Chris Waugh has been speaking on Pod on the Tyne about what Callum Wilson has had to say in the past about Newcastle United’s Allan Saint-Maximin.
The French winger has found himself making a lot of headlines on Tyneside and across the country in the last week due to the comments he made suggesting that if he had better teammates then he’d be getting at least 15 assists a season, instead of the four he currently boasts.
Would Newcastle be better without Saint-Maximin?
Yes!
No!
While Saint-Maximin did defend himself saying that the quotes were taken out of context, his point was perhaps proved on Sunday when he crossed for Chris Wood who barely touched the ball less than six yards from goal.
However, just before that chance Saint-Maximin could have played in Joelinton but decided to take an extra touch and dribble the ball instead, something that Wilson brought up before saying ‘In training, I say to him, ‘Listen, you would be so much better if you do your skills and then do the simple thing and sometimes you don’t even need to do skills because you’re so quick and powerful. Just go and pass it simple.’
This is something Waugh brought up on the podcast after Saint-Maximin’s display against Manchester City.
(11:20) “Howe and him felt the need to address the squad about this [assists comments] before the match but Saint-Maximin’s ball into Wood was brilliant and he should have scored but equally, Saint-Maximin should have crossed the ball before that to Joelinton who was completely unmarked, he didn’t and took an extra touch and didn’t get the ball in the box.
Which is the criticism that Callum Wilson basically mentioned early in the season when he spoke to Alan Shearer and that other forwards have mentioned about Saint-Maximin is that he is frustrating in that sense, but he is also Newcastle’s man attacking outlet.”
TIF Thoughts on Saint-Maximin…
This is quite damning that Wilson brought this up after just one season playing with Saint-Maximin, but with just four assists, the exact same amount he’s managed in each season since joining the Magpies goes to show he’s not taking the advice on board as his expected assists is just 5.2, only one above what he actually has managed.
If Saint-Maximin is wanting to be part of the exciting future and project underway on Tyneside, he may have to learn how to become more of a team player and realise that pointless skills and tricks that lead to nothing are worthless if he can’t improve his end product.
In other news: ‘From very senior people…’ – Journalist reveals gutting ‘message’ out of Newcastle