Jamie Carragher now believes that it is time for Miguel Almiron to come out of the Newcastle game as yet another match went by without him scoring or assisting.
In recent weeks, though, the 25-year-old has looked dangerous and created chances and played prominent roles in goals, but last night he was dreadful.
Almiron worked hard, as he always does, but the lack of composure and ability in the final third was really worrying, and the Villa Park faithful took great delight in Almiron’s constant miss control and poor decision making.
Almiron was hooked on 79 minutes, and to be honest, Christian Atsu did even less – so that is the choice that Steve Bruce has at the moment!
After the game, Carragher claimed that Almiron looks like he is on “Fast forward,” and that it is “Now time for him to come out of the team.”
The former Liverpool man, though, did admit that he feels sorry for Almiron but that no goals or no assists from an attacking player in 23 games is just not good enough, and he may need to have a spell on the bench.
Carragher’s assessment of Almiron was firm but fair, unlike Alan Brazil on talkSPORT, who ripped into the Paraguayan international on his breakfast show.
The scrutiny on Almiron is increasing week-by-week, and this criticism is unlikely to help, but he does need to start delivering at some point.
Do you want Almiron to be dropped?
Yes, he needs a spell on the bench
No, he will come good
The worrying thing for me last night was how poor he was – almost everything he did was the wrong decision, and for the match, on Saturday, it may be best that he misses out.