Michael Jordan didn't have his abilities stolen by the Monstars, active players like Barkley did, which is kind of an essential aspect of the movie. How a grown man doesn't remember the specific plot of a 90s children movie baffles me. A critical misunderstanding of an American "classic." Canceling my subscription. Literally unreadable.
The key (perhaps singular) element left out of the Jedi discussion here is that Jedi doesn't seem all the way healthy, does he?
His foot speed was the thing he had that no one else could match. Jedi could gamble on defense and if he didn't get the ball and start a counter attack - he could sprint back and keep the opposing team from making anything of it. He got the chance to attack or cross the ball in because he was up the field faster than anyone on other side could match. And (I think this is the biggest element) the very threat of Robinson's speed up our left side kept opposing teams back, or at least gameplanning for how they'd handle it when a Fulham attack did zoom at their goal. Jedi and his pace frightened other teams into not doing what they really wanted to do on their own right side.
Have we seen that from Jedi from this season? I'd suggest not - with a few, rare exceptions. Will we ever consistently see that ultra-speed again? Who can say? I've been critical of Jedi - not for his injury, but for not adjusting to what seems to be his new reality - that he's no longer one of the fastest players in the league. This season, when he has tried his 'turbo boost' runs - he's almost always been late to the ball and then he's out of position and without the ability to get back to where he needs to be to stop the suddenly blossoming opposition attack.
My point with all this is that I think lots of Fulham fans are imagining the club could still demand a £50mil+ fee for Jedi and sign a new, starting left back for half that amount. Based on our new injury-troubled reality, I think a fee like that is a fantasy. FFC's going to need to spend *more* than we get for Robinson to bring in a 'challenging for European places' level left back. Other teams can see how Jedi's been playing this year. They're gonna give him a medical.
As a 'Merikun, I wish Jedi was still his speedy self, but he just isn't. I have great memories of when pundits were naming Jedi to their teams of the year - but that's the thing about memories: they're in the past.
Exactly - to make Jedi valuable again, he needs to be healthy and in form. Do you play him now? Hope for a great WC after some time off? Sell to MLS perhaps? No easy choices. Finding out if the “turbo” can return is the key. If yes, there’s value. If not, start working on the weaknesses in his game and he’s a squad player/cover behind Sess.
Personally I think it’s imperative that Robinson stays. High chance that Silva, Wilson, Reed, Raul, and Castangna all leave. Stalwarts. Then a new manager and 4 first team players arrive. We need to keep some of the old guard around to help with that level of overhaul.
Understand your point on max value, but also think it’s very harsh to write off such a stellar servant to the club after one poor year.
I think Jedi *will* stay, in part because finding someone new takes time/money and because this current version of Robinson is not going to generate big profits if he departs.
I don't think I'm writing him off after a bad season, I'd say I'm noting that his one super-skill seems damaged after his surgery last summer. Now, maybe after some more rest and recovery, he'll be back to his old self and that would be amazing. I'd love to see that. But 'speed merchant nearing 30 who had a leg surgery' is a scary spot to be in.
TC or Tim Ream losing a bit of foot speed wasn't great, but it didn't make them UN-useful to the team. A winger/FB who utilizes their speed to dominate ... ask Kyle Walker (now at Burnley or a Cship team near you) how that goes.
Definitely agree re Jedi. Even at his best his deliveries into the box have been consistently woeful. His high number of assists in recent years are more a product of him getting high numbers of crossing opportunities (which is his real strength and for which he deserves a lot of credit) and the quality of the recipients in making something of them. But it is a massivr limitation to his game, and the way we play I just think fullbacks who are good passers of the ball would be much more effective than a speed merchant. Cash in and move on.
