Merlins mojo is missing.

[Piccsnumberoneblue]

He is one of my favourite players ever but he has been ordinary for some time now and garbage for the last few weeks. He was a passenger last night.
I think some of it is that we seem to have less movement from our forwards for him to find.

[craigmcfc]

Carrying an injury imo.

He's not as light on his feet as he usually is and his twinkle toes aren't twinkling the same. Also, whilst he's by no means a ball winner he's always been a grafter and someone who will take a hit if necessary. He's been pulling out of late and just has had that intensity in his play.

I don't think it's fatigue. Defo an injury id say.

Absolutely, he's been carrying an ankle knock for a large part of the season and it just seems to be dragging him down now. The abuse he got from certain knobheads sat near me last night was absolutely disgraceful. Some "fans" don't deserve the players that we get to watch on a weekly basis.

I'm just waiting for the day I can hear them shout " Pull yer fucking finger out Messi.."

You just know it would bloody well happen too!

[Douglas Higginbottom]

He is one of my favourite players ever but he has been ordinary for some time now and garbage for the last few weeks. He was a passenger last night.
I think some of it is that we seem to have less movement from our forwards for him to find.

I reckon his fall from grace is a mixture of things.There must be some truth in the fact that he has been playing with a bit of an injury but it cant be that bad as he never misses a training session.Surely he would miss some if the injury was enough to cause him problems in games?

There does at times seem a lack of movement in front and around him.Aguero seems consistent and good but the other 2 strikers are simply not very good at that type of football.Dzeko's touch we know all about and rarely is quality but Mario is very much the same.They both want a touch that will give them space for a shot rather than a quick lay off and spin into space and that first touch is too often elephantine.

But most worrying for me,and I was watching him closely last night,is that he doesnt seem to be wanting the ball as he used to.He wasn't offering himself for passes and was almost hiding which I can only assume is down to a lack of confidence.I am sure I am exagerating this and it's nothing like as bad as it sounds but he has gone from the heartbeat of the team to a good player who might find a great pass but more often than not isnt quite making it and actually giving the ball away.

I think it would be wise to give him a break in the Stoke game but I doubt that Mancini will do that on the basis that half a Silva is better than most.I have 100% confidence that his game will come back and it won't be far away.In training he hasn't been the shining light most of the time(which he had always been earlier in the season) but is still likely to find the pass for an assist and is always heavily involved in his team's attacking work and I have not seen any signs that he has an injury.

[Sideshow Bob]

seems to have lost some of his desire. i suppose that could be due to a knock, but it seems like there's more to it. his form has been great for the national side...

[Swales4ever]

thanks DH for yr inside (and very competent as usual). Yr assessment make me feel a bit more relaxed on the topic.
I saw dozens of great players' seasons badly affected by a continous kind of groin strain which is very difficult to care, if not with a complete stop. that's what I was worrying when seeing his struggle on ther pitch of late.
Still as sensibly noted by Ted such a problem may/seems also affect is confidence to even try his magic.

I also agree that he doesnt need to be exposed at Stoke's Aussie Rules style and also have dared to suggest a short vacation, while resting his body could benefit is mentalm strenght as well.

No need to say we all love the little great man as an own Lad.

[Im_Spartacus]

I think the issue is just that we are far too predictable as a team.

He was sacrificed last night, but in reality it could easily have been Nasri who was dragged. Nasri came into the game when he had Aguero, Tevez and Dzeko buzzing ahead of him, with Clichy and Barry to his side - he usually had 3/4 options to choose from, which meant that when the game opened up after the substitutions, he took advantage - but before that he was just as poor as Dave because there was no cunt to pass to ahead of him.

It's Mancini who has Dave out of sorts at the moment if you ask me. Had he stayed on the pitch vs Chelsea and Porto you would have seen him run the game once he had some options ahead of him

[Ted Hughes]

I think it's possible for players to train & play carrying an injury but it affects their game. Bellamy did it, Tevez did it & imo both Silva & Aguero are doing it.

When did you last see Aguero shoot ? Imo, he doesn't try very often because he is carrying something. Same with Silva but I think it's having an effect on Silva's thought process as well as just physical. He's not seeing the picture like he was because he is mentally tired. If Nasri can step up for a few games, we may get a big finish from Silva.

[Esky]

Didn't Silva himself say he was carrying an ankle injury?

[Sideshow Bob]

an ankle knock doesn't explain why his form for spain has been spectacular while his form for us has been shit.

[CTID Hants]

an ankle knock doesn't explain why his form for spain has been spectacular while his form for us has been shit.

Sorry but that is a bollox argument! How long has David Silva been "not so good" for us? 6 weeks maybe tops?

Spain have played one friendly in 2012 in which he scored a goal against Venezuela (FIFA ranking 46 so hardly tough opposition).

This was only days after he last scored for us.

So not sure that you can say he has been "spectacular" for Spain?

[King Kev]

I actually thought we saw glimpses of his brilliant self last night. I know his coreners were a bit Bartonesque but, apart from that, I thought he was playing really well.

[1950]

I think the issue is just that we are far too predictable as a team.

He was sacrificed last night, but in reality it could easily have been Nasri who was dragged. Nasri came into the game when he had Aguero, Tevez and Dzeko buzzing ahead of him, with Clichy and Barry to his side - he usually had 3/4 options to choose from, which meant that when the game opened up after the substitutions, he took advantage - but before that he was just as poor as Dave because there was no cunt to pass to ahead of him.

It's Mancini who has Dave out of sorts at the moment if you ask me. Had he stayed on the pitch vs Chelsea and Porto you would have seen him run the game once he had some options ahead of him

Nasri was actually quite active in the first half. Hit the crossbar & took another crack from some distance as well.

If you compare the current Silva to the POTY contender in the beginning of the season, the most striking aspect is the number of misplaced passes which must've gone thru the roof. And I'm not talking about risky defence splitters, but the most basic ones over a couple of yards going straight to the oppo.

And the corners. For crying out lout, the corners.

[DoomMerchant]

Didn't Silva himself say he was carrying an ankle injury?

I'm fucking injured and i am at work every goddam day.

Finger out Davey boy please. Sit or pull a rabbit out of your hat. Decide!!!

[Original Dub]

Didn't Silva himself say he was carrying an ankle injury?

I'm fucking injured and i am at work every goddam day.

Finger out Davey boy please. Sit or pull a rabbit out of your hat. Decide!!!

Your injury is starting to affect the real players like me.

Sort it.

Slan.

[Duckman]

lets find his mojo and get it working again
[youtube]8hEYwk0bypY[/youtube]

[Blue Since 76]

Think I've found his ideal back up - wish we had him sat on the bench (as he was then, not the fat lard arse he'll be by now)

http://thepremierleagueowl.com/2012/03/ ... ty-moments