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I want to do a 2019/20 player performance thread as I did late last season ( https://twitter.com/AlexvFootball/status/1120692049186050048 ). I think my views are quite different to others on some players, which makes it interesting. Different opinions are what makes this fun!
Fabianski
After HOTY heroics last season, this season I'd say he's been a below average keeper in the prem. Could be injury-related, but more likely is simply the result of decline at age 35.
Does he have another PL season in him? Jury is out I'd say.
After HOTY heroics last season, this season I'd say he's been a below average keeper in the prem. Could be injury-related, but more likely is simply the result of decline at age 35.
Does he have another PL season in him? Jury is out I'd say.
Roberto
Pretty obviously made some calamitous mistakes, but it's a shame because other than that he looked like a decent keeper. Unlucky? In some gk stats he surprisingly comes out as our most effective keeper. In reality he's unplayable and we have to move him on of course.
Pretty obviously made some calamitous mistakes, but it's a shame because other than that he looked like a decent keeper. Unlucky? In some gk stats he surprisingly comes out as our most effective keeper. In reality he's unplayable and we have to move him on of course.
Martin
I doubt he was bought to ever play - what was going on there? But he came in and let nobody down. I bet he's be a massive distance the lowest paid senior player. Well done.
I doubt he was bought to ever play - what was going on there? But he came in and let nobody down. I bet he's be a massive distance the lowest paid senior player. Well done.
Randolph
Filled in, did okayish, never looked particularly likely to unseat Fabianski. I suppose that's the player doing what they were bought to do.
Filled in, did okayish, never looked particularly likely to unseat Fabianski. I suppose that's the player doing what they were bought to do.
Diop
Really very poor.
All the misgivings that were overlooked because of his 'talent' (ie he's huge and fast) sadly came to the fore this season. Looks like a player hiding on the pitch, desperate to avoid a mistake, indecisive, unreliable.
What to do with him? I don't know.
Really very poor.
All the misgivings that were overlooked because of his 'talent' (ie he's huge and fast) sadly came to the fore this season. Looks like a player hiding on the pitch, desperate to avoid a mistake, indecisive, unreliable.
What to do with him? I don't know.
Ogbonna
Poor.
Still decent at the basics (clearances, headers, challenges) but that was never the problem, I still think he collapses and often goes missing if an attacker ever asks him a question of how to reposition or adapt, or a team-mate needs assistance or cover.
Poor.
Still decent at the basics (clearances, headers, challenges) but that was never the problem, I still think he collapses and often goes missing if an attacker ever asks him a question of how to reposition or adapt, or a team-mate needs assistance or cover.
Balbuena
Poor.
A shadow of the player that joined us imo, seems to have just lost that confidence to step up and be positive in the challenge. Distribution dreadful! I sense a player going through the motions - neither Moyes nor Pellegrini want to pick him - says it all.
Poor.
A shadow of the player that joined us imo, seems to have just lost that confidence to step up and be positive in the challenge. Distribution dreadful! I sense a player going through the motions - neither Moyes nor Pellegrini want to pick him - says it all.
Cresswell
Many don't, but I think he's done okay. Probably his lack of pace exposed by Pellegrini's all-in style and poor cover from the creative players we've stuck on the left wing. Lost a bit of pace over the past couple of seasons, but good creative output for a full back.
Many don't, but I think he's done okay. Probably his lack of pace exposed by Pellegrini's all-in style and poor cover from the creative players we've stuck on the left wing. Lost a bit of pace over the past couple of seasons, but good creative output for a full back.
Masuaku
Hard to justify at all as a full-back. I think he's been unlucky at the club and thrown in the deep end way too often, but he just cannot mark a player. A liability. And just doesn't have any creative output to pick him as a winger. So frustrating given his talent.
Hard to justify at all as a full-back. I think he's been unlucky at the club and thrown in the deep end way too often, but he just cannot mark a player. A liability. And just doesn't have any creative output to pick him as a winger. So frustrating given his talent.
Fredericks
Scrapes a pass. He does get forward well and has pace. Injury issues just seem to keep turning up, and I'm not sure he's too great at the basics either. Doesn't seem like his managers have too much faith either. We seem to play better without him - why is that?
