[Albion] Kaoru Mitoma [27/2/24 - possibly out for the rest of the season]

[banjo]

He’s looked cooked the last few games. Needs a rest.

 

[Psychobilly freakout]

Just shown leaving the ground on crutches in a protective boot. Hopefully precautionary…

That’s very optimistic

 

[Easy 10]

As much as I love him, as much as his goal at Wolves was incredible, as much as he raises our profile and merch sales in Asia, as much as I LOVE that he’s studied dribbling….,

He only has one foot. He’s massively scared of making a mistake with his left foot. And everyone’s worked it out.

I have also been bemoaning the lack of Mitoma we have seen this season.
The Wolves goal was incredible, but its starting to look like a bit of a Barnes / Maracana.

Mitoma was a player who had me off my seat whenever he received the ball down that left. Now, I know EXACTLY what he's going to do. Cut back, and just lay it off into traffic.

I dunno whats happened. He is a shadow of the player he was a few months ago.

 

[um bongo molongo]

I have also been bemoaning the lack of Mitoma we have seen this season.
The Wolves goal was incredible, but its starting to look like a bit of a Barnes / Maracana.

Mitoma was a player who had me off my seat whenever he received the ball down that left. Now, I know EXACTLY what he's going to do. Cut back, and just lay it off into traffic.

I dunno whats happened. He is a shadow of the player he was a few months ago.

No Estupinan. Either a CB behind him who doesn’t get forward or James Milner *shudder* His whole game is about getting 1 on 1 so if the FB isn’t getting forward and overlapping it reduces his effectiveness massively

 

[mile oak]

He’s looked cooked the last few games. Needs a rest.

Think he might get one but more because social media reporting him of crutches post-match!

 

[Easy 10]

No Estupinan. Either a CB behind him who doesn’t get forward or James Milner *shudder*

I don't really buy that.

Estupinan is a big miss for the team. But Mitoma is STILL finding himself 1 on 1 with some goon fullback who I just KNOW he could go to the byline with and leave him buying a ticket back into the ground. But he doesn't do it any more. Doesn't even try.

I'm not saying he's lazy. He just seems to have totally lost his mojo.

 

[Hugo Rune]

He’s looked cooked the last few games. Needs a rest.

Yup. Like Adingra, he looks like an Eddie Howe player. Over trained, over used and utterly exhausted.

In defence of RDZ, injuries have completely forced his hand.

 

[nwgull]

Think he might get one but more because social media reporting him of crutches post-match!

Wil probably miss Spurs and West Ham and then we’d have lost him until
Feb for the Asian cup anyway. From a selfish BHA viewpoint, injury keeping him out of action for 4-5 weeks might not be the worst thing.

 

[mile oak]

I don't really buy that.

Estupinan is a big miss for the team. But Mitoma is STILL finding himself 1 on 1 with some goon fullback who I just KNOW he could go to the byline with and leave him buying a ticket back into the ground. But he doesn't do it any more. Doesn't even try.

I'm not saying he's lazy. He just seems to have totally lost his mojo.

I think its more when Gross and another Albion player get into a corner they like to play the ball around between them. I hope Im imagining this but its as if he wont or cant cross the ball never mind take players on when we play 3 v 3 in a corner. I think too often lately we seem to want to go down the middle trying to go through opponents that just pack the box centrally and its when we mix it up more, go wide we have greater success with crosses in the box. We miss Solly for sure.

 

[Terry Butcher Tribute Act]

Not the same player without an overlap. Or if he's broken a foot

 

[BevBHA]

Left on crutches according to Naylor

 

[BevBHA]

I don't really buy that.

Estupinan is a big miss for the team. But Mitoma is STILL finding himself 1 on 1 with some goon fullback who I just KNOW he could go to the byline with and leave him buying a ticket back into the ground. But he doesn't do it any more. Doesn't even try.

I'm not saying he's lazy. He just seems to have totally lost his mojo.

He looks to me like a player who started believing in his own hype. Wants to stroll about looking pretty and is pretty ineffective recently. Similar to Grealish at City compared to Villa. Just gets the ball takes a touch or two then passes sideways or backwards

 

[dazzer6666]

No Estupinan. Either a CB behind him who doesn’t get forward or James Milner *shudder* His whole game is about getting 1 on 1 so if the FB isn’t getting forward and overlapping it reduces his effectiveness massively

100% this. Pervis supporting or overlapping at the same time gave the defence nightmares.

 

[Easy 10]

I think its more when Gross and another Albion player get into a corner they like to play the ball around between them. I hope Im imagining this but its as if he wont or cant cross the ball never mind take players on when we play 3 v 3 in a corner. I think too often lately we seem to want to go down the middle trying to go through opponents that just pack the box centrally and its when we mix it up more, go wide we have greater success with crosses in the box. We miss Solly for sure.

I don't agree. Yes, we do often try to pick our way through the middle. But Mitoma is the ultimate outlet. Once it got to him, the fun would begin.

He is not doing what he used to do. You could say teams have got wise and double up on him, which is true to an extent. But he seems to have lost that raw jet-heeled power that would burn off most defenders regardless. He's not had any major injury, so I can only assume its a matter of confidence.

I really, really want last seasons Mitoma back.

 

[Easy 10]

He looks to me like a player who started believing in his own hype. Wants to stroll about looking pretty and is pretty ineffective recently. Similar to Grealish at City compared to Villa. Just gets the ball takes a touch or two then passes sideways or backwards

I don't see it that way at all. One thing Mitoma is NOT, is a prima-donna. There is no questioning his workrate. He's no stroller.

He's lost something though.

 

[Uh_huh_him]

No Estupinan. Either a CB behind him who doesn’t get forward or James Milner *shudder* His whole game is about getting 1 on 1 so if the FB isn’t getting forward and overlapping it reduces his effectiveness massively

This

there were a couple of games where Mitoma/Pedro/Estupian were causing havoc.
Mitoma needs threatening players alongside him to help draw the defence away from him.

Hopefully we eill get to see Mitoma and Estupinan back together soon.

 

[dazzer6666]

I don't see it that way at all. One thing Mitoma is NOT, is a prima-donna. There is no questioning his workrate. He's no stroller.

He's lost something though.

Pervis. He’s lost Pervis.

 

[Uh_huh_him]

Pervis. He’s lost Pervis.

and to a lesser extent Solly.

 

[Uh_huh_him]

And he’s been knackered for weeks - the lack of a decent cover for Pervis has meant he not only has no back up but ends up running twice the distance not just to pick up the ball in CMF but dropping very deep to defend the space at the back too - he also is a magnet for bullyish defenders so doesn’t get the space to dribble into anymore - I think he’s doing his best but I think some of those shots/passes came from a very energy depleted kick this evening. He’s definitely not a slacker.

Also defenders have cottoned onto the fact that PGMOL will not look at any penalty appeal involving Mitoma.
So they have carte-blanche to push and nibble at him in the box.

Pretty sure Mitoma is yet to win a penalty in the premier league.

 

[Easy 10]

Pervis. He’s lost Pervis.

Maybe.
But I'm still not seeing the 1 on 1's where he would burn them off. He just keeps taking the easy option now. Cut inside - lay it off into traffic - end of move.