Steven Naismith

[bluestevon]

Yes I'd say it was (at that point) about the best i'd seen him play for us. Couldn't understand the change.

Aye remember feeling sorry for him that game, did massively highlight his inability to play wide though as he was shocking when switched

 

[Haston]

Naismith has come on leaps and bounds since his first season, no doubt about it. In his first season you despaired to see his name on the teamsheet because he was less than ineffective he was a downright liability. He was forced out wide to the right by Moyes and during that season every thing seemed to just bounce off of him. He looked as if he couldn't trap a ball or play one either.

Fast forward to Martinez coming in and playing him in his proper position and we started to see the real Naismith. While he isn't going to be pulling tekkers out of his pocket to spin past defenders or be playing them proper "boss unlocker" through balls, he has shown a much more consistent overall game since. Naismith is a slightly lesser Cahill, if we'd had Naismith when we had Cahill I think the fans would hold him in close to that highest regard reserved for the blue kangaroo. They are very similar players for the position they play, while not the most creative they are definitely serviceable and more than capable of chipping in with a decent goal tally. What they both have as players is the ability to recognize the space that should be attacked and the timing and awareness to get there at the right time. We began to outgrow the need for that player as our playing style evolved and Cahill moved on. Naismith has rose in my estimations since his torrid start, but like with Cahill before we left, I just don't feel as if his contributions are important enough to the team as a whole to justify him starting over players I believe might offer more to the play of the team.

Against Chelsea must have been the first time I ever remember seeing Naismith score (or even shoot...) outside of the box.

This is true, I always thought he should take more shots on from outside the box. He would always look for an intricate pass or a one two rather than have a pop. I think he has the ability to test the keeper from outside the box. We seen one on Saturday actually, where Lukaku diverted it towards the GK, I didn't see a replay that showed conclusively whether or not Naismith's shot was on target, it was a good strike though. I would like to see him do this more often, because he is good at finding space just outside the box

 

[Ihaters]

But this has never, ever happened in the history of the universe

You got me on that one lol

 

[Efcjake]

Aye whilst that helps his individual performance coming in centrally as opposed to having to stick wider under Moyes, it absolutely kills us trying to open up any team that sits back as we basically just get funnelled centrally and have no width, additionally it just gives even less room for Barkley to be able to either create or get a shot off as he's dragging in the fb with him

Well the idea behind it is that if he is tucking inside then the full back has to overlap and provide the ball into the box. I understand what you mean about it compacting the defence we play against, and when we are off the boil we do have a lot of problems breaking a good defence down. When we finished fifth under Martinez the plan was essentially to switch it to the full back on the other side which would hopefully stretch the defence and create the space to put a cross in and open up space for it to be attacked. I do agree with what you're saying about it creating problems for Barkley, the way Liverpool have been playing has seen them have the same issues with Coutinho and Firmino getting in each other's way. That's why I'm in favour of playing him centrally.

 

[Efcjake]

This is true, I always thought he should take more shots on from outside the box. He would always look for an intricate pass or a one two rather than have a pop. I think he has the ability to test the keeper from outside the box. We seen one on Saturday actually, where Lukaku diverted it towards the GK, I didn't see a replay that showed conclusively whether or not Naismith's shot was on target, it was a good strike though. I would like to see him do this more often, because he is good at finding space just outside the box

I think he doesn't have the power to put them in consistently from further out. I was shocked he scored against Chelsea from where he did. I think he also likes to have a bit of space to get his body right for the shot as well, when he doesn't have it he looks to move it on (one-twos like you said).

 

[Haston]

I think he doesn't have the power to put them in consistently from further out. I was shocked he scored against Chelsea from where he did. I think he also likes to have a bit of space to get his body right for the shot as well, when he doesn't have it he looks to move it on (one-twos like you said).

Yep, and he had the freedom of Goodison to pick his spot against Chelsea haha, it was still executed well with his weaker foot. I've seen plenty players balloon those type of chances. I think he could add a few goals to his season tally if he had more shots from around 20 yards

 

[bicycleheader]

He can do all those things, yes.
I think the biggest and most substantial gripe, though, is that we play best at pace and he's too ponderous with his movement and passing.

But, I personally think he is improving in this. He frustrated me a lot last season, but this season everything has a bit more pep about it and he seems only to be let down by the occasional poor touch.

Admittedly, we are talking about a small sample set here, but we should give credit for his performances THIS season and let´s hope it continues and he improves from the last.

 

[EFC78]

He's having a decent early part of the season, exactly like he did the first 7 games last season mate, boosted massively by the hype from the Chelsea game mind you

As for the other, 76% passing against Swansea, 78% for him for the season, for an attacking midfielder playing in a possession based system they are shocking stats.