Scrapes a pass. He does get forward well and has pace. Injury issues just seem to keep turning up, and I'm not sure he's too great at the basics either. Doesn't seem like his managers have too much faith either. We seem to play better without him - why is that?
Zabaleta
Pretty clearly right at the end as a pro - not convinced he even wanted to be picked. His extreme lack of pace was a constant source of stress for players around him and contributed massively to our uncertainty in defence.
Pretty clearly right at the end as a pro - not convinced he even wanted to be picked. His extreme lack of pace was a constant source of stress for players around him and contributed massively to our uncertainty in defence.
Ngakia
Realistically I think he was an okay young player who got a great opportunity because we were desperate, and did okay in the side. He wasn't too ambitious, just stuck to the position, and that helped us. Still only 19 so has plenty of time to develop further - good luck.
Realistically I think he was an okay young player who got a great opportunity because we were desperate, and did okay in the side. He wasn't too ambitious, just stuck to the position, and that helped us. Still only 19 so has plenty of time to develop further - good luck.
Johnson
Terrible injury-hit season - imo he was all set to become our first-choice right-back under Pellegrini after a fantastic pre-season but injury ruined it. Huge setback but nice to see him back in the team vs Watford looking comfortable at PL level.
Terrible injury-hit season - imo he was all set to become our first-choice right-back under Pellegrini after a fantastic pre-season but injury ruined it. Huge setback but nice to see him back in the team vs Watford looking comfortable at PL level.
Rice
Just continues to improve game by game as DM, CM, CB. Let down pretty much by everything around him, there were dark periods this season where he was our only good performer on the pitch. As I asked last Summer, can he now become a matchwinner too? That's the next test.
Just continues to improve game by game as DM, CM, CB. Let down pretty much by everything around him, there were dark periods this season where he was our only good performer on the pitch. As I asked last Summer, can he now become a matchwinner too? That's the next test.
Sanchez
I expect he was an okay veteran player. Can't judge him too harshly on 113 minutes of PL football this season after a terrible knee injury - the criticism is really why he was signed rather than anything he did or didn't do on the pitch.
I expect he was an okay veteran player. Can't judge him too harshly on 113 minutes of PL football this season after a terrible knee injury - the criticism is really why he was signed rather than anything he did or didn't do on the pitch.
Noble
Very loyal. Legend. But poor this season.
Age really catching up, running in treacle, and that tendency to just sit on the ball in our half slowing down possession. Captained a bad squad performance overall. But to his credit he can still pick a pass when given space.
Very loyal. Legend. But poor this season.
Age really catching up, running in treacle, and that tendency to just sit on the ball in our half slowing down possession. Captained a bad squad performance overall. But to his credit he can still pick a pass when given space.
Soucek
Turned the season with incredible energy and positivity, and that fantastic aerial prowess that Moyes used to the full. No better than half-decent imo in open play so I question long-term what he'll be worth to us, but gratitude for showing up at a crucial time.
Turned the season with incredible energy and positivity, and that fantastic aerial prowess that Moyes used to the full. No better than half-decent imo in open play so I question long-term what he'll be worth to us, but gratitude for showing up at a crucial time.
Cullen
I want to mention him at Charlton - another gold-star season on loan while our own midfield was shocking at times. At face value it's absurd - why was he not with us and actually playing in the team? What more can he do to get a chance at West Ham? I just don't get it.
I want to mention him at Charlton - another gold-star season on loan while our own midfield was shocking at times. At face value it's absurd - why was he not with us and actually playing in the team? What more can he do to get a chance at West Ham? I just don't get it.
Wilshere
200 minutes of league football is so little to go on to make a judgement - another horrendous injury-hit season. In both pre-seasons he's looked great, but it's impossible to ignore that in the hustle of a PL match he seems to get picked off and tackled way too easily.
200 minutes of league football is so little to go on to make a judgement - another horrendous injury-hit season. In both pre-seasons he's looked great, but it's impossible to ignore that in the hustle of a PL match he seems to get picked off and tackled way too easily.
Fornals
Poor.
He's tidy and high effort, can thread a good pass, but one-paced and just too lightweight. Hard to find a position for him. He has improved over the season, but 5 assists flatters him massively. At 24yo I don't really see enough there - I'm shrugging.
Poor.
