Sam Allardyce has urged Ainsley Maitland-Niles to add goals to his game as the midfielder impresses for his struggling side, West Brom.
Maitland-Niles moved to the Midland side in the last transfer window as he looked for more playing time in his preferred midfield role.
He has gotten the game time he couldn’t get at the Emirates and has been in fine form for the Baggies.
They have been getting some big points in their fight to avoid the drop, but they will need more goals and Allardyce says they would be glad if they can get some from Maitland-Niles.
The Arsenal loanee has been a very important presence in their midfield and the manager admits that he has been in fine form and gets into good positions, but he wants goals from him because that would go a long way to help their cause.
“Could we do with a goal or two from him, yes of course, we could do with sharing out the goals a little bit more in our difficult position, but keep getting the chances and opportunities by playing as well as he is playing through the midfield area,” Allardyce said. “Could we do with a goal or two from him, yes of course, we could do with sharing out the goals a little bit more in our difficult position, but keep getting the chances and opportunities by playing as well as he is playing through the midfield area,” Allardyce said via Birmingham Mail.
“It will create more opportunities for him and others.”
Even if the Baggies get relegated, the England international will hope he has impressed Mikel Arteta enough to earn a regular place in the Arsenal team next season.
Good luck with that Sam…I’m not sure that will ever be in his repertoire…he struggles mightily with delivering accurate passes, so expecting him to score is likely a bridge too far
AMN is a decent replacement for Elneny in the squad.
Willock would be a decent replacement for Ceballos
But are they happy to be back up?
I read the club are prioritising a right back, left back and attacking midfielder and I have to say, I would add to that a 1st choice keeper.
We will have 35 players born 1999 or before at the end of the season, hence eligible for the homegrown/non-homegrown eligibility rules, plus a number of youngsters under that age already in the first team squad. All in all that’s 39 players.
I can only see us signing Ryan of the on loan players and I think Luiz will be released. Here is what I would do with all those born 1999 or before.
Leno – sell
Bellerin – sell
Tierney – retain
Saliba* – retain
Torreira – sell
Gabriel – retain
Saka* – retain
Ceballos – send back
Lacazette – retain
Odegaard – send back
Willian – sell
Runarrsson – sell
Aubameyang – retain
Maitland-niles – retain
Holding – retain
Cedric – sell
Partey – retain
Pepe – retain
Chambers – retain
Mari – retain
Luiz – release
Nelson – retain
Elneny – sell
Mavropanos – retain
Willock – retain
Guendozi – sell
Nketiah – sell
Kolasinac – sell
Smith-rowe* – retain
Ryan – sign
Xhaka – retain
Martinelli* – retain
Iliev – sell
Sheaf – sell
Osei-Tutu – sell
Bola – sell
Ballard – retain
Balogun* – retain
Dinzeyi – sell
Oluwu – sell
Selling-sending back/releasing those players will leave us with a first team squad of just 21 players, 4 of those would still be classed under 21. Of the remaining 17 only 10 are non-homegrown meaning we have room for up to 7 more non-homegrown players and up to 8 players in total.
It could raise us approximately £120m to add to the Kitty.
he almost never scores but from the spot he is GodMode.
Enough with the “more goals”.
Passing the ball to someone on our side might come in handy.