Arijanet Muric

[CoolClaret]

Special word for the Kosovan Mad Man

Unfairly dropped to start the season, showing us all some of the brilliance he has.

Yeah a bit rough round the edges, but you're telling me you aren't entertained?

https://x.com/kosovo_49/status/1743401082796101919?s=20

No coincidence that the centre halves looked more comfortable and we could beat the press a heck of a lot more effectively.

Want to play out? He's your man. That simple.

[123EasyasBFC]

With the amount of crosses Luton pump in each game, I would be more confident with muric for one game

[BurnleyFC]

I’m a big fan of Muric, and like you thought he was dropped unfairly at the start of the season.

That being said, Trafford’s last three performances have been terrific, and his distribution is getting better too.

[MT03ALG]

Muric may well not play again for Burnley now that we are out of both cups but is better than Trafford by some diatance....
Absolutely no chance of him playing against Luton unless Trafford is injured in training.

[Swizzlestick]

Ten pager.

He’s unpredictable, chaotic, but provides a spark this team desperately needs.

[CoolClaret]

I’m a big fan of Muric, and like you thought he was dropped unfairly at the start of the season.

That being said, Trafford’s last three performances have been terrific, and his distribution is getting better too.

They have and there's an argument that if you want to play more off the second ball and be a bit more cautious with your play out then he's your man.

For me that was one of the more entertaining game's we've played this season. No issue with losing going at it like that.

[boatshed bill]

I don't want to do the comparison, but....

Muric has a presence.

[bobinho]

Best keeper in the world….

Until tonite.

[Pickles]

Team full of wingers yet he's still my favourite player to watch. He perpetually plays like it's next goal wins at 5-a-side, I love him.

[CoolClaret]

Heck, even if we go with Trafford, Muric is worth 10 minutes up top to chase a game isn't he? He's bloody magic

[evensteadiereddie]

Apart from giving a goal away, yup, top notch.

[Big Vinny K]

Why do you feel a need call him the Kosovan Mad Man ?

Do you think it’s funny ?

He was every bit as culpable as Amdouni in costing us the game tonight with a ridiculous throw when Porro was right up his backside.
We had just got out of jail with them not scoring and Muric decides to throw it out to a player who is not exactly renowned for keeping the ball well with a full back up his arse.

There is absolutely no sense in why he did that. And a player asking for the ball is not a good reason

[CoolClaret]

Why do you feel a need call him the Kosovan Mad Man ?

Do you think it’s funny ?

He was every bit as culpable as Amdouni in costing us the game tonight with a ridiculous throw when Porro was right up his backside.
We had just got out of jail with them not scoring and Muric decides to throw it out to a player who is not exactly renowned for keeping the ball well with a full back his arse.

There is absolutely no sense in why he did that. And a player asking for the ball is not a good reason

Why so serious BVK! It's just a bit of fun.

Aye a bit rough around the edges but Amdouni wanted that. Bloody entertaining though.

UTC

[Mark the Claret]

Both our keepers are poor, sell them both and get a decent one.

[Big Vinny K]

Why so serious BVK! It's just a bit of fun.

Aye a bit rough around the edges but Amdouni wanted that. Bloody entertaining though.

UTC

Not my idea of fun to call him a madman.
There’s only you who finds it funny - take that as a big clue.

[boatshed bill]

Both our keepers are poor, sell them both and get a decent one.

Who do you suggest?

[SalisburyClaret]

The throw was poor - but watching the ball go past him into the net was what he did all last season. Trafford has the reflexes , attitude and the agility to stop the ball getting past him. He always tries. Muric looked like our best forward though

[ksrclaret]

If nothing else, at least we can finally put to bed Lowbankclaret's story that he's enlisted his Dad and the Kosovan mafia to teach Vincent Kompany and
his "entourage" a lesson.

It would be nice to hear from Lowbankclaret on this thread.

Are you out there, mate?

[MT03ALG]

Apart from giving a goal away, yup, top notch.

A defender unable to receive a simple pass and protect the ball gave the goal away.

[warksclaret]

He played very well, but showed several times he still has that bit of madness about him with several poor passes. Aerially he was very commanding too, but I am going to be very controversial here by saying on the form shown in the last three games Trafford would have stopped Porro's goal

[CoolClaret]

Not my idea of fun to call him a madman.
There’s only you who finds it funny - take that as a big clue.

Lighten up! Few on X call him the Kamikaze Kosovan. Bit of fun!

[boatshed bill]

The throw was poor - but watching the ball go past him into the net was what he did all last season. Trafford has the reflexes , attitude and the agility to stop the ball getting past him. He always tries. Muric looked like our best forward though

I don't think Trafford (or Pickford) would have saved that shot.
It's always better to dive in hope rather than expectation, though.

