07 Jun 2019 11:04:55
I don't know why people can't just be honest without abusing the eds.

I disagree with ed001 and personally don't think Bobby has been a key player for us this year. Not because I know more than him but quite the opposite it's my lack of football knowledge that makes me miss most of his good work. I usually focus on the flashy players over the actual key players. I'm 100% sure I'm wrong and ed001 is right.

Why can't the trolls just be honest and say the same instead of abusing and making them selves look more stupid than if they just admitted lack of understanding.

{Ed001's Note - the point is, I wasn't giving my opinion. I was saying what the analytics staff, the coaching staff and the rest of the players say. They all say he is the key player. All of them.}

1.) 07 Jun 2019
07 Jun 2019 11:15:32
Fair enough ed. Hope I didn't cause any offence.

{Ed001's Note - no you didn't at all don't worry.}

2.) 07 Jun 2019
07 Jun 2019 11:18:59
Nice one Ed. You can see as much if you really watch what’s going on during a game.
Great effort from Wini and VVD last night. Hope he keeps R7 in his pocket on Sunday.

{Ed001's Note - most people don't do that though. It is like playing chess, only some of us can see moves ahead, as it is not easy to see it all and keep track of it all in your head, for some. Everyone's mind works differently. The analytics staff need stats to see it, when I think, like you, it is stuff you should be able to see by watching the game, but they need numbers to understand, because that is the way their mind works.}

3.) 07 Jun 2019
07 Jun 2019 11:27:14
If we could only clone one player from our squad it would be bobby, I think he is integral to the way we play and if he isn't on the pitch mane/ salah get less space.

He doesn't give defenders an inch, so whilst he isn't the most prolific 'striker' (although he isn't one in the traditional sense but the number 9, through the centre, is the most comparable position he plays on the pitch) I think he is invaluable to the team and personally would be a bigger loss then the likes of salah and mane purely because we would have more difficulty to replace him.

On the subject of disagreeing, it is going to happen but you just respect anothers opinion, not abuse them. We all have the same thing in common on these pages, even 25 wants to be one of us ;) .

4.) 07 Jun 2019
07 Jun 2019 11:43:43
He is vital to everything we do. Even when he has a bad game and things don't come off for him, he is still chasing men down, creating a nuisance, he is never a passenger, And when he's on his game most of the play goes through him.

{Ed001's Note - he controls the press.}

5.) 07 Jun 2019
07 Jun 2019 11:49:42
I’m a massive fan of Bobby. I genuinely worry about happens if he gets a long injury or leaves because we don't have anyone to come in and do what he does. That’s why we saw Gini play up front (ish) against Barcelona because he maybe the only player in the squad who can play that role without changing things too much, though he was nowhere near as effective. It’s fine to have a battler in the position, i. e a Milner, but Bobby executes the tiny, seemingly insignificant touches around the corner or into space which only a very intelligent player would see, as well as turning into a proper attacker when facing the opposition box. Very few players combine both roles as effectively.

One thing I’ve noticed about him, however, is that he has shrunk in all the finals he has played in, albeit recovering from injury in this one. He doesn’t naturally step up in the biggest matches the way others do. Same with Wijnaldum. Not a criticism, as everybody’s human, just an observation.

6.) 07 Jun 2019
07 Jun 2019 11:56:47
Why do you think the club let Coutinho go and made Bobby the main man in the final third? Honestly, some games you should just watch the positions he takes up, which then leaves 5 metres around him for other players to move into or play off him, reminds me of Iniesta but more of a goal threat.

7.) 07 Jun 2019
07 Jun 2019 12:13:25
I’ve been saying this all season with the constant rumours of the front 3 leaving, mane and salah are easier to replace than bobby who has a very unique skillset. Fair enough, he’s not going to get 30 goals a season but what he does bring is just as important as goals.

8.) 07 Jun 2019
07 Jun 2019 13:19:25
Alright WY, yes disagreements will happen it's just football. I disagree with you in that if you had to choose 2 or the 3 to play the final it has to be Mane and Salah for me. You only have to look at last years final. Mane was undroppable since January.

9.) 07 Jun 2019
07 Jun 2019 13:54:32
HOW DARE YOU DISAGREE MARK, just kidding!

Don't get me wrong they are all brilliant players I just think if we sold any of the front three and the money we would get for each of them, Bobby would be the hardest to find a replacement for. I genuinely don't know a player that could do the job bobby does for the team.

If it was down to me I'd just clone the whole team and we would be set for life!

10.) 08 Jun 2019
08 Jun 2019 06:30:39
Agreed with most everyone already said. I feel one aspect that is hardest to replace is Bobby's defensive technique and tenacity.

I was once baffled by the position DF - defensive forward in Football Manager before I watch how Bobby became our 1st line of defense in any opponent goal kicks or many counters off our turnovers.

Bobby has an uncannot ability to read the game not only in organising attacks, but also on defense where he shields passing lanes, closes down opponents DM or CBs, wins 50-50 challenges against opponents CMs, and always falls back on defense. He is also very good in complementing our CBs in defending corners and spot kicks. He is almost as dependable as a real DM on his defensive abilities.

I believe many top forwards have the physical ability to do all these, and some will also have the mental aspect to do so, but only Bobby has the WILL to do it as a starting 9 for a top side. I felt this issorely underappreciated/ understood.

11.) 10 Jun 2019
10 Jun 2019 05:46:09
People quick to rate bobby on his goal output which is unfair. Totti as an example had many seasons getting similar or less goals than bobby but that's because of the type of player he was. Bought the best out of those around him. Higuain then an example of a clinical striker regularly netting 20+ goals but never offers anything else. Bobby missed a handful of games tis season. 0-0 draws with United and Everton saw huge frustration from fans. Bobby was injured and we lost our focal point. Salah and mane looked lost without him. The 2 games against Barca, salah in one and mane in both didn't play bad at all but the lacked chances asides from mo hitting the post. Yes we beat Barcelona 4 nil but with only 5 attempts on goal I think. Scraped past Newcastle and wolves without playing well and his poor performance in the final affected us. The realistic facts are that the Watford 5 nil and Barcelona were the only good performances out of 8 or 9 games he missed. We failed to score in 3 games without him and the performances of mane and salah are much better with him.