Also be itneresting to see the distance he covers in a game - as work-rate, movement are often quoted as to what he brings to a team, but the times i have seen things like Opta stats he is usually quite a way down the list, Barry surprisingly given the stick he gets nearly always tops just ahead of Ross (who himself ha sbeen slated by some for not working hard enough)

Will be honest mate, i think his movement is fantastically overrated and never noticed him pulling players around to create space for say Ross or Rom when teams come out defensively vs us at all. I have noticed a lot of the time him kinda standing in space waiting for a pass or moving into an area effectively killing any width when he has played wider, that IMO anyway is far more representative of the Naismith you get 9/10 times, the flip side is the other 1/10 you get the one who has a knack of popping up with a crucial goal.

Stats can be manipulated any way a person wants to suit their argument though. When Chelsea beat Everton 6-3, Everton had 61% possession to Chelsea's 39%. When Everton beat Chelsea 3-1 the other week, Chelsea has 61% possession to Everton's 39%.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/28906778

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34160707

The pundits make out that possession somehow means dominance in a game when it's not necessarily true. Both Everton last season, and Chelsea this season were ineffective with that higher possession and the opposition in both games who won the match were more productive as they won the game.

Another example is saying that Phillipe Coutinho is not that much of a creative player because of stats.

http://www.myfootballfacts.com/Premier_League_Combined_2014-15.html

He was considered one of the best players last season yet only managed 5 goals and 6 assists. Is Jason Puncheon a better player than Coutinho? He got 6 goals and 7 assists last season. Jamie Vardy got 5 goals and 10 assists.

Don't know how you can make out that Naismith doesn't graft that hard for the team.

 

[Goat]

Stats can be manipulated any way a person wants to suit their argument though. When Chelsea beat Everton 6-3, Everton had 61% possession to Chelsea's 39%. When Everton beat Chelsea 3-1 the other week, Chelsea has 61% possession to Everton's 39%.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/28906778

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34160707

The pundits make out that possession somehow means dominance in a game when it's not necessarily true. Both Everton last season, and Chelsea this season were ineffective with that higher possession and the opposition in both games who won the match were more productive as they won the game.

Another example is saying that Phillipe Coutinho is not that much of a creative player because of stats.

http://www.myfootballfacts.com/Premier_League_Combined_2014-15.html

He was considered one of the best players last season yet only managed 5 goals and 6 assists. Is Jason Puncheon a better player than Coutinho? He got 6 goals and 7 assists last season. Jamie Vardy got 5 goals and 10 assists.

Don't know how you can make out that Naismith doesn't graft that hard for the team.

This just highlights what a terrible player Coutinho is.

Not having him at all me, hes a 1 in 15 player.

 

[bicycleheader]

Stats can be manipulated any way a person wants to suit their argument though. When Chelsea beat Everton 6-3, Everton had 61% possession to Chelsea's 39%. When Everton beat Chelsea 3-1 the other week, Chelsea has 61% possession to Everton's 39%.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/28906778

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34160707

The pundits make out that possession somehow means dominance in a game when it's not necessarily true. Both Everton last season, and Chelsea this season were ineffective with that higher possession and the opposition in both games who won the match were more productive as they won the game.

Another example is saying that Phillipe Coutinho is not that much of a creative player because of stats.

http://www.myfootballfacts.com/Premier_League_Combined_2014-15.html

He was considered one of the best players last season yet only managed 5 goals and 6 assists. Is Jason Puncheon a better player than Coutinho? He got 6 goals and 7 assists last season. Jamie Vardy got 5 goals and 10 assists.

Don't know how you can make out that Naismith doesn't graft that hard for the team.

I actually think that last seasons Chelsea game we were effective with that dominance of possession, we basically just managed to make a seasons worth of crap individual errors in one game.

 

[bluemangroup]

This just highlights what a terrible player Coutinho is.

Not having him at all me, hes a 1 in 15 player.

He's Brazilian, plays for the shart and scores a decent long ranger every now and again. It's not really surprising he's a bit overrated.

 

[davek]

But, I personally think he is improving in this. He frustrated me a lot last season, but this season everything has a bit more pep about it and he seems only to be let down by the occasional poor touch.

Admittedly, we are talking about a small sample set here, but we should give credit for his performances THIS season and let´s hope it continues and he improves from the last.

Even the last game he completed 38 out of the 50 passes he made. Barkley, by contrast made 46 out of 49, which is typical figures for him.

I suppose that going without comment shows that we're that used to his errant distribution that we no longer view such failure rates as odd.

 

[BlueToff]

I think Naismith is just a player whose very adept at a certain role in the team - that's as a second striker. If he starts he needs to be playing there. If not, he should be on the bench (I'm talking Prem games).

 

[Ihaters]

Even the last game he completed 38 out of the 50 passes he made. Barkley, by contrast made 46 out of 49, which is typical figures for him.

I suppose that going without comment shows that we're that used to his errant distribution that we no longer view such failure rates as odd.

Yeah but comparing to Barkley is harsh, the lads different gravy mate.

Check out John'o by the way
http://www.whoscored.com/Players/101374/History/John-Stones

Epic

 

[Ihaters]

Since when was a players ability defined by his pass % anyway?