Jon Flanagan

[RedReet]

I would like to see the dribble stats. I don't remember him getting beat that often by runners, certainly no more than any FB.

[Muddled]

Dribbled past 31 times in 17 appearances. Or 1.8 per game according to Whoscored.com

[RedReet]

Dribbled past 31 times in 17 appearances. Or 1.8 per game according to Whoscored.com

That doesn't seem to high though. I know other players are lower, but I wonder what is classed as a successful dribble. It's like the tackling stats, they can be very misleading as they are only counted if you retain possession. I'm assuming his is high as he likes to slide in and when he misses the attacker is left free, whereas if somebody stays on their feet, even if the attacker gets by or gets the cross in, it doesn't count?

[DeeTheDog]

Another good game for Flanagan and it was his drive that won the deciding penalty. Big challenge again next week against the pace and trickery of Navas.

[danperkins]

I didn't think it was one of his better games, i thought he was a bit rash & got bypassed a few times too many.

Still impressive this season & shows great desire to get forward into dangerous areas.

[Phoenix07]

I thought he struggled yesterday against Diame, and once again, he gave away a free kick near the corner flag. It's becoming a regular habit.

Going forward, he was very good.

[Shaggy]

Very easily beaten yesterday.

[rodo]

Could be a change next sunday

[marcus50bucks]

He was poor yesterday no doubt about it in my opinion. I said as much after the game. Made some rash challenges and was skinned at ease at times. He's still young so will hopefully improve. I'd be lying if I said I'm not worried about him facing Navas next week. Cissokho's not everyones cup of tea but he's defensively sound imo and I would consider recalling him next week.

[RedReet]

I thought he struggled a bit early on but got better as the game progressed. It was a tough game for him but overall I thought he did ok.

There certainly won't be a change next Sunday.

[PTP]

yup struggled a bit lately.

daft thing is i'm not as worried about him next week against navas - he seems to up his game and be even more focused against the better sides

however i do expect us to start Allen or if he isn't fit then lucas and they will be tasked with offering flanagan cover/support.

[The Birdman]

Very easily beaten yesterday.

Purely an inexperience thing, his speed and angle of approach when closing down is sometimes off (as in too fast, too close) which makes him easy to skip past.

It's a difficult skill to master though as shut the ball down too slowly or don't get close enough then the attacker either builds up pace or has the time to pick a pass.

You can only learn that by playing and experiencing what goes right or wrong, where on the pitch and against who (what type of winger)

For example playing against Navas will be similar to Lennon so Flanagan will have to get tight, that will leave the space in behind him exposed so Man C will look to target Agger there.
(Remember how Soldado caught then ran past Agger in that channel?)

If we play Sakho he'll provide better covering pace.

[Zapater]

yup struggled a bit lately.

daft thing is i'm not as worried about him next week against navas - he seems to up his game and be even more focused against the better sides

however i do expect us to start Allen or if he isn't fit then lucas and they will be tasked with offering flanagan cover/support.

Exactly my thought. I think he had trouble playing the man, in this case Diame. It was the type of opposition which contributed to his poor performance yesterday. I think if you consider he'll be up against a more orthodox attacker, i.e. Navas, Nasri, Silva etc I think he'll cope fine. It's rare he'll come up against many awkward players like that when playing at full back. Diame's mix of pace, size, strength was just too much. I think Cissokho would have been a better fit for the last game, but hindsight is 20 20.

I'm not too concerned about him retaining his place against City. We've been performing well with him in the team, no reason to unnecessarily disrupt things.

[McDermotX]

I didn't think it was one of his better games, i thought he was a bit rash & got bypassed a few times too many.

Still impressive this season & shows great desire to get forward into dangerous areas.

I thought he struggled yesterday against Diame, and once again, he gave away a free kick near the corner flag. It's becoming a regular habit.

Going forward, he was very good.

Yeah.......didn't think he had his greatest game by any means, and showed beaucoup naivety up against Diame at times, but he regained the control as the game wore on and we gradually gripped the game in the second half. Made a number of forays up the flank as well to butt against West Ham's bus.
Done well getting into the box for the pen, regardless of whether it was or not.

[Vermilion]

What timing this is, to have Flanno contributing in the way he does is great, not his very best game granted, but all things considered, he's been awesome for us, and we needed him to be.