Originally Posted by
DR Strangemoosh
Just throwing around numbers without context doesn't help anyone. One of our fellow forum members can tell you that. Although at least yours are accurate.
JB did two completely world-class wing-to-wing through-balls in the first 25 minutes of the game, both of which decimated the other team and could both led to goals. I haven't seen any other BHA player on that same kind of level in terms of vision - and I guess that's why your scouting staff shelled out money to sign a player who can do that kind of thing.
More than anything, JB works hard and is adding new facets to his game. He did rush non-stop from defence to attack for the duration of the time in the Chelsea game.
Both Montoya and Bernardo showed today that they aren't quite the players you might think either.
But it does help to have a scapegoat like JB, he is humble and quiet and won't react to fans if they boo him, though I'm sure it will hurt him inside.
My feeling is that Hughton now rates JB highly (much more highly than the BHA fans for sure), because he sees how much he does tracking back throughout his time on the pitch, but then darting forward as soon as possible, and is saving him for the "cup final" on Tuesday against Cardiff. Irrelevant now as he is like to start in Knockaert's absence due to suspension.