Agree with everything you have said and also need really badly a creative midfielder TC is coming to the end of he’s time next season so we do have to put this right COYW
Michael Jordan didn't have his abilities stolen by the Monstars, active players like Barkley did, which is kind of an essential aspect of the movie. How a grown man doesn't remember the specific plot of a 90s children movie baffles me. A critical misunderstanding of an American "classic." Canceling my subscription. Literally unreadable.
I can't tell you how ashamed I am. Correction incoming.
The key (perhaps singular) element left out of the Jedi discussion here is that Jedi doesn't seem all the way healthy, does he?
His foot speed was the thing he had that no one else could match. Jedi could gamble on defense and if he didn't get the ball and start a counter attack - he could sprint back and keep the opposing team from making anything of it. He got the chance to attack or cross the ball in because he was up the field faster than anyone on other side could match. And (I think this is the biggest element) the very threat of Robinson's speed up our left side kept opposing teams back, or at least gameplanning for how they'd handle it when a Fulham attack did zoom at their goal. Jedi and his pace frightened other teams into not doing what they really wanted to do on their own right side.
Have we seen that from Jedi from this season? I'd suggest not - with a few, rare exceptions. Will we ever consistently see that ultra-speed again? Who can say? I've been critical of Jedi - not for his injury, but for not adjusting to what seems to be his new reality - that he's no longer one of the fastest players in the league. This season, when he has tried his 'turbo boost' runs - he's almost always been late to the ball and then he's out of position and without the ability to get back to where he needs to be to stop the suddenly blossoming opposition attack.
My point with all this is that I think lots of Fulham fans are imagining the club could still demand a £50mil+ fee for Jedi and sign a new, starting left back for half that amount. Based on our new injury-troubled reality, I think a fee like that is a fantasy. FFC's going to need to spend *more* than we get for Robinson to bring in a 'challenging for European places' level left back. Other teams can see how Jedi's been playing this year. They're gonna give him a medical.
As a 'Merikun, I wish Jedi was still his speedy self, but he just isn't. I have great memories of when pundits were naming Jedi to their teams of the year - but that's the thing about memories: they're in the past.
Exactly - to make Jedi valuable again, he needs to be healthy and in form. Do you play him now? Hope for a great WC after some time off? Sell to MLS perhaps? No easy choices. Finding out if the “turbo” can return is the key. If yes, there’s value. If not, start working on the weaknesses in his game and he’s a squad player/cover behind Sess.
Personally I think it’s imperative that Robinson stays. High chance that Silva, Wilson, Reed, Raul, and Castangna all leave. Stalwarts. Then a new manager and 4 first team players arrive. We need to keep some of the old guard around to help with that level of overhaul.
Understand your point on max value, but also think it’s very harsh to write off such a stellar servant to the club after one poor year.
I think Jedi *will* stay, in part because finding someone new takes time/money and because this current version of Robinson is not going to generate big profits if he departs.
I don't think I'm writing him off after a bad season, I'd say I'm noting that his one super-skill seems damaged after his surgery last summer. Now, maybe after some more rest and recovery, he'll be back to his old self and that would be amazing. I'd love to see that. But 'speed merchant nearing 30 who had a leg surgery' is a scary spot to be in.
TC or Tim Ream losing a bit of foot speed wasn't great, but it didn't make them UN-useful to the team. A winger/FB who utilizes their speed to dominate ... ask Kyle Walker (now at Burnley or a Cship team near you) how that goes.
Definitely agree re Jedi. Even at his best his deliveries into the box have been consistently woeful. His high number of assists in recent years are more a product of him getting high numbers of crossing opportunities (which is his real strength and for which he deserves a lot of credit) and the quality of the recipients in making something of them. But it is a massivr limitation to his game, and the way we play I just think fullbacks who are good passers of the ball would be much more effective than a speed merchant. Cash in and move on.
Really I think Jedi will get back to form, however it might be worth loaning him to another club to get back to that healthy state.
Agree with everything you have said and also need really badly a creative midfielder TC is coming to the end of he’s time next season so we do have to put this right COYW
847240