[wba13]

The big problem Gnabry had with us was his style of play. Tony Pulis likes his wingers to play as wide midfielders so they get up and down the pitch in a strict, disciplined manner. That’s why he liked James McLean so much. Gnabry though was used to playing at Arsenal where the left wingers had the freedom to float around the pitch rather than just stick to the touchline.

In Gnabry’s debut off the bench, he came on the left wing and immediately stared doing what he did well with Arsenal. Did some good tricks, took up some good positions off the wing and made good runs with and without the ball into the centre. That obviously isn’t what Pulis wanted.

Now for Bayern München he plays as a right winger and has the freedom that Pulis didn’t give him. He can stick to the touchline to widen the pitch or he can float into the middle. He’s also older now so follows Niko Kovac’s instructions better than he probably did with Pulis.

Yet to see any player have freedom under Pulis remember you need to be 6ft plus to fit into a Pulis team.all wingers are stifled and told to defend first.