[CoolClaret]

The throw was poor - but watching the ball go past him into the net was what he did all last season. Trafford has the reflexes , attitude and the agility to stop the ball getting past him. He always tries. Muric looked like our best forward though

I don't think many are saving that top bins mate - don't think he saw it either till late. Made some good saves tonight though, even one off his own f*ck up

[ksrclaret]

Not my idea of fun to call him a madman.
There’s only you who finds it funny - take that as a big clue.

Well I like the nickname of the Kosovan madman, so please speak for yourself.

It makes a refreshing change from posters being abusive to each other, which is all too common for some isn't it?

[alwaysaclaret]

The throw was poor - but watching the ball go past him into the net was what he did all last season. Trafford has the reflexes , attitude and the agility to stop the ball getting past him. He always tries. Muric looked like our best forward though

Trafford wouldn't have stopped that with Muric in the goal with him.

[daveisaclaret]

Anyone blaming Muric for any part of that goal saw what they wanted to see.

[ClaretLoup]

Was more effective up front than Bruun Larsen.

[Swizzlestick]

I think it’s quite a lighthearted humorous nickname too. I’m sure most aren’t offended. And as for blaming him not diving for that howitzer, do me a favour.

[SalisburyClaret]

Trafford wouldn't have stopped that with Muric in the goal with him.

You know it would be a simple save with two keepers

[TheFamilyCat]

I assume he's called off the hit?

[Vim Fuego]

Apart from giving a goal away, yup, top notch.

That goal is on Zeki - he asked for the ball and got it fast because Muric makes fast decisions. Zeki messed it up. It is very clear if you watch it again

It is an absolute joke that Muric lost the shirt. Our most improved player of the season last year. Discarded.

[Devils_Advocate]

Is this thread a joke. I absolutely adored Muric last season and used to argue regularly why at the England level having a keeper who could use his feet was more important than what Pope offered (Pope was everything we needed in the Dyche years and I honestly wouldn't have swapped him for another keeper in the world)

Tonight our biggest weakness was p*ssing around with it and giving Spurs chances rather than them creating them. Apart from the goal Murics distribution was good but tonight we saw the difference between the Premier League and the Championship that even when the keeper plays a good ball the intensity of the press exposes us.

The OP says our defence looked more reassured with Murc in goals but 4 or 5 times they looked at 6's and 7's from Muric giving them the ball under pressure

I still love Muric and didnt think replacing him was a priority but I hope tonight shows that Murics better passing out from the back is nowhere near as a positive this season than it was last season and actually Traffords shot stopping is much more important.

That said I thought the way Muric easily claimed a few high crosses is something we do lack in this division with Trafford in the nets

[dsr]

There's no doubt that Muric is far better at passing to a man who is marked than Trafford ever is. Muric had one on the first half where he gave it to (I think) Cullen when there was no out ball for him. Trafford wouldn't have done that.

The tip, I think, is to avoid giving the ball to a man with a defender on his back and no easy out ball. It lands us in trouble.

If you can avoid giving the ball direct to their forwards, that's an advantage too.

He is better at heading the ball than Trafford, no doubt there. More decisive on crosses too. But passing? I wasn't impressed.

[Devils_Advocate]

Put it this way if Trafford throws that ball out to Amdouni and is grounded by the return strike he would be absolutly crucified on here by some of the posters sticking up for Muric. (again this is from one of Murics biggest fans)

[ElectroClaret]

With the amount of crosses Luton pump in each game, I would be more confident with muric for one game

This.
Yes, JT is a good shot stopper but claiming balls crossed into the box ain't his strongest point.

[CoolClaret]

Is this thread a joke. I absolutely adored Muric last season and used to argue regularly why at the England level having a keeper who could use his feet was more important than what Pope offered (Pope was everything we needed in the Dyche years and I honestly wouldn't have swapped him for another keeper in the world)

Tonight our biggest weakness was p*ssing around with it and giving Spurs chances rather than them creating them. Apart from the goal Murics distribution was good but tonight we saw the difference between the Premier League and the Championship that even when the keeper plays a good ball the intensity of the press exposes us.

The OP says our defence looked more reassured with Murc in goals but 4 or 5 times they looked at 6's and 7's from Muric giving them the ball under pressure

I still love Muric and didnt think replacing him was a priority but I hope tonight shows that Murics better passing out from the back is nowhere near as a positive this season than it was last season and actually Traffords shot stopping is much more important.

