Marko Arnautovic was left on the bench by Manuel Pellegrini until the 68th minute and when he came on it failed to make a difference.
If I was being kind I would say he didn’t receive any service to make a difference however his body language still suggests to me he has the hump about being refused his big-money move to China. This is not the same Arnautovic we feel in love with and terrorised the opposition.
Pellegrini had admitted on Thursday that Arnie was fit and had trained all week but decided to start with Hernandez instead, was that a message to the Austrian to remind him who is in charge or was there still doubt on his frame of mind?
His appearance against Wolves in the 3-0 defeat for 77 minutes before he became injured was a similar performance and his body language didn’t say he was 100% committed to the club and the team.
Did the club make a mistake with Arnautovic in not accepting a £35m offer from China? Only time will tell whether he snaps out of this lull and starts scoring goals again or whether we will endure lacklustre performances for the remainder of the season.
Wonder if we could steal vardy this summer. Puel has dropped him today again. Wouldnt have even been on the bench bar a last minute injury to another player
Too slow
Replacement for Hernandez more than Arnie.
Vardy too slow? He’s one of the fastest premier league players, couple years ago he was like the 11th on the list.
Yes, massive mistake, should have taken the money, the guy is a mercenary and the decision to keep him will haunt us for the remainder of the season.
Very surprised if he is with us next season.That pomp and swagger has gone and he looks resigned to the fact.Maxi Gomez has gone to pot too with all the interest that was lavished on him.Not scoring and sent off yesterday.Just shows how these things affect players
He is probably trying to reduce his value before a summer sale.
I think that the new contract is mostly about ensuring that we put in a buy out clause so we get a good price in the summer
The question is whether Arnie can motivate himself to go out as a hero – remember Tevez left after saving us from relegation and remained a hero – so let Arnie fire us into teh top half at least
I would Ike to see us going for younger strikers but obviously
that involves risk. Which is where top class recruitment comes in. I don’t think we can become a top club by competing for players who are the finished article. We have to buy with a view to selling on at a profit after a few seasons.
I know the second half yesterday was – difficult – but from where I was stood we looked more solid and confident in the defending when Chicarito was on. I just felt that the whole atmosphere around the team altered when Arnautovic came on. Nobes has made all the right noises about him since the end of January, but obviously he isn’t going to say publically that the man is a toxic presence. I worry that, in spite of the good words in public, his presence in the side is going to be a hindrance for the remainder of the season.
I get the same feeling hammersfan that the players hold him responsible and don’t like it that he has been rewarded for bad behaviour.