I'm sure he will eventually get back into the middle, and make it his own - but he's up against tough competition for those places at the moment - Buyens looks pretty physical, and edges it on experience, and JJ is captain and unlikely to be dropped soon. I'm just glad he's playing, he'll be a better player for having that experience of adversity and having to adjust - people have said he's looked better going forward... would that have happened so quickly if he were left as a defensively-minded CM? Probably not.
Rather than upset @lancashirelad on the players marks thread I have resurrected this old one to get this issue off my chest.
Why do people keep trotting out the same old lines about Cousins, he's not a winger, he can't play wide, he can't go past his man, he's out of position etc. Err..........maybe because he is more of a utility player better suited to CM or DM and has the complete trust of his manager for whom he is doing a specific job for when asked to play wide whether it is right or left.........I know he's not a friggin winger but he did a good job helping to nullify Odubajo so much so the £1m wide man was withdrawn! If we had had a fully fit more defensively minded left sided midfielder yesterday that person would have played instead. Arrrrrgh..................rant over.
Cousins is a great CM or DM and he done ell defensively on the left on Saturday, but I fear up against any other full back other than McCormack he would be found out going forward as a LM, wanna see him in the starting Line up, but would prefer it was in the middle
Rather than upset @lancashirelad on the players marks thread I have resurrected this old one to get this issue off my chest.
Why do people keep trotting out the same old lines about Cousins, he's not a winger, he can't play wide, he can't go past his man, he's out of position etc. Err..........maybe because he is more of a utility player better suited to CM or DM and has the complete trust of his manager for whom he is doing a specific job for when asked to play wide whether it is right or left.........I know he's not a friggin winger but he did a good job helping to nullify Odubajo so much so the £1m wide man was withdrawn! If we had had a fully fit more defensively minded left sided midfielder yesterday that person would have played instead. Arrrrrgh..................rant over.
Think cousins performance at the weekend shows what a quality footballer he is...never suited to playing that position but thought he actually player pretty well. That said he is clearly a CM and am worried constantly playing on the wing is hoing to hamper his progression as a CM. I also feel despite his performance on the wing he was against an average RB in McCormack and thought he was a real weak point for us in games when playing RM.
Have seen a few comments on CL after the brentford game along the lines that JJ looked slow and off the pace, perhaps its time to give cousins a good season at CM in place of JJ.
That said im not sure who id want at LM in his place, think harriott is very lightweight and i still need time to get over saturdays miss
Rather than upset @lancashirelad on the players marks thread I have resurrected this old one to get this issue off my chest.
Why do people keep trotting out the same old lines about Cousins, he's not a winger, he can't play wide, he can't go past his man, he's out of position etc. Err..........maybe because he is more of a utility player better suited to CM or DM and has the complete trust of his manager for whom he is doing a specific job for when asked to play wide whether it is right or left.........I know he's not a friggin winger but he did a good job helping to nullify Odubajo so much so the £1m wide man was withdrawn! If we had had a fully fit more defensively minded left sided midfielder yesterday that person would have played instead. Arrrrrgh..................rant over.
Totally agree. When a player is being asked to play out of position, that's the Gaffer's problem and responsibility. Didn't see the game (in person or on t'internet) so can't comment on how good or bad he was, but it seems unfair to me to have a go at the feller when he's only doing as he's been asked. BP must have his reasons and I think @RedChaser has it on the money when he says Cousins has the trust of The Boss.
Never forget Cousins comments during Pre-Season, was along the lines of... "I didnt mind playing on the right as Im just happy being in the Squad and will do anything for the team, if anything playing out there helped because when I play in the middle I'll know what is expected of from the guy playing out there."
Now were playing him on the left and he's gaining even more knowledge and experience for when he cements down his place in the middle, and its a lot better doing it now rather than later because Youngsters will always learn more.
Hell on that basis Id consider sticking him up front in a few U21 games!!
Comments
Have seen a few comments on CL after the brentford game along the lines that JJ looked slow and off the pace, perhaps its time to give cousins a good season at CM in place of JJ.
That said im not sure who id want at LM in his place, think harriott is very lightweight and i still need time to get over saturdays miss
Now were playing him on the left and he's gaining even more knowledge and experience for when he cements down his place in the middle, and its a lot better doing it now rather than later because Youngsters will always learn more.
Hell on that basis Id consider sticking him up front in a few U21 games!!
Tbf he was blowing in the first half. Not sure he's fully fit but he put in a shift