That said I thought the way Muric easily claimed a few high crosses is something we do lack in this division with Trafford in the nets

It’s not DA - I really thought his inclusion was apparent and why we managed to be much better at playing through a press - it seemed to be that the defence was much further spread out in possession and just looking at Sofascore it backs it up.

I think it’s all points why we looked a bit more like the Burnley of last season. Yeah a bit rusty but I really enjoyed large parts of that game.

[Devils_Advocate]

It’s not DA - I really thought his inclusion was apparent and why we managed to be much better at playing through a press - it seemed to be that the defence was much further spread out in possession and just looking at Sofascore it backs it up.

I think it’s all points why we looked a bit more like the Burnley of last season. Yeah a bit rusty but I really enjoyed large parts of that game.

Nearly all of Spurs best chance came from us overplaying at the back and not that the pass was bad but that the player it went to was under so much pressure.

Last season we were so much better that we only got caught out on minimal occasions. This season the problem is't Trafford or Muric but that the opposition players pressing us are a better than our players who are being pressed (the opposite of last season where our players receiving the ball were a class above the players pressing us)

Like I said our defence and midfield looked at 6's and 7's multiple times from when we tried to pass it out and the only difference is that suddenly its not the fault of Trafford in goals other people are being blamed instead of the keeper

[spt_claret]

Not my idea of fun to call him a madman.
There’s only you who finds it funny - take that as a big clue.

You can be a proper bully at times and I've noticed you take a pop at him a lot. Leave off. I call Muric Lazlo Vig after the maniac Serb goalie in Mike Bassett Football Manager just don't post it on here, he wants to nickname him let him.


Thought Muric had a classically Muric game. Some good moments, some insane magic moments (that Cruyff turn), some great passes, some terror moments. Think the goal was a mixture but more Amdouni, it was at pace but he wasn't marked and made a terrible first touch, can understand the desire to try get out and break fast. The let off a few minutes later was far scarier and more of a problem. Couple dicey passes first half couple brilliant ones. That save on the 64th minute which he palms right to a teammate, if Trafford makes that the "Whatever the club decides is always right" brigade never stop raving about it.

He's simultaneously scarier and fills me with more confidence than Trafford. Strange strange keeper. I prefer him, but Trafford's on good form so it's a total pointless debate. The thing that bothers me, and others, is that the first three months of the season made it clear that it was always a pointless debate no matter how bad Trafford did or how well Muric did.

[Mark the Claret]

Who do you suggest?

Don’t know, there must be someone.

[CoolClaret]

Nearly all of Spurs best chance came from us overplaying at the back and not that the pass was bad but that the player it went to was under so much pressure.

Last season we were so much better that we only got caught out on minimal occasions. This season the problem is't Trafford or Muric but that the opposition players pressing us are a better than our players who are being pressed (the opposite of last season where our players receiving the ball were a class above the players pressing us)

Like I said our defence and midfield looked at 6's and 7's multiple times from when we tried to pass it out and the only difference is that suddenly its not the fault of Trafford in goals other people are being blamed instead of the keeper

I completely agree! We're of course playing at a higher level - my entire point is that if this is our play style there's gonna be hairy moments but just ride with it? It's at least entertaining... IMO we'd have more points on the board playing more like this than the way we did early season anyway (especially if the funds for a traff / others went to more pertinent areas - but that's a whole different debate).

[Devils_Advocate]

I completely agree! We're of course playing at a higher level - my entire point is that if this is our play style there's gonna be hairy moments but just ride with it? It's at least entertaining... IMO we'd have more points on the board playing more like this than the way we did early season anyway (especially if the funds for a traff / others went to more pertinent areas - but that's a whole different debate).

We're getting much closer to agreement here. I love Muric and would have loved to see him this season but I think Trafford just edges him for the qualities we need in terms of what we are up against.

My main issue is people make out like Muric is so much better and that we'd be doing so much better with him in as #1 which is just not objectively true (its very close and somewhat subjective). Then when I see people defend Muric for his throw out that partly cost us for the goal, when Trafford would have been hung out to dry (definitely by you) it just shows that people just cant be objective and get stuck on an agenda

[NewClaret]

Big Muric fan. The worst thing for me is that if he’d been given this season I really think he’d be linked to massive money moves. Not many keepers can do what he does with his feet - I think business-wise we’ve made a HUGE mistake.

To be honest I just love to watch him play. Cruyff turns and all, he’s crazy and I love it.

But I also think Trafford is stronger at shot stopping and is getting better with his distribution, so tough choices for Kompany.

[boatshed bill]

Big Muric fan. The worst thing for me is that if he’d been given this season I really think he’d be linked to massive money moves. Not many keepers can do what he does with his feet - I think business-wise we’ve made a HUGE mistake.