He's tidy and high effort, can thread a good pass, but one-paced and just too lightweight. Hard to find a position for him. He has improved over the season, but 5 assists flatters him massively. At 24yo I don't really see enough there - I'm shrugging.
Lanzini
Still statistically our best passer and most frequent shot-creator, in what many consider a poor season. Not sure what to think tbh - I guess he was affected by criticism and went into his shell a bit? And if he isn't playing then there has to be a reason? Beats me.
Still statistically our best passer and most frequent shot-creator, in what many consider a poor season. Not sure what to think tbh - I guess he was affected by criticism and went into his shell a bit? And if he isn't playing then there has to be a reason? Beats me.
Anderson
He's still our most talented player. I don't buy the rumours about his lack of effort. I just think he's a show-pony player and it hasn't been fair weather so he's struggled. If you funnel everything through him he will do things, but that's just not a viable strategy.
He's still our most talented player. I don't buy the rumours about his lack of effort. I just think he's a show-pony player and it hasn't been fair weather so he's struggled. If you funnel everything through him he will do things, but that's just not a viable strategy.
Diangana
Even in pre-season it was obvious he brought dynamic pace and running to our attack that the squad didn't have anywhere else. Then inexplicably he was sent on loan and was one of the best players in the championship. Then we bought Bowen from the championship. Cuckoo!
Even in pre-season it was obvious he brought dynamic pace and running to our attack that the squad didn't have anywhere else. Then inexplicably he was sent on loan and was one of the best players in the championship. Then we bought Bowen from the championship. Cuckoo!
Snodgrass
I think pretty vital still. Is he THE best set-piece taker in the league or only one of the best? Great utility as he can play across the midfield. Very high effort, apparently a great influence off the field. Not a refined player but a great scrapper in all weathers.
I think pretty vital still. Is he THE best set-piece taker in the league or only one of the best? Great utility as he can play across the midfield. Very high effort, apparently a great influence off the field. Not a refined player but a great scrapper in all weathers.
Bowen
He's done well. I'm not blown away - he runs and he does the defensive work. Some good corners, a useful attacking outlet. I think he'll add more goals. He doesn't have the pace or presence to be a world-beater. He suits our level, I'm not convinced yet that he raises it.
He's done well. I'm not blown away - he runs and he does the defensive work. Some good corners, a useful attacking outlet. I think he'll add more goals. He doesn't have the pace or presence to be a world-beater. He suits our level, I'm not convinced yet that he raises it.
Yarmolenko
When not injured he's been a real threat. A bit like Anderson he's just not a rounded player - he's a guy you hope for a cameo from, some cross or shot whipped with his left-foot. Iffy defensively. An 'impact sub'. Not a great player to have, but a useful one.
When not injured he's been a real threat. A bit like Anderson he's just not a rounded player - he's a guy you hope for a cameo from, some cross or shot whipped with his left-foot. Iffy defensively. An 'impact sub'. Not a great player to have, but a useful one.
Ajeti
When you bring players from lower leagues, they have to have the physique to cope. Maybe in a less stressful season he does well for us. He probably does have a knack around the goal based on his record, but are you going to pick a side just to give him that freedom? No.
When you bring players from lower leagues, they have to have the physique to cope. Maybe in a less stressful season he does well for us. He probably does have a knack around the goal based on his record, but are you going to pick a side just to give him that freedom? No.
Haller
I think he's coped well - thumbs up. First season in the league, he's proven he can hold up the ball and is formidable aerially. Ideal target man attributes. And he's proven it in a bad side. What hasn't quite materialised yet fully is the link-up play - the next step.
I think he's coped well - thumbs up. First season in the league, he's proven he can hold up the ball and is formidable aerially. Ideal target man attributes. And he's proven it in a bad side. What hasn't quite materialised yet fully is the link-up play - the next step.
Antonio
Rollercoaster season. Our best player in pre-season, then injury again, then some flat form, then an explosion of goals since the restart. He's always been streaky, but never stops making those runs and always eyes on the goal. Can we stop debating if he's a striker yet?
Rollercoaster season. Our best player in pre-season, then injury again, then some flat form, then an explosion of goals since the restart. He's always been streaky, but never stops making those runs and always eyes on the goal. Can we stop debating if he's a striker yet?
