Ndidi, Soumaré and Youri midfield

[hejammy]

OK so I am really perplexed. Why have the last two managers thought that this midfield would be any good? These 3 have not had 1 game where they have played well together. Why does Mendy get overlooked all the time and when he does play, he's our best player but then gets dropped again for the next game. I just cannot understand. We all see how extremely poor Ndidi has become, Youri wants out, and Soumaré is a joke of a football player. Youri and Soumaré seem to have a 'laziest footballer' competition each game between them. I've been saying for months that I never want to see these three together again but the next game it's always a big sigh. How do professionals not see this? Alongside Brendan, I would put these three as a major contributor to our relegation. 

Edited 16 May 2023 by hejammy

[Mike Oxlong]

I’ve been a big critic of Soumare but he was one of the few to put in a shift last night. That doesn’t mean I think he’s good enough for the PL, he’s just another part of our dreadful recruitment, but  at least he showed more heart than others yesterday 

[Tom12345]

1 hour ago, hejammy said:

OK so I am really perplexed. Why have the last two managers thought that this midfield would be any good? These 3 have not had 1 game where they have played well together. Why does Mendy get overlooked all the time and when he does play, he's our best player but then gets dropped again for the next game. I just cannot understand. We all see how extremely poor Ndidi has become, Youri wants out, and Soumaré is a joke of a football player. Youri and Soumaré seem to have a 'laziest footballer' competition each game between them. I've been saying for months that I never want to see these three together again but the next game it's always a big sigh. How do professionals not see this? Alongside Brendan, I would put these three as a major contributor to our relegation. 

I agree with you completely except I don’t think Soumare is that bad. But starting Ndidi is criminal and I am extremely perplex too regarding Mendy! Just like Nachos - he is clearly our best player yet Rodgers kept leaving him on the bench!! At least Smith recognises his talents. Soumare too has not been bad, but when you have Ndidi next to you but hiding behind an opponent, it does make it difficult and this has been my point about Ndidi - he makes everyone around him shxt. I go as far as to say that we are going to be relegated because Rodgers insisted on: (1) starting Ndidi; (2) starting Ward; (3) keeping Nachos on the bench.  These three things alone costed us many points this season, not even taking into account Rodgerball, choking, etc.

Edited 16 May 2023 by Tom12345

[Tom12345]

If the club had sold Ndidi before as an expensive sale, we would be in a much better place. But no club has ever come in for him because they can see how inept a footballer he is.

[Tom12345]

And Youri has been too casual!

[Your Honour]

Probably the worst midfield three in the league. One of the reasons we’re going down.

[Sudjambon]

Biggest issue with the last night was half time and no subs. We’re staring relegation in the face, do something, yank these three off and put Mendy on, move Maddison to the middle, Tete on and Dhaka up front with Vardy. Instead these three stayed on and we did nothing 

 

[Fox92]

I’m not sure how Smith cannot see this doesn’t work. 

[Tom12345]

2 minutes ago, Sudjambon said:

Biggest issue with the last night was half time and no subs. We’re staring relegation in the face, do something, yank these three off and put Mendy on, move Maddison to the middle, Tete on and Dhaka up front with Vardy. Instead these three stayed on and we did nothing 

 

Soumare was ok to be fair. Don’t know why he gets so much criticism. Mendy should have started for sure.  If Kante is still in the team, I bet you Rodgers and Smith would still have started Ndidi instead of Kante. Just because he is tall doesn’t make him a good footballer.

[Guest Col city fan]

2 minutes ago, Tom12345 said:

Soumare was ok to be fair. Don’t know why he gets so much criticism. Mendy should have started for sure.  If Kante is still in the team, I bet you Rodgers and Smith would still have started Ndidi instead of Kante. Just because he is tall doesn’t make him a good footballer.

Soumare is fookin pants. That’s why he gets criticism.

You watch him properly and see how his lack of effort and poor positioning creates so much space in the midfield for the opposition to exploit.

Last night’s game for Liverpool was like a training match for them, from about 20 minutes in.

This has been a big problem all season. Fans not seeing just how poor our players have been.

The only thing I would say is that Ndidi and more recently, Tielemans, have actually been worse than Soumare. 
I said almost from the off that this was a poor squad of players and that many of them are championship level. Nothing I’ve seen this season detracts from that opinion and I’m afraid that will be the case next term.

Christ, this club have made some shocking signings over recent years.

[Fazzer 7]

I just hope to god he isn't here next season, or Ndidi come to that.

[old koppite]

It’s got to be because Smith relied on input from the back room staff , and his own belief that he thinks he could get a performance out of Wilf like 3 seasons ago,

[Bezzanator89]

Worst possible trio you could have asked to be our midfield against Liverpool.

 

One has regressed beyond words and has become one of our worst players.

One has taken a ridiculous amount of time to adapt, and is showing some shred of ability way too late.

One has mentally left the club and signed for Arsenal.

[Sir Shep]

22 minutes ago, Fox92 said:

I’m not sure how Smith cannot see this doesn’t work. 

