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Matt Doherty @ Atletico Madrid

taidgh

Well-Known Member
Aug 13, 2004
7,897
16,243
We’ll never get another Robbie but surely there’s better out there? Parrott and Idah hopefully long term but Shane Long gets about 1 a season for club and country. Not totally convinced by Connolly yet either. Take away his performance against a poor Spurs team and there’s not a lot else to be excited about. Probably more before that game happened.
Yeah agree. Connolly is quick enough but lacks a bit of composure. Also seems selfish. That's something you can get away with when you bang in 1 out of 3 chances, but hard to see when Connolly is struggling to convert one.

In any case, I think there was an ireland thread at one point. Might go necro that and avoid spamming this any further.
 

Scouseyid

Well-Known Member
Jan 27, 2020
283
1,228
We’ll never get another Robbie but surely there’s better out there? Parrott and Idah hopefully long term but Shane Long gets about 1 a season for club and country. Not totally convinced by Connolly yet either. Take away his performance against a poor Spurs team and there’s not a lot else to be excited about. Probably more before that game happened.
Apart from that Spurs game, he's been completely sh!te otherwise!
 

PrettyColors

Rosie47 Fan
Aug 13, 2011
3,866
10,074
I loved that combination he played with Kane and probably should have scored. He also offers a lot in attack and will mix things up, which I enjoy.

Defensively though, oh my word. He’s so plodding and basically settles for giving the left winger time to turn and run every single time. He also played Richarlison onto his right foot multiple times and looked completely overmatched for pace. It wasn’t punished today but you can imagine a Mane, Aubameyang, Pulisic, Rashford, hell even Zaha or Traore just relishing this match up.

I think we need to keep Aurier.
 

jordibwoy

Well-Known Member
Jul 31, 2015
419
1,601
He looks not fully match fit. As most of the players out there to be honest. Son looked gassed as well
 

Gareth88

Well-Known Member
Sep 19, 2017
4,592
6,727
We’ll never get another Robbie but surely there’s better out there? Parrott and Idah hopefully long term but Shane Long gets about 1 a season for club and country. Not totally convinced by Connolly yet either. Take away his performance against a poor Spurs team and there’s not a lot else to be excited about. Probably more before that game happened.
Obafemi IMO will be decent surprised he hasn't had a look in yet
 
Aug 9, 2008
4,910
8,415
I loved that combination he played with Kane and probably should have scored. He also offers a lot in attack and will mix things up, which I enjoy.

Defensively though, oh my word. He’s so plodding and basically settles for giving the left winger time to turn and run every single time. He also played Richarlison onto his right foot multiple times and looked completely overmatched for pace. It wasn’t punished today but you can imagine a Mane, Aubameyang, Pulisic, Rashford, hell even Zaha or Traore just relishing this match up.

I think we need to keep Aurier.

Wolves fan did say this, offensively good , defensively poor
 

arunspurs

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
8,807
35,543
I cant believe people are judging his defensive game today. He hasnt had a preseason - but people are having a go at him already ?

If anything, I was very impressed by him today. Everton overloaded his side but generally coped well at same time being offensive outlet. He had 1 bad moment against Richarlison-but that can happen to any defender in PL.
 

poc

Well-Known Member
Aug 6, 2004
3,235
3,652
Thought he did well today in a poor performance. Little surprised he seemed to gas but he was unlucky not to score and put in a decent cross.
 

SE Spurs

Well-Known Member
Aug 12, 2018
2,669
4,760
He was so high in the first half, I thought he was part of a front 4.

Looks miles off full fitness. Looked knackered for Ireland during the week also.
 

rossdapep

Well-Known Member
Aug 25, 2011
21,907
78,647
Yeah I think he'll do well and he was effective first half.

Obviously his energy levels dropped.

I also think the system change messed him a little because in the first half Hojbjerg was tucking in to cover, in the second half Sissoko wasn't doing it as well and he was getting sucked in more.
 

TheCheeseRoom

Well-Known Member
May 14, 2019
314
1,515
I'm not sure how we did it, but he seemed to run to byline then kick the ball into the box. Unbelievably it met the head of an attacker. I'm not sure our front three have adapted to this new approach, hopefully in time they'll learn to attack these 'crosses'.
 

Bulletspur

The Reasonable Advocate
Match Thread Admin
Oct 17, 2006
10,690
25,246
My lasting impression was it looked like he cared which is more than I can say about most of the other players.
Aurier might not be your (collective) cup of tea but one thing you cannot accuse him of is not caring. One attribute I have admired about him, especially by playing on even when his Brother was killed, was his effort and die hard attitude, even when he was having brain farts.

Something else I observed on Sunday, Doherty struggled to run back to defend and was left for dead a couple times, where I do not believe Aurier would have. I will put it down to first game nerves and wont be a regular concern.
 

Timberwolf

Well-Known Member
Jan 17, 2008
10,328
50,217
I think Doherty's positioning could prove to be a problem for us going forward. He's a good footballer but his best qualities are near the opponent's box and due to his lack of pace, if he gets that far forward as a RB he's always gonna struggle to recover (see Richarlison's 3 chances for Everton).

Now that we have a genuine attacking LB in Reguilon, to fit Doherty into the team either we have to make one of them play more defensively and nullify their best qualities or start playing 3 at the back, which I'm not too keen on.

Fingers crossed we can find a solution but there was always an element of risk bringing in a player who is such a specialist RWB who isn't particularly quick. He's definitely a unique and talented footballer though so I'm holding out hope - perhaps he just needs time to adapt to new teammates and a new system.
 
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