Popular Post birdman Posted January 22, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted January 22, 2020 Funny how people see things so differently! Despite his obvious lack of fitness I thought he did really well and showed much better first touch and passing than we have seen from others of late. Good composure too. I think he'll keep his place along with Nakamba who was awesome! Luiz coming off the bench worked out well though. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam2003 Posted January 22, 2020 Share Posted January 22, 2020 Cup tied for the next game anyway so we will see how Nakamba and DL (I guess) get on without him actually being dropped. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomaszk Posted January 22, 2020 Share Posted January 22, 2020 You can see he's OK but incredibly unfit. If he can't play in the cup, the U23s have a game next Wednesday. I'd be putting him through sprints on and off all week and getting him on that pitch for 90 mins. He is definitely more tactically switched on than Doug. He reads the game better, even if he can't get around to act on it! I think he might start again at Bournemouth. Damning of Lansbury and Hourihane he's in ahead of them when he's so unfit. I'm not convinced he's got much more ability than either of them but he's got a pair of bollocks getting on the ball and playing it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Five Ken McNaughts Posted January 22, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted January 22, 2020 Never stopped talking, cajoling, directing... To Trez, to Hause, to El Ghazi... Biggest voice on the pitch (alongside Reina)... Played two diagonal balls around the 15-minute mark that were inch perfect... First time I had watched him in the flesh – pleasantly surprised. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwivillan Posted January 22, 2020 Share Posted January 22, 2020 32 minutes ago, Tomaszk said: Damning of Lansbury and Hourihane he's in ahead of them when he's so unfit. I'm not convinced he's got much more ability than either of them I'm completely convinced 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharkyvilla Posted January 22, 2020 Share Posted January 22, 2020 I thought he was good on the whole and justifies Dean throwing him in the deep end to get playing time. If he eventually gets up to 100% then he will turn into a very important player for us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keyblade Posted January 22, 2020 Share Posted January 22, 2020 Even if he's not up to speed yet he's still a massive upgrade on Hourihane and Lansbury, who are just as slow as him anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyjsg Posted January 22, 2020 VT Supporter Share Posted January 22, 2020 I found him frustrating at times as you can see the calmness he brings but is just not fit and killed a number of attacks from just not being sharp enough to pick up the ball or continue the attack. I think if we can get him fit and potentially get a long term deal on the cheap it could be worth the time investment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr_Pangloss Posted January 22, 2020 Share Posted January 22, 2020 He did OK but still has a way to go. You can see the sort of player he will be when he's up to speed though, I do like how quickly he moves the ball a proper 1-2 touch player. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KenjiOgiwara Posted January 22, 2020 Share Posted January 22, 2020 6 hours ago, Tomaszk said: Damning of Lansbury and Hourihane he's in ahead of them when he's so unfit. I'm not convinced he's got much more ability than either of them I am. By some distance a better footballer as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveAV1 Posted January 22, 2020 Share Posted January 22, 2020 I think one of the reasons that he has been thrown at the deep end is he is a fresh face. The midfield, except for Jack, had really stagnated, he has offered something different from what I hear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darth Villa Posted January 22, 2020 Share Posted January 22, 2020 He's clearly building up fitness and is somewhat rusty but when fit I'd have no concerns about him starting alongside nakamba for a couple of simple reasons. He's been in a relegation scrap before and brings another voice to help organise those who are new to the battle and league. This is what we need to compete in games, with the technically more gifted players (luiz) coming in once the game has progressed to a point they'll get the time and space to have an impact. Not rocket science, almost common sense and gives me confidence that we're starting to truly find our feet in this league. He's our midfield Mings..,just not quite match fit, yet... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brummybloke Posted January 22, 2020 Share Posted January 22, 2020 He was half decent, a physical presence in the team and has that sneaky side, doing the old fashion wipe a tricky player out early on to let them know you are there, commanding the players around him. He is no Patrick viera but he is getting up to speed and has the discipline that afforded nakamba to play which brought the best out of him. Changing my mind on him from being a risk too far and most likely past it to someone who could actually be a starter each game and key to others playing to their potential more consistently. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vive_La_Villa Posted January 22, 2020 Share Posted January 22, 2020 There’s no questioning his ability. It’s there too see. But he just looks so off the pace it’s untrue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vive_La_Villa Posted January 22, 2020 Share Posted January 22, 2020 Just now, brummybloke said: He was half decent, a physical presence in the team and has that sneaky side, doing the old fashion wipe a tricky player out early on to let them know you are there, commanding the players around him. He is no Patrick viera but he is getting up to speed and has the discipline that afforded nakamba to play which brought the best out of him. Changing my mind on him from being a risk too far and most likely past it to someone who could actually be a starter each game and key to others playing to their potential more consistently. They look more like mistimed tackles because of how much he lacks sharpness. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brummybloke Posted January 22, 2020 Share Posted January 22, 2020 (edited) 6 minutes ago, Vive_La_Villa said: They look more like mistimed tackles because of how much he lacks sharpness. Thought I read that he told fred to take out maupay early on, fred didn't so he took out a player (and got booked) against brighton ? Edited January 22, 2020 by brummybloke Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave-R Posted January 22, 2020 Share Posted January 22, 2020 Are people really slating water after last night's game, are you absoloute bonkers people. He really played good first half, had alot of involvement in the attacks, shot a few, got in good positioning and even broke down Watford attacks. Sure second half wasn't to be for him, I just think that's down to fitness and that's ok, because we got damn won the game from the substitutes we had made. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vive_La_Villa Posted January 22, 2020 Share Posted January 22, 2020 Just now, brummybloke said: Thought I read that he told fred to take out maupa early on, fred didn't so he took out a player (and got booked) against brighton ? He did take out a player but that was definitely a mistimed challenge. It was like me at 5 aside trying to tackle one of the younger players. My head thinks I can win the ball but my body seems to move in slow motion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vive_La_Villa Posted January 22, 2020 Share Posted January 22, 2020 1 minute ago, Dave-R said: Are people really slating water after last night's game, are you absoloute bonkers people. He really played good first half, had alot of involvement in the attacks, shot a few, got in good positioning and even broke down Watford attacks. Sure second half wasn't to be for him, I just think that's down to fitness and that's ok, because we got damn won the game from the substitutes we had made. I thought he looked off the pace personally. But it probably didn’t help that we had 2 defensive midfields and a back 3 yet were trying to break through 9 men behind the ball. It was always going to be difficult for him. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LondonLax Posted January 22, 2020 Share Posted January 22, 2020 By the time the Brighton game come around he will have been here almost a month, played in 3 competitive games and probably an under 23’s match with fitness training in between. That is basically a full preseason workload. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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