There’s nothing wrong with backing a lad. I get it — fans latch on to a player, defend him and see the best. Trouble is when that loyalty turns into blinders. Raskin has his moments, sure, but this season I’ve watched more low-energy performances than game-changing ones. That’s a problem if you think he’s our future captain or the man to carry us over the line.

Consistency isn’t a buzzword — it wins games

People keep comparing him to others and pointing out ceilings. Fine. But a ceiling doesn’t win you matches. Consistency does. Lundstram was a key figure for the team; that sort of steady presence matters. I’m not saying Raskin can’t get there, only that there’s no evidence he’s been that steady performer yet. Missing the odd pass or switching off for a spell becomes costly when you’re trying to grind out results.

Intensity and fitness: different things

There’s also this idea he’s deliberately toning down intensity to stay fit. If that’s the case, fair enough for longevity — but it’s not the same as leading the team. Staying fit and leading the press are different jobs. Fans can sympathise with the former while still demanding the latter. We can’t have it both ways: praising him as captain material while excusing what looks like lower effort on the pitch.

Fans, favourites and honest criticism

Look, the point isn’t to have a pop for the sake of it. It’s about honesty. Supporters treat favourites differently — that’s human. But when criticism gets uneven, it skews debate. If we end up blaming everyone else when things go wrong, we won’t have learnt anything. Call him talented, call him promising, but don’t pretend his season so far has been anything other than underwhelming. We’ve seen better days from others; ask yourself if you’d hold your favourites to the same standard. That’s the real test.

Written by SixteenNinety: 14 June 2026

Tags: match-review injury