 

[trooky]

12 minutes ago, Col city fan said:

Soumare is fookin pants. That’s why he gets criticism.

You watch him properly and see how his lack of effort and poor positioning creates so much space in the midfield for the opposition to exploit.

Last night’s game for Liverpool was like a training match for them, from about 20 minutes in.

This has been a big problem all season. Fans not seeing just how poor our players have been.

The only thing I would say is that Ndidi and more recently, Tielemans, have actually been worse than Soumare. 
I said almost from the off that this was a poor squad of players and that many of them are championship level. Nothing I’ve seen this season detracts from that opinion and I’m afraid that will be the case next term.

Christ, this club have made some shocking signings over recent years.

Totally agree, we have a very poor squad of players that deserve to go down . Hopefully we won't have any off them here next year and can start again with a new DOF and manager.

[funkyrobot]

Smith’s bizarre midfield set up will be the defining factor in his brief time at the club. With our squad and our defensive frailties we need a deep central pivot and the ONLY option we have in the squad that has the consistency and quality to do the role is Papy Mendy. Smith doesn’t even play a pivot, preferring a wider 2 that require two belligerent workers and then selects two players that are simply not capable for different reasons. Ndidi isn’t capable to play at this level anymore and Soumare isn’t disciplined to do the role. Tbf even if he was, the total failing of his midfield partner Ndidi means he’s in trouble anyway. A totally unfit Tielemans certainly doesn’t help, but a replacement for him is less easy to muster up from our poor squad. 

[The Quick Brown Fox]

Called out how bad we would be against Fulham with Youri and Soumare in the middle, I can't see what Smith and Co see to keep playing them. They've done nothing in the time they've been here to warrant a starting place. 

 

They need dropping, as do Dean and co. 

[Lako42]

2 hours ago, Mike Oxlong said:

I’ve been a big critic of Soumare but he was one of the few to put in a shift last night. That doesn’t mean I think he’s good enough for the PL, he’s just another part of our dreadful recruitment, but  at least he showed more heart than others yesterday 

He really didn't. I watched him very closely (because there was nothing else to do) and he was constantly swanning around the middle of the pitch in ac res of space despite whether it was us who had the ball or them. He would shit his pants every time a ball was played to a Liverpool player he was nearest to because he was nowhere near tight enough. 

 

I have never seen a player stroll around as much as him. I would have had Mendy in over him 100/100 times last night. 

 

 

Then again, we've also got the imposter Ndidi doing the same thing. 

 

 

Dean Smith is a clueless bellend. 

Edited 16 May 2023 by Lako42

[Lako42]

59 minutes ago, Col city fan said:

Soumare is fookin pants. That’s why he gets criticism.

You watch him properly and see how his lack of effort and poor positioning creates so much space in the midfield for the opposition to exploit.

Last night’s game for Liverpool was like a training match for them, from about 20 minutes in.

 

Spot on

[Lesta Legend]

8 minutes ago, Col city fan said:

Soumare is fookin pants. That’s why he gets criticism.

You watch him properly and see how his lack of effort and poor positioning creates so much space in the midfield for the opposition to exploit.

Last night’s game for Liverpool was like a training match for them, from about 20 minutes in.

This has been a big problem all season. Fans not seeing just how poor our players have been.

The only thing I would say is that Ndidi and more recently, Tielemans, have actually been worse than Soumare. 
I said almost from the off that this was a poor squad of players and that many of them are championship level. Nothing I’ve seen this season detracts from that opinion and I’m afraid that will be the case next term.

Christ, this club have made some shocking signings over recent years.

His effort or lack of it there of is the most obvious. He runs about and at certain moments it just switches off. Like our first goal conceded (while not totally at fault I may add) he almost slightly runs then gives up with no real pressure. Repeat all night. 
 

But yes Mendy never getting a chance makes zero sense and I’m sick and tired some fans making excuses, it’s all very crap at the minute. 

[davieG]

Am I seeing a different Soumare who just follows the ball around in a wide eyed daze as the ball is robbed off of him and occasionally wakes up to see he's on a football pitch with a game in progress. Does a little activity and then goes of in his dreamy absence.

[RumbleFox]

Kante was genuinely better than all three put together. 

[Fox92]

What did me is when we kicked off at 0-2 and Somoure did the same thing, lost the ball and they nearly scored again. It’s laughable. 

[ithuriel]

Never seen players fall over in crucial areas so many times or even in Soumare's case have it bounce under, through their legs.

A few times they were literally standing still ball watching, a game they can't afford to lose and they half heartedly play in fits and starts.

[foxgas]

4 hours ago, Mike Oxlong said:

I’ve been a big critic of Soumare but he was one of the few to put in a shift last night. That doesn’t mean I think he’s good enough for the PL, he’s just another part of our dreadful recruitment, but  at least he showed more heart than others yesterday 

I wonder who the hell scouted this guy in France? He loses the ball constantly and seems to have taught N'didi to do the same. Hope one of the promoted teams want them both.