To be honest I just love to watch him play. Cruyff turns and all, he’s crazy and I love it.

But I also think Trafford is stronger at shot stopping and is getting better with his distribution, so tough choices for Kompany.

He's certainly good in terms of entertainment.
i'm sure I'm not alone in enjoying the way he dominates the final third of the pitch, I believe he is very tactically astute in that respect.
And can pick a pass!

[CoolClaret]

We're getting much closer to agreement here. I love Muric and would have loved to see him this season but I think Trafford just edges him for the qualities we need in terms of what we are up against.

My main issue is people make out like Muric is so much better and that we'd be doing so much better with him which is just not true and then when I see people defend Muric for his throw out that partly cost us for the goal, when Trafford would have been hung out to dry (definitely by you) it just shows that people just cant be objective and get stuck on an agenda

Hey I've been rating Trafford of recent weeks - even check the match threads. Just think the speed of thought (even if a bit manic), speed of pass is much higher with Muric and in turn we can play out from our own half to much greater effect - to me it was really apparent on tonight's game.

Even some of the passes drilled through midfield into Amdouni - it's just really high quality stuff. Much more like Burnley under VK that we all grew to love.

The team/positioning looked a lot less condensed, we managed to get in behind a few times and for large parts of that game (Second half especially) we ran Spurs bloody ragged.

To me with Traff we cannot stretch teams in the same fashion - I have absolutely no issue playing him if we want to be more of a play off second ball team but to me it seems daft wanting to be a team that's more expansive when we have this genius sat on the bench (similarly how I thought it was daft when Dyche tried to use Weghorst and Crouch as heads on sticks, play to the players' strengths).

[Vim Fuego]

Big Muric fan. The worst thing for me is that if he’d been given this season I really think he’d be linked to massive money moves. Not many keepers can do what he does with his feet - I think business-wise we’ve made a HUGE mistake.

To be honest I just love to watch him play. Cruyff turns and all, he’s crazy and I love it.

But I also think Trafford is stronger at shot stopping and is getting better with his distribution, so tough choices for Kompany.

It isn't a tough choice though is it ? If we are being honest. Muric will not be selected ahead of Trafford. No chance. It is pretty obvious now. Eighteen Millions reasons why he wont. Sadly

[Carlos the Great]

Muric didn’t deserve to be dropped and I still think we would have more points had he been our number 1 .his distribution isn’t 100 % accurate but it certainly gives the team a massive boost and catches the opposition out many times in a game ..Trafford has his good points and no doubt will improve .. but will it be soon enough to save us from the drop

[Goliath]

I wasnt the biggest fan of Muric last season but he developed really well. Its obvious now when he plays that he has much more commanding presence than Trafford. We just look a much calmer team with balls coming in the box.

Ive given up on this one though, theres obviously reasons other than just performances on the pitch. Whether its to do with helping Traffords development or something Muric has done behind the scenes I doubt we will ever know.

[Considered]

I’d say we have two decent keepers both with good skill sets albeit a little different.

[KRBFC]

I said earlier in the season I’d prefer Muric over Trafford, after tonight I can see why he hasn’t been picked.

I love the fella but he’s an absolute headless chicken in the nets, some proper suicide stuff from him tonight with the glimpse of what he’s truly capable of. He needs to calm down.

[spt_claret]

Big Muric fan. The worst thing for me is that if he’d been given this season I really think he’d be linked to massive money moves. Not many keepers can do what he does with his feet - I think business-wise we’ve made a HUGE mistake.

To be honest I just love to watch him play. Cruyff turns and all, he’s crazy and I love it.

But I also think Trafford is stronger at shot stopping and is getting better with his distribution, so tough choices for Kompany.

I agree but genuinely not sure on the last point. Trafford is a great shot stopper but also has that knack of making it look better for the cameras or harder than it is, he's always at full stretch even when it's not that far over and gives it the salmon flop. Don't get me wrong he's been immense last 2-3 games but he knows how to look good.

Muric made a save midway through the second half from a snapshot, palms it with both hands strong right to his own man. Really top notch stop that he puts in the perfect place afterwards (something Traff doesn't always do, he sometimes palms to trouble). Trafford makes that, it's raved about.

I think Trafford possibly is the better shot stopper but don't think it's as clear cut as some think. Though to be fair I think the distribution debate is tighter than perceived- Muric has a broader range and is capable of better passes at any range, but also has the capacity to do something utterly baffling, while Trafford has been cutting out the poor choices lately even if his accuracy isn't improving much- still can lose possession but not so costly.