100% agree. Players are perfectly entitled to run down their contract if they want, but it’s how they perform during that period determines my opinion on them. Right now Mo is one of the best on the planet and has been incredible all season more or less. Gini was the same, always gave everything.
We only need to look down the road for an example of the exact opposite and how Pogba is “performing” and what the fans think of him.
Heck, Macca was accused of downing tools in the final months of his contract before moving to Madrid.
But from the player perspective, why risk the ire of fans?
At the end of the day we can only go on what is done, not what is said. I would rather Mo said nothing, like Sadio Mane. Making statements here and there is unhelpful, and even if he is answering interview questions, he can be more savvy if he chooses, and not say anything on his contract. Saying stuff like the fans know, etc. when we don’t, as we aren’t privy to the negotiations, is silly.
Mo has looked a little jaded since ACN - what did he play 3? 4? Back to back 120 minute games going to penalties.
Very much a player who needs a couple weeks off to reset and recharge which we can’t really give him as we are playing twice a week and absolutely must win every game. And even this not quite at his best version of Mo still clearly needs to be in the first 11
If Jota’s form had been a bit better, Salah would have probably found himself on the bench a lot more often. He isn’t even getting in dangerous positions anymore which is weird for him. He had one chance yesterday on that 4 vs 2 breakaway which he fluffed. He has had barren spells before and you could see him overcompensating and trying too hard, not passing etc. This time around, he seems to lack the energy to even get involved. I don’t recall him ever to be this peripheral.
It’s understandable and even at this state he is better than most but with two finals ahead as well as the league, it would be great for him to find some form.
He hasn’t been scoring, or even looking like scoring, recently which is strange for him but he’s had several assists, including one last night. So I don’t think he’s been peripheral although he is definitely below par overall and has been since the AFCON. The great thing is with Mane back to 19/20 levels and Diaz being so good, Mo’s dip is no longer a big deal where a few months back it would have been disastrous for us.
I’m normally not too bothered about Mo no scoring as he will find his way out of it. What is starting to be a possible concern is the sense that other players are reacting to it and going out of their way to try to set him up. A slump happens, a slump that starts affecting other players beyond losing his goals is bad.
He’s always got assists and he has never been credited enough for them. His passing this season has gone up a notch, which is a testament to his class and maturation as a player. I still think though that he isn’t displaying his usual levels of fitness and involvement in our build up play.
He’s been getting stick for his tweet from Hamann and others. I think it’s great. All footballers now are social media trained robots (“all about the team and the 3 points” bla bla bla). Great to see some honesty
Completely agree @redfanman. Said similar in the CL thread last night. I respect this desire from Mo and I like that he made a bold statement. Bold in the context of how robotic professional athletes generally speak.
I watched the documentary of the world class basketball player named Michael Jordan and many of his mates said he would often say things like this to raise the level of his own determination and focus.
Yep. Not only is the answer brilliant, but the complete lack of hesitation as well. Fans like to think players are just people who love the game and are lucky enough to get paid for it, and are upset when they find out it isnt true. That for most of them it really is a job. But this is proper play ground stuff. I love it.
