by Millsy »
06 Nov 2019 10:16
URZZZZ leon URZZZZ
If we were playing a 4-2-3-1, for sure I’d like to see him return in the right attacking midfield role. In that formation, the fullbacks carry out the role on the flanks and it gives Aluko more of a free roam position. It was the 4-3-3 where he was the problem because in that formation, the wingers need to actually play as wingers which he wasn’t
But if we are to maintain the 5-3-2 or the 3-5-2 I don’t see a place for him anyway. Possibly to play as one of the 3 midfielders chasing the game but I wouldn’t be convinced
Well he can’t pass the ball, shoot accurately or tackle/put a shift in, so no, I don’t want him anywhere near this team.
Yet many (including you and I) have criticised Swift in the past for example for “not putting a shift in” who has flourished so far this season
It’s all about matching the player to the right environment. Players not performing in an environment not suited to them doesn’t make them a bad player. We saw signs in the couple of months with Aluko and Gomes that there was potential there
Don’t expect him to play for us again but he could be an option if we do ever return to the 4-2-3-1
Some of us like me have always rated Swift, and I'm one of the few to have stuck my neck out to say I thought he was a star player from the moment he joined, with some typically thick comments coming my way (I'll have fun digging those out when I can be bothered). Yes he has bad games sometimes but generally the talent and the drive has been there from the day he joined. The thing with midfield is (having only played there a handful of times in competitive games and I HATED every time) you can be asked to do so many things in so many ways and it's dependent on who's alongside you as well as instructions (attack, defend, win balls, etc). As a right winger I know wing is a relatively easy role and you just have to put a shift in. There's one patch of grass you run up and down and either you could be bothered or you can't. Aluko never put a shift in and I remember only one decent game from him (can't remember if it was against 10 or 11 men and I think it was coming on as a sub with fresh legs). His attitude absolutely stinks.
Having said that I'd love to be wrong, and so take your point, but wouldn't use Swifty as an example. A better example might be Kebe (my lord) who IIRC was a similarly lazy right winger we loved to hate until he decided to start playing, did his famous hand-to-ear thing and the rest is history. I just don't think even shite Kebe was anywhere near as lazy or useless as Aluko as he often did show signs of his passion and ability even when shite.
Would absolutely love a £7.5million right winger though doing what he was bought for, that'd be great. I quite like GMac though.