.

His role is a little different though, no? I am not saying Watkins is in the team to assist, but he's playing a different role to Haaland, which, in turn will involve him in assisting more etc. Haaland's chances come in the box - mainly - created by others for him.

I just think rubbishing Haaland's output this season isn't entirely accurate.

 

[SM]

Fair enough. But if Watkins is so good, why he is not producing Haaland like numbers from last season?

His role is a little different though, no? I am not saying Watkins is in the team to assist, but he's playing a different role to Haaland, which, in turn will involve him in assisting more etc. Haaland's chances come in the box - mainly - created by others for him.

I just think rubbishing Haaland's output this season isn't entirely accurate.

I'm not sure I follow what you're asking? I'm just saying he's had a better season than Haaland.

He's the talisman striker for his side, I don't see it as that different to Haaland to the extent you can dismiss his superior stats.

Where did I rubbish anything?

 

[moomba]

Yep, and I think that's been underwhelming. Watkins is a whole 1 goal behind and I think his season has been far more impressive. He's also got more total goal contributions than Haaland, 28 to 24.

Most would say Watkins has had an exceptional season.

A few less assists wouldn't make it an underwhelming one.

 

[SM]

Most would say Watkins has had an exceptional season.

So why is it so controversial that I think he deserves a place in the TOTS over Haaland?

I'd actually discounted him because I was just thinking Big 6 strikers.

 

[moomba]

I think the argument for him being underwhelming in the league is a fair one. And that is borne from the standard he set last season. Unless he got within 1 or 2 goals it would always be seen as underwhelming.

But your second point is pretty compelling. 30 in a season, with still some to go is impressive.

I certainly wouldn't be complaining if one of our strikers had numbers like that. I don't think anyone would to be honest.

He's a victim of the standards he set last season in a way. But I think people are going well over the top with him and there's a fair bit of bandwagon jumping going on.

Could still end up having one of the best seasons by a forward of all time.

 

[moomba]

So why is it so controversial that I think he deserves a place in the TOTS over Haaland?

I'd actually discounted him because I was just thinking Big 6 strikers.

I've not said anything about TOTS. Just that Haaland has been underwhelming.

He's had another great season so far.

 

[Bradesmaen]

Brainthwaite should be in ahead of Virgil van Point and make it someone else's fault

 

[SM]

I've not said anything about TOTS. Just that Haaland has been underwhelming.

He's had another great season so far.

I think he's underwhelming relative to the standards he's set himself. I thought that was reasonably clear. Of course he's had a good season by most players standards but even amongst his competition for best striker in the league he's not been the best this season.

 

[SM]

Brainthwaite should be in ahead of Virgil van Point and make it someone else's fault

Just rolls off the tongue, that nickname.

 

[SM]

Heard a stat that Haaland has failed to score in basically every 'big' game City have played this season. Surely those were the games he was brought in for, not for scoring hattricks against the Lutons and Sheffield Uniteds of the league?