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Could Aaron Ramsey’s absence actually be a benefit for the rest of the season? I know that won’t be a popular idea with some, but I believe it might be.
Ramsey has started six Championship games this season and also made two lengthy sub appearances. The team’s record with him in it is appalling:
P 8, W 0, D 3, L5, GF 5, GA 16, Pts 3
Ramsey’s absence will give Omer Riza and his coaching staff fewer options in the centre of midfield and, as odd as this might sound, I reckon that may prove a plus-point. Riza seemingly can’t resist tinkering with the starting line-up on a regular basis and there’s no doubt in my mind that’s a significant part of the problem.
Ramsey has shown the occasional touch of class during his eight league appearances, but generally he’s looked well off the pace. He hasn’t had anything like the sort of positive influence everyone hoped he would and his habit of regularly conceding possession has been an accident waiting to happen. I reckon that, on balance, the team will probably be better off without him.
I definitely agree about the tinkering - I think that's been a big part of our problems since bulut left. And if Ramsey isn't available then that should hopefully reduce that, as we know that Ramsey hasn't been able to play 2 games a week.
I think since his recent return he wasn't looking bad individually, but his inclusion naturally creates a lot of changes in the midfield.
In his defence, the form without him in the team is equally bad.
It's a hard one to answer because I don't think it helps having a player who can't play every game, but at the same time he's been marginally less shit than others if you ask me
Not so. But before I provide these stats, I should say that I'm fully aware the team's form is never down to one player alone, no matter who is. Nevertheless, the following is the situation this season in league matches:Originally Posted by superfeathers
Win percentage with Ramsey in the side - 0%
Draw percentage with Ramsey in the side - 37%
Loss percentage with Ramsey in the side - 63%
Win percentage without Ramsey in the side - 28%
Draw percentage without Ramsey in the side - 31%
Loss percentage without Ramsey in the side - 41%
I’m no mathematician so no doubt whatsoever what im saying is flawed but surely if we’ve played a lot more games without him, there’s bound to be a bigger chance of getting the odd win?
No.
We have such a lack of quality all over the pitch and I'd rather have him available as an option even if it's a 20-25 minute appearance at the end of a game which is probably what he should have been used for anyway.
I get Rizas tinkering and one less option but he's going to screw up with whoever he's got anyway.
He turned the game against Hull. Less of an influence again Luton. In my opinion it's a crying shame.
When we signed him I thought he'd be carrying us.
Sadly we've been carrying him when he's been fit.
Its a pretty reductive way to look at it though isn't it? Most of his games came in that shocking spell under Bulut, if we're discounting players based on our start then we'd struggle to field an 11. More recently he was a pivotal part of getting the equaliser against Bristol City and important in keeping control after we went down to 10 at Plymouth. Without those 2 points we're in the bottom 3
He's a good player, we're in a bad situation in the league and with other injuries/players only just coming back. I don't think losing anyone is particularly beneficial considering the situation we're in
8 games with him - zero wins.
29 games without him - eight wins.
Ramsey's record this season reads zero goals, zero assists.
He was instrumental in the equaliser against Bristol City last month with his through ball to Ashford, but apart from that I can't recall anything positive Ramsey has done in the final third this season (but there may be some involvement I've forgotten or didn't see).
I’d say we played our best football this season with David Turnbull in our midfield and he’s going to be back soon apparently - it’ll be asking a lot for him to turn things around, but I’d say he’s been more influential for us than Ramsey in the few games they’ve both managed to play.
Bristol City I agree with, but I think Plymouth's pushing it. It was only the fact that they were hopeless that got us out of that mess.
He didn't play against Hull.
I thought his signing was sentimental from the off.
OK, so I'll be even more reductive: I believe Ramsey has been picked this season on reputation rather than form and fitness.
Of the 8 games, 50% of them have been against teams currently sitting in the top 8. One of those was a narrow loss against Burnley away. The other 50% of games we drew three.
I don't think it's a fair comparison to be fair.
But given how injury prone he is now, I'd rather get a side together that can fight in every game than keep tinkering. I said in a previous post that I hope he retires.
I wouldn't disagree with you, only lingering doubt i'd have is whether the last few weeks he was getting back to being fully match fit and then maybe he could have had a positive impact.
He just needs to retire now. He's 34, lost a yard, suffers from muscle tears. I don't think that it was ever a good idea for him to play at this level, certainly at a club struggling the way we have been over the past few years. It's best he stops now. Maybe he should have gone further back, played in between the defence and midfield, with the option to step in and be that extra man when we're in possession, but it's all academic, he's done.
comparing data with different sample sizes is usually more complicate than just looking at the overall success rate.
for example, if you took a random selection of 8 the 29 games we've played without him there's a reasonable chance you would come up with 0 wins as well.
Or to give another example - if someone has scored their first 10 penalties they have a 100% success rate, however, someone who has scored 49/50 penalties can be argued to be statistically the better penalty taker.
The narrow Burnley defeat was at home - Ramsey played the full 90 minutes in the 5-0 collapse away at Burnley in August and was responsible for surrendering possession for their fourth and fifth goals.
I agree it may not be an entirely fair comparison, but nevertheless I firmly believe Ramsey has contributed little of note regardless of who he's played against this season. I'm hoping his absence will mean less tinkering by Riza to accommodate him, and perhaps a bit more from Colwill if he's moved back to a central midfield position.
Equally, it may make no difference at all. But, like you, I hope Ramsey retires now. The situation has become silly and a bit embarrassing.
Yes Burnley at home sorry. They blur into one when you're losing every game
With regards the 0-5 collapse at Burnley away, he equally played no minutes in the 0-7 disaster at Leeds.
I'm not sure that any player has contributed much of note, including Colwill. I'd say he's a player that is playing well below his previous ability among a shower of shit. Albeit an expensive one
If that were the case he'd have played every game since his return from injury
He can't play two games a week according to his manager.
Which would suggest fitness is a consideration, not just his reputation
For what its worth I think he's done, but I do think he was a big part of us hanging on at Plymouth, he was the only one communicating, pulling players into position, putting his foot on the ball etc, that kind of leadership has been severely lacking this season and can be overlooked
Ramsey's absence will mean, if Riza stays, that he won't be able to use his tactic of "give it to Ramsey and hope something happens."
It will probably now be "give it to El Ghazi and watch the move peter out."
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